Ham radio bands

[brewmenn]

OK I'm working on getting my licence, and am shopping for a radio.

Which frequency bands are most likely to be useful for what we'd be doing?

[Deathdealer]

Mostly 144 MHz or 430 MHz for mobile comms

[JerryD]

Yep, what he said. Even just a straight 2M rig will probably get you all you need. I would guess that >90% of vehicle-to-vehicle ham radio trail communication is on that band. They're not that expensive, either. You can get an Icom or Kenwood 2M new for $170.

I have a dual band Kenwood TM-D700 for using APRS (position reporting) and really like it. A nice thing about some dual-banders is the capability of doing cross-band repeat where I use my (low-power) handheld on UHF to communicate to my d700 which will then repeat the signal on VHF to get to a repeater and go out from there.

Yeah, yeah, I like gadgets but this actually can be useful! ;)

73,
N2JPZ

[kb8ymf]

Congrats Bruce on working on you license.
The only thing I would add/change is that I REALLY prefer a radio that I can display two different frequencies at once. It's very handy and quite useful to keep one side of the radio tuned to a lacal repeator and the other side to the simplex frequency we use.
My radio is Kenwood TM-733 which they don't make anymore. The dual band radios do cost a bit more. The 170 ish price that was mentioned is for a single band radio. Duals will be about double. Duals and not absolutely required but nice. For a single band I would lean toward one of the higher powered Yaseau's or ICOM's. Can't remember the model number right now.
The other key to a great radio is the antenna. Don't skimp here. A good antenna will run you just under a hundred. I'm thinking Diamond SG-7500
It's the same one I set WhiteRhino up with an he's been pretty happy with it.
Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll dig up an answer for you.
jim-kb8ymf

[brewmenn]

Mostly 144 MHz or 430 MHz for mobile comms

OK let me make sure I have this right...

wavelength (m) = 300/f (MHz) so

144MHz = 2 meter
430MHz = .70 meter or 70cm

Right?

[kb8ymf]

OK let me make sure I have this right...

wavelength (m) = 300/f (MHz) so

144MHz = 2 meter
430MHz = .70 meter or 70cm

Right?

ding, ding, ding!

[DDS4X4]

Recommend a good, currently available, dual band radio Jim M!

I still haven't acquired mine .... but Christmas is coming???

Thanks!

[OldSailor]

Good job. Let us know when you get your license -- and post your call sign.

[brewmenn]

Hopefully this is a good radio:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/2350h.html

Because I just bought one on Ebay.

[JerryD]

Don't have any first hand experience with it, but eHam.net (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2255) reviews are pretty good... 4.6 outta 5. :thumb:

[Papa]

Jim, I've been away from the Ham business for quite a long time, but the Swan 500C is setting here waiting for me to warm up its pair of 6LQ6s in push-pull (if I get a little ambition---and antennas). But, I wasn't sure on what you said about dual band---is this the same as we used to refer to transmitting on one band and receiving on another?

Jerry
WB8AVK

[kb8ymf]

Jim, I've been away from the Ham business for quite a long time, but the Swan 500C is setting here waiting for me to warm up its pair of 6LQ6s in push-pull (if I get a little ambition---and antennas). But, I wasn't sure on what you said about dual band---is this the same as we used to refer to transmitting on one band and receiving on another?

Jerry
WB8AVK

Hi Jerry,
Swan 500, WOW! Don't hear about to many of those anymore.
On the dual band reference, it's actually dual transmit and recievers. The radio that Bruce got on EBay above is a perfect example. (Good nab by the way Bruce. Hopefully is will be in decent condition) You can have it on two seperate VHF bands at once and both will be recieving. You obviously limited to transmitting on one at a time but with two incoming recievers, you can keep track of local and long distance communication without switching back and forth or scanning between the two.
The next thing you can do with a dual band is 'crossband repeat' This is basically using your hand held and transmitting to your radio in the truck and using that radio as a reperator. Giving you longer range than with you Handheld alone.
It's a nice feature but I've yet to use mine in any capacity other than see if I could get it to work. Which it did.
jim-kb8ymf

[Papa]

Jim, thanks!
It all sounds pretty interesting----and pretty useful too!

Jerry
WB8AVK

[JerryD]

Recommend a good, currently available, dual band radio Jim M!

I still haven't acquired mine .... but Christmas is coming???

Thanks!

Doug - I just looked up your call... I take it that your user id does not reflect your profession? And here I thought we had a wheelin' dentist that was available for any periodontal predicament that may present itself while propelling down the path...

Oh, and what I wrote earlier about a "some dual-banders" doing cross-band repeat? I suppose technically that is correct, but somewhat misleading. That's not what I meant, but it is what I wrote. Sometimes I try to do a quick response and my fingers get away from my brain. Brain farts hurt. Anyway, sorry I wasn't more clear.

[OldSailor]

Nowadays, generally but not always, when someone talks about a "dual bander" or a "dual band transceiver", they're talking about a rig (usually mobile or portable) that can transmit and receive on both 2 meters (148 MHz) and 70 cm (440 MHz).

A little more confusing is the term "tribander". Usually, it's a rig that can Tx and Rx on 148MHz, 440 MHz, and 220 MHz. But sometimes it refers to a rig that can Tx and Rx on 148 MHz, 440 MHz, and 6 meters. Also, in both of these latter instances, the rig is usually a mobile rig or a portable (handi-talkie) transceiver.

[Papa]

I'm glad you cleared that up. When I saw "tribander" I immediately thought: 3-element beam for 40m, 20m and 15m. Times do change, but so does the lingo!

[ojsdna744]

Ok, stupid question time...I'm heading this way myself for my military rigs. Do your radios also operate over 30 to 75.95 MHz FM ?
:rolleyes:
Sorry, I know absolutely nothing in this area........yet.

[OldSailor]

The frequency range you specify (30 MHz to 75.95 MHz) is between what are generally termed the Amateur HF bands (below 30 MHz) and the Amateur VHF bands (usually 144 MHz to 300 MHz).

There is an Amateur radio 6-meter band around 50 MHz that is technically in the VHF range (30 MHz to 300 MHz), but it doesn't get as much use as the HF bands or the 2-meter and 70 cm bands.

By far, the most popular frequency band for mobile (and portable) use is the 2-meter VHF band, ranging from about 144 MHz to about 148 MHz. The nice thing about the VHF bands is that phone (voice) operation on them only requires a Technician Class Amateur Radio Licence, which doesn't require that much knowledge of rules and electronics, whereas significan operation on the HF bands requires a General Class license. Classes (free) for the Technician license are frequently given by individuals of amateur radio clubs. Also, purchase of a 2-meter mobile rig requires a minimal investment -- You can buy a new 2-meter rig for less than $150. If you shop carefully, you can get a tranceiver and a suitable antenna/mount for less than $170.

I'd imagine that most of the questions you have would be answered in any class for Technician license. There is also s couple of good books (about $15 and $23) available from ARRL that will fix you right up.

[Deathdealer]

Like Bob said, take a class and buy the books. When I thought I was ready to take my exam about two weeks before I took these online tests (free) http://www.eham.net/exams/
until I started getting 100% on them. When I went to take the test it was a breeze.

[JerryD]

Here are two pfd's for those that care...

US Frequency allocation chart (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf)
Amateur Radio allocation chart (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/Hambands_color.pdf)

And for any that hit on this thread that aren't licensed, but are interested, here's one more link http://www.hello-radio.org/

[brewmenn]

Well I passed the test. Technician and General. I missed getting Amateur Extra by 4 questions without ever studying it.

[TOOLTIME]

i got mine too. good job.....now i need a radio

[WhiteRhino]

Congrats to you both.

Jim

[Creative Fab]

:thumb:

I still need to take the test, prolly should study first though. Been relying on the wifes license whenver we use the Ham:wah: