2 Meter Set Up

[daveleonard]

Agree

I agree W9BU, I did not mean to cause a "firestorm" over this. I will just say that when it comes to helping to saving a life the end justifies the means and if I over step any rules I will be content to know I did the greater good and deal with the consequences later.

 

[KR7CQ]

50 miles is no problem at all for 2 meters, given a decent setup. I often work simplex that far away with my modest setup. Look up KJ7G on QRZ (me - just haven't gotten RR to change my username yet).

Simple Kenwood TM-V71a, with some LMR-400, and a Diamond X510a (3-5/8) omnidirectional antenna. I can work repeaters on Mount Lemmon, which is about 120 miles away from my home. That's just with an omnidirectional antenna with a 40' feed point. If I were in your shoes, I would go up that high at least, and better yet, 60-70 feet if possible (though you won't be able to do that as cheaply as I got to 40'). Put a rotor at the top, and at least an 11 element beam on a ten foot mast, and then an omnidirectional antenna about ten feet above that on the mast that at the top. Once you can at least detect a weak signal, you can spin your beam around and bring them to full scale. I have a neighbor with a 100' tower who does just that, and he has worked simplex at distances in the 140 - 150 mile range.

Now with that said, I would still suggest looking into HF, if you want range. You can talk to people all over the world in those bands. 2 meters is an great band, but HF is a whole other world in terms of range. That you should operate within the boundaries of the law and makes sure that you are properly licensed goes without saying.

Good luck.

 

[daveleonard]

W9BU

The more I think about it the more I think your original idea of going HF rather than VHF is a good one. When I think about it mostly I would hear only non-english anyway over here. I studied for both technician and general and I get 90+% on my test exams so I will go for it. Thanks

 

[teufler]

First does the Phillipines participate in the CEPT IR IARP agreements. If so, you must carry proof of US citizenship, a copy of your US license, and a copy of the FCC CEPT Public Notice, which can be found at www.arrl.org/FabdES/field/regulations/io/cept-ral.pdf. To obtain an application for an International Amateur Radio Permit, you must apply to the ARRL. www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/iarp-app.pdf. You have to abide by the terms and conditions as dictated by the foreign government. Reciprocal licensing is available from the arrl, www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/recip-country. I don't know what Amateur radio limitations are for the bands but it is possible you will have a greater set of privilages in the Phillipines than you would have in the US. In essense, you are not under the FCC but the Radio Office in the Phillipines. As a tech, in the US, you might have HF status in the Phillipines on bands that you are not authorized for in the US or its possessions.

 

[daveleonard]

out of frequency use

CORRECT

T8B08 : When can you use non-amateur frequencies or equipment to call for help in a situation involving immediate danger to life or property?
Answer : In a genuine emergency you may use any means at your disposal to call for help on any frequency

http://www.hamtesting.com/ptQuestion.php

Don't blame me, this is what newbies are being taught, makes sense to me!

 

[K5MPH]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

For an antenna go with a beam you won't be sorry..

 

[elk2370bruce]

CORRECT

T8B08 : When can you use non-amateur frequencies or equipment to call for help in a situation involving immediate danger to life or property?
Answer : In a genuine emergency you may use any means at your disposal to call for help on any frequency

http://www.hamtesting.com/ptQuestion.php

Don't blame me, this is what newbies are being taught, makes sense to me!

If the OP is operating in the Phillipines. FCC rules and ARRL test questions are irrelevant to this discussion. Even with a temporary operating permit, you have to follow the host country's laws and rules. That's included in CEPT.

 

[daveleonard]

Question 30 of 35
Current score is : 93% ( 27/29 )


T8B11 : When can you use a modified amateur radio transceiver to transmit on the local fire department frequency?

- In a genuine emergency you may use any means at your disposal to call for help on any frequency
- Only when the Fire Department is short of regular equipment
- When the local Fire Chief has given written permission
- When yoCORRECT

T8B11 : When can you use a modified amateur radio transceiver to transmit on the local fire department frequency?
Answer : In a genuine emergency you may use any means at your disposal to call for help on any frequencyu are helping the Fire Department raise money

 

[jim202]

I have been a ham for many years and run 2 meters mobile all the time. I use a 1/4 wave whip on the roof of the vehicle and a 50 watt transmitter. If I can hear the station, I can work them. Same with the repeaters.

It doesn't take that much power on 2 meters to have a conversation. You don't want the reputation of being a loud mouth. This is a person that can be heard much further than they can hear.

As for the base setup, again you don't need a whole lot of power. A beam would help if you have stations all around you and a pile of repeaters in all different directions. The gain needed on the beam is again not that much. Something on the order of say 6 db would work just fine for you. Put your money in good coax and make sure you weather seal the connections real good.

To digress some, you might take a look at 6 meters. It is a lot of fun when the band opens up. It happens much more frequently than 2 meters.

Jim

 

[WB4CS]

Question 30 of 35
Current score is : 93% ( 27/29 )


T8B11 : When can you use a modified amateur radio transceiver to transmit on the local fire department frequency?

- In a genuine emergency you may use any means at your disposal to call for help on any frequency
- Only when the Fire Department is short of regular equipment
- When the local Fire Chief has given written permission
- When yoCORRECT

T8B11 : When can you use a modified amateur radio transceiver to transmit on the local fire department frequency?
Answer : In a genuine emergency you may use any means at your disposal to call for help on any frequencyu are helping the Fire Department raise money

I don't believe that's a real test question, is it?

Posted below is the PDF of the 2014-2018 NCVEC Technician question pool, and no where in it does it have this question.

http://ncvec.org/downloads/2014-2018 Tech Pool.pdf

Per an email discussion I've had with the FCC, there is no time (emergency or not) that you're allowed to use a "modified amateur radio transceiver" to transmit on frequencies you're not licensed for. See this thread: http://forums.radioreference.com/am...ut-band-transmit-illegal-stupid-question.html Or more specifically, this post for the response from the FCC.

I know we were told to leave the legalities out of this discussion, but this "question" quoted above is surely a joke, right?

 

[AK9R]

T8B08 : When can you use non-amateur frequencies or equipment to call for help in a situation involving immediate danger to life or property?

TB808 from the current question pool reads:

What is meant by the statement that a satellite is operating in "mode U/V"?

T8B11 : When can you use a modified amateur radio transceiver to transmit on the local fire department frequency?

T8B11 from the current question pool reads:

What is a commonly used method of sending signals to and from a digital satellite?

If you are studying for your U.S. amateur radio license, you should probably study the current question pool.

 

[AK9R]

I have the PDF of the 2014-2018 NCVEC Technician question pool, and no where in it does it have this question.

Note that the 2014-2018 Technician question pool is not in effect until July 1, 2014.

The Technician question pool that is current in effect is downloadable from:
NCVEC - Technician Class Valid 7/01/10-6/30/14