Looking for a lot of range from a HAM (1 Viewer)

[slowLC]

I am very new to ham radios and am about to take my test. While I want to have one in the rig for off roading, the main reason is to be able to possibly contact my family in Southern California in case of emergency. My dad is looking into getting one as well. I am in Oregon, so that can give you an idea of the distance I'm looking for. Thanks for any help anyone

 

[lovetoski]

repeaters

 

[jonheld]

You need to look into linked repeaters. There is a network of linked repeaters along the east coast. I have to believe that there would be several similar networks nationwide.

Depending on elevation and terrain, you can reach over 20 miles with 2m simplex. However, I have found that I'm never very far away from a 2m repeater no matter where I travel.

Many repeaters have back up power, but in the event of a large scale power issue, I wouldn't rely on them.

 

[1911]

You and your dad need to get General Class licenses and HF radios; you could talk to each other (and all over the world) on battery power and without the need for repeaters.

 

[slowLC]

What are some decent inexpensive examples of HF radios?

 

[george_tlc]

What are some decent inexpensive examples of HF radios?

Define inexpensive and INCLUDE the cost of the antenna setup as well... Mobile or stationary?

cheers,
george.

 

[1911]

Define inexpensive and INCLUDE the cost of the antenna setup as well... Mobile or stationary?

+1

HF radios cost a lot more new than a VHF/UHF radio for sure but you get a lot more too.

You can get a new HF radio that could be used for both mobile and stationary operation in the $1,000 range on sale - like the Kenwood TS-480 or the Yaesu 857/897. There is some used market for these radios too. If you just need a stationary HF radio, there are tons of older radios for sale when folks upgrade to a newer model. Look at a local hamfest.

For a stationary antenna, you can make an off-center-fed wire dipole for very little money (currently what I'm using at home). For cheap mobile HF antennas, hamsticks are hard to beat but you have to carry several or some extra parts like coils, depending on which bands you want to use.

If you want to buy a commercially-made antenna, you can spend about as much as you want to. Amazing what some ham operators spend on towers, beam antennas, rotators, etc. but you don't have to do that.

 

[slowLC]

My budget is probably 200. I was looking at qrp style radios but don't understand the difference. Some people really seem to hate them.

 

[george_tlc]

$200 ... good luck (politically correct version of lol). I'd suggest you join a local HAM club and learn what is possible and what is reliable....

QRP is the art of long distance comms with very little power. i.e. do you WANT to communicate with someone specific during an emergency or are you just TRYING to communicate to someone far away on very little power for the fun of it ???

cheers,
george.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

My budget is probably 200. I was looking at qrp style radios but don't understand the difference. Some people really seem to hate them.

Not going to ever work for $200. $1000 maybe.

A dual band UHF/VHF could access any repeater you'd care to use, and it with the antenna would be near your budget.

A linked repeater system like Carla, which might reach up into Oregon.

http://www.carlaradio.net/

You are getting a bit ahead of yourself here and studying for your license will answer many of your questions.

I recommend you study and get your tech license. Spend a year broadcasting on UHF and VHF. Then get your general license and worry about HF.

 

[e9999]

you can use the personal ham radio to repeater to internet to repeater to other radio system.
forgot the acronym
you call a local repeater, enter a code and you're connected automatically by internet to a repeater of your choosing. So, distance is no issue. In fact, I did call Antarctica that way...
Trivially easy but you need an access repeater. Sure beats HF, though.

of course, this is assuming the internet will still work but nowadays that seems to be indeed the last thing that will work in case of major problems


but frankly, I think that there is also a pretty good chance that cell phones would be still working in case of major emergency which makes this whole thing moot...

 

[slowLC]

Awesome, thanks everyone. I will be hitting the books and figure out something. I think I like e99999 idea!

 

[Brentbba]

With an iphone or android you can use Echolink via the internet to hit a repeater close to your Dad. Local repeaters to you with Echolink and the necessary code can do the same thing. Get familiar with a local ham group and see what repeaters they have and whether they are Echolink enabled. You do need to have your license before you can sign up for Echolink.

I agree with Andy's advice. Study, get your tech license and you'll know more and be able to ask more pointed questions at that point. Good luck!

 

[e9999]

it's IRLP that I used. Here is a thread:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic...internet-irlp-echolink-allstar-wires-etc.html

 

[slowLC]

A question about echolink..... If my dad and I both had 5 watt radios that could reach an echolink repeater would we be able to connect through them or do you only connect with a computer or smart phone?

 

[Brentbba]

You'd both need to be in range of an echolink enabled repeater and have that repeaters code to activate echolink. Some clubs will give you that code, generally off air. If you have that then, yes you can use two 5W HT's via echolink.

 

[slowLC]

Awesome thanks so much! I think that's the answer to what I'm looking for. If you register with echolink will you get all the codes to access the repeaters?

 

[Brentbba]

Awesome thanks so much! I think that's the answer to what I'm looking for. If you register with echolink will you get all the codes to access the repeaters?

No - that'll allow you to use echolink from your home computer or iphone/android with the echolink app (no blackberry app). It'll list repeaters in your and your dad's areas that are part of echolink so that'd be a start, but you'd probably still need to contact the owner/club of said repeaters to see if it's open access to use echolink on their repeater via your HT. I don't believe the echolink repeater codes are published on the echolink site. Local repeater to me owned by a club is part of echolink and a member of that club gave me the code via email as he did not want to put it out over the air.

 

[JCruse]

You and your dad need to get General Class licenses and HF radios; you could talk to each other (and all over the world) on battery power and without the need for repeaters.

Linear amplifiers and the ionosphere.