Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Neeeeeeerd

 

Nice! You're somewhat local. I'm normally on the Phantom net repeaters

 

It all started with those RTTY troublemakers

 

No-code Extras are ruining ham radio!
Solid state is ruining ham radio!
VARA is ruining ham radio!
FT8 is ruining ham radio!
DMR is ruining ham radio!
SDRs are ruining ham radio!

The next one will be...
Your cat is ruining ham radio!

 

I am gonna get my GMRS license too...especially at $35.

Question: Do any of you know of a good dual band VHF/UHF mobile antenna that would cover both amateur and gmrs uhf? Thanks.

 

None will really advertise it. A gmrs radio has no use for a vhf tuned antenna, and a ham radio isn't supposed to be used on gmrs frequencies, so mfgs won't advertise the range to be usable down there.

So unfortunately you'd probably just have to get one and see what the swr is if you end up using it in that fashion.

 

Ok, understood and thanks. I suppose if I stick with my UHF-only rig, how about a follow up question: Is there a UHF antenna that would work across UHF amateur and into gmrs band?

 

Negative 70cm is 440mhz. GRMS 462 MHz and 467 MHz

 

I beg to differ, but I think I found what I was originally looking for:

https://powerwerx.com/antenna-ultra-wide-dual-band

Just hope it performs as advertised...

 

Dont believe the hype. Antennas can be easily changed out, not radios. Wrong radio TX on wrong antenna, burnt radio. But if you do i suggest you get a SWR meter it wont lie too bad. I haven't been an amateur long, but I've sent smoke through enough radios...

 

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-ca-2x4srnmo#overview

You tune the antenna where you want to TX...

 

Ya know an SWR at 1.5 to 1 is 97% efficient. With a hand held radio I can use a repeater 29 air miles away but barely use it on a repeater 14 miles away one is at 6,000 feet the other 1,200 I'm about 500'. There are lots of variables. Yes you can make a broad band antenna but don't expect miracles it is a compromise.

 

I agree with you all, it's a compromise. I do have an SWR meter. I will post up my results with the Powerwerx antenna at various frequencies across the stated band range of the antenna...I first got to get my gmrs license, so it'll be a little while. Thanks for the advice.

 

To some extent that antenna is tunable. My point being if you can get each band within a useable range (less than 2:1) you are fine. By doing so you will end up with an OK SWR not top notch but useable. People tend to go over board on a "perfect" SWR like I said before 1.5 SWR is still 97% efficient. If you use an analyzer instead of an inline SWR meter the RF will be all most nil.

 

Hearing two stations on 10m right now from Australia. Band is doing well.

 

did you get your 599?

 

No, I need to get my beam up. 1000w into rg58 and a vertical is making too much heat and not enough rf.

 

If you were closer id give you a Maco v58

 

I have an A3S laying on the ground with a tower but I haven't dug the hole and poured the concrete to make it erect yet.

 

Well even if it's a 75% loss you should still have 250 watts out!