7 watt PMR 446 rigs ( I think) £35

[NorthernRaider]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-UHF-V...231b6e5ebe

[Timelord]

[NorthernRaider]

TL your wise, which radio frequency are you going for, I'm drifting by default to the various AM / FM/ UK/CEPT 80 channel SSB CB system cos the other stuff is just scaring me, and I'm not rich like Light Speed so I cannot afford the albrecht.

[Lightspeed]

(28 June 2012, 22:15)NorthernRaider Wrote: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-UHF-V...231b6e5ebe

Not enough technical spec to see if they are compatible. They need to have 6.25 khz channel steps and narrow mode to be compatible. For the money the UV-5R is 100% better purchase

L

[Timelord]

(28 June 2012, 22:25)NorthernRaider Wrote: TL your wise, which radio frequency are you going for, I'm drifting by default to the various AM / FM/ UK/CEPT 80 channel SSB CB system cos the other stuff is just scaring me, and I'm not rich like Light Speed so I cannot afford the albrecht.

You really need to think what range and reason for communications you want. Many of the bands are no good for longer range - around the UK. This is without the use of "repeaters" which will be prob be down after a SHTF event. VHF & UHF rely on these repeaters for distance work, otherwise they are just similar to CB in range. That is why Ham's are about, using stuff like 10metres & 20 & 40 etc to do longer range coms. Now PSHTF, like others have said, the background clutter will be minimal if at all, so even low power sets will work longer distances. This does not overcome the inherent capabilities of the particular bands in the first place. From my research, it would seem that 20metres is the most reliable for propogation for distance work(international). For closer - UK, then 10m is good, (but I still like the reviews on 20m for survivalists). This is Ham band equipment... Any distance work without repeaters works on propogation. That is the radio waves being reflected from the Ionosphere. This means you could transmit non line of sight using propogation to a receiver 80 miles away, but could in the same event miss someone only 20 miles away. The whole thing is a bit hit & miss. certain bands work better for certain distances. Some work better at different times of the day - especially night time or/dawn/dusk. Others fair better during the solar sunspot cycle but are pretty useless at the opposite end of the cycle. Simply, line of sight or direct antenna to antenna comms is the most straightforward to comprehend. The problem with this is the landform around you or buildings can greatly vary the response. So for longer range work, sit on a big hill. There is no real solution to having a long range and local set up on one band. My thoughts after reading about distance comms would be to have a 20 metre simple ham rig that would run off a 12volt mobile supply and also having something like 2metre VHF handhelds for local comms. Forgetting the use of repeaters which is what most enthusiasts would do with the sets, they can be used as reliable walkie talkies for local comms. The frequency choice is massive compared to CB's and so it is easy to switch to predetermined channels to avoid unwanted contacts. The beauty of the 2m sets is that they are fairly common, plenty 2ndhand decent makes & they work reasonably well with buildings about due to the shorter waveform and a big plus - you can buy an RF burner for only £8.95 on ebay at the mo.
Item number 160808245080

Bargain set up.

Also to make a full house - a decent old school multi frequency inc SW receiver (+ a compact wind up one for the portable kit)

remember - for handheld walkie talki use in your locality - you will need at least 2 sets!!

Aerials is as important a subject as anything once you have selected your transceiver. Most sets can be seriously improved by modding the existing or building an expedient or professional antenna arrangement. Don't forget to pack a roll of wire in your already mammothly overloaded kitbag!!!

Anyway, this is just my idea on it as a lay person.

(For distance work, why don't we preppers all just learn the basic "CW" or Morse as it is known?? Then we can have rigs for peanuts and the range will be magnifique!! Would that not be good enough for long range messaging? A bit like texting.... At least the signals will be clear and mistranslation will be minimal. Talkie stuff could be just for our local issues. Morse is pretty simple compared to the ins & outs of all the other Ham theory stuff. It is reliable and effective across the world. Signals get through well and with only very low power requirements. Is it not worth revisiting this alltime classic that is universal in acceptance??) TL.

[Nemesis]

---/-.-//.../---//.--/..../.-/-//.-./.-/-../../---/...//.-/.-././/.--/.//--././-/-/../-./--.//-/...././-./

[Lightspeed]

TL:


Good re sponse you areright on track with your understanding.

20 metres and 17mere bands will be ideal long term long range bands. The snag is that to set up an network on either right now will require us to get licensed or to operate illegally.

---

TL: Re Morse ( CW)

(For distance work, why don't we preppers all just learn the basic "CW" or Morse as it is known?? Then we can have rigs for peanuts and the range will be magnifique!! Would that not be good enough for long range messaging? A bit like texting.... At least the signals will be clear and mistranslation will be minimal. Talkie stuff could be just for our local issues. Morse is pretty simple compared to the ins & outs of all the other Ham theory stuff. It is reliable and effective across the world. Signals get through well and with only very low power requirements. Is it not worth revisiting this alltime classic that is universal in acceptance??) TL.
[/quote]

Absolutely true what you have written about morse ( CW) Far better range and much simpler, lower cost, more reliable and more user serviceable kit. Take a look at the small wonder labs SW20 for example.

Again Ham rigs on which we cannot legally experiment without a license.

[NorthernRaider]

I'm now realising after a very long time that like most of our kit choices our criteria for radio comms is specific to ourselves, we are all seeking equipment and radio capabilities that are in the main different and probably incompatable.

The radio manufacturing industry and the amatuer radio fans are on a completely different path ( frequency) to us, The nearest sets ups that would fulfil my needs is the current EU regulation radios that do the two UK CB bands plus the European bands, and 10 meter band, at 12 watt output, but even they dont contain PMR 446 frequencies.

Equally I see no change in the attitude among the prepper / survivalist community to seek some commonality on radios so I'm not bothering with radio systems any more. If we cannot achieve any commonality between forums and groups even when we have major experts like TL and LS helping us along I dont think we ever will make progress on this issue. We are just flagilating a deceased equine.

[Lightspeed]

NR

Equally I see no change in the attitude among the prepper / survivalist community to seek some commonality on radios so I'm not bothering with radio systems any more. If we cannot achieve any commonality between forums and groups even when we have major experts like TL and LS helping us along I dont think we ever will make progress on this issue. We are just flagilating a deceased equine.
[/quote]

I think you are over stating the situation a bit. I think thatthere is consensus that long range communications will be desirable after a SHTF event, its just that various people have gone about looking for solutions in different ways.

The single device idea that you are talking about is a nice idea, and exists if you are prepared to pay for it. But its a red herring. having separate radios for long range and close range tactical uses isn't such a difficult thing for me, and the cost saving and reduction in complexity are compelling.

Please don't give up on the comms network idea NR, its a good one. We just need to discuss across our community what we want and agree a standard that is achievable and affordable for all of us.

[NorthernRaider]

LS, I'm not giving up, I'm leaving to the experts and radio hobbyists to sort out, its way to difficult for me As you pointed out yesterday I have been doing this for ages, and I personally have seen no progress, heck even the various forums dont have a regular system of comms ( another issue that needs sorting). I'm content to stay away from this can of worms.