Yup, I've got those.
I just saw that gamiviti is in Broomfield... So, is that you?
Equipment & getting started suggestions for new folks
- Thread starter nakman
- Start date
I just saw that gamiviti is in Broomfield... So, is that you?
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
FYI, the cross band repeat function in most radios is not legal to use in the U.S. since it does not self identify. You can use it in half duplex as a range extender on TX but you must not allow the radio to repeat the other way. The Kenwood TM-D710 and TM-V71A both support half duplex cross banding, so good choices from that perspective. The Yaesu radios also do cross band but only full duplex, so you have to mess around with odd offsets to make them half duplex. It's actually not as useful because of the half/full duplex thing. Plus even the Kenwoods don't support remote controlling channels to shut down a stuck repeater. It's very easy to get a radio into an endless loop where it continually keys itself from the repeater tail, which is why most repeater owners explicitly say not to use cross banding with their machines.
aye, 'tis I.
And I'd parrot most of the cross band repeat comments... it's cumbersome and really not that useful. Plus to be legit I'd need to be there at the radio, in which case I could just flip channels and relay whatever message was so important. Thoughts of hiking with the HT with a repeater in the truck quickly vanished when I realized I could likely just hit the repeater with the HT.
And I'd parrot most of the cross band repeat comments... it's cumbersome and really not that useful. Plus to be legit I'd need to be there at the radio, in which case I could just flip channels and relay whatever message was so important. Thoughts of hiking with the HT with a repeater in the truck quickly vanished when I realized I could likely just hit the repeater with the HT.
Hmmm... So if crossband repeat isn't that useful... How useful is APRS? If everyone in the club was using it, it could be really handy... But if not... Then it's really just a novelty, right?
Going to order an antenna mount...
Going to order an antenna mount...
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
I've only used cross band a couple of times but use APRS all the time. But there is a lot of discussion about the utility of APRS. Certainly seems HSMM-Mesh is much more useful anymore. But hard to beat the tactical application of APRS. I know hams use it when supporting events like big cycling tours to keep track of everyone. It frees up the voice channels from constant needing to let net control know where you are, they just see who's where. It's very handy for that.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
Another option to run a virtual machine is Virtual Box. The VM is free under GNU GPL but to run Windows you'd need a copy of it.
https://www.virtualbox.org
Rezarf
Hard Core 4+
This thread derailed on post 13 for the true noobs... just sayin' 
Well, I'm as noobie as it gets when it comes to HAM... So, let's see if I can get it back on track w/ a (hopefully) simple question... Or at least one where the answer will not involve Unix:
What size wire are you running to the radios in your trucks? I understand it's important to run pos and neg straight from the radio to the battery, but what gauge is sufficient? This question assumes a 50 watt max output power on the radio... So, 50 Watts / 12 volts = 4 amps and change, right? I'd think 12 AWG would be sufficient.
What size wire are you running to the radios in your trucks? I understand it's important to run pos and neg straight from the radio to the battery, but what gauge is sufficient? This question assumes a 50 watt max output power on the radio... So, 50 Watts / 12 volts = 4 amps and change, right? I'd think 12 AWG would be sufficient.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
Most 50W FM mobile radios draw around 8A~9A at full transmit power. Yaesu radios (and I think most others) come with a 14AWG sized harness, usually about 9 feet (1.5 meters) long and are usually fused at either 10A or 15A. Going 12AWG would be fine for most any mobile and is a good idea generally and especially if you power run is longer than 9'.
If you're installing something larger, a 75W mobile or 100W mobile you should bump up to 12AWG if you can swing it. The FT-2900 draws about 15A at full power.
HF 100W mobiles like the FT-857 will draw 20A~22A at full 100W transmit in some modes, so use 25A fuses and at least 12AWG and 10AWG is not a bad idea.
If you're installing something larger, a 75W mobile or 100W mobile you should bump up to 12AWG if you can swing it. The FT-2900 draws about 15A at full power.
HF 100W mobiles like the FT-857 will draw 20A~22A at full 100W transmit in some modes, so use 25A fuses and at least 12AWG and 10AWG is not a bad idea.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
I'm not totally familiar with the 60m allocation, but CHiRP can access the 60m channels on my radios. There is a small check box called "Special Channels" and clicking it on brings up M-601 through M-605, which are the 60m channels on my FT-817. Can you give me a hint if you mean we have a 6th channel now. I understood the last R&O increased ERP to 100W and added CW and 60Hz wide or less digital modes, it does not seem the frequency centers changed.
Seldom Seen
Hard Core 4+
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
Whoops, so it is. Didn't catch that change in the R&O. Just edited my file and it took fine in the 817 and 857 using regular release v0.3.1.
Seldom Seen
Hard Core 4+
Wanna help a brother out?