Ham bs....
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: St. Simons Island
Trees at 30 and 50 feet! Where the heck do you guys live? Jealous, I've got two palm trees about 20ft tall and a flag pole at about 25 feet. Not much for getting out but better than laying it on the ground. Plus I'm surrounded by houses and mad RF. I hear guys all the time talking about full length dipoles at 50ft in the trees and look out at my little G5RV with antenna envy. I don't even bother with HF at the house it's more frustrating than anything. When we run down south to Baja I carry my buddistick and put it up about 5 feet. Nothing around but dirt and and the Sea of Cortez. It's like sitting on top of a mountain.
I just try to make best use of what is available and keep it simple. 30 ft will be easy and reliable, 50 ft is not practical.
The "Mad RF" difference between urban and rural locations is signficant. Good reason for a road trip.
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 0
From: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Trees at 30 and 50 feet! Where the heck do you guys live? Jealous, I've got two palm trees about 20ft tall and a flag pole at about 25 feet. Not much for getting out but better than laying it on the ground. Plus I'm surrounded by houses and mad RF. I hear guys all the time talking about full length dipoles at 50ft in the trees and look out at my little G5RV with antenna envy. I don't even bother with HF at the house it's more frustrating than anything. When we run down south to Baja I carry my buddistick and put it up about 5 feet. Nothing around but dirt and and the Sea of Cortez. It's like sitting on top of a mountain.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Corona, CA
It was striking to me how much less noise I had while down south. People were nearly as clear on 40m as 2m simplex. It's kinda like Scuba diving in a lake vs the Caribbean. Yea you get wet but really whats the point.
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 0
From: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
No CCRs, just no trees. I've thought about buying a couple more flag poles but I doubt it will make enough difference. The bands need to improve or the RF needs to go way down.
It was striking to me how much less noise I had while down south. People were nearly as clear on 40m as 2m simplex. It's kinda like Scuba diving in a lake vs the Caribbean. Yea you get wet but really whats the point.
It was striking to me how much less noise I had while down south. People were nearly as clear on 40m as 2m simplex. It's kinda like Scuba diving in a lake vs the Caribbean. Yea you get wet but really whats the point.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, Colorado
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Corona, CA
Now all i have to do is figure out how to pay for it
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 584
Likes: 1
From: Minnetonka, MN
I was on the TCRC 2 meter repeater, talking to a guy in Cali linked from a repeater in Wyoming linked to the TCRC repeater through another guy in my area who had echolink running 
It was nice to talk to him (great guy) but was it really a "radio" contact or was it a "voice over IP" contact. I was the only on really "on the air" to the TCRC repeater.
I know some guys that would pitch a fit if I said it was radio :-)
It was nice to talk to him (great guy) but was it really a "radio" contact or was it a "voice over IP" contact. I was the only on really "on the air" to the TCRC repeater.
I know some guys that would pitch a fit if I said it was radio :-)
JK Super Freak
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 1
From: Simi Valley, Ca., Taylorsville, Ut. and places in between
Trying to deceide which would be a better radio for a mobile and thought ID ask some people with experience on the matter.
THe two for consideration are Kenwood TM-V71A and Yaesu FT 8800.
Both are capable of cross band repeat work, which would be nice in emergency work
Kenwood has 50 watts across both 2 meter and 440 where Yeasu is 50 on 2 meter and 35 on 440.
Checked on EHam and they both get very good reviews.
The more I read the fact sheets, the more confused Im getting. therefore
Id appreciate anyone having used either or both to give an honest opinion.
Thanks.
73
THe two for consideration are Kenwood TM-V71A and Yaesu FT 8800.
Both are capable of cross band repeat work, which would be nice in emergency work
Kenwood has 50 watts across both 2 meter and 440 where Yeasu is 50 on 2 meter and 35 on 440.
Checked on EHam and they both get very good reviews.
The more I read the fact sheets, the more confused Im getting. therefore
Id appreciate anyone having used either or both to give an honest opinion.
Thanks.
73
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 3
From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
15 watts on UHF is unlikely to make any noticeable real-world difference.
Find a stor that carries them, and see how the face of each one works for you. Knob sizes, button locations, things like that. Those elements will have a lot more to d owith you enjoyment of the radio than what amounts to very minor performance differences.
Find a stor that carries them, and see how the face of each one works for you. Knob sizes, button locations, things like that. Those elements will have a lot more to d owith you enjoyment of the radio than what amounts to very minor performance differences.
