Great to see you back in the saddle again Hank. Your older videos inspired me years ago to pursue Winlink & other digital modes. Thanks for that! I've learned a lot since first getting licensed in late 2011. Not only do I work SSB, but I'm also very active with various digital modes for rag-chewing & Emergency traffic purposes. I love JS8 & Winlink and have the ability to use all these amazing tools not just at the QTH but also in remote, portable, off grid environments as well. Again, thank you for the inspiration & it's good to see you again covering this wonderful service called amateur radio. - W8APP
Great to see you back doing radio content again. I love my 718 as a nice rugged, backup radio, and have the 7300’s big brother in the shack as my main HF rig. Only place I differ is I have a FT-891 as my portable radio, as while QRP can be fun, when you want comms up quickly and guaranteed contacts, it’s a damn site easier with 100w. 👍
When I got my license I was gifted a Yeasu FT857D... what a great radio! HF, UHF and VHF all in one compact package and 100 watts of power on HF too! Great video and keep it up! 73's
Great video. I just got my IC 718 on the air a couple of weeks ago. I have a Windom antenna strung through the trees next to my house and it's very discreet. I don't know if you have any videos on low visibility antennas but it might be worth a thought. Thank you for the informative video. Mark KN4DVJ
Great info, Hank! On step 1: REQUIREMENTS, have you done or can you do a video on what sort of requirements your average Joe in a rural/semi-rural area should have? I suppose that same thing for urban environments would also be helpful, if those requirements are different than rural. You are a real prince of a guy for all of the information you provide! You also prove the old adage that being virtuous is its own reward. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
For HF, I would recommend an IC 7300 for a base station and an IC 705 for portable work. If you need more portable power, go ahead and get an FT 891 with a manpack. My two cents.
Good to see you back. Hope to see more. Are you back state side? I hope so because after you had to go away for a while everything when to SsssssChumer. :-)
I don't have your contact information but I had a question about a Kenwood TS-44OS that I got for 30 bucks at a secondhand store. Anyway we can touch base? It's a power supply question.
Thanks! There isn't even a license fee for GMRS in Canada, so the Midland line might be great for those of my prepper friends who don't have time for getting a ham license. Will still recommend the test, but 40W GMRS may negate the need for ham VHF/UHF frequency access for those people to communicate.
Hank, glad your back, you in WV? Seems like a lifetime since you started your ram radio vids, plus crazy 2020. Still got my CP patches on my gear bags Mike
Yes. Thanks. Only one missing in the video is my IC-7200. That radio is back in West Virginia. Thanks for the comment and channel support. Hank / DA1KH
You have been warned. Freedom is not free, but slavery exacts a far greater price. If the need arises, do not hesitate to take up arms in defense of freedom, even against your own government!
I see a lot of talk by preppers about using Ham radios and repeaters without being licensed when the shtf. Most of them seem clueless about why they want them, how to use them and the law around them. If/when the shtf, the bands (especially 2M & 70cm and repeaters) are going to be one hell of a mess.
and they’re going to be very disappointed on HF when they don’t understand the bands or propagation, and hence hear nothing and contact no-one. I advise everyone that says this to do Tech and General (or local equivalents) so they have the skill to use the radio when needed.
No disdain for CB from me. However, it's often limited to LOS propagation unless the rare "skip" is active. Ham gives many modes, many bands, and many propagation types and is more reliable for prepping.
The only reason for a CB is in a 4X4 to talk to the other wheelers who wont get good radios, or Logging trucks on logging roads. 11 Meters should be returned to HAM so that we can make good use of it and police out the bums who have taken over on it.
The problem with CB is 11m/27MHz is finicky with propagation, and hence really only LOS most of the time, and too high a frequency for regional comms. Compare this to Amateur where 80m will get you a few hundred miles almost guaranteed, and 20m and 40m will get you a few thousand regularly.
Presuming there's no amplifier being used, CB tends to be reliably disappointing, unless you are in flat/open terrain with really good LOS conditions. Even then without favorable propagation conditions, when you compare it to VHF it tends to run out of legs pretty quick and the audio is frequently battling the noise level. Watt for watt, FRS/GMRS is just as reliable, if not more reliable in terms of range, clarity, noise level, etc. That being said, CB is better than nothing and it does have it's niche (a bazillion farmers and truckers will attest to it's niche utility), but when ranking options for prepping, I would have to put it quite low on the list.
Great to see you back in the saddle again Hank. Your older videos inspired me years ago to pursue Winlink & other digital modes. Thanks for that!
I've learned a lot since first getting licensed in late 2011. Not only do I work SSB, but I'm also very active with various digital modes for rag-chewing & Emergency traffic purposes. I love JS8 & Winlink and have the ability to use all these amazing tools not just at the QTH but also in remote, portable, off grid environments as well.
Again, thank you for the inspiration & it's good to see you again covering this wonderful service called amateur radio.
- W8APP
Thanks for the channel support and taking the time to comment.
Excellent teacher. Thank you.
Thank you for the comment and channel support.
Great video, been following you for a long time. Especially liked you bugout cabin and drone videos.
I do miss the mountain. Will be back this summer for a few months.
Thank you Commsprepper,I gotta jump in and get my comms up!
You are welcome and thank you for the channel support.
Great to see you back doing radio content again. I love my 718 as a nice rugged, backup radio, and have the 7300’s big brother in the shack as my main HF rig. Only place I differ is I have a FT-891 as my portable radio, as while QRP can be fun, when you want comms up quickly and guaranteed contacts, it’s a damn site easier with 100w. 👍
Thanks for the comment and channel support.
When I got my license I was gifted a Yeasu FT857D... what a great radio! HF, UHF and VHF all in one compact package and 100 watts of power on HF too!
Great video and keep it up!
73's
Thanks.
I watched your first video, don't be hard on yourself I learned a lot from you! Thanks
Thank you for the kind comment and channel support.
Great video and glad to see you back at it. Keep the content coming. 😀
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and skills..
Thanks for commenting and support.
very good explanation
Thanks.
New follower. Really enjoy your content
Welcome ....-O
Great video. I just got my IC 718 on the air a couple of weeks ago. I have a Windom antenna strung through the trees next to my house and it's very discreet. I don't know if you have any videos on low visibility antennas but it might be worth a thought. Thank you for the informative video.
Mark
KN4DVJ
Great to see what you post!
Thank you!
Great info, Hank! On step 1: REQUIREMENTS, have you done or can you do a video on what sort of requirements your average Joe in a rural/semi-rural area should have? I suppose that same thing for urban environments would also be helpful, if those requirements are different than rural. You are a real prince of a guy for all of the information you provide! You also prove the old adage that being virtuous is its own reward. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I have not but sounds like a great topic for a video. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks again for a great video
Thanks for the comment and channel support.
For HF, I would recommend an IC 7300 for a base station and an IC 705 for portable work. If you need more portable power, go ahead and get an FT 891 with a manpack. My two cents.
Thank you for the comment and channel support.
Did you part with your IC7200? thats still my go to rig for HF portable and Digital modes
No. It's at the retreat or it would have been on the table.
Good to see you back. Hope to see more. Are you back state side? I hope so because after you had to go away for a while everything when to SsssssChumer. :-)
I'm in Germany. Hope to get back to WV this summer. Thanks for the comment and channel support.
Solid info, thank you!
Thank you.
I don't have your contact information but I had a question about a Kenwood TS-44OS that I got for 30 bucks at a secondhand store. Anyway we can touch base? It's a power supply question.
That's a 100 watt radio. You will need a 25 amp 12/13.8 Volt DC power supply. Astron makes great supplies.
@@Commsprepper yup your correct. I already got all the information on it and just need to get a decent power supply. Thanks for the recommendation.
@@Commsprepper any recommendation on a mobile power bank too?
subscribed. cheers
Thanks! There isn't even a license fee for GMRS in Canada, so the Midland line might be great for those of my prepper friends who don't have time for getting a ham license. Will still recommend the test, but 40W GMRS may negate the need for ham VHF/UHF frequency access for those people to communicate.
I have no idea what the rules are in Canada so I will have to take your word for it. Thanks for the comment and channel support.
@@Commsprepper Canada has a little over 10% of the USA's population and is very large.
Hank, glad your back, you in WV? Seems like a lifetime since you started your ram radio vids, plus crazy 2020. Still got my CP patches on my gear bags Mike
Still in Germany. Hope to get beck for a few months this summer. Hank
An iCOM is all it takes... 👍👍👍
Yes. Thanks. Only one missing in the video is my IC-7200. That radio is back in West Virginia. Thanks for the comment and channel support. Hank / DA1KH
Great video ! I would kindly like 4 slices of ham 😀
Thanks for the comment.
Thnxs ...
You are welcome.
What’s your take on the new IC 705?
Don't know. I have had a chance to use one yet. Looks sweat though!
You have been warned. Freedom is not free, but slavery exacts a far greater price. If the need arises, do not hesitate to take up arms in defense of freedom, even against your own government!
no ic-705 yet?
Not yet.
4 posting 👍💯🇺🇸
Welcome
Cool
He's back Are you going to pickup a 705
Perhaps in the future.
I see a lot of talk by preppers about using Ham radios and repeaters without being licensed when the shtf. Most of them seem clueless about why they want them, how to use them and the law around them. If/when the shtf, the bands (especially 2M & 70cm and repeaters) are going to be one hell of a mess.
and they’re going to be very disappointed on HF when they don’t understand the bands or propagation, and hence hear nothing and contact no-one. I advise everyone that says this to do Tech and General (or local equivalents) so they have the skill to use the radio when needed.
most are on battery backup.... so shtf and power is out, it will not last that long with so many users....
Tyt radios have scrambles to encrypt your signal
Not legal for amateur radio and cheep ass communist equipment. Will never be shown or supported on this channel.
Why not talk about CB radio
Trash service. Foul language and limited capabilities.
No disdain for CB from me. However, it's often limited to LOS propagation unless the rare "skip" is active. Ham gives many modes, many bands, and many propagation types and is more reliable for prepping.
The only reason for a CB is in a 4X4 to talk to the other wheelers who wont get good radios, or Logging trucks on logging roads. 11 Meters should be returned to HAM so that we can make good use of it and police out the bums who have taken over on it.
The problem with CB is 11m/27MHz is finicky with propagation, and hence really only LOS most of the time, and too high a frequency for regional comms. Compare this to Amateur where 80m will get you a few hundred miles almost guaranteed, and 20m and 40m will get you a few thousand regularly.
Presuming there's no amplifier being used, CB tends to be reliably disappointing, unless you are in flat/open terrain with really good LOS conditions. Even then without favorable propagation conditions, when you compare it to VHF it tends to run out of legs pretty quick and the audio is frequently battling the noise level. Watt for watt, FRS/GMRS is just as reliable, if not more reliable in terms of range, clarity, noise level, etc. That being said, CB is better than nothing and it does have it's niche (a bazillion farmers and truckers will attest to it's niche utility), but when ranking options for prepping, I would have to put it quite low on the list.
Lol a test needed .....in an emergency....who cares ....come down here and fine me if I live
Have a license now allows folks to practice and learn so they can be efficient in emergencies. Emergency time is not the time to start learning.