I really need some comms help, PLEASE guys

[Silent Earth]

Situation is this, I need to set up a President Grant 2 Ham / CB (10-11 meter) unit primarily as a listening unit, but would like to be able to transmit on the AM/FM/ SSB bands at least when TSHTF. I need a ( I think) a wire di-pole antenna that I can set up in the house or attic or even outside when neccessary.

I need the advice / guidance / help to be at idiot level of expertise, Can anyone reccomend an antenna or VERY simple design of wire dipole that I can set up and use preferable WITHOUT and SWR meter??

Thanks in advance.

just to clarify using words like Ohms, Resistance, etc will go right over my head, it needs to be as close to plug and play as possible?

 

[Proud Prepper]

Me too

 

[Silent Earth]

So thanks for all the helpful replies (sarc) I did some digging and this portable wire di-pole anteena could be the easiest plug and play answer.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11-MTR-M...458124&hash=item4b07cfce38:g:wqAAAOSw2XFUbeAk

 

[Silent Earth]

 

[tmttactical]

Sorry, that is one subject I know absolutely nothing.

 

[Silent Earth]

Sorry, that is one subject I know absolutely nothing.

Me neither TBH. my idea of fixing radio comms involves the frequent use of ever larger hammers.

 

[Daniel8]

ELK UHF/VHF ANTENNA 144/440 HTZ DUAL-BAND ANTENNA with 30' cable and carry bag

Found this the other day. I have several handhelds caged up. But I honestly know nothing about it. I have YEasu's with built in Murs stations. The murs will be primary as they are easy and plus they work with the Dakota Alerts. I was trying to find an antenna like above. Didn't buy yet. I sent it to a friend of mine and asked what he thought. I told him I was just trying to get my handhelds to reach out further in case I went away from home base looking for supplies and needed to communicate. His response was a bunch of gibberish that made no sense. I just wanted to know if that'd be a good antenna to extend me out to 10-30 miles!!!! Argh

 

[Silent Earth]

I know nothing much about radio comms I assume more POWER was the way to get greater range but then I was told a better longer antenna was the best bet, thats why i fitted all my UV5s with Nagoya antenna, did work better I must admit. But i'm terrified of blowing up this expensive President Grant 2 10/11 meter CB / Ham machine with the wrong antenna. it has to be a concealable wire ant to fit in with my preps.

 

[Jeff0278]

My recommendations get this
https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/0980.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-...729091?hash=item33be575f03:g:OM0AAOSw~gRVtuLk

And an 12v battery or 12 volt power supply.
AND your Ham license !!!!!!!

Just FYI I regularly get 30+ miles on 75 watts on simplex and I have mountains All around me.

 

[eireguy]

Height is might in radio . The higher your antenna the better the range . So if you have a 100" antenna @ ground level you wont go as far as you would with a 25" inch antenna @ 50 feet in the air .If you have a $50 antenna and a $2,000 radio you basically have a $50 radio ( power is good but if you have a ****** antenna you wont be pleased with the results ). I dont know of any wire antennas that do cb . ( they are out there but I have no idea of what to recommend ) Basically antennas are made using a 1/4 wave or 1/2 wave or 5/8 wave length of frequency . All that means is if the frequency you want to use has a wave length of 100" then a 1/4 wave will be 25" etc. . As for distance , terrain effects all radios . You can use a repeater in ham/gmrs etc. to extend your range but that's a whole other can of worms .
I will say I wouldnt transmit on it without checking the swr readings . That's a sure fire way to burn it up .
I would also try and go w an antenna that's has dbl gain over one that dosent . Basically that means it increases your wattage output just w that antenna itself.

 

[eireguy]

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...02NEIEHC/RK=2/RS=fzpMWsuDIsW4B6am5aWFeWG_IEU-

 

[eireguy]

.

 

[eireguy]

For Murs I would suggest this one https://bettersaferadio.com/shop/an...murs-ps-commercial-emergency-roll-up-antenna/ . Ed knows his stuff ( look up some YouTube vids ) I have several of his and have no complaints @ all . What model yeasu do you use ?
Ed's homepage : https://edsantennas.weebly.com

 

[Clyde]

Situation is this, I need to set up a President Grant 2 Ham / CB (10-11 meter) unit primarily as a listening unit, but would like to be able to transmit on the AM/FM/ SSB bands at least when TSHTF. I need a ( I think) a wire di-pole antenna that I can set up in the house or attic or even outside when neccessary.

I need the advice / guidance / help to be at idiot level of expertise, Can anyone recommend an antenna or VERY simple design of wire dipole that I can set up and use preferable WITHOUT and SWR meter??

Thanks in advance.

just to clarify using words like Ohms, Resistance, etc will go right over my head, it needs to be as close to plug and play as possible?

Do you plan on primarily using it for:

1. CB (11 meters) or the Ham side (10 meters)?
2. How much room do you have for your antenna?
3. Do you prefer a dipole or vertical antenna?
4. What is your budget?

 

[user 6789]

cb dipole antenna. Just plug and play. https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Bazoo...ole+antenna&qid=1595951072&sr=8-4&tag=mh0b-20

 

[user 7000]

Height is might in radio . The higher your antenna the better the range .

Only when it comes to VHF and above. HAAT really doesn't affect the HF spectrum. I talk all over the world on a dipole a mere 25' off the ground at the feed point.

 

[eireguy]

25' isn't ground level . Thanks for agreeing.

 

[MNwr786]

WITHOUT and SWR meter??
plug and play as possible?

The Sirio 827

 

[Dave2001]

ELK UHF/VHF ANTENNA 144/440 HTZ DUAL-BAND ANTENNA with 30' cable and carry bag

Found this the other day. I have several handhelds caged up. But I honestly know nothing about it. I have YEasu's with built in Murs stations. The murs will be primary as they are easy and plus they work with the Dakota Alerts. I was trying to find an antenna like above. Didn't buy yet. I sent it to a friend of mine and asked what he thought. I told him I was just trying to get my handhelds to reach out further in case I went away from home base looking for supplies and needed to communicate. His response was a bunch of gibberish that made no sense. I just wanted to know if that'd be a good antenna to extend me out to 10-30 miles!!!! Argh

TRY HRO Supply in Atlanta online!!

 

[kevin321]

My recommendations get this
Yaesu FT-2980R, Yaesu FT2980R Mobile Transceiver

Authentic N9TAX VHF/UHF Slim Jim J-Pole Dual Band 2m 70cm Antenna jpole | eBay

And an 12v battery or 12 volt power supply.
AND your Ham license !!!!!!!

Just FYI I regularly get 30+ miles on 75 watts on simplex and I have mountains All around me.

The above ebay link is now broken. Anyone know what product it linked to?

 

[Dave2001]

The above ebay link is now broken. Anyone know what product it linked to?

That ebay link opened great for me!!!

 

[Dave2001]

Do you plan on primarily using it for:

1. CB (11 meters) or the Ham side (10 meters)?
2. How much room do you have for your antenna?
3. Do you prefer a dipole or vertical antenna?
4. What is your budget?

Try a G5, they available from HRO Supply

 

[Dave2001]

May also want to try MFJ Ham Radio Supply

 

[Captjim_NM]

There are many issues on working with a transmitter antenna. Never use a transmitter without doing a SWR check. SWR meters has limitations of the frequency it can work on. There are HF/VHF SWR meters. There are VHF/UHF SWR meters. For better range raise your VHF and UHF antennas as high off the ground as you can. If you are only working 11 meter and 10 meter you don't need a G5RV antenna, it is too long. Buy a good CB base antenna and that should work for the 11,10 meter radio. Use good coax like RG-8X. For the VHF system use RG-8X or LMR-400. Do you know how to solder and install coax connectors?

 

[Dave2001]

There are many issues on working with a transmitter antenna. Never use a transmitter without doing a SWR check. SWR meters has limitations of the frequency it can work on. There are HF/VHF SWR meters. There are VHF/UHF SWR meters. For better range raise your VHF and UHF antennas as high off the ground as you can. If you are only working 11 meter and 10 meter you don't need a G5RV antenna, it is too long. Buy a good CB base antenna and that should work for the 11,10 meter radio. Use good coax like RG-8X. For the VHF system use RG-8X or LMR-400. Do you know how to solder and install coax connectors?

I like LMR-400 coax, Quicksilver company makes a crimp tool so you can crimp connectors on, be sure you have EVERYTHING really well grounded!!!

 

[user 7000]

The above ebay link is now broken. Anyone know what product it linked to?

It's to a radio you can't use without a license.

 

[eireguy]

The above ebay link is now broken. Anyone know what product it linked to?

Welcome to Yaesu.com it is this radio . You are supposed to have a license to transmit but don't need one just to listen . Ignore anyone who says you do .

 

[kevin321]

Welcome to Yaesu.com it is this radio . You are supposed to have a license to transmit but don't need one just to listen . Ignore anyone who says you do .

Thank you.

 

[Clyde]

Welcome to Yaesu.com it is this radio . You are supposed to have a license to transmit but don't need one just to listen . Ignore anyone who says you do .

Thank you for being the voice of reason. You are 100% correct in that to transmit a license is needed. To listen you do NOT need one! The radio you linked to is a good solid radio! I have one, and have had zero issues with it! Also they are reasonably priced.