Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

http://www.pciraceradios.com/SPD/ic...ch-with-this-package--4184933584391276545.jsp

This is what I have in the truck right now, So HAM is an umbrella term for HF/VHF/UHF? So in theory a good home unit could monitor these frequencies and more?

 

Oh then you need a radio like proforce in order to reach the 880mhz band. I believe yours is only 2m and the mars cap mod should only let you TX on all the MHz your radio picks up and maybe expand the freq range a little bit.

 

Most bigger metro PD/SO departments use a trunking system that uses 3 revolving frequencies in order to avoid scanner listening. However there are Trunking scanners available, but your standard 2 meter radio should be able to listen to fire, some air traffic control and rural SO. and yes race radio frequencies.

 

Also how is range on a radio figured? Power output x antenna?

 

Its Frequency dependent, however Antenna location, along with tunable wavelength and output power all play a part. The higher in Frequency above 29MHz the more Line of Sight issues play into it.

 

gotcha, any suggestions on a solid home unit? would be nice to stay in contact if our communications system we are taking for granted ever goes down.

 

On 2 meters, with an 8 foot whip antenna on the bedrail, I'm getting about 40 miles simplex. Assuming of course, no mountains or Disneyland in the way. LOL

 

Well there a ton of things you can put up at the home, the biggest thing is what can you erect for a Antenna and tower/push up pole? Short of having a tower like I have a 30 foot push up mast wire supported with a good VHF/UHF antenna.

Radio wise its up to you, ebay and QRZ generally will have some good deals on used gear.

 

Thats pretty good! Would it be safe to say a 6 meter could get 120 miles?

 

2 meter is the band which I transmit/receive on. Never used the 6 meter band.

 

Im so confused haha, im just going to have to go into HRO when i get home and talk to the guys there. this ICOM IC-7000 looks awesome but i have no clue why its so expensive. (relatively i guess not bad) some are close to $7000!

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-008093

 

6 meters is awesome, I love using the band in the des, however around town the interference from other devices is nasty at times. I have talked with friends in Az( yuma) Simplex from El Centro and going up the grade ( hwy-8).

Keep in mind that Atmospherics can play a part in distance too.

 

im just trying to get a general idea vs my icom that maybe goes 10 miles max. this icom ic-7000 has 6 meter and 2 meter as well.

 

yes and more I just got my IC-7800 for home, the 7000 is a good receiver, but again, the tx side is picky about voltage its fed with and is one of the reasons I went back to the 706mkiig until the 7100 is fully released.

and 440

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/7000/default.aspx

 

With my 65watt 2m radio and my 19" antenna via repeater I can talk to peeps in Johnson Valley from the city of Monrovia...thats about 125 mile distance

Throwing around an idea of getting a mobile amp to boost power to 200watts off of 25watts from the radio. Don't know if I really need an amp yet..

 

LOL, likewise via the cal-zona link you can talk into 3x states.

 

I would cover up my nuts everytime I transmitted with that setup!

 

Yeah I was reaching some guy mobile to mobile using the Catalina repeater from Irvine to Barstow. Pretty sweet range on that repeater. Anywhere from Santa Barbara to San Diego. And that was on 5 watts with the 8 foot antenna.

I wouldn't think you need an amp. Repeaters do fine around here, and there's PLENTY of them. Out in the dez, I get about 45 miles simplex on 2 meter.

 

Meh..real world simplex distance is vastly variable to terrain and conditions while out in the desert...most of the time it kicks ass but it can be limited to just a few miles

 

http://www.gigaparts.com/sweepstakes/

saw this when searching for radios. You need your callsign to enter, if i had one i would enter.