"emergency communications"???

[444]

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe these "sub channels" are sub-audible tones or what Mororola used to call PL tones (private line). If I am correct, you are not on a different "channel" you are just setting your radio to only open it's squelch when it senses the sub audible tone you set. If someone doesn't have his receiver squelched, he can still hear everything that is going on, on that channel. Don't get me wrong, this is a nice option, it limits the amount of chatter you have to listen to and in most cases limits the chatter to only the other people you desire to communicate with. However, anyone can listen to you, and anyone could "break in" on you if they had their radio set to the correct PL tone.
The scrambling is a nice feature I would like to have that.

 

[mpthole]

CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System)

444 you are correct.

For another explanation of these codes, you can go to this link on Frugal's: CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System)

 

[WYO]

I think that the posts on this thread demonstrate just how hit and miss emergency communications really are. There are too many types of communications that are incompatible with others, there are range and user coordination limitations inherent with each type, and you still need a power supply that outlasts the emergency. During active shooter response training, we were told to forget the radio ("it won't work") and rely on hand/voice signals with your 1-4 person "contact" or "rescue" team. I'm not saying don't buy emergency communications, but just assume that Murphy is going to be involved with their use.

 

[QKRTHNU]

HAM is the way to go. Only way to get to use some real radios. And learning Morse Code would be a good idea as well.

I keep meaning to get HAM licensed but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Logistar]

444, you are correct about the subchannels. But it keeps a LOT of chatter off your receiver. Otherwise you are constantly getting other peoples conversations when in a crowded area. It helps a LOT.

As for privacy... everyone can hear you on that channel. You just can't hear them (they won't break squelch on your unit). That is a good thing!

The only privacy I am aware of in these units is the Cobra'a "privacy feature". Although like I said, anyone with a Cobra unit with the privacy switched on and on your channel will be able to listen to you. However, that should reduce the number of people who would be able to listen.

Logistar

 

[Carlos]

Great info, guys.

Just retrieved a couple of up-to-date books from the library. The studying for the Technician test starts this evening.

Any opinions on the I-Com and Kenwood rigs? Looks like Ham Radio Outlet is the big retailer, and we have a store in town. I assume I'll have to have the FCC license before I can buy equipment??

Thanks.

 

[mpthole]

Carlos:

From what I've read the "big 3" manufacturers are Yaesu, Kenwood and ICOM. All of them have their own following - just like in the gun world. I compare it to the top .50 BMG manufacturers like Barrett, ArmaLite & Serbu (obviously there are others, but for the sake of discussion...), all of them make a great product and you'd probably be happy with any of them. I think the Yaesu, Kenwood and ICOM are in a similar vien (sp?).

Kenwood website

ICOM America
- I've heard the ICOM 706 mkIIg would be a very nice starter rig (FWIW)

Yaesu website

AFAIK, you do not need a license before buying equipment.

 

[Chaz]

Carlos

Most stores will still sell you equipment regardless of license status.
MPTHOLE is right, it all comes down to personal choice as far as the brand is concerned. Just do some research, find the rig that suits your needs/budget, and buy it! The big 3 are good companies that back their products and will be around for a while.

The test is quite simple so dont sweat it. Welcome to the hobby!

-Chaz
Ham Call: KT4CV

--Edited to fix spelling

 

[444]

The ham radio exams are a snap to pass. It wasn't always this way, but it is now. I became so bitter about this that I quit the hobby. I sold all my gear and have no further interest in it. The only thing you need to study is the question pool. For those not familiar, the exact questions and the exact answers are given to you. You can find them on-line or in a book. The only challange at all is that you study the whole question pool and they only ask so many questions. In other words you have all the questions and answers, you just don't know which ones are going to be asked. The test questions have to be worded exactly as they are in the question pool.
A buddy of mine wanted to get his tech so he could use a VHF handheld while hang gliding. He bought the book on Friday on the way home from work. By noon Saturday he was a licensed ham.
As far as gear, any of the manufacturers that you mention produce great gear. You can't go wrong with any of it. When I was active in the hobby, there was virtually no gear that was junk. Some stuff had more bells and whistles, but it was all very good. I personally would not buy gear locally because I don't want to pay the sales tax. But, it would probably be a good idea for someone that is new to the hobby to buy it locally so you have someone to show you how everything works and someone you can ask questions of.
As I understand it, it is now possible to buy a single radio that does practically everything. Again, I haven't kept up with the hobby but I believe you can buy a single transceiver that goes from the 160 meter band (maybe even the AM broadcast band) all the way through VHF and possibly UHF. With a little modification you can make the radio transmit on all these frequencies also providing you have a suitable antenna. This means that you could talk to other hams, CB radios, basically any radio out there. Now this isn't legal, but in a SHTF senario, it might come in handy.
Anyone can buy ham radio gear, you don't need any credentials. Radio Shack used to sell VHF and UHF ham gear. I saw VHF and UHF ham gear for sale at Fry's electronics the other day.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Ham since 7th grade. I used to do volunteer emergency comms for my school as I was the only Tech Plus class around. A history teacher and my principal (female) were also hams.

Most important thing to me is tossing a radio or three to my community members in an emergency. Ham radios may be too complicated, I can use it to communicate with the ouside, are the GMRS things two-way or can one communicate with the rest of the world?

I also urge anyone who has posted their callsigns to remove them, one can easily obtain your home address and whatnot with it. I'm sure personal privacy has been long compromised but it won't hurt to patch that one up. Just a suggestion.

 

[Carlos]

Hey, now we're talking.

Those are the answers I am looking for. Great info and thanks.

Just got off the phone with a buddy who was in the Coast Guard and they use I-Com equipment. Seen nice equipment in my range (to $500 for a handheld).

Went to the library and got the above-recommended book, plus another guide.

I'm studying. Looks like they give the exam every two weeks about 5 minutes from the house. I'll join their club when I take the test. Saw some sample questions and got six outta six, not reading about a darned thing.

I'm excited about the new toy. There's a Ham Radio Outlet store about a half hour drive from here. Think I'll see what they got in stock and see something in action. Glad to hear you can buy without the license.

My brother has an acquaintence whom I spoke with last weekend. He has a huge setup and he's into the mods. I'm going to be talking with this guy at length on Sunday, after "The Weekly Dump shoot."

Please, please keep the discussion going on this subject.

I can already see that, like guns, I'll be spending lots of $$$$$. I've got to have all the accessories and add-ons.

 

[444]

At my height in this hobby, I had far more invested in it than I did guns. I had four legal limit HF amplifiers. I had three complete stations with every possible option. Two of them were vintage stuff that had significant collector value. The two vintage stations looked just like the ones in the magazines of the 1960s. Every possible accessory.

I was never sure exactly who you would communicate with in a disaster situation. Or what the purpose of this communication would be, but emergency/disaster communication is a significant aspect of ham radio. They have traffic nets that met several times a day whose purpose is to pass "traffic" as practice for emergency communications. There are two disaster/emergency groups in ham radio ARES and RACES. As was mentioned, Field Day (in June) is a weekend event where clubs or individuals go out "in the field" and operate. The people who play the game as it was meant to be played put up their antennas just prior to operation and operate off of alternative power supplies like generators or solor. This is also a drill for disaster/emergency communication. Then there is MARS, the military affliliate radio service which are ham radio operators who pass traffic from military personel to their families in the states. Again, the purpose is to provide an alternate communications network in the event of an emergency. Most towns have a VHF/UHF weather net that meets weekly. The real purpose behind this net is to prepare for communications during a weather emergency. Ham radio is used by search and rescue teams and other emergency groups like the Civil Air Patrol. If you are into SHTF communications, you are certainly in the right place.

 

[Carlos]

I'm on the same "wavelength"




I'm more than willing to be a part of the team.

 

[Carlos]

Purchased starter radio today - I-Com IC-T90A hand-held transceiver.

Starting studying for the test and learning a whole new world as soon as I throw my chicken in the Oven and load some mags for shooting tomorrow.

 

[444]

I just looked that up, wow, that is a very versitile radio. Charge it up and dial in the frequency of 146.940, that used to be the most popular 2 meter repeater frequency. If you don't hear anything there after a few minutes, try listening from around 146.70 to 147.00, this is of course FM if your radio has different modes.

 

[Carlos]

Cool. I'm very excited on getting it. Should be by next weekend, I hope.

I'm enjoying the HAM radio book I've delved into. got another one at the office for when this one is done.

Damm, one of the links I got for local testing guy, came back with a Mailer Daemon saying, No Can Find.

Might have to travel a bit farther to take the test.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Cool thread!

I've been thinking about getting my ham license, probably starting off with a handheld. Am I correct that with a technician's license you can use the 2 meter band?

Thanks.

 

[444]

You are correct.

For anyone intested in this subject, check out this link: http://www.arrl.org/

This organization is the radio equivilent of the NRA.

 

[Carlos]

Also, if you're interesting in a great book on taking the test:

Technician Class, by Gordon West (2000)

I bought mine at Ham Radio Outlet. Radio Shack carries this book as well.

 

[444]

Ok, so did you pass the test or what ?

 

[Carlos]

I'll take it when I get the time. I've had two days of a little bit of time in the last three weeks to actually sit down and study. The book I got at Library sucked.

Purchased the Gordon West book Saturday. Been sitting down with it this evening.

I'll be taking the test soonest. I'll probably not have any more time to study until Thursday.

I'll get there. Picked up the radio, Saturday, to inspire me to study faster.

The job hasn't given me too many options in the last 9 weeks and I've been working every weekend.

 

[444]

Work sucks.
It takes up all your free time.

 

[Carlos]

This Gordon West book is just great. Just what I needed. I picked up the General class book for $4 at a local radio shack for the future.