Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by CJ Freezen on September 22, 2009 at 5:08pm

I'm very new to ham radio, I don't even have my license yet (no, I am not transmitting lol) and I have a Yaesu FT-8900R quad band radio. 2, 6, 10m, and 70cm. Which of these bands, if any, would be a good choice for such a radio net? By the way, as a newbie, I'd appreciate any help and direction I can get. I've really caught the ham radio bug, and I'm not even up and running yet. I am a huge proponent of intelligent prepping, and I feel that ham radio is the "future" as far as prepper/resistance communication networks are concerned.

Permalink Reply by Bob Brown on September 22, 2009 at 7:28pm

Your message really tells me that you are experienced at this stuff. Sorry I can't offer any suggestions. : O (

Permalink Reply by CJ Freezen on September 23, 2009 at 10:03am

Thanks. I'm sure that we'll keep in touch. I feel like the greatest weapon we have as preppers is each other. Tools and knowledge are great and essential, but it's in our consolidation that we become powerful.

Bob Brown said:

Your message really tells me that you are experienced at this stuff. Sorry I can't offer any suggestions. : O (

Permalink Reply by JED on September 23, 2009 at 11:40am

Freezen, of the 4 bands you mentioned the most useful would be either of the 6 or 10 meter bands. The 2 meter and 70cm bands are good for local use and repeaters, and could be used to disseminate info to local operators from someone using the other bands... but for anything more than that their potential is limited because propagation beyond line of sight is too unpredictable. The higher up you go in the bands the more potential there is for skip, and thus the ability to transmit and receive over longer distances including worldwide.

CJ Freezen said:

I'm very new to ham radio, I don't even have my license yet (no, I am not transmitting lol) and I have a Yaesu FT-8900R quad band radio. 2, 6, 10m, and 70cm. Which of these bands, if any, would be a good choice for such a radio net? By the way, as a newbie, I'd appreciate any help and direction I can get. I've really caught the ham radio bug, and I'm not even up and running yet. I am a huge proponent of intelligent prepping, and I feel that ham radio is the "future" as far as prepper/resistance communication networks are concerned.

Permalink Reply by David A Jones on September 25, 2009 at 11:46am

All depends on whether it is going to be "legal" transmissions or not.

When TSHTF, I guess it will be transmit anywhere you can get a response.

If, on the other hand, you are wanting to do training prior to such an event, there is only a small window of the10 meter band that a Tech can use voice, although CW can be used on some of the higher bands. I am not a General, yet, so any higher band than that, and I would be transmitting illegally. When TSHTF, it will make no difference, but for exercises prior, I, myself, do not want to risk the wrath of the FCC.

More in answer to your question: There are some Statewide nets here in Missouri that are in the 80 meter band, and seem to work well. Depending on conditions and time of day, I hear a lot of guys yammering on 40 meters.

Another SHTF thing to think about is antennas. A 10 meter dipole is pretty compact and not too difficult to raise between a couple trees. You get to 40 and 80 meters and a dipole is starting to take some "real esate" to erect.

My answer is not really an answer, but more, just my opinion as an experienced listener, and not-so-experienced transmitter. I was at my club's annual picnic last night, and they set up a 60 foot vertical with auto tuner and got on Missouri's slow speed CW net. BUT...they needed electricity Watching someone operate CW made me more desirous of learning Morse code. Whether I will or not remains to be seen.

One other thought on 2 meter is, don't forget sideband. From what I have heard (but have not witnessed it personally), one of the local guys can hit Minnesota and Wisconsin from here in North-central Missouri on 2 meter sideband. Not nationwide...but not too shabby either. I picked up a 15 foot 2 meter beam antenna for a hundred bucks. It will work well from my fixed station, but if I have to be on the move, I guess I'm back to what I opened with. 10 meter with a dipole.

Hope my nickel's worth is of some value.

jonesey65244
KC0OUF

Permalink Reply by JED on September 25, 2009 at 4:01pm

You're right about legal transmissions not being an issue if the SHTF, also correct in that setting up a working net will take practice and familiarity that will require practice on the legal bands. That will also give us a good handle on what works and what doesn't. For the time being my best option is 10 meter, at least till I get my General Class ticket. I don't know code so CW is out, at least for now. Time will tell if I have the patience and the required practice time to learn enough for that endorsement.

All in all I think the info you gave is more valuable than you realize, and I appreciate your input. Will advise when I get my Kenwood HF rig up and running and we will see what we can do between the 2 of us for starters.

JED
KE5ZTA

David A Jones said:

All depends on whether it is going to be "legal" transmissions or not.

When TSHTF, I guess it will be transmit anywhere you can get a response.

If, on the other hand, you are wanting to do training prior to such an event, there is only a small window of the10 meter band that a Tech can use voice, although CW can be used on some of the higher bands. I am not a General, yet, so any higher band than that, and I would be transmitting illegally. When TSHTF, it will make no difference, but for exercises prior, I, myself, do not want to risk the wrath of the FCC.

More in answer to your question: There are some Statewide nets here in Missouri that are in the 80 meter band, and seem to work well. Depending on conditions and time of day, I hear a lot of guys yammering on 40 meters.

Another SHTF thing to think about is antennas. A 10 meter dipole is pretty compact and not too difficult to raise between a couple trees. You get to 40 and 80 meters and a dipole is starting to take some "real esate" to erect.

My answer is not really an answer, but more, just my opinion as an experienced listener, and not-so-experienced transmitter. I was at my club's annual picnic last night, and they set up a 60 foot vertical with auto tuner and got on Missouri's slow speed CW net. BUT...they needed electricity Watching someone operate CW made me more desirous of learning Morse code. Whether I will or not remains to be seen.

One other thought on 2 meter is, don't forget sideband. From what I have heard (but have not witnessed it personally), one of the local guys can hit Minnesota and Wisconsin from here in North-central Missouri on 2 meter sideband. Not nationwide...but not too shabby either. I picked up a 15 foot 2 meter beam antenna for a hundred bucks. It will work well from my fixed station, but if I have to be on the move, I guess I'm back to what I opened with. 10 meter with a dipole.

Hope my nickel's worth is of some value.

jonesey65244
KC0OUF

Permalink Reply by David A Jones on September 25, 2009 at 7:43pm

I have a Solarcon A99 with the radials up. If I can get some help, I'm going to put it up a bit higher. It is now on 16 feet of pole and the antenna itself is 17 feet tall. I'm hoping to get it up to 24 feet. A lot of snobby hams bitch about it being a CB antenna, but I have read reviews of guys reaching Europe and Asia with one on 10 meters.

Give me a shout on here when you get it up. Maybe we can make an appointment and try to contact. I am EM39pl on the ARRL grid, which is about 20 miles west-northwest of Moberly, Missouri just to give you an idea of where I am.

jonesey65244
KC0OUF

Permalink Reply by JED on September 26, 2009 at 12:11am

Sounds like a good idea to me. I'm looking for a power supply right now to run the Kenwood, as I don't think the portable power pack I have (which will run my Yaesu 2800 on the second highest power level, but not the highest) will handle it. So I'm looking for something for the house, and will rig up something so that I can run directly off a car battery if needed. As far as an antenna goes, I may start out with a wire dipole or may go vertical. I have the ARRL Handbook which has a section on antennas, so I've got some studying to do this weekend. I want versatility without having to go to a rotor. But once I'm up and running we will arrange to attempt contact on 10 meters. I'm about 45 miles NW of Little Rock.

JED
KE5ZTA

David A Jones said:

I have a Solarcon A99 with the radials up. If I can get some help, I'm going to put it up a bit higher. It is now on 16 feet of pole and the antenna itself is 17 feet tall. I'm hoping to get it up to 24 feet. A lot of snobby hams bitch about it being a CB antenna, but I have read reviews of guys reaching Europe and Asia with one on 10 meters.

Give me a shout on here when you get it up. Maybe we can make an appointment and try to contact. I am EM39pl on the ARRL grid, which is about 20 miles west-northwest of Moberly, Missouri just to give you an idea of where I am.

jonesey65244
KC0OUF

Permalink Reply by David A Jones on September 26, 2009 at 10:36am

JED,

You are less than 2 degrees west of due south of me right at about 300 miles.

Would be interesting to see if we could contact on 2 meter sideband. I'll have to get that 13 element beam put together and erected.

Otherwise, I think we have a good chance of contacting on 10 meters. Like I said, I am WAY more experienced at listening than transmitting, but 300 miles does not seem to be too tough to accomplish.

BTW, my house rig is an IC-706MKIIG. HT is IC-T90A.

I bought a 35 Amp Astron variable power supply with meters, but have not used it. I am hooked to a LARGE deep-cycle battery. I don't transmit all that much, but have only had to charge it 2 times since installing it in the house in April this year.

My goal is 2 batteries...1 yet to buy...connected to my 120 watt solar charging system, which I own, but have yet to install. I need to get help for the roof work, and that is not always simple. I own it though, so the big hurdle is over.

I was going to get a 746 PRO, but am now thinking that my 706 is good enough, and can be easily taken mobile if I want a larger radio in the van than my HT. I am looking at getting an IC R2500 wideband receiver. It is capable of monitoring 2 completely different frequencies from 2 separate antennas at the same time. Communicating with your own is important, but it will also be good to listen to what "the other guy" is up to. The R2500 can stand alone, but has more features connected to a computer. My laptop will operate 12 Volt, so it fits into my "dream plan." It's a fairly big outlay of cash, so I am still in the thinking stage on it.

See ya' next time,
jonesey65244
KC0OUF

Permalink Reply by JED on September 26, 2009 at 5:18pm

Jonesey,
My dream machine is the ICOM 706Pro, or was until you mentioned the other ICOM. I'll have to check to see if my Kenwood will go down to 2 meter, since it's SSB capable but my Yaesu 2800 2 meter mobile isn't. In any case, it will still mean having to get the Kenwood operable.
My HT is an ICOM IC-V8, the Yaesu 2800 is my mobile, and my Kenwood is the TS-430S.
Looking forward to connecting as soon as possible.

JED
KE5ZTA

David A Jones said:

JED,

You are less than 2 degrees west of due south of me right at about 300 miles.

Would be interesting to see if we could contact on 2 meter sideband. I'll have to get that 13 element beam put together and erected.

Otherwise, I think we have a good chance of contacting on 10 meters. Like I said, I am WAY more experienced at listening than transmitting, but 300 miles does not seem to be too tough to accomplish.

BTW, my house rig is an IC-706MKIIG. HT is IC-T90A.

I bought a 35 Amp Astron variable power supply with meters, but have not used it. I am hooked to a LARGE deep-cycle battery. I don't transmit all that much, but have only had to charge it 2 times since installing it in the house in April this year.

My goal is 2 batteries...1 yet to buy...connected to my 120 watt solar charging system, which I own, but have yet to install. I need to get help for the roof work, and that is not always simple. I own it though, so the big hurdle is over.

I was going to get a 746 PRO, but am now thinking that my 706 is good enough, and can be easily taken mobile if I want a larger radio in the van than my HT. I am looking at getting an IC R2500 wideband receiver. It is capable of monitoring 2 completely different frequencies from 2 separate antennas at the same time. Communicating with your own is important, but it will also be good to listen to what "the other guy" is up to. The R2500 can stand alone, but has more features connected to a computer. My laptop will operate 12 Volt, so it fits into my "dream plan." It's a fairly big outlay of cash, so I am still in the thinking stage on it.

See ya' next time,
jonesey65244
KC0OUF

Permalink Reply by David A Jones on September 26, 2009 at 9:19pm

JED,

Your 430 looks like a pretty nice machine. It was manufactured only as an HF; 10 meter to 160 meter. Without extensive work, I don't believe you can mod one to go to VHF/UHF. But then I could be wrong. I like Universal Radio's site for information. Also, the eHam site usually has pretty honest reviews...good or bad.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/ts430s.html

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/510

I'm sure there is a way to have made those links, but you should be able to cut-n-paste them.

jonesey65244
KC0OUF

Permalink Reply by David A Jones on September 26, 2009 at 9:21pm

Ahh! Smart site. Made them links by itself. That's a nice feature.

jonesey65244

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