Ham radio features video

HAM: Essentially the FCC gave us lowly pee-ons a section of the radio spectrum to use for stuff (mainly passing radio traffic in homeland emergencies). Since that doesn't ever happen, the rest of the time, we can use it as a sort of well-regulated high power walkie talkie system that has substantial range and power. Between the importance of the HAM system and the disaster that became the CB spectrum, they decided to keep this one pretty locked down.

Then smart people got involved and made repeaters and digipeaters. Basically on a repeater, I transmit a data message or voice on a frequency and a computer powered radio hears my message. It then "repeats" my message on its antenna, but with much more power, and usually a better vantage point like the top of a mountain. That way, my low power handheld ham radio can reach potentially hundreds of square miles. Think of it like when you were a kid and you made a joke to your friend, Taylor M, under your breath, and then Taylor said it louder so the class heard it. Screw you, Taylor...

A digipeater is like a regular repeater except when a message is heard by a repeater, it then essentially gets loaded into the internet and other stuff can read that data. That's usually how the APRS system in the initial post works these days.

For example: My tablet is set to transmit a data packet to my radio. That data then gets converted to a very specific sound file (almost sounds like the old dial up internet). A digipeater hears that sound file, and transmits it to the internet where some servers and stuff realize you are trying to tell it something. Usually a text message or email, or some sort of location ping. It then can give that data to a site like APRS.fi which is where you can visualize all that data google maps style.

 

what antenna are you using with this radio? i'm looking for a whip with a mount that allows me to put it on my Prinsu, but articulate it down when I'm not using it.

 

Diamond Antenna NR770HB is what I use. Mounted on a piece of plate steel. And it folds for going in the garage, etc.

 

Yeah it seems yaesu is making a hard push with their digital mode radios. Heard they've practically been giving the repeaters away to try and re Jump start a cult following.

Nice radio for a great price. The touch screen wasn't for when I played with it in person. Do those radios have a TNC port ?

 

At its core ham is no different than the walkie talkies at Walmart or a cb. What sets it apart is more power allowance, a license/test is required, and the features listed in my video.

 

I use a 38” Comet that also folds over. Very handy and it performs very well.

 

Has one but not accessible like a Kenwood. You can still plug a tablet into the back and display aprs data onto a mapping application. Basically it’s data out, not in.

On 2m and 70cm I don’t see it as a big miss, not like I’m sending FT8 to Brazil from my Tacoma in AZ lol.

 

Then there is the other one... Receives 2m/1.25m/70cm AMAZING but the SWR on Tx is terrifying

 

Mine does 2m/70cm/and the GMRS band with low SWR. Climbs as you get close to 470 but nothing horrendous.

 

Nice! I just like being able to run aprsdroid and having a realtime map and voice messaging system. Haha

 

I tried to transmit on the low angle input of the X-wing. The inline SWR was 31.2 with a 8 watt HT The high angle does better, but still very high. Granted it is meant for a freq band inbetween 1.25m and 70cm on a MUCH stronger radio. Wasn't brave enough to hook my good 7900 to it.

 

One thing I didn’t mention as it’s yaesu specific is Group Monitoring. Basically anyone in your group who has yaesu digital radios can set up on the same frequency and see where everyone else is on a compass, distance, and be alerted when each person leaves and enters radio range. You can also send texts to each other and even low res photos. Perfect for a 4x4 club.

 

Lucky you still have a working radio lol

 

And it's nice because you still have the APRS for everyone else as well that's not running a fusion setup

 

Yeah, my commo buddy torched one of his mobile TYT radios as we were experimenting / bench testing. Like literal smoke and flames.

 

I’m actually not sure you can have both running at the same time. Ones digital and ones not, but GM takes up the screen when activated. I’ll have to play around with it tomorrow and see if there’s a solution there.

 

Has anybody heard of someone buying one radio and just swapping it around vehicles? I have 2 trucks for very different purposes and I really don't need 2 radios.

 

Yessir . Just install some powerpoles

 

Ohh. I forgot about powerpoles. Do those need a special crimper or not?

 

thinking about pairing up a Diamond Antenna K515SNMO and a Diamond Antenna NR770HBNMO . Seems like I'll be able to figure out how to get that on the Prinsu, and be able to articulate it down.