The importance of a radio?

Dunner said:
On our SAR team almost all of us are licensed amateur radio operators because we work in a lot of very steep and heavily wooded terrain. FRS radio communication does not cut it for us. I know you are talking about getting a radio to monitor but being able to contact help if the need arises (more likely to request aide for someone else for many of us here) is invaluable. I carry a waterproof Yaesu VX-7R which allows for the monitoring of MANY bands and to contact other operators on a couple of bands. The VX-7R is overly complex for most people (including myself). There are other great waterproof offerings and we have had great luck with Yaesu. After Katrina hit volunteers with amateur radios did a lot of the heavy communications in and out of the disaster area because so much infrastructure was out of commission. It could be a life saver for you or someone else along the way on mountain roads as well where cell service gets spotty.

KE7EVC
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We do the same thing using Yeasu VX-7, 8 & 9s. We also station a 4 wheel drive rig with a Yeasu mobile equipped for cross band repeat which even further enhances the HTs range especially in deep canyon with heavy canopy situations.
 
Ok, are we talking about transceivers or receivers?

OP, are you looking for a ham radio for emergency contact or a radio to listen too? Chris
 
Dunner said:
Most of these HAVE to have an antenna and is even better with an aftermarket antenna tuned for a specific band. You can get AA battery packs for most of them too.
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So, how would these be useful in the field? I've seen those giant antenna on roof tops. But without that, what would my range be? Approximately. Assuming flat terrain. A ball park figure if you will. Also, does your model accept AA packs?
 
Roger that Quirt. We rely on mobile stations in a truck or trailer as well as local repeaters to extend our reach.

I think the topic start on receivers only. I offered the idea of taking it to the next level. Hopefully not too much of a hijacking.

Going to amateur bands allows higher radio output levels and using/scanning specific frequencies rather than being stuck in pre-programmed "channels". With increased output and better antennas you get WAY better reach and with the use of mountaintop repeaters can communicate with people in other states with a handheld radio.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
So, how would these be useful in the field? I've seen those giant antenna on roof tops. But without that, what would my range be? Approximately. Assuming flat terrain. A ball park figure if you will. Also, does your model accept AA packs?
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It depends on the frequency bands you're looking to receive, and how big an antenna you're willing to put up with. For mobile multi frequency receiving I think a large telescopic whip antenna is a good choice, I have one that's about 10inches closed down but extends to 5ft or so which gives good performance.

If you look at the small rubber duck style walkie talkie style antennas they tend to be tuned to a specific frequency or range of frequencies. You can get some that have an extended receive range but they wouldn't be much good for shortwave.

The range also depends what you want to listen to. Shortwave and am have great range, but the higher frequency you go the lower the range generally speaking. A high gain antenna will help but there are limits.
 
there are many TFRs out there (trail-friendly radios for FCC-licensed operators), and some very nice wide-band receivers... i use a small solar panel that will power a small radio and charge two AAs at the same time (got mine at a local hardware store for less than a Hamilton); having a radio w/NOAA WX channels is not only convenient, but a necessity in my area...

willie
 
I forgot to add: I like having one simply for the weather bands. It's really my only use right now. Then again, Texas doesn't give too many options to get "dangerously far" away from a vehicle at the very least. If I could find a way to get involved in SAR, I would definitely look into HAM.
 
dougo83....there are probably a couple of old R390's stashed away at Goodfellow that would be nice to pick up at a surplus sale...
 
I didn't mean to contribute in taking this sideways. I'm only offering an alternative to just a AM/FM receiver. I like gear that serves a multitude of tasks and I like gear that is bombproof. Upgrading to a Yeasu HT gives you many more options and it IS bomb and water proof! No cheap plastics. Hard core gear that you can drop off of a ledge or into a stream and still work like new. Don't ask me how I know this!

Anyway going HAM and using a Yeasu gives you AM/FM and TV reception. Plus you can listen but not transmit on FRS and CB frequencies and also monitor the airplane freqs if your waiting for rescue. Plus if you carry along a J pole portable antenna you throw it up high into a tree and really extend your transmit and/or receive capabilities. It is more expensive and requires a license but is an alternative to consider.

While an HT is battery operated the batteries are very flat and compact and I keep a spare in my pack. And a solar panel can charge the spare easily as that is what I do.
 
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sir_mike said:
I would like some recommendations too!

I would want one mainly if the power goes out. Thinking about one with a crank to recharge that batteries!
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All my flash lights are the crank type. When you need them the batteries are dead in the standard flash light kept wherever...... I'd go with wind up but would get something capable of sending a message out also. Haven't put much thought or research into this yet, but those would be two of my parameters.
 
The Yeasu HT sounds nice, but not being AA powered kills it for me. I believe there are better options. I'll look into them.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
Agreed. These are much more expensive then the GI Joe walkie talkies I had in mind.
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Gotcha...sorry I wasted bandwidth and taking you down a path you never intended to traverse...I didn't see where you specified a pricing perameter and I did notice you were following up or inquiring about range and external antennas pertaining to Dunner's comments about the same exact HT radio I was suggestioning so I just thought you were interested. Anyway, unfortunately external antennas and extended range capablity is not available on FRS type $59 for two radios in a blister pack or similar AM/FM/SW type emergency radios.

If you find something in-between the FRS or wind up with AA Battery AM/FM/SW radios and these HAM HTs then please let us know what you found and how it is working. At least I'm interested in a lesser expensive alternative with which the performance is close.
 
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Quirt,
I didn't mean to stomp your toes, I appreciate the education in quality 2 way communications, I am seriously thinking about going ahead and getting my HAM license.
 
August West said:
Quirt,
I didn't mean to stomp your toes, I appreciate the education in quality 2 way communications, I am seriously thinking about going ahead and getting my HAM license.
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Hey Buddy no toes stomped here at all!! I thought this suggestion might be of value and just trying to help. I've wasted or invested in a lot gear with much of it being short sighted choices. I've got a shop full of purchase regrets! I'm just trying to help folks not make the same decisions I've made in a prior life. Today I wait to get the right gear for the mission or I go without. In fact just this week I ordered a piece of kit I've been saving up for 6 years! I could have gotten something cheaper years ago and then been disappointed and have to wait even longer to end up buying the right piece. Ive got no horse in this race...just trying to offer an alternative suggestion. The Shoshone used to say transliterated "Ah he ah aa" or young people today say the same thing in America vernacular. - "it's all good, it's all good!"
 
Oh I stand corrected I saw today at my radio shop that Midland (I believe) now makes GMRS mobile radios with external mobile antennas. Technically a license is required but there is no study or testing like for HAM.
 
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