k0ua
Epic Contributor
The Heavily wooded concerns me for the little FRS 1/2 watt radios. This could be a problem. It wouldn't cost much to try it out as these radios are very cheap, but I am thinking the GMRS or MURS radios would do better
Homestead Communications
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k0ua
Epic Contributor
I do not think Amateur radio equipment is the answer for most people. Most people are not willing to study and take a test and pay the fees. Not unless they are interested in the hobby/emergency service aspects of it. And EVERYONE will have to be licensed, Men, women, kids, old and young. Neighbors too. AND it restricts the topics that can be discussed over the air. Unlike FRS/GMRS/MURS you CANNOT talk about subjects with a pecuniary interest to anyone involved.
So, NO, amateur is NOT the answer for most people. But there are the other alternatives that we have discussed FRS, maybe. GMRS, yes I would just about guarantee it will work even with 2.5 watt walkies with integral antennas, and for sure will work with a modest base station and very modest base station antenna on the roof or mounted on the eve.
The MURS handheld VHF radios will likely work too with just the integral antennas. The advantage of them is no licensing fees. But very few channels. Of course out in the woods, there isn't much chance you will run into other users. It is possible, but unlikely.
So, NO, amateur is NOT the answer for most people. But there are the other alternatives that we have discussed FRS, maybe. GMRS, yes I would just about guarantee it will work even with 2.5 watt walkies with integral antennas, and for sure will work with a modest base station and very modest base station antenna on the roof or mounted on the eve.
The MURS handheld VHF radios will likely work too with just the integral antennas. The advantage of them is no licensing fees. But very few channels. Of course out in the woods, there isn't much chance you will run into other users. It is possible, but unlikely.
Grumpycat
Veteran Member
1/2W is plenty but for the 25¢ receivers in most FRS radios.
Transmitters are cheap. Good receivers are expensive.
travisbb
Bronze Member
I use cheap FRS/GMRS radios on my property which is a mile long, heavily wooded, and one big hill. I keep it on an FRS 1/2 watt channel because it makes the batteries last a lot longer.
Reception is only a problem at around 3/4 of a mile. Any closer than that and reception is clear and good. For 10 acres I think FRS will be fine unless there is a mountain in the middle.
Reception is only a problem at around 3/4 of a mile. Any closer than that and reception is clear and good. For 10 acres I think FRS will be fine unless there is a mountain in the middle.
Grumpycat
Veteran Member
But to make that choice one has to be aware of the differences between the options.
My observation is that a disproportionate number of newly licensed Amateur Radio Operators are recent retirees. While one could spend $10,000, there is a lot of fun to be had for $100.
oosik
Epic Contributor
I have a pair of Kenwood VHF hand held transceivers. They operate under MURS. They are 16 channel and Lion powered. They easily cover my 80 acres - and beyond.
They WERE NOT cheap. But have continued to perform well for the 15 years I've owned them. Transmit power is 5 watts.
Fifteen years and I've NEVER heard another soul on any of the channels. It's either the other person( my wife ) or the continuous weather broadcast.
I'm pretty remote out here ............
They WERE NOT cheap. But have continued to perform well for the 15 years I've owned them. Transmit power is 5 watts.
Fifteen years and I've NEVER heard another soul on any of the channels. It's either the other person( my wife ) or the continuous weather broadcast.
I'm pretty remote out here ............
Grumpycat
Veteran Member
Kenwood makes excellent amateur radio gear and receivers. Am guessing at least half the excellent performance of your Kenwood MURS radios is due to the receiver. And how the receiver was probably 2/3rds of the cost of the unit.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Agreed, Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu all make professional quality gear, but it is NOT blister packed at Wal-Mart. I don't know what oosik paid for his Kenwoods but I would not be surprised at 300-400 dollars each. Compare that to a $25 radio. There has to be some corners cut somewhere. "Back in the day" when the Motorola handheld called the HT220 was current, it sold for around $2000 each. And that was in 1970 dollars. And yes, the receiver is the most important part of any transceiver and where most of the money goes.
Larry Caldwell
Elite Member
I have not gotten into amateur radio because I am in a steep, narrow canyon in basalt hills with a high iron content. There is little outside RF - no cell service, only two broadcast radio stations, no broadcast TV. I do have a CB handset that picks up skip from Australia when the sunspots cooperate.
I have considered installing a mobile unit in my pickup, but have no idea what gear would be compact enough. My state forbids handheld units while driving. The only thing you can legally grab is a mic. Taking licensing tests is not a big deal to me. I engineered a high power AM/FM commercial radio station back in the '60s.
At this point I only have vague ideas about what kind of equipment is available. I would like some flexibility, like being able to switch to a low power CB mode. Can I get by with one radio and antenna? I assume the SWR varies with frequency. The only equipment I have right now is a Wilson cell phone amplifier, which gives me a signal where I normally can't find one - sometimes.
For home reception, I have a Realistic DX-440, and don't see any reason to change. It's a good radio.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
If you do intend to get into Amateur Radio, especially mobile, you will need to decide if your interest is local communications with VHF/UHF gear in your vehicle or into long range communication's with HF gear in your vehicle. I have both in my truck, and VHF only in the wifes minivan. As for the size of the gear, the good news is that all types of gear has been greatly reduced in size over the years.
I can tell you what I have in the Truck if you like. For VHF/UHF I have an old Yaesu FT90r super miniature 2 meter/70 cm rig. You can't buy this one anymore but mine is still working fine so it stays. If you are only interested in the local operation (think maybe 50 to 100 miles) then the VHF/UHF rigs will only require a technician class license to operate. So a very easy written test, 35 questions, multiple choice. no Morse Code anymore for any test. The antenna is a dual band Larson 270 mounted on the front cowl area of the truck. You can go to QRZ.com and enter my callsign to see pictures. Similar current rigs could be had for around $300-$400
For HF worldwide communications I have the fairly new Yaesu FT891 100 watt HF rig. It is also very small considering what it is. The antenna is the Little Tarheel II mounted on a corner plate in the bed. This is a small but still fairly expensive (about $400) antenna. The Ft891 itself is about $600
The antenna is a motorized so called "screwdriver" antenna, if you are interested as to why it is called that is because the originals were "homebrewed" by a fella named Don Johnson and he used the motor out of a handheld electric screwdriver as he designed and built the originals. But the gist of it is a coil with sliding fingers moving up and down to adjust the inductance and driving the whip.
Here is a photo, you might notice that there is another device (about $139) called an antenna controller. While not strictly necessary for operation of the Little Tarheel II motorized HF antenna, it does make operation a little easier as it "remembers" the tuning settings of the antenna for each band or portion thereof. As you can tell operation of HF mobile is much more costly and much more involved than a VHF/UHF mobile install.
