Looking at ham radio? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 09:52:45 pm
content: A coworker wants to get into ham radio - shortwave/HF mostly... Always starts with the equipment so wanted to toss out a few x-ceivers to consider. For emergency end of world comms...The only entry-level radios I recall are the ICOM IC-718, Kenwood TS-480SAT, and YAESU FT-450D. Any opinion on these or others?What happened to Flex radio? I thought they had something around a kilobuck? The cheapest thing I come across now is over $4 grandages.!?What's a Hermes PCB? Cheap at gigaparts.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 10:21:26 pm
content: IMO the best entry level/value rig is the Icom 7300, you really get a bunch for your money, about $1300.

author: Johncanfield
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 10:22:28 pm
content: He could start with a cheap SDR. There's not much out there on shortwave broadcast and propagation is lousy.John - WB5THT

author: denverpilot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2017, 12:36:33 am
content: Flex got real proud of their stuff. Granted, they make nice kit, but the market would bear the price, so up it went.It really depends a lot on what he wants to do... there’s all sorts of good used rigs out there cheap for HF stuff.For a beginner who knows they’re headed for licenses and classes that will get them on HF, AND has a reasonably big budget to buy new or used, I’m somewhat partial to recommending the FT857D.It’ll do nearly anything well enough they can try a bunch of aspects of the hobby, and buy more specialized kit after they find a niche they like. It’s not the best radio out there, but it is a Swiss Army Knife / Muiltitool that’ll do almost anything.Sadly the monetary markets and the Japanese market/ inflation, have raised the price of that rig significantly over time. I got my first one brand new for a little over $600. I inherited one from dad when he passed and I still use the original one also... they’re tanks, fairly portable, work well enough at almost every mode and band, and just keep going.If someone really gets into the hobby and builds up a nice shack, they still work great as mobile HF rigs. So there’s never a job I can’t get done with an FT-857D. There’s jobs I can do marginally better with other rigs, but for a quick and dirty project, I reach for those radios.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2017, 01:15:09 am
content: There is a used Alinco DX-SR8T for $325 here locally.TS-820S for $295FT-890 $275TS- 130S W/ PS20 and D-104 lollipop mic $350And I discovered a Icom IC-211 for $150, which is only interesting because I have my grandfather's IC-701 (Japanese version of the IC-710). This 2m rig has the same looks.

author: borjam
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 17, 2017, 05:56:28 am
content: The best value for money in my opinion are the Icom IC-7200 (It’s my rig) or the IC-7300.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2017, 07:30:06 am
content: Quote from: metrologist on October 16, 2017, 09:52:45 pmFor emergency comms then something like the 718 would be ideal, simple, robust, without all the bells and whistles and neck deep menus that so many hams seem to treasure over the actual activity of communicating (I mean, really? A touch screen?).The main problem for an emergency comms unit is the lack of built in tuner.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2017, 11:32:02 am
content: Rigs like the IC718 & IC7300 are good beginner radios. This guide to these and others may be helpfulhttp://home.alphalink.com.au/~parkerp/gateway/firsthf.htmThese need a 12v >20A low noise power supply to run at home. Plus (optionally) an antenna coupler.There are also a lot of QRP rigs. If your friend is practically inclined you can get on air for <$100 with a Bitx. This is on 7 MHz only. While a good band it's no substitute for a multiband HF whose general coverage receiver is good for monitoring homebrew rigs etc. More on the Bitx is athttp://www.hfsigs.com/

author: medical-nerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2017, 06:54:02 pm
content: HiyaIf your friend is interested in something lasting for 'end of world' comms, wouldn't he be better suited looking at least at 'boat-anchor' receivers. These have lasted, he can still build up a stock of spares and valve receivers wouldn't be completely destroyed by an EM pulse. The transmitter, especially for QRP could be home brewed.Cheers

author: denverpilot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 05:03:58 am
content: Quote from: medical-nerd on October 17, 2017, 06:54:02 pmEveryone always says they want Comm for the “end of the world” scenario.Every tactical radioman or woman knows the transmitter is just a fancy homing device. “Here is where people have food, water, and electricity.”Transmit. I dare ya. LOL. Just do it somewhere far away from me if I’m surviving somewhere. Thanks.Doomsday Comm for me, is seeing if my wife and I can find a nice place to watch the mushroom cloud together from. Haha. Y’all can have the place after that happens. It ain’t gonna be fun anymore.No DaveCAD even. Even though whoever made that software sure gets a lot of sucks of the salve from Dave. Sheesh.

author: borjam
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 08:49:56 am
content: Quote from: CJay on October 17, 2017, 07:30:06 amI prefer not to recommend the 718 because it has several limitations. If you need to grow, additional filters are expensive, while newerSDR rigs like the IC-7200 or IC-7300 don't need them being software defined.And if you want to play with digital modes both the IC-7200 and IC-7300 include a USB audio interface which makes it really simpleto connect them to a computer. Old rigs such as the 718 need an extra audio interface which will add some expense and makeeverything much more complicated. Such audio interfaces for digital modes are not trivial to get right and some are quite pricey.

author: OE2WHP
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 11:26:05 am
content: I wouldn't recommend a boat anchor. These suckers may have held for a long time and are 'low tech' but they also have a high probability to fail when you need them most. They have built in hundreds of opportunities to fail. Aged, dried out caps, tin whiskers, relays with all kinds of contact issues, contact issues on all connectors and there are alot inside these old rigs, failing tubes, tube sockets, high voltage caps, out of spec voltage levels, just to name some of them. So, if you wanna take one of these for emmcomm, make sure it is 100% restored, checked and in mint condition. However, don't forget to stock some spareparts.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 12:21:53 pm
content: Quote from: borjam on October 18, 2017, 08:49:56 am"For emergency end of world comms..." was the requirement, 718 is a simple (very) 100W general coverage HF transceiver that is rugged, simple to use and fits the bill.Totally agree that it's not an ideal radio if you want to progress much further but a decent second hand one with ATU, $400 (mine was less and came with a CW filter)

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 12:44:03 pm
content: Quote from: metrologist on October 17, 2017, 01:15:09 amThat's what I own.... and in the limited air time I have had I managed to talk to the other side of the planet with a bit of wire strung down the garden. [Mine is FT-890*AT*, includes aerial tuner]

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 01:53:59 pm
content: He's actually just a couple hours out of a big city, far enough into the country that cell comms are a bit of an issue anyway. Several years ago, it was thought there was a rift in the utilities/telecom industry and some field hands sabotaged a main fiber link, which brought the entire south county offline, including cell, for about a week. I gather it's more of a back-up comm device and something to provide entertainment, but emergency comm is a key factor.I think the price of new equipment preempted any consideration and used is a bit dubious for him. I showed him the $25 SDR so I think he'll play with that.

author: donmr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 11:16:06 pm
content: There is not much point in buying a radio for "emergency end of world comms".If things go bad you will need to know what to do with the radio, how to string antennas, what bands work when......You'll only know that if you have been doing it regularly as a hobby.So buy a radio to use as a hobby or don't bother.

author: K5HJ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2017, 07:55:07 pm
content: My 2 cents...I have owned the IC-718, IC-7200, and IC-7300.The 718 receiver sucks, The AGC is horrible.The 7200 is great. No filters to buy. Good performanceThe 7300 is wonderful. That is what I am currently using. Well worth the money.After the 7300, my second choice would be the 7200. Very rugged for portable operation. You can find them used for a good price.The 7300 touch screen and band scope will spoil you.Randy K5HJ

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2017, 11:01:00 pm
content: Isn't tube equipment supposed to be "EMP-resistant" while everything solid state would be fried?Quote from: OE2WHP on October 18, 2017, 11:26:05 am

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2017, 11:23:58 pm
content: Quote from: borjam on October 18, 2017, 08:49:56 amI own both the Icom 718 and Icom 7300 -- the 7300 is over twice the cost of a stock 718, but you get a much better radio with filters, (mediocre) tuner, internal soundcard, etc. When you add all the extras to the 718, you're not too far away from the price of the 7300.The comment about filters for the 718 is also absolutely correct, and it's becoming very hard to find them these days (Ebay, usually from sellers in Japan, is about the only reliable source I could find for IC718 filters).That said, I do wonder how many people buying HF rigs for EmComm / TEOTWAWKI really bother to learn CW. If I was preparing for a SHTF scenario, there are a lot of skills that are more important to acquiring than learning Morse Code. [And this is from a CW guy]

author: borjam
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 09:42:09 am
content: Quote from: pdenisowski on October 25, 2017, 11:23:58 pmThat's why I also recommend the IC-7200. Think an IC-7300 without the nice display and without a tuner, but most of the other features. Instead of direct sampling it's a superheterodyne with a roofing filter but the last conversion is also SDR, likely almost the same DSP engine used on the IC-7300. So you have configurable filters, TCXO, builtin USB audio interface, etc.QuoteWith SDR techniques filters will become obsolete, Collins has discontinued manufacturing mechanical filters for example.QuoteFor a realistic disaster response modern digital modes can be much better suited than CW. You get similar (or even better) performance in low signal situations and you avoid issues like operator fatigue. As a plus, if you can feed data directly from computers to the radio you avoid lots of errors.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 02:42:07 pm
content: Quote from: cdev on October 25, 2017, 11:01:00 pmMaybe. But is the generator you will need to power that equipment from going to be EMP resistant? And the gear of the guy you want to talk to using that radio?Seriously, if someone is worrying about EMP, then the radio is likely the last of their problems. What do they do about the radioactivity, for example? Lack of food or potable water? Both problems likely to be the consequence of whatever nuke has been the origin of the EMP pulse.BTW, one can put a solid state radio in an enclosed metal crate/box for storage and it is pretty safe against any EMP ... I guess most aren't planning on using it in the middle of a nuclear exchange.Keeping a tube boat anchor as an emergency radio for its supposed EMP resistance is ridiculous, especially when it lacks things like FM modulation on CB bands and VHF. Both of which are much more likely to be useful than AM/SSB/CW on HF in case of much more common and "mundane" disasters, such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes or hurricanes. Every trucker has a battery and a CB radio, for ex. In such an emergency you are much more likely to need to talk locally to the relief forces than across the continent/ocean on HF ...

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 05:09:17 pm
content: Quote from: cdev on October 25, 2017, 11:01:00 pmThats were old militery gear comes into its own. A Clansman 320 or similar are designed to withstand WWIII.And Yes they do have a hand crank generator available for them.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 06:59:01 pm
content: CB radio seems like a great suggestion. I'll also tell him how to make an inverted vee so he don't have to spend a lot of money. Big hiway isn't too far away either, so he can get practice with the truckers.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 08:13:13 pm
content: Quote from: metrologist on October 26, 2017, 06:59:01 pmCB can be hit and miss - it's popular in some areas and not in others. Eg in Australia most truckie activity is UHF not 27 MHz.If go the CB route you will need a vertically polarised antenna to talk to mobile stations.Either a vertical dipole or ground plane made of wire would be fine.An inverted vee won't be so good.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 08:47:52 pm
content: During Hurricane Sandy using my RTLSDR I could hear a lot of emergency activity and I really got an appreciation for how difficult it must be for first responders in a major emergency.People die, people's lives can be destroyed by things like floods.People who can help out in times like that can make a real difference in their communities. Other kinds of emergencies are fairly common. So people with radio skills and capabilities have a good chance of being able to use them to help others.Quote from: janoc on October 26, 2017, 02:42:07 pmQuote from: janoc on October 26, 2017, 02:42:07 pmI totally agree with you. I was just being kind of sarcastic.. trying to make the point that there really is no way to prepare for something like a world War III scenario. People dont commonly realize this but the very concept of a nuclear war being winnable was abandoned in the 1980s.Quote from: janoc on October 26, 2017, 02:42:07 pm

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2017, 08:42:52 pm
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcom on October 26, 2017, 08:13:13 pmUm, a vertically polarized antenna on HF is a "horizontally polarized" piece of wire that you hang down from the nearest tree ... Put a good balun, some wire for a counterpoise and an antenna tuner capable of handling a long wire antenna in your kit and no problems. All of that can be had or made quite cheaply.And anyhow, when you are working CB you are working short distance, perhaps 10-50 kilometers (depending on terrain). So even a non-ideal antenna will work. You are probably not going to be dx-ing on it but it will be good enough to call for help. Otherwise buy a collapsible whip like truckers use.

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 12:17:33 pm
content: the main problem are powerline on <30mhz. If someone near the receiver (~500m) use its impossible to use CB.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 02:01:20 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on October 29, 2017, 12:17:33 pmIf the OP lives in a BPL area, then anything HF wouldn't work, not only CB. BPL uses anywhere from 2 to 80MHz ...However, that is then a matter for an FCC complaint because of unlawful interference.There are some ongoing efforts on this front, both in Europe and US, because HAM radio frequencies are protected. Unlike CB, HAMs have exclusive use on some of the HF bands and HAM radio is defined as a separate radio communication service by ITU - on the same footing as e.g. radio and TV broadcast, air, marine communications, etc.Fortunately these trials are not very widespread because the technology is, frankly, crap. DSL or cable both perform better and are widely available, without any of the issues BPL has.And if someone is using the powerlines "boxes" to connect e.g. TV to their broadband box (what they call "CPL" here in France - saves an ethernet cable between the two) and it causes interference, then that is a matter of installing a filter on their side. Also a complaint to the regulatory authorities will do wonders, both because of the CE EMC compliance requirements of these gadgets and unlawful interference. These things are common here in France, in fact I have two myself, and usually don't cause trouble. There is so much noise and hash on the bands in the cities already that these gizmos are not a problem if they function correctly.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 03:57:22 pm
content: Even in emergencies, no,especially in emergencies, especially in the US, we now should understand that everything they do is likely constrained by the ideology which they are trying to sell the entire world on. In many cases, the world may have already signed on to this ideology but not realize it. So the US has to "show them the way". This is a way that's designed to maximize economic advantage (profits) in every situation. Thas whats seen as good now.Period.In every case where a decision is made, that's the decision that gets made. That's really changed everything. Its the missing link to understanding policy now. Understand that and everything falls into place. So all sorts of what seem like inexplicable, bad decisions are being made, but they all make sese if you understand this. This is being done because the alternative, the way this were before would lead to slippery slopes where profits would have tob be abandoned in favor of non-profitable policies. Because of economic shifts in the world eventually that would lead to changes they feel pose an existential threat to corporations. So they have made that impossible behind the scenes by international agreements between powers without any discussion in the media at all.. without telling almost anybody. Because almost everybody who hears about them disagrees with it. Irregardless of their feelings beforehand. Because they fly in the face of the most basic common sense.I will try to keep this short.Have you ever heard of the concept of"minimal trade restrictiveness"? Its part of something called competition policy?I don't want to derail the thread so I will make this explanation very short. Of the various ways to get broadband into an "underserved community" whatever policy a government that subscribes to this ideology undertakes -has to interfere as little as is possible with international trade and investments. Like the investments that foreign firms might make in US telecommunications infrastructure,or vice versa. (its reciprocal- that's the key to understanding why its being done so aggressively)For example, powerline networking may be crapbut that's actually good if you want to up-sell *better* more profitable servicesto the people who can afford better.Most importantly, whatever they do "regulation" can't exceed the most minimally trade restrictive means possible to accomplish the goal. It cannot make investors lose the value of their investments in a country. If it does they may have to be paid that money, the future expected lost profits they expect lose, in advance, to free the country from that particular policy constraint. So they cancarve it outforever in writing. They likely can't do anything that could be seen as causing "crowd out"- that broadly means anything where some government activity might inadvertently reduce the profits expected by some investor.Throwing a wrench into their 'legitimate expectations'.A trade agreement is like a permanent irrevocable (after three years or similar) contract where a government agrees to put the international investors interests first ahead of all others, permanently, with only the very narrowest exceptions allowed for certain conditions. Also, only deregulation is allowed, re-regulation is prohibited except under the very narrowest of exceptions (which are admitted to almost never apply)Such as situations that threaten human lives, etc.as long as that goal is not inconsistent with the goal of the agreements. The deals come first.It might be argued successfully that internet access is a necessity of life (although I doubt if that argument would succeed, frankly, when so many other similar arguments for far more essential things have not.) , but if it was allowed "to help communities", it must be "minimally trade restrictive" which is defined legally- its a legal standard. Another standard is"not more burdensome than necessary to ensure the quality of the service". So foreign firms must be allowed to assist in the effort, as they might be cheaper.When government procurement/subsidies are involved, A community cannot monopolize the jobs when a foreign firm might be able to come in and accomplish the goal for less using their workforce. Local community groups helping might be seen in a negative light if they prevented the use of large numbers of foreign workers from countries who might have signed on to trade agreements knowing hat they could provide those kinds of services for less money than domestic firms would. And they could. That knowledge of the eventual payoff in jobs may have kept them in the talks for 20 years of negotiations. An entire generation of people may have pursued certain courses of studies in college and grad school knowing that these agreements would attempt to funnel certain kinds of jobs to them. At least these are the arguments we can expect to hear made if changes are proposed to these deals.. now after 20 years.When do they kick in? When governments are involved. If a service is completely private and commercial wit no government involvement at all, or when its completely noncommercial and free everywhere in a country, supplied by the government with no competition, like healthcare in Canada, (but not drugs or some kinds of care) they don't apply.But everything that is in between those two extremes, they do.Which is almost everything, they do.When a circumstance meets those conditions, whatever they do, if it is at all possible to minimize its impact it must be designed to be"minimally trade restrictive"or they may be sued in special courts. (If a country can claim to be injured, say by having the opportunities they have long expected taken away from them)Tendering and procurement must follow a certain framework such as to ensure that all WTO members get an opportunity to bid on the provision of the service.An index is being set up, the"Services Trade Restrictiveness Index"to offer governments, which oftentimes don't understand these binding agreements, (because they are relatively new, having been set up in the 90s but delayed because of ongoing negotiations) guidance in what the "best practices" would be for them to stay out of trouble in a host of different areas.Hams may need to make the case that somehow protecting their activities generates more economic advantage, but that may open a can of worms because those same services might be seen as offering poor countries opportunities for economic development. So, discouraging hams by encouraging devices that made ham bands unbearably noisy, might be framed as a necessary evil, and claimed to help the cause of economic development for countries that might hope to replace them in provision of emergency services. Which may become more and more dangerous and costly because of chemical spills, etc. as weather becomes less predictable.I think the emergency aspect is an important one, but it may actually be seen as decreasing the "legitimate" profit-making opportunities of commercial firms under the circumstances (after all, in emergencies, companies have a right to chargemore- this is another change-)for hams to help communities in emergencies because they don't charge money, if otherwise government might be forced to seek the (expensive) services of commercial firms.Not charging money, i.e. giving away a service somebody might charge for, is framed as a sort of theft.That might be framed as a loss. I don't know. But from what I know, its entirely possible, even probable, I think.This is what I mean by it not making sense to most of us.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 07:05:31 pm
content: I don't want to get into politics and, frankly, can't make much sense out of your rant, cdev.The fact is that BPL causes interference on a large scale. May not be a problem in the country of the size of the US but if a government of one country in the EU tried to authorize this on a large scale, the neighbors would eat them alive - the noise and interference propagates huge distances on these frequencies, especially if the signals are carried by wires on power poles and not underground (aka superb long wire antennas).The argument about developing "poor countries" trumping the HAM interests flies out of the window, given the deployments in Sweden, Austria, France, Germany, etc. - hardly "poor" countries. And there are not only HAMs (that most lobbyists and many regulators don't give a flying f..k about) on these frequencies ...So it is not so simple.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 07:52:22 pm
content: I was just trying to explain that a well intentioned and true argument that ham activities needed to be preservedbecause of services rendered during emergenciesmight run into unexpected problems for the reasons I described.I really cant explain the situation without getting into politics.Hams really need to USE their spectrum because otherwise it could be sold off to the highest bidder, soon. Because people helping one another can be framed as undermining policy goals to trade market access to other entities. kind of like the agreements that towns in the Sydney area had to agree to to not expand public transit because of privatized highways. An extremely unwise trend, but its very real.Spectrum needs to be used to be kept.. It may be extremely important to keep it because in the future, when things happen, for example, extreme weather events, help may not be there from outside unless communities can pay money they likely won't have.Quietly, everything has been changed. In a really bad way.Okay, thats all I can say here.http://www.bilaterals.org/?emergency-services-turn-lifehttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/business/dealbook/when-you-dial-911-and-wall-street-answers.html

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 08:29:06 pm
content: I have two questions.. Can the IC7300 band scope display to a monitor (for higher resolution) and also how is the IC7300 receiver in noisy band conditions?Also, does the IC7300 have an antenna tuner integral to the rig?Quote from: K5HJ on October 19, 2017, 07:55:07 pm

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 08:36:14 pm
content: Quote from: cdev on October 29, 2017, 08:29:06 pmThe 7300 does not support an external monitor, and yes it has a built in antenna tuner.Noisy band performance is "normal" IMO, no worse or better than similar rigs.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 08:55:05 pm
content: I am certain it has a good noise blanker..have you ever used it with a magnetic loop? I am asking because of a loop's preselection on receive.(Many people are stunned by how quiet loops are on receive, BTW.)At some point when I get my ham ticket, I need to buy a rig and I am trying to figure out whether I should buy a conventional rig thats hamlib compatible and use it with an SDR - which works pretty well.. or whether I should go SDR all the way.. with a couple of options..A 7300 is kind of over my price range but I could see myself getting one as a second rig in a year or two if I find myself liking it a lot.Ive gotten kind of spoiled using an SDR receiver but my QTH is really noisy and I have always struggled with it. the worst noise comes and goes. Sometimes its there, sometimes it isnt.I guess I'll never know if I can somehow get through that QRM until I try it!

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2017, 12:54:05 am
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on October 29, 2017, 08:36:14 pmMy experience is that the 7300 tuner is good for matching SLIGHTLY mismatched loads (VSWR < 3.0), but if you want to use, say, a 20 meter dipole on 40 meters, you're going to need an external tuner.And I would agree that receive performance is about average forsimilar rigs(i.e. similar price). The 7300 runs rings around my other HF rigs (IC718, FT-857) in terms of receive performance. I have an Elecraft KX2 that actually has very similar receive performance, but that's a whole different storyHonestly, if you have the money, I do think the 7300 is the best deal out there (with the exception of the mediocre tuner ....)

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2017, 01:03:28 am
content: My experience with my other SDRs is that a physical (LC) antenna tuner or at least a switchable balun to do rudimentary matching is necessary to get the most out of all my SDRs (on receive)I think its because of decoupling the antenna and earth ground from the power system ground.

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 04:44:56 am
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on October 29, 2017, 08:36:14 pmThe 7300 most certainly,CAN be used wth an external monitor on a computer. You connect it via USB, then you can use N1MM software to get a realtime full screen waterfall (that even shows callsign s of DX spots).You can also use Icom's remote software, though with the Icom software the width of the waterfall is restricted to a fairly small width (I think it is the same number of pixels on the built in screen). The height (Y axis) can go as high as your monitor, though.The 7300 is above average is dealing with weak signals. Don't expect miracles, but it works better than most rigs if you know how to use it (receive bandpass, filter cutoff, Nose reduction settings, twin passband tuning, notch filter-- especially use of the manual, notch, etc.).The built in antenna tuner supports SWR up to 3:1It's a nice rig, and definitely the best in its price range.

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 04:51:47 am
content: Quote from: cdev on October 29, 2017, 08:55:05 pmA phasing noise canceller, like the MFJ-1026 can do wonders with knocking down individual noise sources, for ham radio, or SWL.But take the time to go through your house and turn everything off to identify source of noise. Then replace them, or choke them with ferrite torroids or beads. You really can make a huge difference in your noise level doing this. I found my cable modem was the source of noise on almost all bands. It was being radiated back through the AC and through the incoming coax (as common mode on the outer shield). Choking both of those wires with seventeen turns through a mix 31 torroids solved it (one torroid on the AC line, one on the coax).

author: denverpilot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:06:09 am
content: Quote from: FlyingHacker on November 15, 2017, 04:44:56 amDid you mean N1MM?

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 04:31:38 pm
content: The IC7300 is out of my price range for now.But this is very very good advice for any SDR user. I've used ferrite cores extensively on all our electronics and it's helped an absolutely huge amount with my reception on HF.But I haven't bought and used large toroid cores like you have - despite knowing that is definitely the best thing to do this for HF.Instead Ive mostly used smaller clip on cores of various sizes in quantity.Our cable modem and router setup definitely could use some further RFI suppression measures.I wish I could find a source of suitable magnetics in bulk, that's cheaper.Quote from: FlyingHacker on November 15, 2017, 04:51:47 am

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 04:43:22 pm
content: Quote from: denverpilot on November 15, 2017, 07:06:09 amYes, thanks. Corrected the original post.

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 04:49:07 pm
content: When snap on ferrite work, they are great. Their suppression amount is tiny compared to a torroid, though. Remember the impedance increases with the square of the number of turns. So two turns through a torroid is like four snap ons. Seven turns in like 49 snap ons! Also the frequency shifts downwards with more turns. So you need more turns to shift it down towards 40 or 80 meters (~7 or 3.5 MHz).The mix of the torroids is also important. Mix 31 is ideal for most of HF. Mix 43 can work ok at high frequencies. Google around and you will find charts of this. For my cable modem it took seventeen turns to get the noise out of 80m! For my cable telephone modem I hacked in an external linear supply, just feeding the voltage right onto the filter caps, bypassing the SMPS. That fixed that one quite well.

author: Hawke
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2017, 08:06:02 am
content: I have one of those in the box with manuals. Bought it in the 80s and never really used it then pulled it out 8 years ago to find the PCB splitting so it went to Sydney for a free refurb. They offered to fix it if they could use it for a few months afterwards on an internet relay so the rig sent and received data for 6 months and fed into the internet relay. Great radio for its time with sideband on 2 metres. Just another one I cant part with for some reason. Cheers

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2017, 02:08:51 am
content: are antennas filter enough, you would still want a mechanical filter to offer protection. SDR wont do shit for protection

author: Wolfgang
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2018, 09:23:07 pm
content: Suggestion: ICOM 7300. Almost idiot-proof, robust, user-friendly, good display, fun to use, worth the money

author: PhilipPeake
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2018, 04:53:21 pm
content: I have been playing this game for a while (since 1978) so I do have a bit of practical, real-world experience, but just like everyone else, I have my preferences and prejudices, so you may well get conflicting (and equally valid) responses from others.The #1 thing that turns people off ham radio is getting a technician (US terminology - basically license limited to VHF and above) license and buying a hand-held 2M/70cm transceiver. They quickly discover that its realistic range, to another of its kind is about half a mile unless both users stand on top of a large hill then the range can extend considerably.So they are limited to repeaters. Most of these are perpetually dead. Those that are not are populated by groups of "old farts" that either ignore calls from anyone not in their group, or actively discourage other users of "their" repeater.The transceiver gets tossed into a drawer and left there.My advice is to spend a bit more money and get a 2M/70cm rig that is capable of SSB. Buy (or make!) a small beam, and mount it horizontally. You will easily get a range of 100+ miles. Much more under good conditions, with no repeaters involved. these rigs will also do FM, so you still have the repeaters and direct contact if you want it - you will need a second, vertical antenna for that (1/4 wave whip is fine).Now, you said HF. Well, Don't go in there expecting around the world contacts. That mostly won't happen. ESPECIALLY without decent antennas. You really need space for a decent antenna. A 20M antenna isn't THAT big, and its a band that is a good balance between availability and propagation. Usually plenty of contact there too. A good place to start. Currently, the higher frequency bands (HF) are less interesting. the higher in frequency you go, the less activity/propagation. We need sunspots...40m/80m are ok, too but the antennas start getting bigger.A good antenna is key. All the expensive kit in the world won't help if you don't have a good antenna.Built-in antenna tuners are ok, but they are really designed for an antenna that is tuned to somewhere in the band you are working, and it will adjust for miss-match as you move away from that "sweet spot". If you want to try to use a single antenna on multiple bands you will need something better, so put an decent antenna tuner somewhere on your list of things to get.Now the rig itself ... I am an Icom fan, but that is just my prejudice. Others will tell you why their favorite is better.I have an IC7000 (predecessor of the IC7200) that I used for ages, before treating myself to an IC7600 a few years ago (which is now back with Icom for repair). Either one of these, or anything in between is good. The 7300 seems like a good choice, although a 718 actually is pretty good too. Just less bells and whistles. As a beginner, those bells and whistles are really less important. Arguably they are not that important anyway. Filters? Well, maybe, if you like trying to dredge a mostly unintelligible signal out of the noise - some people like doing this, others less so. But before trying to do that spend some time on the antenna and grounding systems and that signal may suddenly not be buried in the noise any more.

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2018, 09:34:37 pm
content: After much study I settled on a Yaesu FT-991A as a good compromise all around radio. I still need to get relicensed, get antennae, etc. So no real experience with the radio. The other contender was the FT-817.I hope eventually to put up 1/2 wave dipoles for 80 m and up, but will probably settle for a Cushcraft R9 to start with. I'm next to a general aviation runway, so seriously height limited.The 991A covers HF to 70 cm and would have a nice waterfall if Yaesu hadn't got it backward and shifted the waterfall rather than the tuned frequency indicator when the waterfall is running. So when you see a weak signal and try to tune to it, it gets smeared so you can't see it.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2018, 10:00:27 pm
content: For a radio selection, my preference will be IC718. Cheap, easy, and durable. One can easily purchase an external antenna tuner. Actually, that's better because what comes in the radio are unable to tune to make shift antenna he'll end up using in emergency situations. Ultra small radios looks nice but many of them have problem in durability, even without rough treatment.Having said that:Before getting licensed and to buying equipment, I suggest your friend to go to a meeting of a local ARES/RACES group. Most of them will welcome non-ham to sit in and learn. That's the group that is primary "into" emergency communications" in United States. "Communication" is a group activity. He'll be working with, training with, and participating with the people he'll meet. These group varies wildly. I'd suggest making sure he will be able to welcome them as friends and vise versa.