FL Survival / A Survival Community
Survivalist's Resources & Preparedness => Communications Tower => : ptajay April 23, 2015, 09:09:53 AM
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Items needed to set up a ham radio specifically the baofeng model off Amazon? What are the most beneficial parts or ones needed to work device or at least listen.
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Radio and battery for handhelds. I still need to work up a manual to help set it up right. Every thing is manual input on those. I would suggest not leaning on baofeng for real world use as the bigger brand radios are much simpler to use in the long run.
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Every thing is manual input on those.
Nope.
You can set up your Baofeng with your computer. Prgramming cables are available on Amazon for around $8 and the software is free online.
I set up my UV-3R with my laptop, it's pretty straightforward.
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Radio and battery for handhelds. I still need to work up a manual to help set it up right. Every thing is manual input on those. I would suggest not leaning on baofeng for real world use as the bigger brand radios are much simpler to use in the long run.
Link for other brands please looking for all input.
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I have a few baofengs and love them. I have the programming cable and downloaded software. The best are on tool in my opinion is a better antenna. I bought an 18" whip style for mine and greatly increased my range.
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Radio and battery for handhelds. I still need to work up a manual to help set it up right. Every thing is manual input on those. I would suggest not leaning on baofeng for real world use as the bigger brand radios are much simpler to use in the long run.
Link for other brands please looking for all input.
If your budget allows - say $150 and up - you could look at Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Motorola, Radio Shack, or Alinco.
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I definitely need a better radio. As far as ham I only have one of the baby baofengs. You can get a program for it where you set everything up on a computer but from what I've seen it gets mixed reviews. Some say it's more complicated than manual setup and others say it's simple. I like mine but there are better handhelds out there that wont break the bank. If you get a chance to get around any of the ham guys on here they can show you a lot.
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Items needed to set up a ham radio specifically the baofeng model off Amazon? What are the most beneficial parts or ones needed to work device or at least listen.
The only real problem that I've had with my baofeng was with the charger. The UV-3R uses a rather delicate plug that broke and left me unable to recharge. A replacement from Batteries+ cost $20 - about what I paid for the radio originally.
I tried a remote mike for it, but it didn't work very well. But a magnetic base antenna for the roof of my truck greatly improved performance.
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I have the UV-5R (a couple) AND I have the new BF-F8 (8 watts!!!!). The same software programs all of them, and is super simple to use. But I actually downloaded 3 version before I found the one that worked with both and with no bugs.
An upgrade to the antenna is the one super critical improvement. They also make an extended battery, but I find mine go forever on the battery they came with.
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If you want a bit more than a 5w handi-talkie, there's a BF-9500 mobile unit on amazon for $149. Single band (70cm/440Mhz), that's 40w.
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Look, I'm not saying the Baofeng is a crap radio. It works and does what its supposed to do. Are after market parts available? Yip, sure are.
People I hang around have them, all be it they are not licensed as of yet. I have tested them out for them, and we can communicate radio to radio from five miles away. Hand held. Granted, that is standing on top of vehicles/ trailers or using Roll Up J Pole antennas.
Ill link you to all the gizmos you can get for them.
Longer 18" antenna
Spare Battery
Speaker Mic
Roll up J Pole and you'll spend less than $100 round about.
But
While hiking one time after they had gotten their radios and decided they loved them to death. The one who is the hardest sell on anything that makes sense to me, changed the channel on mine and said WOW! that is so much easier.
You can use the computer to upload all your frequencies, you can go through and set all the parameters, you can upload the info to your radio. But hands down... The better brands are much easier to use... In fact, they will do most of the work for you in the long run.
I can set up a Tone Search (with a couple button strokes) on my Yaesu and it will tell me what Tone I need to use to hit a certain repeater. There is a Smart Search I can use and it will locate all the repeater frequencies and store them for me. Then all I have to do is go into the program and re organize and name each.
I will say, starting out. Yip get a Baofeng. "Listen in" learn the jargon, learn from those who are talking on them. See if its the direction you want to go...
Best times in Tampa Area if you can pick them up is between 2300 and 0300... That's when the prepper types are on. There is a frequency, day and times where they are trying to talk radio to radio "Simplex" with any ham who can hear and talk to them. Basically learning how to better communicate when there is no grid. Ill have to remember to find the Frequency for you and show you how to set it up...
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Here is what you are looking at price wise. I only know Yaesu, I like the design and format they use as well as some of the unique functions.
The Shiznit Radio $349= http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0008.html
Waterproof up to 3ft for 30 minutes. We do live in Florida... Military specs on dropping it. Accidents happen. Somebody drop their Baofeng a couple times. Yes expensive but for reasons. You can listen to most all frequencies, it says all. But not entirely true.... IIRC these do D Star as well, which is sending computer files over radio frequency. You can listen to two bands at one time, you can also talk on 4 different bands.
Less shiznit Radio = http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0666.html
Pretty much same as above but can only listen to one frequency at a time, and only has three bands to talk on.
Boafengs can be dual band, but typically I don't believe you can listen in on two frequencies at one time. All be it will show two at same time. I could be wrong on this.
Lesser Shiznit radio but still useful $149 = http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0060.html
Dual Band, and pretty damn small.
Like I said. Get a Baofeng, play around with it, learn and move on from there. Look at different brands see what designs you like, see various features you like. Research them and then spend your money. If you like Baofeng, stick with it... They are cheap, I'll give them that...
If I can ever find time to reload my freq list on my computer, ill let you know an you can download it....
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Here is the Shiznit Baofeng as of right now.
http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-BF-F8HP-High-Power-400-520Mhz/dp/B00MAULSOK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1429842650&sr=8-2&keywords=baofeng+BF-f8
Less Shiznit
http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-BF-F8-Two-Way-Radio/dp/B00MX7D9RE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1429842868&sr=8-5&keywords=baofeng+BF-f8
Even Less Shiznit, but as low as I would go. I have this, my buddy has one of the 8+
http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV5R-Dual-Band-Two-Way-Radio/dp/B007H4VT7A/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1429842908&sr=8-14&keywords=baofeng+BF-f8
Antenna 18"
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Nagoya-NA-771-Updated-Antenna/dp/B00BY3XN7E/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1429842968&sr=8-15&keywords=baofeng+BF-f8
I am not searching prices, that is on you... Pay attention to titles, they tend to be tricky at times. Read everything!
Shoulder mic
http://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-BF-S112-Two-Radio-Speaker/dp/B008RZ0EQ0/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_y
They say it fits all... If you want to play with on your computer...
http://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-Universal-Programming-Authentic-PROLIFIC/dp/B00QJCV72S/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1429843106&sr=8-19&keywords=baofeng+BF-f8
No Matter what... Get one of these... Just don't peal the sticky off of it... Put it under the belt clip to use it... It can be used for any radio you get....
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/2714.html
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Here are most of the Current Brands out there.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht.html
I'm not the HAM guru on here. Not even sure if they are still around really.
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I was just looking at "cheap Asian" radios this morning & came across the CHIRP programming software that I hadn't known about before http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home
I got a Wouxun for my husband to use for APRS & it's worked pretty good for him for what he's using it for. I'm looking for a cheap pair for kayaking & camping trips that I can keep in our little bed-in-a-box trailer, so we don't have to "remember" to get the radios from the house. We're both HAM licensed & our primary HTs are the Yaesu FT-60R (Alinco's before that). Hubby's truck has a Kenwood 2M & I have the same, but haven't installed it in the current car yet (I don't want to say new car as I realized it's now been 10 yrs since I pulled it out of the old car :D ).
With the Wouxon, having the USB programming cable & software to program it made it so much easier (well, it's just easier for any radio IMHO). I haven't used CHIRP yet, but will be downloading it for the Yaesu's now that I know about it.
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I have links somewhere in here for better programing software for the yaesu's. Much better than chirp especially for the yaesu.
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Sentry,
Have you tested your radios with and without the "rat tail" antenna booster?
I would be interested in how much better a radio works with it if it already HAS the upgraded whip antenna on it.
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Sentry,
Have you tested your radios with and without the "rat tail" antenna booster?
I would be interested in how much better a radio works with it if it already HAS the upgraded whip antenna on it.
I did with my Yaesu...
With it I was able to talk through the Holiday repeater which was 35 miles away and 1100 ft up very well....
Without it is sounded weak...