Hello everyone. I am wondering if any of you guys could help me. I just got my general ticket in February and I am looking to set up my shack for HF. I am lucky that I have no HOA restrictions to deal with, and a pretty sizeable yard for being in a city, so I look to take advantage of that size to put up a wire that can operate on multiple bands. I have been considering an endfed half wave about 141' in length, or an ocf dipole roughly 84' and 30' from the feedpoint. My issue is no sizeable trees anywhere near enough. The wife is not keen on a mast in the middle of the yard where I could put i ..read more

It’s nice to see a happy ending story now and again.    ..read more

This radio is NOT related to either the DB20-G or even the DB25-G. It is a completely different UHF/VHF mini-mobile radio that also incorporates DMR. Apparently earlier in its life, and before substantial firmware upgrades were made, it was also released as the Retevis RT-73 ..read more

Since I bought a new Yaesu FTM-6000R to succeed my Retevis RA25, I figured I would use my also new Surecom SW-102 to do some power comparisons.  It was either that or do actual work, which I try to avoid. I tested both into a 50 watt dummy load, and thus ignored the SWR.  I tested based on the upper and lower frequency limits of some common services and also on the midpoints (which for GMRS and MURS really don't exist).  Also, FM Narrow and FM both radiated the same power, so I just used FM.  Note: This is an academic exercise, and I know that if I had an antenna connected ..read more

I have a the radio shop working on a Vertex Standard low band radio to change it to 6 meters. The shop has the programming software however on this radio the "Service Software" is a  separate program. I am needing to locate "CE 49 Service Software" to turn the power down as the instructions online say needs to be done. The radio shop says they have had no luck. Any help would be great.  Thanks Lee WRCW870, KI5GXD ..read more

To avoid taking over the other thread (more than we already did), I know a few have this radio @marcspaz @Sshannon.   Mine is going to be mobile in the car, using my Little Tarheel II and the Tunematic (891 pigtail is on the way) for 6m-80m. That being  said, any tricks/tips on programming and use? I picked up RTSystems for it to get it programmed more easily. I still have to look into the memory groups thing again ..read more

Hi radio folks.  I'm not a Ham yet, but considering it.  I'm a geek partially and I think I would enjoy the hobby, plus Iw ant to be able too talk on the VHF frequencies that an HT would entail.  That said, I'm also wondering about the HF frequencies.  I saw a chart about HF and it looked like it was mostly to do with Morse code or using a piece of hardware and computer software to talk on HF frequencies.  Can you just buy a radio and antenna and talk on some HF frequencies? Hope that's not a dumb question.  I am thinking that I'm a disaster it would be nice to ta ..read more

Any recommendations for a tri-band antenna that you have used on an HT?  I have a Baofeng UV-17R Pro GPS and just discovered it will transmit on 1.25m (as well as 2m and 70cm).  The original is the standard male SMA to female connection dual band antenna ..read more

HI Folks..  Now that I have GRMS and see the strengths and weaknesses of the same I kind of want to explore ham. Especially the ability to talk on the HF frequencies which are the longer range frequencies I understand. That said, I don't want to spend thousands of dollars.. Is it possible to take the test and get the technician license and use two handhelds on HF bands which is I think called the 10 meter and or 6 meter band? Is iit possible to talk say a hundred miles with those frequencies via handhelds of say 10 watts and do they make handhelds for the HF frequencies?  Or, do you ..read more

I am interested in your input. I have completed my technical course and am about halfway thru my General course.  I test in late NOV. Until I take my test, I am playing with some decent GMRS HTs, including a mobile antenna and mic.  They have been fun, and my wife and son can use them for routine communication and in case of real emergencies such as grid failure. Since it seems that no one mobile transceiver will cover both HF and UHF it has me wondering what band of Ham unit I would get.  It seems to me that long-range HF is the fun stuff of Ham radio.  I am having trou ..read more