So who knows about UHF/VHF handheld radios?

[Dolomite_supafly]

Needing a SME. getting ready to buy some and need advice.

Thanks
Dolomite

[R_Bert]

42 states worked here on VHF.

 

What do you need to know?

 

Ham, commercial, public?

 

will pm phone#

[mikegideon]

We talked. Sounds like he almost needs a repeater. PTP handhelds in hilly terrain.

[R_Bert]

Easy to do with ham radio.

 

BTW, am I the only one that has a trailer-mounted 50' crankup tower (with genset platform) for SHTF ?

[enfield]

[quote name="R_Bert" post="875867" timestamp="1357316935"]Easy to do with ham radio.   BTW, am I the only one that has a trailer-mounted 50' crankup tower (with genset platform) for SHTF ?[/quote] No, but you're one of only 2 that I know of. Our club used to borrow a trailer with a 40' crankup for Field Day. :)

[mikegideon]

I figure Dolomite will make one out of tire weights and some stuff he got at Walmart :)

[R_Bert]

No, but you're one of only 2 that I know of. Our club used to borrow a trailer with a 40' crankup for Field Day. :)

 

It *might* be the same trailer.

 

I used to loan mine out to a club in middle TN for FD. It resided in Lebanon for a number of years. (It was created/fabricated by one of my best friends in the world).

 

Was it a 2-section Heights Aluma-tower on a old travel-trailer frame, with 4 outriggers with trailer-leveling jacks ?  

 

The footprint of the parked trailer is ~25'x30' (self supporting unhooked from vehicle) It rides horizontal about 12' over the trailer, and tilts, then cranks up.

 

When in travel mode, it is just under the DOT height limit and ~25' long, and usually extends 6-8' over the hood of the tow-vehicle. If you ever saw it over there, you would not forget it.  It is a thing of beauty, but also incredibly ugly.

 

The only other homebrew tower-trailer I ever saw was owned by a buddy of mine on Signal Mountain. His rides ~4' off the ground in travel-mode.

Edited January 5, 2013 by R_Bert

[Mark A]

We talked. Sounds like he almost needs a repeater. PTP handhelds in hilly terrain.

THAT sounds like a fun weekend project...

[mikegideon]

THAT sounds like a fun weekend project...

 

I have a spectrum analyzer with tracking generator. Just gotta wait for Dolomite to get back from the Walmart :). After pinging him again, I'm not sure a fixed repeater fits his plan. Probably high band V handheld radios, and take what you get.

[R_Bert]

We talked. Sounds like he almost needs a repeater. PTP handhelds in hilly terrain.

 

Yeah, I gathered some info from him also.  Agreed, it *might* be a bit much for smallest HTs. Dolomite also mentioned to me some additional scope that may exceed just one band.

 

As far as local point-point, 3-4 miles hilly terrain, a cross-banded mobile set on higher ground might be an option to improve copy, or perhaps even just slightly better HTs & antennas (example metal frame & quarterwave BNC).

 

But, it needs some advance thought for best service in rough terrain.

 

You may have noted the "basics" thread I am pulling/calling together so newcomers can have a platform to assess their needs. A work in progress.......

[mikegideon]

A fixed repeater will solve the problem.. Just not sure if that fits the scenario. High band V turns corners pretty well. Still can't totally count on it for longer ranges.

[R_Bert]

A fixed repeater will solve the problem.. Just not sure if that fits the scenario. High band V turns corners pretty well. Still can't totally count on it for longer ranges.

 

And not on his budget....repeaters and duplexers, and associated equipment are not inexpensive.

 

But there are a number of existing repeaters that give great coverage in his area (and with backup power), but he also mentioned frequency agility. 

 

BTW, I think I know of at least one TGO member that could cover the entire TN Valley if he put a repeater up. I used to help run a few repeaters near him, and I also operated 6 beacon and digi sites up and down the ridge line from Chattanooga to Johnson City. 

[mikegideon]

Dolomite has metal skills, and I would be happy to drive up and tune the filters. I just don't know if a fixed location is in the cards,

[R_Bert]

I will make a note to add some commentary/websites regarding repeaters, and design,fabrication, and tuning of repeater systems. If you want to write up a paragraph or so of points, I'll add it in to the "basics" . 

 

I have a few Wacom 144 & 440 cans I can show Gordon as an example.

 

I would guess a fixed location would be low on the list, and also like you not probable until a need and wider funding would arise.

Edited January 5, 2013 by R_Bert

[mikegideon]

I have a ton of 450 cans. Nothing in VHF.

[RichardR]

I have a pair of Motorola GMRS/FRS Talkabout hand-helds & a mounted CB radio in my truck, for basic, non-secure, short-range comm needs.

I have used my Motorola's quite a bit over the last 6 or so years that I have owned them so I am very familiar with what their terrain & range limitations are.

I'd like to get a bigger/better antenna for my CB to get more range out of it, but I can't seem to find a source for those big "whip" ones anywhere locally, granted a CB setup like mine is still a short range proposition but at least it'd help me reach out a bit further than I can reach at the moment.

I'd really love to get a decent HAM radio, but money is super-tight at the moment so the longer CB antenna will have to do until then.

Anyone know where I can get a longer antenna for my truck?

[R_Bert]

I'd like to get a bigger/better antenna for my CB to get more range out of it, but I can't seem to find a source for those big "whip" ones anywhere locally, granted a CB setup like mine is still a short range proposition but at least it'd help me reach out a bit further than I can reach at the moment.

I'd really love to get a decent HAM radio, but money is super-tight at the moment so the longer CB antenna will have to do until then.

Anyone know where I can get a longer antenna for my truck?

 

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102428 or there should be 102" whips at the next local hamfest. 

 

I have not perused this site, but it looks promising also - http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Manufacturers/Antennas/HF/Mobile_Antennas/

 

 

BTW, the 102" whip attached to vehicle is a mobile version of a antenna design commonly known as '1/4 wavelength vertical or 1/4 wave ground-plane)'.  The VHF version is much smaller, for example ~19" at 146 MHz.  The vehicle body effectively acts as a counterpoise or ground plane for the whip (.i.e. the other half of the antenna). 

Edited January 5, 2013 by R_Bert