Communications Plan
- Thread starter Captjim_NM
- Start date
Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:
There are some pretty high hills not far from me, overkill really for 2m operation but there is some CB activity around here on uhf and I plan to go up and run some tests with an icom "ic-41" I picked up a while back. I have noticed over the years that the amateur radio operators down here are a pretty conformist lot, as in they all vote, all get vaccinated, all wear their hearts on the sleeve so to speak. They would not be my first choice as confederates in a dark world, and by that I mean they are very resistant to break rules and going against government edicts. Something needed even now I am afraid.
I tried to tee a couple up for meets during our lockdowns and they would have no part of it, not even in a local park where they were "allowed" to go exercise. They didn't want you in their homes either, that's another breach of rules. As a worker who had sanctioned access to peoples homes every day because my job was essential, I found this quite laughable but there you have it. Not that my job was ever classified as essential, I just believed it was and no one ever questioned me. I also took long motorcycle rides and was never accosted, those rules were for the weak in the head I came to realize.
Anyway getting back to the real point of the post, I plan to use a speaker mic on the icom so I can sit it on the car roof and get a ground-plane effect, I'll probably need a repeater to test that if I can't get a qso going. 5W on uhf will actually go a long way, I have recorded repeater contacts at 100km using only 0.5W. It's a good band but very line of sight dependent. Harking back to the lockdowns again I was told that 27meg activity in my region went through the roof at that time but I didn't explore it myself. I shall in the future though.
I tried to tee a couple up for meets during our lockdowns and they would have no part of it, not even in a local park where they were "allowed" to go exercise. They didn't want you in their homes either, that's another breach of rules. As a worker who had sanctioned access to peoples homes every day because my job was essential, I found this quite laughable but there you have it. Not that my job was ever classified as essential, I just believed it was and no one ever questioned me. I also took long motorcycle rides and was never accosted, those rules were for the weak in the head I came to realize.
Anyway getting back to the real point of the post, I plan to use a speaker mic on the icom so I can sit it on the car roof and get a ground-plane effect, I'll probably need a repeater to test that if I can't get a qso going. 5W on uhf will actually go a long way, I have recorded repeater contacts at 100km using only 0.5W. It's a good band but very line of sight dependent. Harking back to the lockdowns again I was told that 27meg activity in my region went through the roof at that time but I didn't explore it myself. I shall in the future though.
LOVE the shack, Looks like a Heil mic in pic, did you know Bob Heil died this week, RIP Bob for your MANY accomplishments in the radio industry!
Currently undertaking studies to gain my foundation license will be on week 2 next week of a 3 week zoom training session have resisted all urges and temptation to purchase a mobile and handheld sets until after I've passed the examination/practical component
This will give me an extra addition to my communication plan in event that STHF does happen at some point this year
This will give me an extra addition to my communication plan in event that STHF does happen at some point this year
Last Saturday was judgement day to see if I had retained all the learnings from both previous weekend's practice session and 3 week zoom course on foundation amateur radio only took me about 15 or so minutes to complete the 25 question exam aside from skipping 3 questions and going back to them before i finished ended up with 23/25 right and 92% pass mark after a quick refresher/recap from previous week's practice run and some oral questions my assessor signed me off as competent
Now I'm waiting on ACMA to approve the selected call sign before I am allowed to push transmit on my baofeng UV-25 handheld I've also got a Hamgeek APX-8000 being posted out to me as well so 2 meter and 70cm will become my secondary bands incase STHF scenario does unfold of which isn't that far off given the situation in Israel where an all out conflict with Iran/Theran is likely to happen
Now I'm waiting on ACMA to approve the selected call sign before I am allowed to push transmit on my baofeng UV-25 handheld I've also got a Hamgeek APX-8000 being posted out to me as well so 2 meter and 70cm will become my secondary bands incase STHF scenario does unfold of which isn't that far off given the situation in Israel where an all out conflict with Iran/Theran is likely to happen
checkout andrews communications in SYD, they are the go to place for aussie amateurs and the prices are ok. Antennas are the secret, good antennas like the Diamond X300N base station for 2 and 70 will get you out, even with a little handi. All you'll need is an adapter and some coax. You'll find as you make contacts that most amateurs use Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood gear, a bit more expensive than the chinese offerings but chalk and cheese when it comes to function and quality of sound etc.
Two-way communications in my preparedness world. There are several simple, cost effective way to hide in plain site when it come to flying under the radar. Portable high powered hand held, mobile and base radio rigs are all part of that plan. To me, I rely on repeaters set up in strategic locations to do the trick. I currently have a network designed to cover a 50 mile radius, so that four preparedness teams can communicate during scheduled times. The idea is to share information and resources, especially medication and food during an event.
What do you guys think about one of those antennas that can be put in trees? Like this one…
Right now I have 10 of these
“BAOFENG BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen) 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio”.
Do you think I should get some of the newer 10 Watt radios? Beyond a very noticeable tall pole antenna are there any other options?
Get a magnetic car antenna for Baofang for only $13 from Amazon.
Tie a piece of paracord to it and throw over a tree limb if necessary.
I put this on a roof with a one square foot piece of metal under it as a ground plane
for best result. If hung from a tree, the metal plane will stick to the magnet.
All of this is equal to the same signal as the $72 kit.
Tie a piece of paracord to it and throw over a tree limb if necessary.
I put this on a roof with a one square foot piece of metal under it as a ground plane
for best result. If hung from a tree, the metal plane will stick to the magnet.
All of this is equal to the same signal as the $72 kit.
FM 2 meters is Line of Sight (LOS) without a repeater (It also must be LOS). Higher is better, but don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.
My fallback radio is a 2m/440 rig with a mag mount antenna stuck to the roof of my shed, it works remarkably well in farm country
https://mikestechblog.com/build-a-diy-2-meter-j-pole-antenna/
Have one of these in the "go box". https://n9taxlabs.com/shop/ols/products/dual-band-slim-jim-antenna-with-10-or-16-foot-cable
Last edited:
THose antennas work great depending on the frequency being used, PEACHY are you aware of the Stone Mountain Hamfest coming up on Nov 2 & 3 at the Lawrenceville fairgrounds??? You can find some GREAT radio deals there!!!
No I wasn’t Dave. Never been to one of those. Great idea though and the weather will be much cooler!
Ill be there, you can find great deals there
Jim, you always have such great ideas for comms!! Nice to see you! Since I have a metal roof, can I just put it on my roof? Silly question. What type of wire is needed to connect the antenna to the radio?
Also, do you think it is worth upgrading to the Baofeng uv-r5 10 Watt radios? I have the 8 Watt ones.
Let’s communicate closer to November and plan a spot to meet up!
WE can do that,
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 22,081
I put a magnetic car antennae on my file cabinet at work, used my handitalkie with it and it worked just fine. Enough to talk all over the Albuquerque area.
Wow! I will definitely look into the car antenna Jim told me about. Thank you Amish for your experience!!
My main issue(s) with comms is getting the others to do their part 
. I have a CB and walkie talkies. If he who shall remain nameless takes it, he usually leaves it off 
. I turn it on before handing it to him. I’ve told my folks multiple times what channel I use. Anytime we need to use them, what channel you on? I just keep trying ~
(I’ve never tried hams)
. I have a CB and walkie talkies. If he who shall remain nameless takes it, he usually leaves it off . I turn it on before handing it to him. I’ve told my folks multiple times what channel I use. Anytime we need to use them, what channel you on? I just keep trying ~(I’ve never tried hams)
I have a few of the roll-up jpole antennas like the one shown. They work a heck of a lot better than the stock rubber duck antenna. Get your antenna as high up as possible to improve range and clarity. That little pigtail coax attached to the 'feng is fine as an adapter, but I would recommend much longer feed line.
Georfia -
Send me the information on the car antenna you currently have.
I will then show you the wire and additional fitting if needed.
Costa4670#gmail.com
Send me the information on the car antenna you currently have.
I will then show you the wire and additional fitting if needed.
Costa4670#gmail.com
Car antennas, mag mounts, work pretty well. I've used one stuck to a pizza pan inside before.Jpole is a good one, roll up models are very portable. But one made inside PVC, or just copper tubing is even better.
One thing with antennas, ALWAYS used the best coax possible. Losses in the coax defeat any gain from your antenna. Keep the coax runs as short as you can. And like has been mentioned, get the antenna as high as you can
One thing with antennas, ALWAYS used the best coax possible. Losses in the coax defeat any gain from your antenna. Keep the coax runs as short as you can. And like has been mentioned, get the antenna as high as you can
Last edited:
Shelby NC is another BIG Hamfest at the fairgrounds there, great place to pick up radios and parts, Its going to be August 30
Shelby was my favorite hamfest many years ago. Never have made it to Dayton
If you do, I know a place you can bunk. The location in Xenia is 24 miles from the new house
Why thank you Dade. I can't recall the last hamfest I went to. All the local ones stopped several years ago.
I have found some great deals at Shelby and Lawrenceville Ill def be at Shelby on aug 30 and in Lawrenceville on nov 2
Ed Fong makes some good roll up antennas.
https://edsantennas.weebly.com/
Scroll down the page to the antenna listing. The DBJ-2 is the one you would want (for HAM handheld frequencies). The DBJ-1 (the one I have) is the same as the roll up version, but it goes inside a PVC tube, making it rigid. The roll up would be the way to go if you want to be more mobile and hang it from trees, etc.
Below is a link to Ed's talk to our club a few years ago. He talks about his antennas. Ed starts his presentation somewhere around 14 to 15 minutes into the video. The audio goes bad in a few places on this Zoom call meeting (this was back during the Covid days when all our meetings went virtual).
https://edsantennas.weebly.com/
Scroll down the page to the antenna listing. The DBJ-2 is the one you would want (for HAM handheld frequencies). The DBJ-1 (the one I have) is the same as the roll up version, but it goes inside a PVC tube, making it rigid. The roll up would be the way to go if you want to be more mobile and hang it from trees, etc.
Below is a link to Ed's talk to our club a few years ago. He talks about his antennas. Ed starts his presentation somewhere around 14 to 15 minutes into the video. The audio goes bad in a few places on this Zoom call meeting (this was back during the Covid days when all our meetings went virtual).
Hey Jim, been a few days since I checked this site. Here is what I found for the antenna. Can you let me know if this one is what you would use with a Baofeng up r5?
Can you let me know what long cord I can use to put on this instead of the one on it?
No. Antenna quality and placement (higher elevation) will yield many more benefits than that small bump in advertised radio transmit power. You also have to realize that the Baofengs are Chinese radios. So when they say "10 watts", that means "10 Chinese watts". Or about 5 watts for everybody else.
I wouldn't trust their advertisement. And even if I did, that small wattage increase is not going to amount to anything in real world use.
Note that I have both a Baofeng and a Yaesu handheld. Both are advertised as identical 5 watts. I have good J-Pole antennas. I hooked up one of those to both radios (moved it from radio to radio). With the Baofeng, I could not receive anything from our clubs net, which comes from a repeater about 18 miles away. Nor could I trip the repeater on transmit. With the Yaesu (same antenna, same location) I got full quieting of the received signal and could easily trip the repeater. Receiving has nothing to do with transmit power BTW - but the Yaesu beat the Baofeng in both receiving and transmitting. The Baofeng was completely useless FWIW, even when hooked up to the good J-Pole antenna. Some Baofengs perform better than other Baofengs (that's stating things kindly). Baofeng quality is all over the map. I think they have zero quality control standards.
I would put my money into better antennas, not into new Baofengs that advertise marginally higher power output. And I would test each Baofeng that you currently have, to make sure each one works at a reasonable performance level.
