HAM - Single or Dual Band?

[mkfour]

Posted in the Electronic Toys section but figured I would ask you guys too since I know several of you are running HAMs. Should I go single or dual band? What's the benefits of dual?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/292550-ham-single-dual-band.html


Thanks,
TJ

I guess I/we never answered your question. For trail/simplex work, 2 m will get the job done. But if you find that your usage is more along the lines of highway travel, long distance journey with or without company, then I'd go for a dual band. You'll be doing a lot of your communications through a repeater, and there's just as many repeaters on 70 cm as there are on 2 m, if not more.

The intertied repeater system I frequently use has most of their repeaters on 70 cm.

Another thing to think about is when you find yourself out in BFE and in need of help and only have 2 m, the local repeater better be 2 m or you're in for a long walk.

The test isn't very difficult at all, but good luck.

Michael
AL4M

 

[sdnative]

I passed my test woohoo! How long does it take before my name/callsign shows up in the CC database?

Thanks for all the info, most likely I'll be going with the FT-2900 and then upgrade from there if I need too.

Congratulations!

You can check here to see if you're in the database. Just put your FRN.
License Search

 

[Brentbba]

I passed my test woohoo! How long does it take before my name/callsign shows up in the FCC database?

Thanks for all the info, most likely I'll be going with the FT-2900 and then upgrade from there if I need too.

Congrats TJ - call sign should take no more than a week or two. Depends on how quickly your VEC submitted the paperwork and how busy the FCC is. Mine took a whooping 3 days I think. Check the link sdnative embedded. As soon as it appears there you are good to go. You can print a temp license from there until the actual one shows up in your mail.

 

[teejnut]

Nice got my call sign! KJ6BBW! Now just have to get my radio, probably next weekend.

 

[Brentbba]

Awesome!!! You're legal.

 

[lacruiser]

Nice got my call sign! KJ6BBW! Now just have to get my radio, probably next weekend.

BBW, eh?

I guess you've never seen some of the more risque personal ads.





Congratulations.

 

[teejnut]

BBW, eh?

I guess you've never seen some of the more risque personal ads.

Haha... you're not the first to comment and probably not the last. Oh well!

 

[Brentbba]

BBW, eh?

I guess you've never seen some of the more risque personal ads.





Congratulations.

Big Black Woman...right?

 

[teejnut]

Big Black Woman...right?

from my understanding big beautiful woman.

 

[sdnative]

TJ,

are you and Kevin going to join us at BorregoFest this year?

Outdoor Adventure USA, LLC • View topic - 2009-10-23 thru 25: BorregoFest Roster (Sign Up)

You can try out your new equipment and lots of people will be there to help you get it setup.

 

[teejnut]

TJ,

are you and Kevin going to join us at BorregoFest this year?

Outdoor Adventure USA, LLC • View topic - 2009-10-23 thru 25: BorregoFest Roster (Sign Up)

You can try out your new equipment and lots of people will be there to help you get it setup.

Sadly haven't been over to oausa.net forums in awhile I'll see if we can make it, wouldn't mind going out to Borrego again. Kevin actually just picked up a FJ60, just got it SOA'd. And I just picked up some 35s... going to rear gear soon, plus some other goodies.

 

[lonelydriver]

Wow Eric, suprised you remember my name!!
I'd love to wheel with you guys again. My FJC has grown a lot since then, and my FJ60 is starting to take shape.

I'm jealous of Tj's call sign... he's going to get a lot of love with that one.

hopefully we can make it down to borrego fest.

 

[sdnative]

How can I forget? That was one great run up Sandstone Canyon, my last before they closed it. You did it in a stock FJC, except for larger tires. I was really liking TJs FJ80 as well.

We went back almost to where it ended, then you guys broke out the grill and cooked up some brats. Good times, good memories.

 

[teejnut]

Well I ended up getting the FT-7900R. Now just need to figure out how to fully use this thing...

 

[teejnut]

teej, dont forget to buy and connect the antenna before fully using the thing!
Nice choice - Ham City is offering that model with the free separation kit for those that are in the market for a rig. And they are usually cheaper than HRO.





Alan
KJ6MILF

It's all hooked up, got everything from Ham Radio in Burbank. 7900 (including the free separation kit), K400 lip mount, and NR770HB antenna. Thinking about picking up a shorty antenna like the Comet SSB-1 which is short and flexible rubber for the urban (parking structure) and tree lined trails.

 

[sdnative]

Thinking about picking up a shorty antenna like the Comet SSB-1 which is short and flexible rubber for the urban (parking structure) and tree lined trails.

I had a SBB1 (quarter wave) and a SBB5 (half wave) during our Cleghorn run last week. The low trees on parts of the trails and the rigid antenna played havoc on my roof. It bent the roof a little surrounding the mount, and I was surprised it didn't rip the mount out.

I would highly recommend something shorter and flexible like the SBB1 for trail use and city use. On the other hand, if you are using a lip mount, you may need a half wave antenna due to the lack of a ground plane (the half wave does not need a ground plane, a quarter wave does).

 

[teejnut]

I had a SBB1 (quarter wave) and a SBB5 (half wave) during our Cleghorn run last week. The low trees on parts of the trails and the rigid antenna played havoc on my roof. It bent the roof a little surrounding the mount, and I was surprised it didn't rip the mount out.

I would highly recommend something shorter and flexible like the SBB1 for trail use and city use. On the other hand, if you are using a lip mount, you may need a half wave antenna due to the lack of a ground plane (the half wave does not need a ground plane, a quarter wave does).

So does the one I have now (NR770HB) require a ground plane? How do I know if its a half or quarter wave? Any other recommendations for a trail antenna?

 

[sdnative]

So does the one I have now (NR770HB) require a ground plane? How do I know if its a half or quarter wave? Any other recommendations for a trial antenna?

I am strictly talking about 2m. The one I have is the diamond NR770, but it is the same as the comet SBB5 which is half wave on 2m, and does not require a ground plane. The SBB1 does however.