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+---- Thread: Making contact by FM radio (/showthread.php?tid=23)
Making contact by FM radio - Skvez - 2 September 2011
We talk about using CB or Ham radio for making contact with other groups after a major event but what about the 'normal' 88MHz to 108MHz FM band? Transmitting on this band before a major event requires a rather expensive licence but after a major event there are going to be a lot more people with FM radio receivers than CB or Ham units. 'It is my understanding' (note legal weasel phrase) that it is legal to own an FM transmitter without a licence, it's using it that requires the licence.
RE: Making contact by FM radio - Skean Dhude - 2 September 2011
Interesting. I've not seen any transmitters that specifically target those frequencies only although I thought that Ham radios can be adjusted to those frequencies.
RE: Making contact by FM radio - grumpy old man - 8 September 2011
i think i know of one but need to check it out first
RE: Making contact by FM radio - Skean Dhude - 8 September 2011
Grumpy,
Back in the days before CB came legal we had a technician in our club who modified the US FM/AM radios to do all sorts of things. It was based on a top range model that had 120 channels, AM/FM and there was also a base unit called the Jumbo. I had the portable version.
RE: Making contact by FM radio - grumpy old man - 8 September 2011
my dad had a hi gain 5 and use to talk all over europe
i think it's in his loft somewhere?
RE: Making contact by FM radio - Skean Dhude - 8 September 2011
Dig it out and see if you can find the rest of it for your supplies.
RE: Making contact by FM radio - grumpy old man - 10 September 2011
my dad reckons everthing is still up there with a few other rigs, he used to be into his cb's a lot.
he's more of a horder than me.
mine for the taking if i can find it
RE: Making contact by FM radio - Skean Dhude - 10 September 2011
and while you are up there see what else is around.
RE: Making contact by FM radio - Reality Jones - 14 September 2011
If we assume that in an event the power grid goes down, how much electricity would you need to power an FM radio and create a strong enough signal ? could you run it off of an ordinary car battery or would you need to use a generator of some type?
RE: Making contact by FM radio - Skean Dhude - 14 September 2011
Radios don't need that much power but transmitters do require a lot more than receivers. They will run quite comfortably off a car battery for some time but obviously you need to conserve the power or replenish it. Get a hamster in a wheel or better yet a pedal bike with a generator attached.