Very true!  I'm still a newbie with a lot of this; but I'm willing to help out.  I don't know anything about the various message formats; but the way I see it, there's time!

Just tell me when to be on the air and I'll make sure my ears are up!

Quote from: Geek on September 08, 2013, 10:35:46 AM

Quote from: KF5RHI on September 07, 2013, 10:08:29 PM

Quote from: Geek on September 07, 2013, 05:04:17 PM
Where did you get the velcro piece with your call sign?

MilitaryNameTapes.com

Cool.  Thanks.

No problem!  I bought two or three of 'em along with some name tapes.  Shipping was pretty quick too.

I found a local place that makes 2" x 3" callsign patches, the size that would Velcro onto tactical caps.  They ship anywhere in the world too.  Once I get my order I'll let ya know if they're any good.

Quote from: Geek on September 07, 2013, 05:04:17 PM
Where did you get the velcro piece with your call sign?

MilitaryNameTapes.com

Here's the pack I use for my Yeasu FT-8900.



The three smaller pouches on the front were all added to the pack separately.  Everything was purchased off eBay.

I'm gonna shoot a YouTube video tomorrow!

In my backpack portable rig I've got a YoYo-Tenna, two buddiestiks center-fed on a homebrew feedpoint I found on YouTube and an Opek HVT-400b...along with 50' of RG8X

It is...already checked!  ;)

That's pretty slick!

I've got a Yeasu FT-8900R fully backpack portable with a 10aH battery, a buddipole antenna, YoYo-Tenna, and Opek HVT-400B (what can I say, I like having options in my antennae) along with 250' of 550 cord.  The whole thing weighs in at just under 30# and can be operated on the move. 

The RACES/ARES group that I work with here in DFW uses regular 2m / 70cm repeaters and freqs.  MARS on the other hand uses outside bands that require your radio to be modified.  There are quite a few RMS VHF gateways out there too.  I've got like 10 within 50 miles of my house. 

The big honking batteries and generators are only needed if you're doing 24 hour a day radio ops.  I think once things go SHTF and stay that way, the 24 hour a day ops people will fall by the wayside or adapt to a more realistic OpTempo like checking in at the top/bottom of each hour or according to some pre-determined schedule.  Solar panel(s) can also greatly help extend your operating time; but you guys are already way ahead of me on this.  I'm not breaking any new ground here. 

Quote from: gil on August 30, 2013, 11:58:34 AM
That might be a good way to start in Ham radio and meet other Hams, but IMHO the equipment and procedures these guys use, though being good for helping relief agencies, are not good for the lonely prepper who wants to help himself, his family and friends..

Gil.

True, but I'm not talking about bringing the club in and showing them all your supplies and weapons.  Cherry-pick the information, skills and resources you need/want and leave the rest.  Besides, you can make some valuable contacts that may actually help when things go sideways.

I found an old 54G model in a junk drawer the other day.  Sounds like I've got a new purpose for it!   ;D

Isn't it Patton that said, "...the more we sweat in training, the less we bleed in war."?  Get involved with your county RACES/ARES group.  After working some public service events you'll get a better idea of where you're lacking.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong!

Yeah, I've got Chirp for my HT.  It works OK with my Wouxon.

Wow!  I just checked that link in Wally's reply and both my 8900 and the 857 are listed!  SWEET!!   ;D

Quote from: KC9TNH on August 27, 2013, 08:13:20 PM
First, welcome to the Forum. :)

That FT-family of 817/857/897 share some physical interfaces & pinouts on those connectors, so not surprised that a couple of the usual interface cables can be used between radios.  Yaesu's use of a 6-pin mini-DIN for example is pretty standard between those 3 radios.

However, given the diff between an 8x7 radio and the 8900R I'd be very surprised if the same application would take care of both.  (Maybe there's some Godzilla-like version of Ham Radio Deluxe that would do that.)
Are you looking to "control" the radio or just something to ease the loading of various freqs, repeater offsets, etc.?

Again, welcome.

Thanks!   ;D

In this particular case I'm thinking more along the lines of programming the radio (i.e. freqs, repeater offset, modes, etc.)

I'm going to use the FT-857 to do digital work most likely using FLDigi or HRD5x.

Roger that!

I've got a buddy of mine with an 817 and an 857 and he says that the programming cable and the cable for the SignaLink are the same for both.  I'm hoping I can get away with not having to buy the programming software again if I can help it.

I'll keep an ear to the ground!