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Messages - Quietguy

#166
New To Radio / Re: Baofeng
April 20, 2013, 06:37:32 PM
The UV-5R can be programmed to transmit and receive on a wide range of frequencies, but there are some gotchas in there.  It is not legal to use it on FRS frequencies because it does not meet FRS system requirements.  FCC rules say GMRS radios are supposed to be Type Accepted under Part 95 of their rules, but the UV-5R is Type Accepted under Part 90 rules, so it is not in compliance.  Also, a GMRS license is currently required to use GMRS frequencies.

All of the Part 90 frequencies require a license to operate on any given frequency, so you can't use it under Part 90 unless you have the license holders permission to operate there.  An example would be a volunteer fire fighter could use it on his department's public safety frequency if the department authorized him to do so.

The biggest use of UV-5R is for ham radio - it is legal to use it on either the 2 meter or 70cm (440 MHz) bands with a Technician class ham license.  Many hams have bought them for backup or kick-around radios because of their low cost.

It's a cool little radio, but it is easy to get out of compliance with regulations when using it.  Some people don't worry about that, but others do.  Caution when programming it is advised...

Wally
#167
Like others have said, terrain and local conditions (apartment, antenna/deed restricted community, farm, etc) is key to answering your question, along with the relationship of each party to the others.  Depending on specifics there can be several solutions, but ham radio will address any of them.  Some people who live in relatively flat country and have the space to erect high antennas can make reliable direct distant contacts with equipment/frequencies permitted with a Technician class license. 

I live in a hilly/mountainous part of the country so my options are more limited.  However, using an NVIS setup as mentioned by cockpitbob I can reliably connect with a good friend about 100 miles to my north using 50 watts or less on the 75 meter HF band.  The downside is the antennas are long - they are only simple wire dipoles, but they are about 135 in overall length.  That isn't a problem for me; I have plenty of room and no restrictions, but it might be difficult for someone in a city apartment.  This requires a General or Extra class license, but that isn't a big hurdle these days.

There are so many options for infrastructure-free (no repeaters) direct communications that it can be confusing to come up with an answer.  There are voice modes, digital data modes and of course the old standby - Morse Code (CW).  A big factor in creating a communications plan is identifying how much time, trouble and expense each member is willing to put into the project.  There may be other ways of accomplishing your goals, but ham radio has so many options that if none of them meet your needs than you can be sure the other methods won't either.

Wally
#168
Quote from: RadioRay on April 15, 2013, 10:35:47 PMI believe that ANY 'tech' not understood by the dumbest guy on the street, is a potential problem, if you flash it around.

I saw a report of a pilot who was staying in a hotel room in NYC when 9/11 happened.  He left an Icom air band handheld laying out while he was out of the room.  A maid saw it and didn't know what it was so she called police.  Police came and looked at it, determined it was capable of transmitting/receiving on aircraft frequencies and gave him a fun question and answer session.  In the end it worked out, but I'm sure he didn't enjoy the experience... which could have been avoided by leaving the radio inside his luggage.

I haven't used any of the Internet repeater access modes and I didn't think of it either.  Radioreference.com has live audio feeds from around the country, but I didn't check them out earlier.  I'm not at all familiar with Boston so I figured I wouldn't be able to follow what was going on even if the feed was working well.  I have not had good luck trying to make sense out of what I was hearing when in unfamiliar territory.

Wally
#169
Quote from: RadioRay on April 15, 2013, 05:58:50 PMSo - cellphones are -once again - not your best bet for emergency communications for this and many other reasons.

But that brings up the question... what is your best bet?

I suppose the answer depends on who you want on the other end of the link.  If you want to contact the person you rode to the event with then probably ham handhelds might be appropriate - maybe one with lesser used bands, like 220 on the Kenwood TH-F6A.  It might be appropriate to assume repeaters are overloaded or off the air; like WA4SO said, lots of hams in the area.  FRS/GMRS will likely be quite busy also.  Maybe MURS?

If you aren't within VHF/UHF simplex range of your contact, then what?  Whip an HF rig out of your backpack, set up an antenna and how long will it be before you attract some unwanted attention?  Maybe a small computer and SDR transceiver might go unnoticed.

But even if you have the gear and the ability to set it up quickly, do you have a plan in place for someone to look for your contact?  Do you suppose most of the people who went to Boston today called their radio buddies and said "hey, I'm going to the marathon... if something bad happens look for me per our emergency calling plan"?

Lots of questions, and the answers are probably different for each of us.  But, once again, we have been reminded that we need to think about these things.  Details matter.

Wally
#170
General Discussion / New guy checking in...
April 13, 2013, 08:36:26 PM
I've been lurking for a few days after signing up and decided I should officially check in.  I found the forum when another member (an old friend) sent me a reference to it.  The place looked reasonably coherent so I thought I would sign up and stick around a little while.

I'm retired and live in a more or less rural area in the wet side of Washington state.  Although I'm an Extra class operator I haven't been doing a lot of radio stuff lately other than participating in our local ACS group.  The QRP/CW discussions between Gil and Radioray have piqued my interest (again) along those lines and reminded me of some unfinished projects I need to finish.  I passed the 5 wpm test when it was still required for General but I made the mistake of not getting on the air with CW, so now I need to start over.

Anyway, hello to the forum.
Wally