Base Station, Mobile or Handheld? So Confusing!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Choosing a radio when you first start into Ham Radio.
Links to radios discussed and other resources:
Yaesu FT3D Link:
www.yaesu.com/...
Yaesu FT70D Link:
www.yaesu.com/...
Yaesu FT-4XR:
www.gigaparts....
Baofeng bundle:
www.amazon.com...
Baofeng Programming cable:
www.amazon.com...
BTech DMR-6X2:
www.amazon.com...
Icom IC-V86:
www.gigaparts....
Repeaterbook
repeater.com
RFinder
RFinder.net
CHIRP Download:
chirp.danplane...
chirp.danplane...
I have a Fang same model. Passed my Tech license. Now I need to get on the air. My background is USAF aircraft communications, HF, UHF, VHF. Nice info for beginners. Too many people in the hobby talk over the head of new people, not you. Good job.
Great advice!
I agree. A handheld is a great place to get started with building a new station and the easiest way to get on the air and talking to other hams.
As you operate you will start to get an idea of what you want to do next and go from there.
73 de N2NLQ
I recently ran across your videos and as a pending ham (testing is currently suspended due to COVID) i'm finding your videos EXTREMELY helpful, informative and educational! Please consider making a detailed video on setting up a second radio for emergency contact with a significant other and keep up the great work! Thanks again and 73!
That's an idea I have considered and since you mentioned it I will do a video on emergency radio comms for family and friends.Thanks for watching!
Great introduction for a new hobbiest. Thanks! Looking forward to catching up on your other videos.
Thanks for dropping by the channel Michael and I hope you become a regular viewer here at TheNewHam.
I've been building drones awhile and been wanting to get into ham, but now with this Corona virus thing... Anyway I'm gonna buy one, in just trying to figure out what will be versatile, easy to power with whatever source I can find, or repair on my own if necessary. That's how I got here.
Try the FT-4XR handheld. Easy to setup, highly portable and easy to charge using a portable solar panel.
@@TheNewHam thanks so much for your responses. Much appreciated. I was looking at that one an like yaesu, the next one up I was looking at from them was about 190, which I was considering. But I actually ended up ordering a TYT md-uv390 GPS ip67 at 135.. I didn't wanna have to buy a second dmr capable handheld later on. although I'm still waiting for availability to get license/dmr I'd. I've got a few more thoughts and questions when you've got some time to kill..I'd like to set it up in home as well as possible, I have a mild understanding of radio waves and weaknesses.. I'd definitely like to get an antenna setup I can remove the hand held one and hook up to at home to have better function. I've seen some secondary DB boosters or signal boosters you put in between your radio and antenna? Are these worth messing with? And is there any use for dmr before having a dmr Id? I'm gonna order some parts maybe a couple raspbpis and build a little dmr module in the meantime anyway. Thanks again so much for your time.
TYT MD-UV390 GPS IP67
@@softsmoken If you're looking to get into DMR then it sounds like you have some DMR repeaters in your area. You don't really need a signal booster if you can work through a couple of nearby repeaters on DMR. DMR will allow to move around from one group to another using just a couple of repeaters most times. Some DMR repeaters do limit the groups they host but most times you'll have plenty to choose from so no booster or amp needed so long as you are within range already. You can also overcome distance by having an outdoor antenna.
@@TheNewHam well that's the idea with the dmr, but the dmr is dependant on some high end systems, and an I'd which I don't have yet and don't know when I'll be able to get one with this pandemic
Btech increased the price of the 6X2 when they released firmware 2.0 which added analog APRS among other things. Now it is much more comparable to the Anytone 878 price wise
You are correct, that didn’t take long. Glad I got mine when I did. I snuck in at $168 the last week of November. When this video was originally posted it was still $168 but it looks like my link is now $208. I appreciate you taking time to update us all. Thank you.
I really don't agree with starting with a handheld, unless it is at a disposable price (such as a Beofang or a TYT). They are really far too limiting. I recently got my first handheld, a QRZ Explorer (a modified TYT) for $34, and am underwhelmed. I can trip a few repeaters with it from my driveway, and no one answers, which is also not uncommon with my 20-watt mobile 2m rig. The handhelds simply don't have the power or antennas to get very far, unless you're in an area with no obstacles and many repeaters.
Personally, I think the fun is in HF, which is where I spend most of my operating time, but if I could do VHF/UHF only, I would opt for a mobile unit that could double as a base unit. With limited funds, I'd get a basic mobile unit, fudge an antenna and/or buy a basic mobile one, and use a car/marine battery. Too many hams start with a Beofang and get discouraged because they can only reach a few local repeaters, if they're lucky. The same can happen with a $500 handheld. Then they get frustrated and quit. Handhelds simply don't do too much.
Activity on repeaters in a lot of areas can be almost nothing, especially if you can reach only one or two.
Surprisingly I can hit a repeater 42 road miles from my house with a Baofeng UV-5R and use an adapter to a Tram 1185 mag mount on a pie pan for a ground. I have received good reports using that low budget set up. I'm sure there are better radios But for a guy like me that's disabled and retired on a small budget I'm having a blast. KO4HPC 73 :)
That's awesome!
Nice video and channel, best of luck getting into the hobby 👍
TheSmokinApe Thank you for stopping by and checking out my channel. I’ve watched several of videos and you have a great channel as well. Hope we can bring you on as a subscriber!
TheNewHam I subbed 👍
Working on Technician license and bought Yaesu FT-65R for just $103 with tax so I can listen-in to the weekly net run by the local ham club and other communications. After getting licensed, I want a low-cost base station which drew me to this video.
I will address base stations in an upcoming video. Thanks for checking out my channel. If you have any questions please let me know.
Great video. I’m new to the hobby as well and having the same dilemma. I have been considering a mobile setup in my truck, but this helped me decide on a handheld. Now which one?? Haha so many choices.
B L Check out my latest video. I review the Yaesu FT-4XR as good entry level radio.
I just passed my technician’s test and I am now on a quest for a first radio. Hand held seems to be logical but my question is about power, the mobile has 10 to 15 times the power of a hand held, is this significant when using repeaters on the 2 meter band? The cost of a mobile and a power supply is about the same as the upper end Yaesu handhelds but with the extra power, tough decisions with so many options.
You’ll find that most handhelds can reach out a significant distance to repeaters usually because the repeaters are elevated and have good line of sight. I’ve reached as far as 80 miles to a repeater using a Baofeng at 7 watts. You still have to consider your surroundings in the area you live but I’ve never had a problem reaching out with a handheld.
Also congratulations on passing your Tech exam and thanks for subscribing!
New viewer to your channel. Thank you for your video. I appreciate your view as I am new to the hobby as well. I would like to buy the uv-5r as a starter and grow from there (eventually graduating to the Yaesu and up). Based on your use of the uv-5r, can it connect to a repeater 12 miles away? I live in Orange County and have a direct line of site (for the most part) to a repeater here in town and one on top of nearby mountain.
Claudiu Catuna thanks for your question. If you have a good line of site yes you can reach that 12 mile mark. I would invest in a better antenna as it would make it much easier. I used my uv-5r on repeaters up to about 20 miles but keep in mind I lived on top of a mountain at the time. You will need to use it on full power as well.
@@TheNewHam Would you suggest a Nagoya 771 or the like?
Claudiu Catuna the Nagoya 771 is exactly what I purchased when I got my Uv-5r. I found it to be very reliable and found that my signal out was usually strong and clear based on feedback from hams on the receiving side. Just make sure you get a genuine Nagoya. This is where I bought mine.
Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-771 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UXaeEbFRGXDA6
can a anytone dmr radio transmit clearer to a analogue baofeng uv5r?
Hi, thx for the great video. What is the name of the antenna on the FT70 and FT2 and would you still recommend it? (I know the video is about a year old;-))
It's actually a very cheap antenna I found on Amazon. It works well around the house since I live close to a repeater and I'm close to me Wires-X node. Here is the link: www.amazon.com/TWAYRDIO-Antenna-TH-UVF9-TH-UVF9D-IC-F50V/dp/B073DW1ZP3/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/133-3178998-7436403?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B073DW1ZP3&pd_rd_r=4be0bf82-676c-4b7f-86ef-a9d9b8cb28eb&pd_rd_w=W0amp&pd_rd_wg=LWjqh&pf_rd_p=f325d01c-4658-4593-be83-3e12ca663f0e&pf_rd_r=X14A582VTZZK7S13JF5D&psc=1&refRID=X14A582VTZZK7S13JF5D
Is a decent mobile setup for in home better than a hand held far as capability? Thanks for your time, really appreciate the information.
You're definitely going to get some advantages. The first one being the amount of power a mobile has versus a handheld. However, you do lose some mobility. Reception is usually better with the mobile since it usually has the advantage of an outdoor antenna but remember you can hook up a handheld to an outdoor antenna as well. It's a trade off but it all depends on what you plan on doing with it.
Im new to all of this, but am looking to start in gmrs. Think Im goong to set up a mxt400 at the house and a handheld with external antenna in the truck. From there I will look at adding some inexpensive ht for our emergencies bags. Does that sound like a reasonable place to start? Maybe the yaesu with mod?
Do you have a Ham license? If you do I'd suggest going with something that gives you more availability to the full spectrum of amateur radio frequencies.
TheNewHam....agreed. This sunday I decided to go take my technician exam. Started studying on the hamstudy.prg site. Ive taken 31 practice tests already, and am scoring 90% plus consistently. I was going to test out tomorrow, but they canceled the exam. They said possibly this saturday, and if not it will be middle of july. So Im in a holding pattern until they resume testing. I went ahead and ordered a Icom IC-2730a mobile, as well as NMO drill mount and dual band antenna. Will get radio installed next week and start listing in. Hopefully get teat wrapped up soon.
Which would you recommend for a newbie bn the 3DR and a D74A in terms of ease of use, programming, future proofing, etc., and presuming I can get the 3DR for $399 or the D74A for $450.
Unless you have a lot of DStar repeaters in your area I would recommend the 3DR. The 3DR can work as a node, it's easy to program and Fusion is a growing digital mode. Also the cost difference is significant enough, you can get the FT-3DR for $359 from Ham Radio Outlet.
UV-5R vs the BF-F8HP?
BF-F8HP would be my choice. I like the extra power when I need it and you get a 2000mAh battery versus the 1500mAh battery that comes with the UV-5R.