• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

Strong Case of Good News / Bad News

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KSQ895

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2015
Messages
32
Location
Augusta, GA
While I wait to take my test and acquire my Technician License, I've been trying to LISTEN to as many local repeaters as I can.

Imagine my surprise and excitement when I found out there's a repeater / antenna RIGHT NEXT DOOR to my house on top of a water tower!

Now...

Imagine my disappointment when I find out the frequency for said repeater is 53.0300 and my Baofeng does not receive that frequency,

Felt like Charlie Brown when Lucy moved the football.
 

SCPD

QRT
Joined
Feb 24, 2001
Messages
0
Location
Virginia
VX5R

While I wait to take my test and acquire my Technician License, I've been trying to LISTEN to as many local repeaters as I can.

Imagine my surprise and excitement when I found out there's a repeater / antenna RIGHT NEXT DOOR to my house on top of a water tower!

Now...

Imagine my disappointment when I find out the frequency for said repeater is 53.0300 and my Baofeng does not receive that frequency,

Felt like Charlie Brown when Lucy moved the football.

I'd try to sell the Baofang to someone, and get a used VX-5R from Yaesu.
You should be able to find one under $100, since it's getting to be a 10 year old radio.
There may be other tri-band handhelds out there too, that's probably the one I know the most about.
 

popnokick

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Mar 21, 2004
Messages
2,837
Location
Northeast PA
6M on a handheld is difficult due to the antenna length needed to perform effectively. However, since you live next door to the repeater you may be OK.
 

KD8DVR

Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2004
Messages
1,304
Location
Columbus, Ohio
6M on a handheld is difficult due to the antenna length needed to perform effectively. However, since you live next door to the repeater you may be OK.
My vx7r has an antenna attachment for 6m. It can get me into a repeater several miles away. Of course, with my homebrew dipole, I'm assured even better coverage.

Sent from my LG-D631 using Tapatalk
 

902

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2003
Messages
2,620
Location
Downsouthsomewhere
Part of being a ham is that longing to improve your operations or get up on a new mode or frequency band you don't have. You might not have that call sign yet, but you are every bit a ham considering you've got something that can't exactly do what you're wanting it to do.

There are a bunch of 6 meter radios that you can save up for and get. There are a bunch of professional grade low band radios you can get and convert to 6 meters (believe me, it's a lot of fun and you get a great feeling of accomplishment when you're successful). I've done that a lot over the years. And, if you're here, you probably have a scanner that can receive the repeater output frequency.

I think you'll learn a lot by using that 6 meter repeater. 6 meters has some really cool propagation characteristics. The best of luck to you - I hope you really enjoy it!
 

KSQ895

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2015
Messages
32
Location
Augusta, GA
Thanks 902. You're right. I have the scanner going and the handheld going at the same time almost constantly when I'm home and awake.

I want to thank all of you for welcoming me into the fold. Can't wait to become a full-fledged member.
 

teufler

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
2,357
Location
ST PETERS, MISSOURI
The 6 meter repeater you are talking about will probably be not very busy, as most hams do not have a radio that covers 6 meters. Some of the higher end mobiles have 6 meters along with ssb. Some ht's have 6 meters but its about as crowded as a 220 repeater is. What you have , a 2meters 440mhz will handle probably 90+% of all calls. Now hf, 10 meters to 80 meters, this is something else. Many hf radios do have 6 meters. A dedicated 6 meter hand held is like woodpecker lips. Pretty rare.
 

N4KVE

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Messages
4,103
Location
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
Good point. Most activity will be on VHF, followed by UHF. Do you want to sell your radio, & buy another to use a repeater that's next door, that will have almost no activity? Wait until you get your ticket, & then see how busy you get with VHF/UHF befrore running to 6 meters. That band is basically used by the old timers who used to use 6 meters as their VHF band decades ago. LOL.
 
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