Been doing VHF/UHF range tests ever since I qualified at Foundation a year ago - mostly because I see to live in a dead zone 😂. First it was APRS from a Boafeng and helical whip into a Raspberry Pi hosted gateway at home, then the same with a car mounted antenna using APRSDroid on a phone connected to the Boafeng. Upgraded to a used Icom IC-E92D and added a Digital hotspot (another Raspberry Pi 😉) so can do digital voice both ways on D-Star via the "Echo" function with GPS locatioon added in. Now with the recent licence changes I can give the Hotspot a bit more oomph (5w ERP) out of my home white stick - Can do DV all over town on UHF if the antenna high enough!
Great experiment. I'm amazed by how well the handheld transceiver works. It's a neat means of ending text messages. It will be interesting to see from how far you receive them.
Hey Andy, Loving the ID 52. Last year I managed a 68 Mile DMR Simplex between two Anytone Hand Helds. I was only using the rubber ducky.. I was up the top of a bit hill on the south downs. But its amazing how far you can get ! Need to sort out some picture sending testing on the ID52 with you
Andy that's the first time I've heard the audio of Dstar sound acceptable compared to analogue. Obviously you have it set up correctly mate.73 G7HFS/PA3IKH
Reminds me of a slight obsession I had testing DMR and FM handhelds a couple of years ago when I first got my ham license. 2m definitely copes with an urban environment better, 70cm is more easily blocked by buildings I found. Digital definitely remains clear right to the edge of range but synthetic to listen to IMO.
A fact. Digital give you "35%" more distance. It is a perception because the RX is more sensitive for Data. The sensitivity and signal is still the same, but digital has much better range.
Wicked video matey.. I’m just about to step into the digital world. My ID52 arrives from Japan today :) and once I’ve built my studio the 705 is going in. 73’s M0PPK Epping
Nice on Andy.. Haven’t got anything Icom yet, but I like watching creators who experiment with Icom so I can see what I’m missing, and probably eventually convince me to purchase!😜 By the way, every single video I watch of yours starts off with a Swytch-Bike advert.. Do you sell these kits? I’ve experimented a bit with one on an old hybrid bike.
That's wicked mate! Your videos and Lewis's have convinced me to do my licence. Been studying hard and got my exam next week 🤞 sold my solar P1 though have you still got yours?
Making HAM cool again mate. Love the vids. Taking eggsham real soon. Looking for a HF rig as cheap AF that I could do a bit of CB on also. Can you recommend anything? I built an FM band Transmitter for giggles. Used my DIY copper J-Pole in the loft. Went for a good drive and thought I best get home and turn it off quickly as 700mW was getting out many miles and sounded great. 73's dude.
so awesome Andy.. i am new on your channel subscribed.. i have an old 4watt fm cb premier cb2000 ..and made it running.. in time id would like to buy a president licoln 2 .. with a base antenne .. and try to contact you on ssb on some day .. if i can just say hello to you..i would jump in my room/ or car for many days.. and send a qsl card as a proof .. oh men i can dream of that.. so many old memorys it give just to watch your videos!! i already have local contact with this small cb.(with a mobile midland 1.40mtr antenna)..there are people on air..but long not as much as in the 80's.. first i need a pr. licoln2.. im located near coast Holland..so with good weather it should do the trick!! in time i will post in comments a message to ask you.. for a time, date and frequentie to tune in.. for a few minuts of time 🙏 you inspire me much..a big thank you for all what you do .. 73 from Papa Kilo ✌😊
wuhuuu ..today i had a contact ..the distance was 142 KM !!! on FM with 3.8 watt .. the station was a crane operator.. so very high was hes antenna!! first i thougt he was joking.. but he said it was realy tru!! it was arround 11:00 o'clock.. i was so excitited 😊😊😊✌
Have the IC-9700 for Sats, never once tried DStar, any time i heard digital voice, it just sounds too robotic.. By the way, poor Yaesu never get a mention 😆 🤣 😂
im wondering why the ICOM 7100 didnt make the trip. its a 40 watt radio . portable and mobile use I use RG-213 and base station use I use LMR-400 STRANDED FLEXIBLE.
I've been reading discussions about DStar, and I'm a bit confused about its functionality. I'm a newcomer to the world of ham radio, and I'm seriously considering getting my ham radio license. Does DStar require an internet connection? I can't see the point of your test. It seems like DStar operates through repeaters that are connected to an Internet gateway, enabling global communication. But, can DStar be used when the internet is down? Am I missing something here? Thanks!
Hi, Icoms D-Star mode doesn't require an Internet connection, you can use it simplex (back to back) just like normal FM radios, or through a repeater without an Internet connection. However repeaters can be connected to each other via the Internet to increase coverage area, no its not true radio but it can be useful. Using digital radios in simplex mode and through non internet connected repeaters I've always found very interesting and encourage other HAMs to do like in this video 😁👍🏼
Hi @@andykirby Thanks for the replay. So what you did is to use the Digital capacity of the radio DStar (better sound and connections?) with out relaying to the Internet Gateway?
That because the Band with is only 6.23Khz Wide, on D-Star, other Digital Voice Modes is Twice the Band with! That Why they don't have that Range of D-Star, both DMR and Yeasu Fusion have a 15 khz Wide Signal,
I appreciate the range tests. I wish there were more UA-camrs that did range tests . Cheers from across the pond.
Been doing VHF/UHF range tests ever since I qualified at Foundation a year ago - mostly because I see to live in a dead zone 😂. First it was APRS from a Boafeng and helical whip into a Raspberry Pi hosted gateway at home, then the same with a car mounted antenna using APRSDroid on a phone connected to the Boafeng. Upgraded to a used Icom IC-E92D and added a Digital hotspot (another Raspberry Pi 😉) so can do digital voice both ways on D-Star via the "Echo" function with GPS locatioon added in. Now with the recent licence changes I can give the Hotspot a bit more oomph (5w ERP) out of my home white stick - Can do DV all over town on UHF if the antenna high enough!
That handheld looks worth every penny.
Love the cross comparison’s Andy between the various range tests. Well done! Really good experiment
Great experiment. I'm amazed by how well the handheld transceiver works. It's a neat means of ending text messages. It will be interesting to see from how far you receive them.
I don’t know why but I really like your content, the twizy, the bike, the Radio, I love your Channel mate ! Keep going !
Hey Andy, Loving the ID 52. Last year I managed a 68 Mile DMR Simplex between two Anytone Hand Helds. I was only using the rubber ducky.. I was up the top of a bit hill on the south downs. But its amazing how far you can get ! Need to sort out some picture sending testing on the ID52 with you
Andy that's the first time I've heard the audio of Dstar sound acceptable compared to analogue. Obviously you have it set up correctly mate.73 G7HFS/PA3IKH
I JUST GOT MY IC 705 CAN YOU DO A VIDEO HOW TO REGISTER AND SETUP D START ON THE 705 FOR A NEWBE
I love the tinkering.
My record in 2 meter is 1100 kms from Madeira Island to Sevilla back in 2002. With EA7BEL Bonni from Los Palacios - Sevilla
Just upgraded my coax to m&p ultraflex 7 on PMR 446 and makes hell of a difference Rx an tx
Nice Video. You need, however, need to repeat and compare using FM mode.
Wow that’s really cool
Reminds me of a slight obsession I had testing DMR and FM handhelds a couple of years ago when I first got my ham license. 2m definitely copes with an urban environment better, 70cm is more easily blocked by buildings I found.
Digital definitely remains clear right to the edge of range but synthetic to listen to IMO.
A fact. Digital give you "35%" more distance. It is a perception because the RX is more sensitive for Data. The sensitivity and signal is still the same, but digital has much better range.
I love the 52 And my 705.
Wicked video matey.. I’m just about to step into the digital world. My ID52 arrives from Japan today :) and once I’ve built my studio the 705 is going in. 73’s M0PPK Epping
Nice on Andy..
Haven’t got anything Icom yet, but I like watching creators who experiment with Icom so I can see what I’m missing, and probably eventually convince me to purchase!😜
By the way, every single video I watch of yours starts off with a Swytch-Bike advert.. Do you sell these kits? I’ve experimented a bit with one on an old hybrid bike.
The ID52 is a little beast. I just got mine and it blows me away.
I have been trying to get mine to blow me but nodda.
@@bruhzooka 😂😂😂
That would be interesting to do the same test on 70 cm and see what the difference was the signal strength and coverage DE TOM VK3FTOM
What antenna and mount are you using on your car Andy?
That's wicked mate! Your videos and Lewis's have convinced me to do my licence. Been studying hard and got my exam next week 🤞 sold my solar P1 though have you still got yours?
It's a great hobby 😊 73 de M7CPO
Big up andy
ID-52 orderd now!
Making HAM cool again mate. Love the vids. Taking eggsham real soon. Looking for a HF rig as cheap AF that I could do a bit of CB on also. Can you recommend anything? I built an FM band Transmitter for giggles. Used my DIY copper J-Pole in the loft. Went for a good drive and thought I best get home and turn it off quickly as 700mW was getting out many miles and sounded great. 73's dude.
so awesome Andy.. i am new on your channel subscribed.. i have an old 4watt fm cb premier cb2000 ..and made it running.. in time id would like to buy a president licoln 2 .. with a base antenne .. and try to contact you on ssb on some day .. if i can just say hello to you..i would jump in my room/ or car for many days.. and send a qsl card as a proof .. oh men i can dream of that.. so many old memorys it give just to watch your videos!! i already have local contact with this small cb.(with a mobile midland 1.40mtr antenna)..there are people on air..but long not as much as in the 80's..
first i need a pr. licoln2.. im located near coast Holland..so with good weather it should do the trick!!
in time i will post in comments a message to ask you.. for a time, date and frequentie to tune in.. for a few minuts of time 🙏
you inspire me much..a big thank you for all what you do .. 73
from Papa Kilo
✌😊
wuhuuu ..today i had a contact ..the distance was 142 KM !!! on FM with 3.8 watt .. the station was a crane operator.. so very high was hes antenna!! first i thougt he was joking.. but he said it was realy tru!!
it was arround 11:00 o'clock.. i was so excitited 😊😊😊✌
Andy can you please tell us what antenna are you using for the 705 and how tall is it located ?
Have the IC-9700 for Sats, never once tried DStar, any time i heard digital voice, it just sounds too robotic..
By the way, poor Yaesu never get a mention 😆 🤣 😂
im wondering why the ICOM 7100 didnt make the trip. its a 40 watt radio . portable and mobile use I use RG-213 and base station use I use LMR-400 STRANDED FLEXIBLE.
very nice track at the end of this video, what is it called?
I've been reading discussions about DStar, and I'm a bit confused about its functionality. I'm a newcomer to the world of ham radio, and I'm seriously considering getting my ham radio license. Does DStar require an internet connection? I can't see the point of your test. It seems like DStar operates through repeaters that are connected to an Internet gateway, enabling global communication. But, can DStar be used when the internet is down? Am I missing something here? Thanks!
Hi, Icoms D-Star mode doesn't require an Internet connection, you can use it simplex (back to back) just like normal FM radios, or through a repeater without an Internet connection. However repeaters can be connected to each other via the Internet to increase coverage area, no its not true radio but it can be useful.
Using digital radios in simplex mode and through non internet connected repeaters I've always found very interesting and encourage other HAMs to do like in this video 😁👍🏼
Hi @@andykirby Thanks for the replay. So what you did is to use the Digital capacity of the radio DStar (better sound and connections?) with out relaying to the Internet Gateway?
That because the Band with is only 6.23Khz Wide, on D-Star, other Digital Voice Modes is Twice the Band with!
That Why they don't have that Range of D-Star, both DMR and Yeasu Fusion have a 15 khz Wide Signal,
I hate u for making me want the Id-52 😂
why is there 2 mins of black screen at the end of the video?
It's to let the music play out, some viewers have requested it as they like the music!