malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,963 
Likes: 1,380
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
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Post by malewithatail on Jan 20, 2024 12:11:16 GMT 10
Genius has its limits, stupidity doesn't.
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Post by Joey on Jan 27, 2024 22:04:12 GMT 10
Finally got around to programming one of my spare Icom UHF radios with the 80channels as well as the local fireies and SES channels on the side and adding it to my radio shelf.
Now I just wish my 7300 would hurry up and arrive so I can get on 40/80/10m bands and stretch out and get some CQ's
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malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,963
Likes: 1,380
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
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Post by malewithatail on Jan 28, 2024 7:38:59 GMT 10
Well done Joey, my first radio transmitter was home made, about 10 watts, AM and netted me contacts around Australia over 50 years ago, along with a WW2 AMR 101 Australian made receiver.
I still get a tingle when I think that I made a transmitter that could communicate with someone 500 miles away. A thrill that will never go.
Always proof read carefully in case you any word out.
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greyhat
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Likes: 38
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Post by greyhat on Jan 29, 2024 9:28:29 GMT 10
Joey - good choice on the 7300, great radios. I have a the 705 and having the display to view activity on the band is great also native USB connectivity to a PC for using the rig for digital modes. No extra boxes or cables required. Apart from voice I also utilise Winlink, JS8Call and VaraAC over HF. I'm also waiting on a dual bander, Retevis RT-95 that can have its freq range extended for RX/TX on CB if needed. As for the class license I'll be happy not having another yearly fee and glad to hear our personal details are being removed from the public database.
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Post by milspec on Jan 31, 2024 18:34:40 GMT 10
Joey - good choice on the 7300, great radios. I have a the 705 and having the display to view activity on the band is great also native USB connectivity to a PC for using the rig for digital modes. No extra boxes or cables required. Apart from voice I also utilise Winlink, JS8Call and VaraAC over HF. I'm also waiting on a dual bander, Retevis RT-95 that can have its freq range extended for RX/TX on CB if needed. As for the class license I'll be happy not having another yearly fee and glad to hear our personal details are being removed from the public database. Aye, having your callsign connected to your name/address was something I never liked and the reason I never shared my c/s. |
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Post by Joey on Feb 1, 2024 5:51:14 GMT 10
Joey - good choice on the 7300, great radios. I have a the 705 and having the display to view activity on the band is great also native USB connectivity to a PC for using the rig for digital modes. No extra boxes or cables required. Apart from voice I also utilise Winlink, JS8Call and VaraAC over HF. I'm also waiting on a dual bander, Retevis RT-95 that can have its freq range extended for RX/TX on CB if needed. As for the class license I'll be happy not having another yearly fee and glad to hear our personal details are being removed from the public database. Aye, having your callsign connected to your name/address was something I never liked and the reason I never shared my c/s. That's why I used my PO box for the address on the system. And under the new system rolling out, they are removing the address details from public view so adds a little bit more privacy |
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Post by milspec on Feb 1, 2024 13:44:10 GMT 10
Joey, yeah, I did the same.
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malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,963
Likes: 1,380
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
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Post by malewithatail on Feb 1, 2024 13:49:06 GMT 10
We don't get a mail delivery out here, so all mail is held at the PO anyway, and that's the address.
Beer - (B) Bloody (E) Effective (E) Equilibrium (R) Re-calibrator
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Post by Joey on Feb 20, 2024 18:58:21 GMT 10
Yaaayyy FINALLY my 7300 is on its way. Hopefully, I get it before Fri so I can play with it over the weekend.
I put my 10m antenna back up over the weekend after I pulled it down in preparation for that cyclone last month
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Post by Joey on Feb 23, 2024 18:48:51 GMT 10
Yayyy I got my 7300 radio, now to play around with it and figure things out
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malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,963
Likes: 1,380
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
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Post by malewithatail on Feb 24, 2024 7:40:01 GMT 10
Maybe we should start a net, a closed board open to those with confirmed valid call signs only.
Scotty HURRY ! Beam me ud?d#((*...&NO CARRIER.
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Post by Joey on Feb 24, 2024 19:38:36 GMT 10
Maybe we should start a net, a closed board open to those with confirmed valid call signs only. Scotty HURRY ! Beam me ud?d#((*...&NO CARRIER. Just waiting on SA Hunter to figure out how to create a new user group |
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Post by SA Hunter on Feb 25, 2024 18:59:34 GMT 10
Maybe we should start a net, a closed board open to those with confirmed valid call signs only. Scotty HURRY ! Beam me ud?d#((*...&NO CARRIER. Just waiting on SA Hunter to figure out how to create a new user group For some reason I can't get this to work - the new thread is there, but I'm having trouble making it a closed group. I'll try proboards. |
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Post by Joey on Feb 25, 2024 20:55:04 GMT 10
Just waiting on SA Hunter to figure out how to create a new user group For some reason I can't get this to work - the new thread is there, but I'm having trouble making it a closed group. I'll try proboards. Prom what I dug into it, you need to create a new user group like we have for admins or donating members etc which can only be created by the head admin and not at our admin level |
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greyhat
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Likes: 38
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Post by greyhat on Feb 28, 2024 15:11:54 GMT 10
I prob wouldn't put too much effort into a closed board if it's a PITA. Be too hard to verify details anyway. With the recent change to a class license operators may be more willing to share callsigns as personal info will be removed from the RRL database (full names, residential/postal addresses etc). Perhaps others could add their details to the existing thread and members could reach out to arrange an on-air contact privately if they are in the same region / have suitable modes available to establish comms. ausprep.com/thread/6970/licensed-ham-check |
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malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,963
Likes: 1,380
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
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Post by malewithatail on Mar 2, 2024 10:33:17 GMT 10
Try echolink, pm me for details.
Quiet people have the loudest minds.
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Post by PrepGoldCoast on Mar 2, 2024 11:33:42 GMT 10
Hi fellow radio heads
My journey into radio has been more camping handhelds and CH18 for the journeys. Until the recent Optus mobile outage, and then the Christmas day storms. That storm turned mobiles into a txt only communication for days, if lucky they went through at all.
So, my interest has skyrocketed last few months. I do have some questions that I have been unable to really pinpoint down on searches, so here I go:
-- Coax cable. Yes, forget ebay, amazon etc. Aussie supplier yes BUT which one. Is RJ213 good, over the top, not good enough? what is good 50 Ohm cable?
-- Is coax cable relative to wattage output ie 20w radio needs xxx size coax?
-- Antenna mount home made, is swimming pool pole metal sufficient? Yes, will be grounded to earth correctly. Thinking it can be raised when used, lowered when not in use with lower half solid mounted to house.
Thanks!!
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malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,963
Likes: 1,380
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
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Post by malewithatail on Mar 2, 2024 14:24:34 GMT 10
Coax-there are several types, the type we need for our radios has a nominal impedance of 50 ohms, tv/satellite is 75 ohms, and some specialist types high impedance, like 400 ohms and so on. The best stuff is Teflon insulation, but that's expensive, and unless you are running long distances at VHF/UHF frequencies, probably overkill. It also can handle higher power and is generally smaller and more flexible than conventional stuff. au.element14.com/w/c/cable-wire-cable-assemblies/coaxial-cable?coaxial-cable-type=rg8&jacket-material=pvc&st=rg316I myself have always used the Beldon brand, American made, expensive, but low loss and never had any issues. Its good when exposed to weather as well. I also have a reel of RF industries 50 ohm coax, and its good quality as well, so is Element 14 (formally RS components). Use good quality fittings, once again Beldon. I have a kit of all types as well as a proper crimping tool, and practice, you will waste a few fittings at first. You have invested money and effort in getting the RF from the radio, don't lose it in cheap coax and fittings.
You gets what you pays for, you want first quality oats, then they cost, on the other hand, oats that have already been through the horse come a bit cheaper.
In aerials I am a great believer in simple, simple 6 element beam for VHF (no balun as I found it was lossier with it than without and just wear the impedance mis-match from 75 ohms balanced to 50 ohms unbalanced, probably my crook construction technique, or using a poor quality ferrite core from an unknown source), 5/8 wavelength as backup, 11 meter vertical for HF CB, a 5/8 wave vertical for UHF CB, long wire 160 meters long for HF including an impedance matching UN-un balun for the long wire, ditto for the storm sensing wire (antenna electrometer for EMP/CME etc as well), although only 30 foot long, and no balun needed as the input to the electrometer radio valve is already a high impedance to start with. I have quite a stock of slightly used, good quality RG8 type coax obtained from a previous employer who was relocating some base stations. RG8 is about 1/2 inch in diameter and extremely low loss, I use it for all my VHF/UHF and scanner aerials. Teflon may well be a bit lower loss, but 10 X more expensive. (I have some of that as well). au.element14.com/c/cable-wire-cable-assemblies/coaxial-cable?coaxial-cable-type=rg8Open wire feeder, high impedance of 600 ohms is best for long runs, with the appropriate balun at each end. I don't want my precious power warming the cable or the worms ! Everyone's going to optical fibers now, but how do you squirt a few hundred watts of RF down an optic fiber ?
Yes, technically there is a size of coax related to power, but at any practical level, almost any good quality coax will work with our power levels. For instance, RG8 rating is 180 watts at 1,000 MHz up to 1,200 watts at 50 MHz, 4,000 volts PEP, and multi KW at HF, so don't worry about the power rating.
Stock up now before coax disappears. Also, everyone who is doing anything with cable. There seems to be a lot of copper plated, aluminum wire, (CCA), around now, be careful as when the aluminum corrodes, the strength is lost and the cable goes open circuit. Ive only seen it in small diameter wires at present, but it could well be around in conventional power cables.
Also, some satellite gear is 75 ohms, not 50 ohms, so be careful if you want to use some recovered Austar satellite cable.
Status quo: Latin for the mess we are in. |
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Post by PrepGoldCoast on Mar 2, 2024 17:25:27 GMT 10
BAM - skilled without the bullshit. Awesome - thank you. Coax-there are several types, the type we need for our radios has a nominal impedance of 50 ohms, tv/satellite is 75 ohms, and some specialist types high impedance, like 400 ohms and so on. The best stuff is Teflon insulation, but that's expensive, and unless you are running long distances at VHF/UHF frequencies, probably overkill. It also can handle higher power and is generally smaller and more flexible than conventional stuff. au.element14.com/w/c/cable-wire-cable-assemblies/coaxial-cable?coaxial-cable-type=rg8&jacket-material=pvc&st=rg316I myself have always used the Beldon brand, American made, expensive, but low loss and never had any issues. Its good when exposed to weather as well. I also have a reel of RF industries 50 ohm coax, and its good quality as well, so is Element 14 (formally RS components). Use good quality fittings, once again Beldon. I have a kit of all types as well as a proper crimping tool, and practice, you will waste a few fittings at first. You have invested money and effort in getting the RF from the radio, don't lose it in cheap coax and fittings.
You gets what you pays for, you want first quality oats, then they cost, on the other hand, oats that have already been through the horse come a bit cheaper.
In aerials I am a great believer in simple, simple 6 element beam for VHF (no balun as I found it was lossier with it than without and just wear the impedance mis-match from 75 ohms balanced to 50 ohms unbalanced, probably my crook construction technique, or using a poor quality ferrite core from an unknown source), 5/8 wavelength as backup, 11 meter vertical for HF CB, a 5/8 wave vertical for UHF CB, long wire 160 meters long for HF including an impedance matching UN-un balun for the long wire, ditto for the storm sensing wire (antenna electrometer for EMP/CME etc as well), although only 30 foot long, and no balun needed as the input to the electrometer radio valve is already a high impedance to start with. I have quite a stock of slightly used, good quality RG8 type coax obtained from a previous employer who was relocating some base stations. RG8 is about 1/2 inch in diameter and extremely low loss, I use it for all my VHF/UHF and scanner aerials. Teflon may well be a bit lower loss, but 10 X more expensive. (I have some of that as well). au.element14.com/c/cable-wire-cable-assemblies/coaxial-cable?coaxial-cable-type=rg8Open wire feeder, high impedance of 600 ohms is best for long runs, with the appropriate balun at each end. I don't want my precious power warming the cable or the worms ! Everyone's going to optical fibers now, but how do you squirt a few hundred watts of RF down an optic fiber ? Yes, technically there is a size of coax related to power, but at any practical level, almost any good quality coax will work with our power levels. For instance, RG8 rating is 180 watts at 1,000 MHz up to 1,200 watts at 50 MHz, 4,000 volts PEP, and multi KW at HF, so don't worry about the power rating. Stock up now before coax disappears. Also, everyone who is doing anything with cable. There seems to be a lot of copper plated, aluminum wire, (CCA), around now, be careful as when the aluminum corrodes, the strength is lost and the cable goes open circuit. Ive only seen it in small diameter wires at present, but it could well be around in conventional power cables. Also, some satellite gear is 75 ohms, not 50 ohms, so be careful if you want to use some recovered Austar satellite cable.
Status quo: Latin for the mess we are in. |
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malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,963
Likes: 1,380
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
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Post by malewithatail on Mar 3, 2024 7:22:56 GMT 10
See u on the air ?
Still waters run deep, so be careful I don't drown you.
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Jul 7, 2024 11:02:41 GMT 10
Jul 7, 2024 11:02:41 GMT 10
