Alternative Communications??

[Torvy]

Ours is small enough and flat enough, CB is just fine. Put a base in the house and another in the shop. Cars, tractors and UTV get one. Also have a couple of CB walkies. Why the big objection to CB? If you are worried about privacy, make up a code of your own.

 

[hayden]

Ours is small enough and flat enough, CB is just fine. Put a base in the house and another in the shop. Cars, tractors and UTV get one. Also have a couple of CB walkies. Why the big objection to CB? If you are worried about privacy, make up a code of your own.

I would love it if that were possible here. In many cases it works, but if the two stations are on the opposite sides of a hill, it just doesn't work. The only way I've been able to make it work is to always have one station on top of a hill. That's what got me to the idea of a repeater.

 

[hayden]

it appears they have gone up in price, what else is new

TH-UV8000D Ultra-high Output Power 10W Long Range Walkie Talkies, with Cross-Band Repeater Function Dual Band Dual Display Dual Standby Two Way Radio, with USB Programming Cable and 2 Antennas : Electronics

TH-UV8000D Ultra-high Output Power 10W Long Range Walkie Talkies, with Cross-Band Repeater Function Dual Band Dual Display Dual Standby Two Way Radio, with USB Programming Cable and 2 Antennas : Electronics

www.amazon.com

here is a video i made of it doing dual band, with remote turn on/off

This is a very interesting approach, but I'm not certain it will do what I want. With a repeater setup, I'd like to have multiple handsets that people can use. One in the house, maybe a fixed one in the tractor and side by side, and a handheld or two. And everyone should be able to talk.

As I understand the cross band repeater, it allows one set operating on VHF to talk to another set operating on UHF. That's great for two sets, but what if you want more? In that case I think it needs to work more like a traditional repeater where all stations xmit on one frequency and receive on another. Then the repeater receives on the handsets xmit frequency, and repeats on the handset's receive frequency. Anyone can talk to anyone. For that to work with the cross band repeater, I think each handset would need to be able to transmit on VHF and receive on UHF (or the opposite). Can typical handsets do that?

 

[Hay Dude]

Why do the Chinese sell these things? Because they can. China is not a good neighbor in the world, and that covers the entire spectrum of products they make. China is always looking for a shortcut, and we gullible and "cheap" consumers are always looking for a bargain no matter the actual and true costs.

There is nothing that China does that is good for America. Nothing. Everything they do is good for China.

Sir, may I say that you possess the wisdom of Solomon and, may I suggest a run at political office?

 

[LittleBill21]

This is a very interesting approach, but I'm not certain it will do what I want. With a repeater setup, I'd like to have multiple handsets that people can use. One in the house, maybe a fixed one in the tractor and side by side, and a handheld or two. And everyone should be able to talk.

As I understand the cross band repeater, it allows one set operating on VHF to talk to another set operating on UHF. That's great for two sets, but what if you want more? In that case I think it needs to work more like a traditional repeater where all stations xmit on one frequency and receive on another. Then the repeater receives on the handsets xmit frequency, and repeats on the handset's receive frequency. Anyone can talk to anyone. For that to work with the cross band repeater, I think each handset would need to be able to transmit on VHF and receive on UHF (or the opposite). Can typical handsets do that?

dual watch radios and repeater capability is all you need. mind you there is only 1 person talking at a time, but this is how it normally works if you need more then 1 repeater setup, then you keep adding, but most normal radios can only listen on 2 channels at a time, some only 1


all the radio's "talk" on vhf 123. all the radios listen on uhf 321....etc, works with 1 to a million handsets

my video is not aimed at showing the repeater functionality , it was to show how to control the repeater via dtmf, the radio on the far right is not repeater capable, so the radio's were programmed slightly different, you need to use dual watch for crossband repeat to work properly with the baofengs.

let me be clear, before i get chewed out by the ham guys, ( this solution is technically not compliant as it does not transmit identification every so many minutes), that said for the limited amount of time I use this, I am not concerned. there are 4 repeaters in my area. they are silent 99.9% of the time. the bands are dead here.

 

[sea2summit]

OK, so I'm not a HAM, and only know enough to be dangerous. Probably really dangerous.

I have never heard of this Repeater Book, but found it and there is a repeater in my town. Now what? Do I just get a radio tuned to that frequency and start using it? Now I say that like I know how to get such a radio, but I don't. But I could probably figure it out.

My understanding is that with a repeater, the radios need to be full duplex. Is the primary frequency the radios xmit, and does the offset tell you what the receive frequency is?

I also see the particular repeater is listed as off-line. Any sense whether that's a temporary thing, or how I would find out?

Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure many HAMs use repeater books anymore, just the old guys (insert loving tone). Many apps available that will use your location to identify the nearest repeaters and nodes with varying levels of access information depending on the repeater.

 

[MoKelly]

Sir, may I say that you possess the wisdom of Solomon and, may I suggest a run at political office?

Yes - he is a solid Missouri boy!

MoKelly

 

[k0ua]

( this solution is technically not compliant as it does not transmit identification every so many minutes), that said for the limited amount of time I use this, I am not concerned. there are 4 repeaters in my area. they are silent 99.9% of the time. the bands are dead here.

What ident would you transmit if you could? Since your solution is illegal in every way shape form and fashion and you have no license of any kind nor any callsign?

4 repeaters in your area? Are those ham repeaters? And you are licensed to use them right?. What did you say your callsign was? I didn't think so.

 

[k0ua]

Yes - he is a solid Missouri boy!

MoKelly

Yeah, but the keyword is OLD Missouri boy. I am an old dog laying on the porch. My running days are over ..

 

[MoKelly]

Yeah, but the keyword is OLD Missouri boy. I am an old dog laying on the porch. My running days are over ..

I resemble that remark.

As they say “youth is wasted on the young”.

MoKelly

 

[k0ua]

I resemble that remark.

As they say “youth is wasted on the young”.

MoKelly

Man, ain't that the truth.

 

[k0ua]

Here is where we are in Cycle 25 as to sunspot count. As you can see we are slightly ahead of predictive schedule. I am not a big believer in forecasting these types of things, but a least you can see where we are and where we have been in relative sunspot activity. This increase in sunspot activity in the 11 year cycle can be good or bad depending on your point of view and what you are trying to do and the bands of frequencies you select to use. For example as the sunspots rise you can expect longer ranges especially on the upper HF bands like the 27 Mhz CB band. These sunspots have little to no effect on VHF and UHF frequencies. Many other factors govern propagation on these frequencies. If you would like to learn more, let me know and I will try to help.

 

[LittleBill21]

What ident would you transmit if you could? Since your solution is illegal in every way shape form and fashion and you have no license of any kind nor any callsign?

4 repeaters in your area? Are those ham repeaters? And you are licensed to use them right?. What did you say your callsign was? I didn't think so.

calm down whacker, i actually have a license, i let him know it wasn't complaint, he can decide if he wants to take on the FCC ( insert sarcasm here)

 

[Jchonline]

As you know I am a licensed Amateur radio operator.

I will not Chastise you or break my fingers typing to you.

BUT, however comma, Have you considered the WHY the FCC does not want you to use your Baeofeng UV-5R on part 95 frequencies or anywhere else outside of amateur bands? Have you thought about that? And do you care?

Since you do not have your Amateur license and have not studied or taken any tests, you will not likely know.

I can give you the main reason: Baofengs are filthy. Yes very dirty from an electrical spectrum purity standpoint. They are not type accepted because they would not pass type acceptance. What does that mean you ask? It means you are not being a good neighbor and causing interference to others when you use it.

So to all the people that have bought type 95 accepted equipment and repeater owners who have spent thousands of dollars plus ongoing maintenance to keep the repeater systems running, along comes the filthy dirty Baofeng to cause interference to these people.

They bought their products in good faith and with the implied guarantee that all users will us type accepted equipment. By the way I own a Baofeng. I don't use it on anything but amateur frequencies where the requirements are much less stringent and the results of interference are less consequential.

Why do the Chinese sell these things? Because they can. China is not a good neighbor in the world, and that covers the entire spectrum of products they make. China is always looking for a shortcut, and we gullible and "cheap" consumers are always looking for a bargain no matter the actual and true costs.

There is nothing that China does that is good for America. Nothing. Everything they do is good for China.

Also an amateur radio operator and I agree with James. I like many others bought a Baofeng years ago, but quickly learned just now much interference they generate. If you want a great entry 2m radio I recommend the Kenwood TH-K20A. Rugged, 5.5W, great range. The technician license is easy. Just study for a few weeks and you will have the world to talk to (with Dstar/DMR/repeaters) Wife and I use 2 of the Kenwoods and they are awesome. Of course I have a bunch of HF stuff at the base station as well, but for local comms you can beat 2m.

 

[bunyip]

Back in the mid 80's radio comms were cost prohibitive for a lot of farmers, a friend of ours put a flagpole up at his house that he could see from most places on his property, he had a system of coloured flags to receive a message from the operator (his wife), simple and it worked.
Now we have UHF CB with repeaters everywhere, cheap and no licence required, 80 channels, 27mhz is almost a distant memory although there is a marine 27mhz which a different frequency range to CB (which we call childrens band with all the idiots who get on it).

 

[Jchonline]

I'm not sure many HAMs use repeater books anymore, just the old guys (insert loving tone). Many apps available that will use your location to identify the nearest repeaters and nodes with varying levels of access information depending on the repeater.

I load all of the area repeaters into my HT with the appropriate names, so I know which one to switch to as I am in the area.

 

[k0ua]

calm down whacker, i actually have a license, i let him know it wasn't complaint, he can decide if he wants to take on the FCC ( insert sarcasm here)

You can be a scofflaw, and you can recommend illegal means and methods to people if you like. I notice you hide behind a "handle" and didn't post your callsign for the whole world to see did you?

But in fairness to the people you are trying to make recommendations to, They don't know any better, but you do know better, you had to work for a license and the knowledge to do thing correctly. It is bad form to help people down the "primrose path" when you just as easily can point people down the right path.

And just so the person will know, it is not the FCC you are going to have to "take on" at least not at first. Who you are going to have to "take on" are your licensed amateur radio neighbors. They will be the ones that will advise you at first to cease and desist your operations, and then they will start gathering data on who you are, where you are, and your operations. Then and only then will they try to make a case to the FCC if you continue and are persistent.

The FCC doesn't really have any mobile monitors to speak of any more and don't usually "make their own cases" No they rely on complaints, and if the complaints get loud enough they will levy fines and if need be bring US Marshalls in really serious cases. If you don't believe it just interfere with law enforcement or public safety frequency's. And you could even be interfering with public safety frequency's an not even know it, and see how long you last.

Ok, you think I am a "whacker", and that is fine, But at least you know who I am and where I live and you also know now that I believe in lawful operation and don't give people information that might possibly get them into trouble with Federal Agencies.

 

[k0ua]

Back in the mid 80's radio comms were cost prohibitive for a lot of farmers, a friend of ours put a flagpole up at his house that he could see from most places on his property, he had a system of coloured flags to receive a message from the operator (his wife), simple and it worked.
Now we have UHF CB with repeaters everywhere, cheap and no licence required, 80 channels, 27mhz is almost a distant memory although there is a marine 27mhz which a different frequency range to CB (which we call childrens band with all the idiots who get on it).

You are very fortunate to have an excellent UHF no license required and universally accepted by the public communications system. We in the USA have a "mish mosh" of services to try to accomplish the same thing. Hence the confusion of many here, constantly asking "what should I use" questions. You guys "down under" know exactly what to get and use.

 

[Torvy]

Yeah, but the keyword is OLD Missouri boy. I am an old dog laying on the porch. My running days are over ..

My roots are there. Near Jamestown and California, MO. Daddy's family were there well before the War between the States. Had to leave during the Depression.

 

[k0ua]

My roots are there. Near Jamestown and California, MO. Daddy's family were there well before the War between the States. Had to leave during the Depression.

I am way down south, near Branson.