Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Max, there's a lot to understand and relying on Google can be frustrating, a bit of information here, another there. There's no organization to it.

Your application for using a hot spot makes sense, if you have landline Internet but no cell or repeater coverage then leveraging the infrastructure makes sense. In that case DMR or D-STAR or any of the Internet linked modes would work. Also this could be done with Echolink and IRLP potentially, so don't necessarily assume you *have* to use a digital mode, but with how things are developing a hot spot is now probably the easiest to get up and running in that case.

If you need more fundamental discussion about why digital modes, how analog before it worked, that sort of thing one of the other Elmers or I could write up an explanation. Suffice to say digital modes have an advantage of being more power efficient, e.g. HT batteries last longer, with less interference. They aren't perfect, at the fringe they go from perfect clarity to complete gibberish where analog modes give you a region where it gets harder and harder to understand until the signal fades completely. So having multiple modes in a backcountry application isn't a bad thing. It's like your cell phone, works great until it doesn't then you got nothing.

The Internet linked part with talk groups is just icing. They are the equivalent of forums, lets geographically diverse hams cluster to talk about things they want. Also it's about leveraging infrastructure that's already there. Why go to the trouble of setting up wide area RF links between repeaters if the Internet is already there? No reason not to. Until the power or the Internet fails then you're stuck. So RF-linked repeaters systems that existed before are still relevant now for emergencies. For example here in Colorado wildfires and blizzards often knock down cells or cut telecom lines and a ham repeater will still be working. It's not common, but it does happen.

 

Thanks again David. I have the tm-v71a and am familiarizing myself with echolink. So far I feel I've got a firm grasp on it. There's an echolink repeater 20m south of my home, which is convenient. One of these days during a quiet time I'll try using it. I don't want to tie it up on anyone.

Also fortunate enough to be 2 miles away from an RF linked system too. That one I need to jump on and say hello during the net to introduce myself considering how close I am and how many repeaters it ties into .

 

You should really talk to N1WLD. Super knowledgeable, he's usually on our local repeater between 7 and 8am. His email is current as well, so if you look him up, you can get him by email.

 

Thats right, I overlooked that you had mentioned that. Thank you. I'll have to do that. Hopped on a couple days ago and chatted with a gentleman about moving up to my general and just casual HF talk. Nice people on that repeater.

But yes, thank you for the email suggestion. I will have to do that. I need to hop on in the morning if there's room sometime soon anyways. If I wasn't in such busy traffic a couple days ago I was going to mention during tv talk the other morning to look into YouTube tv for N1WLD.

Darn MT transmission stikes again.

 

Finally on board.

 

Ohh you are going to be happy with that one. That's the one that I would have bought if it was available when I got the itch to play with DMR. Enjoy it.

 

I highly suggest against the Ruggedspot. He is selling those at an extremely inflated price. You can buy cheap and put together yourself the same thing he is selling. There are several instances where people have asked him for help and he berates them accusing the user of damaging the components when the ask to return the defective hardware. He has been thrown out of many Facebook groups for spamming his product advertisements and when people ask about other hotspots, he'll tell you why they are junk and then proceed to push his products on you. He has been warned by the folks on Brandmeister to stop advertising on the air as well. I 100% support people trying to make an honest buck but this guy is a real piece of work.

I bought this one from Alie Express https://tinyurl.com/y84rf3e4
Get that and a microSD card and a Pi zero or a Raspberry Pi3 and you are good to go. Walkthroughs to set it up are on Youtube and other sites.

 

Have you checked out the HackRF One?

 

Yeah after more research I might try the zum spot or just build one

 

Moving into a new house... no HOA! So I figured its time to final buy a mobile/base HF rig. I think it should be mobile too, not mount in truck mobile, but work with a buddipole camping mobile. It will be my base station most of the time for the next few years.

I always loved the 857D, it seems so outdated now.

I like the KX3, but price, you can keep adding and adding... it’s like buying another taco, mods never stop. Guys all over the internet talk about being $3k into them and planning to spend more. Ham crack? Worth it?

The Yaesu ft-991A looks ok. Not scared of the size. Price isn’t bad. Screen is pretty.

The Icom-7100 is a decent price too, the internet isn’t happy with isn’t actual power out put. No pretty display. Also looking at the 7300 for a base station only rig.... but that is not today.

Kenwood has the TS-480SAT/HX, but is seems a little dated too. The price is great, but I think that because it is missing features the others have.

2m/70cm is a major plus, yes I will have my HT with me, but as a base station, it will be nice to use for nets etc.

What do you KNOW any of these or any that I missed?

Buy?

Don’t buy?

Why?


Thank you.


EDIT: Really leaning towards the FT-991A, it isn't perfect but the 2m SSB and FM scope would be fun and worth the other short comings. It isn't "mobile" but is considered "portable", which is what I am thinking.

 

Had a Kenwood TS-480HX, miss 200watts. Didnt use as mobile tho. Friend has Yaesu ft-991A as base, its large for a mobile for me. But a very nice radio. 857d NOT ME....

I picked up a KX3 for QRP and plan to use as mobile also.

 

Last week helped a new local ham with an HF dipole i had laying around from a storm. Used the drone to drop tag line in trees, and raised the antenna in 15min. Not using the tennis ball gun anymore. Now i have some incentive to get back on HF, and finish all my antenna projects.

 

yeah, drones are super useful for that sorta stuff now. one of the heavy lift drones could lift a xband repeat capable ht up over 4000 feet.

 

The paper work for that must be nuts

 

What are you thoughts on the KX3?

 

Well barely within reach of the local DMR repeater from the house. But made my first contact today. Was pretty neat.

 

I love it, but only have used as QRP so far.. If i do set up as a mobile will be getting KXPA100 amp and use mobile and portable
But then again I came from a K3 base, only HF upgrades id ever do is PowerGenius XL Amplifier and Flex 6600m.

 

My bet would be on the 7300. 2m/70cm isn't a huge plus, in my opinion, and if you are camping then, your truck is likely nearby and you might be able to yank the radio out of that or just sit in side for the net. That's what I've done for field day. The 7300 is a really hard radio to beat, size, price, features, it's all there. I don't know anyone that doesn't like theirs.

 

Commercial Drone license, insurance, and filing a flight plan unless you're in a country that doesn't require that.

 

I have my ic-7300 mounted in 4u case for portable operating.

http://imgur.com/gallery/SCtEUX3

The ft-891 seems nice, but not including a sound card on the USB interface was a huge fail. In spite of that, the rig looks like a winner for mobile or portable. A used ic-7000 is another great choice.

I agree that the 857 is dated. I have done SOTA with my Ft-817. I'd love to trade up to a kx2, but haven't been able to justify the cost.