tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post1208616944851537001..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: Radio - Stay In TouchFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-24272694205526031422015-01-07T20:28:26.910-06:002015-01-07T20:28:26.910-06:00Hi Nick. I couldn't agree with you more. Let m...Hi Nick. I couldn't agree with you more. Let me start down the list, though.<br /><br />The humble CB radio, as I generally call it. I believe you are right, it will make a HUGE comeback. I look for sales on RG59 with connectors. I find those on sale occasionally, 18 feet with two connectors for $3.00 to $4.00. Many of the old CB radios guys have in their trucks, that they haven't operated in years, will probably need a new coax connection. I've also picked up a number of inexpensive mag mounts with 18 feet of coax and a connector. And, I've also picked up a number of five to seven watt solar panels, with a cigar type plug in. Take a solar panel, a cigar plug in with a splitter, an inexpensive mag mount, and old CB radio, and if the battery in the automobile is not just shot, then you have a communication center. These are the thoughts that run through my head anyway.<br /><br />I listen to guys on Channel 38 AM and LSB all over the country. Even heard a few European stations. That same CB radio will provide communication with Bubba down the road. I just don't understand why people can't see it.<br /><br />The little GMRS radios you make reference to? These things will be life savers in the future. Get a handful of rechargeable batteries, a charger for those batteries and plug them into the same system that's operating with the solar panel and the automobile battery. Do the same thing with a handheld scanner. You can also charge your Baofeng UV-5R with your once mobile radio base.<br /><br />So, let's see here. You've got CB that you can listen around the United States with, plus talk to Bubba down the road. You've got a GMRS that you can talk to Bubba down the road with. You have a scanner that will pick up most of the police calls in the area. You have a power supply with an automobile battery and the means to keep it charged, which will in turn, charge all of your radio batteries.<br /><br />And if you get the urge, get a shortwave radio. Get one of those little 17 foot roll up type external antennas. You can charge it with the same system, and most of those shortwave radios have commercial AM & FM, and you can listen to the shortwave functions.<br /><br />Imagine that. You go out and sit in your car that's out of gasoline, and with that one small solar panel, you have information from around the world. Or, you can bring your automobile battery in your house, with proper ventilation, and do the same thing. Then you can use your car for a greenhouse and start your seedlings in there, because food is important, too.<br /><br />I really do appreciate your comment. Please comment any time you feel like it.<br /><br />FrankFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-64942138791012823352015-01-05T11:58:57.000-06:002015-01-05T11:58:57.000-06:00Hi Frank, I too have my GMRS license (renewed agai...Hi Frank, I too have my GMRS license (renewed again, so 6 yrs now.) There is a GMRS repeater not too far from me that is only open to license holders. I also believe you can run higher power radios than the little bubble packs, although I haven't tried. I have dozens of the little bubble packs (amazingly, I buy them for around $1 at yard sales all the time.) <br /><br />I have a BaoFang UV5R as my first ham radio, and have my General license. I picked up a yaesu FT 847 at a yard sale for my base, but haven't yet connected it to the big cushcraft R8 I got at a hamfest trading for a $20 guitar amp. I finally have the heavy coax to do so and it's near the top of my project list. I got a couple of wire dipoles at an estate sale for pocket change, but still haven't connected them either.<br /><br />I just upgraded to a yaesu FT60 HT and love the sound quality and sturdiness, but it seems to eat battery much faster than the Baofang.<br /><br />I picked up an ICOM dual bander mobile for $5 at another yard sale for my truck. It needed a mic, but otherwise is great. $25 total for a radio that is only a few years out of date.<br /><br />I got an alinco 2 meter mobile for $10 at an estate sale that I'll use in the garage to monitor one local repeater.<br /><br />I have the exact same bearcat scanner you use and it is on constantly in my garage, and in fact is my primary listening radio. I might have paid $5 at a sale. I have weather, and a few local repeaters in it, but primarily listen to our metro area repeater. It is often connected to the winsystem repeater network, or one of the allstar reflectors that host some of the nets I participate in.<br /><br />I have a handheld GRE scanner for those 'what the heck are all those sirens in the neighborhood doing???' moments.<br /><br />I've got a variety of CBs that I bought for less than $10 each at yard sales. People think they are useless now with smartphones, etc, and mostly filled with truckers looking for sex, but I believe they will make a HUGE comeback when SHTF. Tons of people will suddenly remember their old CB and will get on the air.<br /><br />My point with listing all my cheap gear is for anyone else reading-- it is possible to build out a really thorough shack without spending much money. My biggest single expenses were the GRE scanner (bought new) and the FT847 (yard sale but still $600). I jumped on the 847 so that I can start exploring NVIS and some longer range comms with HF. There are so many other useful radio things available at yard and estate sales, that I'm stunned that people don't consider them as a source. I've got a box full of weather radios, and small short wave radios too. Everyone thinks they are worthless cheap junk transistor radios and sells them CHEAP!<br /><br />I'll second your suggestion (in another radio post) that anyone testing for a Tech license should study for and try to get their General the same day. Once you pass the Tech, you can take the General for no additional cost. It could save you another trip to the tester, and the fee, and when you are ready to try HF, you'll already have the license!<br /><br />So thanks for your radio posts. I'm finding them interesting!<br /><br />[no call signs for OPSEC]<br /><br />nickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-29261357846388104792014-12-03T15:52:58.606-06:002014-12-03T15:52:58.606-06:00Hi Frank, Thanks for opsec'ing me, I appreciat...Hi Frank, Thanks for opsec'ing me, I appreciate it. No restrictions other than antenna height, 20 feet over my highest structure. Otherwise I may be totally blocked if a command and control plane is up. My garage door opens on it's own when they are running the cargo planes with huge rotating discs on them. <br />TonyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-12224145669910366282014-12-01T14:22:37.554-06:002014-12-01T14:22:37.554-06:00Hi Anthony. Well, I guess I can never say that aga...Hi Anthony. Well, I guess I can never say that again, can I? Thank you for reading, and thank you for the comment. As you can see, I don't get lots of radio comments. Actually, I get more personal emails than radio comments. <br /><br />Do you have any ham radio restrictions, being that close to Nellis? Just curious. As you can see I removed your GMRS license number, because it is traceable on the FCC database. Just for future security purposes. I've tried to encourage many of my neighbors and church family to get any kind of radio, be it ham or GMRS, but it seems to fall on deaf ears. I hope your family is prepared, because it's not far away, relatively speaking. I'm serious about the question of restrictions being that close to Nellis. Any restrictions on power or frequency use? I don't live close to anything that has any restrictions at all.<br /><br />Take care. 73s, Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-89635169972914924352014-12-01T14:06:50.190-06:002014-12-01T14:06:50.190-06:00HI, wanted to introduce myself, Tony [call sign re...HI, wanted to introduce myself, Tony [call sign removed], that's my GMRS license. Just so you can now say you know one, I'm also a General level Ham and ARES RACES member.<br />Great article, keep up the good work, TonyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com