Intro to Radio Communications

**Outlander Systems** · 11-02-15, 07:55

It really depends greatly on what you want to accomplish (range/distance, features, etc.)

If you don't already have a Baofeng, I highly recommend one for getting your beak wet. You can even use them for digital operation to send data, messages, etc.

It is an excellent starter radio for getting a feel for it.

Are you in a metro area or rural?. That will have a huge part to play as well if you intend to use repeaters.

Direct tasks/goals regarding communications are important, because there's really no one-stop solution.

The best example I could give is that you're not going to take a 1500m shot with a .45 pistol; you're not going to use a .338 Lapua for squirrel hunting.

Originally Posted by mikelowrey

Well, I would say I'll take a recommendation on each category of them, since am already looking for good radios. For a bad I never found a good option. But for the mobile I read a while back that most people recommend the kenwood tm-281 (hopefully this is till a good one) but for the handheld like you said there is so many options and standards that I am honestly confused. I am looking for something that would work with most radio and the main interest in Ham. Thank you again.

**taliv** · 11-13-15, 11:29

i recently went elk hunting for 9 days and 8 of us used the garmin rinos to communicate because of the integrated GPS mapping etc.

the latter was pretty awesome but the actual comms part was not so great. it worked ok, at short ranges, but i would really love to have the garmin functionality on the ham bands with more watts. anybody know of a product like that?

the product i bought was a 650T and all the free topo and trail maps that are available make it pretty fantastic.

**Outlander Systems** · 11-13-15, 16:42

Absolutely.

Icom and Yaesu offer several different versions equipped with on-board GPS.

That being said, the functionality of the GPS on these units is more in-line with a Garmin eTrex or Foretrex.

Originally Posted by taliv

i recently went elk hunting for 9 days and 8 of us used the garmin rinos to communicate because of the integrated GPS mapping etc.

the latter was pretty awesome but the actual comms part was not so great. it worked ok, at short ranges, but i would really love to have the garmin functionality on the ham bands with more watts. anybody know of a product like that?

the product i bought was a 650T and all the free topo and trail maps that are available make it pretty fantastic.

**tb-av** · 11-13-15, 19:13

Pretty cool chart I stumbled on.

http://www.nathanson.org/davesays/wp...MPLETE2011.pdf

Just listen and follow chart, when the sequence ends that's the letter/number you are on.

dit dit dit dah dah = 3
dah dit dit dah = x

etc.

Here is something else....
https://radiofreeq.wordpress.com/201...ther-business/

and this...

http://npstc.org/documents/NIFOG%20v1.2%204-14-2008.pdf

**Outlander Systems** · 11-13-15, 21:22

The NIFOG publication is a treasure trove of information.

Your state emergency agency will most likely have a similar version as well.

Thanks for putting those links up.

Originally Posted by tb-av

Pretty cool chart I stumbled on.

http://www.nathanson.org/davesays/wp...MPLETE2011.pdf

Just listen and follow chart, when the sequence ends that's the letter/number you are on.

dit dit dit dah dah = 3
dah dit dit dah = x

etc.

Here is something else....
https://radiofreeq.wordpress.com/201...ther-business/

and this...

http://npstc.org/documents/NIFOG%20v1.2%204-14-2008.pdf

**TXBK** · 11-30-15, 16:19

I finally took the tech class test, and am waiting to show up in the database. I will end up having to get at least a general license for HF use. I think that most of my operating will be mobile. I have a Yaesu vx-6r to get started with, but will be looking to get a better mobile setup once I learn more.

**Outlander Systems** · 11-30-15, 16:55

Congratulations, man. I started out just wanting a couple of HTs for EMCOM, and got sucked into the Hambyss.

If you're preparedness-oriented, I highly recommend looking into the Yaesu FT-817ND.

Originally Posted by TXBK

I finally took the tech class test, and am waiting to show up in the database. I will end up having to get at least a general license for HF use. I think that most of my operating will be mobile. I have a Yaesu vx-6r to get started with, but will be looking to get a better mobile setup once I learn more.

**TXBK** · 12-08-15, 14:16

Originally Posted by Outlander Systems

Congratulations, man. I started out just wanting a couple of HTs for EMCOM, and got sucked into the Hambyss.

If you're preparedness-oriented, I highly recommend looking into the Yaesu FT-817ND.

I started out thinking that I was going to do more with this HT than it is capable of. Other that knowing that I will need HF, my knowledge hits the wall. I haven't made my first contact yet. I have been monitoring a lot, and learning how to use this vx6. I have located and programmed local emergency frequencies, and a few local repeaters.

I tuned into a local repeater a little while ago, and stumbled across a Vietnam vet telling a story about an idiot that accidentally burned down a 12 stall shit house with 5 gal. of jet fuel. He and the other old-timer got to talking about antennas after that. While monitoring, I looked up their call signs, but I'm not sure that I know them.

I figured out where and when the local club meets, but I don't know that I am ready to check that out yet. I better go ahead and read through this thread again before I ask too many questions.