|
Post by onidah on Jul 30, 2013 22:01:08 GMT -7
I've been impressed lately with some cheap Chinese dual band (UHF/VHF) amateur radios that I've been experimenting with. They do a fine job and their price can't be beat. I've ordered and set up a couple dozen of these radios over the past couple of months for local amateur radio operators. Here is where I've been buying them from: Radioddity.com Baofeng UV-5R PlusThe Baofeng UV-5R plus is a great little dual band (2 meter and 70 cm) radio that also has an FM mode so that you can listen to your favorite local radio stations. They are also capable of operating (both receiving and transmitting) on the FRS and GMRS frequencies. For as little as $35.99 (with free shipping), everyone who has their license or plans to get their license should buy some (if for no other reason than to put them away in a faraday cage somewhere for use in the future). As for accessories, I'd recommend getting an extra battery (or even an extended capacity battery) like the ones available from: 409shop.com UV-5R Extended BatteryThat way, you can be using one and charging the other one. I'd also recommend getting the 12-volt adapter so that you can charge the batteries using your vehicle or other 12-volt power source. 409shop.com UV-5R 12-volt AdapterFor longer distance or simplex work, we built some of the Ed Fong version antennas that are commercially available on ebay: eBay - Ed Fong Dual Band Antennaand then we built some PVC stands for them that are similar to the following website: PVC Antenna StandThe plans for the Ed Fong antennas are available online, but unless you are going to build a dozen of them, you'd be better off just buying the one on ebay. I have no commercial interest in any of these websites. I'm just letting you know what a group of amateur radio operators settled on after giving the issue considerable thought, and especially trying to keep the cost down so that more people could participate. I welcome any questions you may have about the radio or the antenna that we selected. Onidah
|
|
|
Post by geron on Jul 31, 2013 4:30:24 GMT -7
I currently have two of the Baofeng UV-5R. That's what we use in CERT communications. We all are quite satisfied with their performance. Several owners do not have their Amateur License and you CAN get into trouble with the FCC if used improperly. They are very inexpensive therefore quite accessible. Have a Ham program it for you and you should be OK. Technically speaking you need a GMRS license also to stay completely legal.
Will have to make some of the Ed Fong Antennae and share with CERT. Thanks Onidah.
|
|
|
Post by thywar on Jul 31, 2013 7:41:26 GMT -7
That's within just about everyone's budget to get that done.. very cool. Thanks for the info.. Geron, I think those are just the ticket for CERT too.. think I'll try and email the CERT officer here and let him ponder that. All good info.. thanks
|
|
|
Post by onidah on Jul 31, 2013 18:37:39 GMT -7
I currently have two of the Baofeng UV-5R. That's what we use in CERT communications. We all are quite satisfied with their performance. Several owners do not have their Amateur License and you CAN get into trouble with the FCC if used improperly. They are very inexpensive therefore quite accessible. Have a Ham program it for you and you should be OK. Technically speaking you need a GMRS license also to stay completely legal. Will have to make some of the Ed Fong Antennae and share with CERT. Thanks Onidah. There is currently no test for the license for GMRS frequency privileges. You just have to pay the $85 fee, which gets you (and members of your family) a license for 5 years (and the ability to use a full 5 watts or more of transmit power). In 2010, the FCC proposed to remove the individual licensing requirement for GMRS and instead license GMRS “by rule” (meaning that an individual license would not be required to operate a GMRS device). This proposal is still pending. For more information see: GMRS FCC licensing fee?The FRS frequencies can be used without a license, but in order to be technically compliant with the rules, you'd want to keep the transmit power on low rather than high if you are using a Baofeng UV-5R plus radio. Onidah
|
|
|
Post by onidah on Jul 31, 2013 18:53:43 GMT -7
Here is a link on the specifications of the Ed Fong antennas: Ed Fond Antenna Specs and InstructionsWe bought one on eBay to use as a template then made the rest. As for the components, the PVC end caps were from this website: PVC End CapsBe sure to specify the DURA brand of end caps. They sent another brand initially (which they later corrected) which didn't have the ridges that allow it to push-fit into a 1 inch PVC fitting. We used a disk sander to flatten the ends of the caps then drilled a nice clean 5/8 inch hole for the SO239 connectors to attach through. Of course you'll only need to do that to the bottom cap, since the top cap remains intact. The JSC 300 ohm twin lead #1018 came from R&L Electronics in Hamilton, Ohio. We also purchased the 25ft RG8X cables from them. We had planned on building the cables, but they had them so cheap that we didn't bother. We also used the RG8X for the coax portions of the antennas. The other wires on the antennas are just 14 gauge solid wire that we had left over from various residential electronic wiring projects. The PVC pipe is the thin-walled (schedule 20) 3/4 inch stuff from Lowe's. We ordered the SO239 connectors directly from MFJ: www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-7722We ordered the SO239 connecters in a 12-pack, so they were a little cheaper. R&L probably has some that would work as well. The only other components that we added were 2 ferrite beads per feed line at the antenna feed point: www.surplussales.com/Inductors/FerBeaSle/FerBeaSle-1.htmland some heat shrink tubing for the solder joints and the ferrite beads. We ordered some short, thin-wire jumper cables from the following store on eBay since they had them already built for much less than we could even buy the components: cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161013271248&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160They also have the similar cables with other types of fittings. With a little bit of snipping, the antennas tuned up beautifully, were resonant at the center of both bands, and had low SWRs across the entire band. Onidah
|
|
|
Post by kutkota on Nov 16, 2013 13:32:30 GMT -7
I was just looking at these on youtube and they seem like a good starter type radio. I have no license though. Wonder what kind of trouble would come my way for using them?
|
|
|
Post by mud on Nov 16, 2013 18:16:02 GMT -7
Personally I think the license is stupid unless u int3nd to become a radio tech or broadcast ober 5meter
|
|
|
Post by geron on Nov 17, 2013 6:00:57 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by kutkota on Nov 17, 2013 20:22:51 GMT -7
Roger, thanks. Though what that guy did and what I would want it for is pretty night and day. I am looking more and more into it. There is a local gun shop that one of the owners or workers has a big CERT sign and something talking about HAM. I might hit him up and get the low down from him.
|
|
|
Post by orly152 on Dec 1, 2013 16:15:06 GMT -7
Personally I think the license is stupid unless u int3nd to become a radio tech or broadcast ober 5meter It's all about the money
|
|
|
Post by kutkota on Dec 2, 2013 16:36:30 GMT -7
Well I bought a couple of them. Should be delivered in the next couple of days. I don't plan on "talking" on it. More listening. I will let you know how it turns out.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 22, 2014 17:19:00 GMT -7
re open an old thread. I just got the Beafeng GT 3 mk2 4 of them and they work just fine. The package deal was 4 radios, 4 high gain antenna.4 speaker mics Wall chargers 12 volt auto chargers 2 xtra battery the soft ware usb down load cable all up for $297.89. Still waiting on the J Pole base antenna from another source. Need to pick up a SMA male connecter cable and 2 moble antenna. Long story short these are will worth the price and then some. 2Meter/70cm radios that do the job and not rob you on price. OH forgot Radioodity gave me free xpress shipping I had the whole package in 3 days.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2014 7:26:06 GMT -7
WELL wanted to post some pics of the rigs but no go. So here is my report on the radio's. Performance GREAT, hard to program at first, but not real bad. Spent 4 hours over 2 days learning the radio and then downloaded the CHIRPS program and they where up and running. Battery life far exceeded my expectations. One radio has been running in low pwr phase monitor only (no xmitt) just recive for over 36 hours most give low pwr warning around the 27 28 hour mark.. After getting the chirps program down loaded, we went to "The repeater book" got the local area repeaters and away they went with no proplems. The Arrow antenna "J" pole was a great buy also. A good low cost Antenna that is built for the conditions we may find out there. Here is the links to Radioddity and Arrow. www.arrowantennas.com/osj/j-pole.html www.radioddity.com/us/two-way-radio-product.html Mag mount mobles can be found every where got 2 off of Amazon have not tried them as yet. Will try them on MURS chn 1 (one) later on. So!!!!! Happy with money spent Yes. This was a good buy. Coax cable not running any cheap RAT SHACK trash, RG8X 100' and Amphonal PL259 connectors all new from Universal radio up in the capital city. Not bad and still below the $400 price cap.... might go for the Kenwood TM281A moble rigg later at $137 beans 65 watts sounds good even if it is 2 meter only..... Thats my report on the GT3's hope it helps.
|
|
|
Post by woodyz on Jun 8, 2014 18:14:18 GMT -7
That old no longer used TV Satellite dish mount makes a good radio antenna roof mount. We use the three legged towers for the higher mounts. We can talk to the retreat property from the house and the boat while on the lake, plus listen to almost any HAM traffic. Ears is all I worry about for HAM/emergency/weather frequencies for now. We have a license, I just don't want to transmit long range.
When I finally do get to build Retreat-TN-W I may want to communicate long distance, but not right now.
Gotta wait for my Son to get back on his feet before I can get back to TN-W property and thats going to be Sept. at the soonest.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 6:19:03 GMT -7
Understand that Woodyz Right now that is what I have set up (just a Listening Post) This set is going to be for go bags and Storm season incase I lose the permanent mounted. Well storm season is on us so we made that. Also this is a stealth type operation when needed as the flat wire can be camoed behind curtains in an attic or in or on trees.
|
|