VHF SSB for Local/Regional Comms? And IC-251E...

Started by gil, June 21, 2017, 08:11:21 AM

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gil

Hello,

Guess what I'm getting next week in the mail?



Yep, an Icom IC-251E 2m all-modes transceiver.

I want to explore the usefulness of VHF SSB for prepping, as opposed to FM or NVIS on lower bands. I don't think 2m USB will be that much better than FM using a high-gain Yag-Uda directional antenna, but it should still have an edge. I still think NVIS on 80m will beat anything for regional comms, but has any of you guys tried 2m SSB? What is your opinion?

I am building this antenna right now: https://m0ukd.com/homebrew/antennas/144mhz-2m-portable-yagi-vhf-beam-antenna/

Gil.

KK0G

I dabbled in VHF weak signal a little quite a few years ago but I'm far from highly experienced, here's what I learned; antenna gain is everything, but let me explain. By antenna gain I mean total gain as in antenna height, gain of the antenna itself, minimal signal attenuation in feedline, antenna polarization, etc. They don't call it weak signal for no reason and a lot of he quick and dirty set ups commonly used on VHF FM don't work well on extremely weak signals.
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin

KK0G

Jon_Garfio

If you want a little and portable prepper yagui antenna watch this:

http://www.qsl.net/xe3rlr/antvhf2.htm




Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk Pro
Sapere aude

cockpitbob

I wish I could find that article where Boy Scouts were camping and doing 2M work.  They made a 3 element Yagi with a tree branch and some barbed wire and talked off a mountain top repeater many miles away.  The rusty barbed wire on the crooked stick looked awesome.

gil

Thanks Guys. :)

I got the IC-251E from a German seller on Ebay, too cheap to pass...

I wonder is a preamp might be useful... I need to test the rig without one first of course, and the goal is to be heard as well. I ordered a CTCSS tone board to be able to use it on the local FM repeater as well. 10W isn't a lot for weak signal VHF, but I have seen plenty of people do it on Youtube. There are tons of old 2m SSB rigs on Ebay, often for less than $100. I paid $200, but this one is in excellent shape and the model I wanted. I used to have an IC-271A which I never used for SSB, what a shame, but a great radio too. I almost got the MFJ-9402 but it was going to cost me double with import taxes.

The 6-el Yagi-Uda is half-way done, video in the works...

BTW, anyone knows what type of connector is used for DC, a 4-pin in-line type? I can't seem to be able to find a new one...

Gil.

KK0G

Quote from: gil on June 22, 2017, 03:04:30 AM

BTW, anyone knows what type of connector is used for DC, a 4-pin in-line type? I can't seem to be able to find a new one...

Gil.


I did a Google image search and that looks like a standard Molex four pin connector to me.
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin

KK0G

gil

Looks like it, yes. Thanks!
Gil

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Bigguy49

Use to work into Colgate Ok and central Texas (Waco, Ft Hood ) from East Dallas with no more than a 7 element beam horizontal and I think 12 watts out on my old Icom all mode mobile rig

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gil

QuoteUse to work into Colgate Ok and central Texas (Waco, Ft Hood ) from East Dallas

How far is it?

Gil.

caulktel

Hi Gil,

A Ham friend of mine gave me the US version because it didn't work. I was able to restore it back to working order. It is a great radio.

Joel
N6ALT

gil

Nice looking one too Joel! I need to find an original microphone.. The one I ordered is a no-brand replacement. No contact yet but I am trying using CW since I don't have the mic yet. I did hear some SSB activity around here though. My homebuilt portable 6-el Yagi-Uda seems to work well, SWR 1.3:1, up to 2:1 at 144.7MHz.

Gil.

caulktel

Thanks Gil, I'm rather proud of my IC-251A. I'm using it with a halo antenna right now and it seems to work very good with low SWR. I also have a small 40 watt 2 meter amp, but have not had to use it yet. I'm mostly working local SSB right now. Where did you find a CTCSS board? I would have though those would be hard to find by now. I had to completely rebuild the mic, but it sounds good now and has the DTMF pad in it. Great old radio.

Joel
N6ALT

Bigguy49

Quote from: gil on June 23, 2017, 06:26:25 AM
QuoteUse to work into Colgate Ok and central Texas (Waco, Ft Hood ) from East Dallas

How far is it?

Gil.
From Mesquite Tx  to Colgate Ok is roughly 140 miles ,and to Ft Hood, Killeen is about the same.

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gil

FB Bigguy!

Joel, I found a board on EBay, from a South African seller. There are plenty from China. Now I need to find out where to inject the tone.. Presumably it is printed on the PCB but I haven't found it..

Gil

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gil

First contact with the IC-251E in USB! Only 20km, but hey, it works! We both were using Yagi-Uda antennas, horizontally polarized. No surprise, S9, him 30W, me 10W. Now I need a first CW contact ;D

Gil.