|
Pacific Crest Trail Repeater Guide A conversation
about ham radio with a thru hiker Compiled by |
HAM RADIO
Q. What I (and most everyone
else) want is for the satellite phones to get less expensive as well as
lighter. But I can dream on forever on
that one.
A. I'd suspect someday sat
phones will be feasible. I know two people who carry them. As I understand,
besides the issue of development costs, there's a balance between pricing them
cheap enough to get enough customers and pricing them high enough to ration
service over a limited number of satellites.
Q. Cell phones won't work
particularly well or consistently on the PCT, so I guess for a few years ham
radio is still the best option, if one carries a communication device at
all.
A. I'm not sure if they're
the best option, but they're one option. They do have drawbacks, as I'll
explain. Beside cell phones and satellites, other options include some form of
email or voice mail, such as pocket mail, but these require a pay phone at the
trailhead.
Q. Do you hike with one
regularly?
A. Yes. I actually got my
ham license because I wanted a way to get help if one of my Scouts got hurt.
Q. Are the very lightest
ones less efficient in getting out a signal?
If so, can the rigging of some kind of (wire?) extension to the antenna
offset that and improve the ability to reach out?
A. I suppose a bit of
explanation about ham radios might help. What I carry is a VHF-UHF handheld
radio. These frequencies (144 MHz and 440 MHz) are pretty much line of sight,
but they differ from the popular
Another type of ham radio is
an HF, often thought of as short wave. These are usually a bit bigger, and
require much longer antennas. There are low power ones available for
backpacking, but they usually only have a watt or two. One night at home I
heard a station calling very faint on Morse Code. He
was several days into the Emigrant Wilderness and needed a phone call made,
which I was able to do. Other than hobbyists, these are very rare in the
wilderness, though.
Q. I gather from your
earlier posting that generally on the PCT one could count on getting out to a
repeater except in deep valleys.
A. I would hope this is
true. I have a website www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct
where I note where I can reach what repeater on the trail. I only have data for
where I've been, but there are a couple large areas where I had no repeater.
Through the High Sierra, there are many stretches where it doesn't work -
although you'll see it works at one spot at
Q. To be candid, I hate to
take the time to go through the basic technician licensing for both my wife and
I unless it seems like it is the only sensible way to go.
A. This is something only
you can decide. The test is not too tough, but does require a bit of studying.
My daughter passed when she was 11 with just three solid days of study - but
she's a scary person! The VHF and UHF (with repeater access) do NOT require
learning Morse Code.
Q. As a card-carrying
scrooge and curmudgeon, I have even resisted getting cell phone service here at
home locally, due to cost and the fact I can't use them when we hike most of
the time. Yet, if ham radio (without a
monthly charge) could substitute adequately for a cell phone, then maybe that's
the way to go. Do some folks keep their light, hiking ham radio transceivers
(correct word?) in their cars in lieu of cell phones in an emergency? One would think so, but with it not having a
direct tie-in with a "land line," I imagine that is a rather
2nd-class solution in an emergency.
A. They don't necessarily
substitute for a cell phone. There has to be someone else listening that you
can ask for help. They won't usually let you call home across the country
unless you can get someone to make a collect call for you. But, yes, I have a
mobile radio in my car for emergencies, and find in the backcountry it is much
more reliable than any cell service. Some repeaters also have ties to
landlines, called autopatches, but these almost
always require that you are a member of the club that owns that repeater to get
access to the phone system - or get someone else to make the call for you.
Locally, I have access to telephone service through the ham repeaters
throughout
Q. What am I really
asking? I dunno. I seem to be flailing about in deciding
whether to make the time investment in a technology that is now quite old
A. Ham's been around awhile,
but is far from dead. We've had big fires here the last two years, and both
times, ham radio was the ONLY communication in and out of several communities.
We use ham radio as a backup to the sheriff radios as well.
Actually, there are many
digital modes on ham radio, although I haven't used them much and don't know if
they're available in the backcountry. Text messaging is possible using
computers and radios, and repeaters have been linked around the world using the
Internet.
Q. …and that I haven't seem to need in 23 years of long-distance trekking. Satellite
phones would seem to be the very answer, but I fear it will be years, if ever,
that the price and weight come down.
A. And that's the balance. I
got a radio for Scout trips, which are hardly fast moving, long distance treks.
Still, I carry the radio on all my trips, although I don't use it much.
A couple examples of use on
the PCT:
* Reader and I hiked Section
O in mid-May between snow storms. There was a lot of snow on the ground, and
our wives were worried about us. (Go figure.) Half way through, I asked someone
from
* In 1998 our Scouts
attempted hiking from
The bottom line is you have
to decide what you think you need. I plan to thru hike in 2014 after I retire,
with my wife supporting me by truck. Unless sat phones are significantly
improved, we will use ham radios to meet up at trailheads.
A. As I may have mentioned
before, "ham radio" covers a lot of spectrum. Most hams would be
using a handheld FM radio in the VHF or UHF bands for hiking. The static you
referred to is typically heard on AM modes, and usually at lower frequencies.
RADIO
Q. The nice folks who are
teaching our class are all emergency volunteers who, when asked, seem to
indicate they don't think in terms of lightness of the radio or different
antenna solutions. They prefer solid and
heavy with great outreach. Yes,
but... The only local HAM I know who
used to long-distance backpack bought his radio many years ago and is not up to date on new light, state of the art equipment. Where do I turn for the best advice, across
the board on everything (not just Yaesu) on the latest and best things to
purchase (radio and antenna) specifically for lightweight backpacking - or have
I stumbled onto another oxymoron? If you
were starting out fresh right now, would you stay with your "Yaesu VX-5
with a second battery and a good antenna" "about 10 ounces" or
what would you buy or who would you turn to for the current best solution for
ounce conscious trekkers??
You ended up with a
Yaesu. For my purposes, are there other
companies with models that really challenge the VX-5?
I examined the Yaesu website
and talked to their tech person. He also
endorses the VX-5R for the hiking
that I (and you) do. Although the VX-7R is much better waterproofed, there are
some negatives and I would think that keeping the radio double-ziplocked in my pack would do just as well (and be
lighter). The VX-2R looks
oh-so-seductive, but I gather the lower power available limits it to an
"around-the-town-on the-flat" sort of situation. While the battery situation with the VX-5R
looks good, I suppose it would be nice to be able to pull Lithium AA batteries
from other things as a back-up. Can't do it.
A. I just weighed my Yaesu
VX5R and here are the results (the scale is not digital, so the decimals are
estimated):
Radio without battery or
antenna 5.3 oz
Smilie 1/2-wave telescoping
antenna 2.0 oz
TOTAL is 10 oz
A second battery brings it
to about 13 oz.
You are correct in that the VX2
would not have enough power. You really want the ability to have 5 watts. The
power can be turned down to save batteries when you are closer to town.
The ability to use regular
(AA) batteries is not as good with the VX5 as I'd like, but that's because the
radio is so small. There is a dry cell battery case available, but it only
holds 3 AA cells, so power is something like 0.5 watt. This is an option if you
want to just listen.
Another option is to go to
an electronics store like Radioshack and buy a larger
battery holder in whatever size you want and a plug so you can plug it into the
radios DC-In jack. I have one radio I did this with, using a big rubber band to
hold it to the back of the radio. It's not very elegant, but is an option. I
don't use this backpacking.
I don't find battery life to
be a big problem carrying just 2 batteries, as I usually leave my radio off
except for when I need it. I know others who talk all the time when hiking (one
friend has a large (2') antenna bolted to his pack frame). They go through lots
of batteries, and some use solar chargers as well. Too heavy for me, and I use
the radio as a tool rather than entertainment.
As for other radios, you
just have to go look at them. If you are near an HRO or
RADIO
Q. couple things that jump
out at this beginner's eyes are the fact that the Yaesu is $130 less and that
the Yaesu has "10 auto-scan weather channels" as opposed to the
Kenwood's "weather channel RX mode."
Not exactly sure what the latter means, but I'll get there.
A. I don't know how
Kenwood's works. On the Yaesu there is a button you hold or a second or so and
it goes into weather mode. It has all ten NOAA weather channels. It's scannable, but I usually just tune through them for the one
I want. NOAA doesn't reach everywhere into the backcountry, but where it does,
it's nice to get verification of what's going on on
the other side of the mountain.
Q. I can't tell from the
blurb in front of me. Is your
Lithium-Ion battery rechargeable?
A. Yes. I suppose it could
be charged with a solar charger on the backpack. I keep my charger in the car
so if base camping or dayhiking I can charge one
while using the other.
REALITY
Q. There's always someone to
bring my feet back down to earth. I thought you might be interested in this
response from an old timer in CA to whom I had sent, on a lark, a few questions
after reading something he had posted about backpacking and ham radio.
"I believe it is
unrealistic to expect 2-meter transceivers to be useful for anything other than
direct, line of sight communication with one another. Yes, there are repeaters which are capable of
relaying a VHF signal far beyond the line of sight range, but I can tell you from
experience that you will rarely be able to access a repeater from anywhere in
the heart of the Sierra, even with a "gain" type antenna. I certainly don't want to dissuade you from
getting your technician license as ham radio is a wonderful hobby. But I am confident you will be disappointed
with the ability to communicate beyond what you can see, regardless of the
transceiver make or model you choose.
If you are interested in one-on-one communication within a mile or two,
A. I'm not sure what your
intent is with radio. Since your wife is with you, you don't need it for hiking
coordination. If you want something "just in case," ham radio is
still your best bet.
I agree - much of the heart
of the Sierra has no repeater coverage. This means that unless another ham is
nearby
Probably the only thing that
would guarantee reception would be a satellite phone. I know at least one backpacker
that carries one. For him, cost is no object, and they and their minutes aren't
cheap. They also won't work in deep canyons or heavy tree cover.
And as the old timer said,
it is a great hobby. We have a group that meets on the repeater on Friday nights
to plan hikes and canoe trips together.
INTENT
q. However, a phone
call last night with the gentleman who
help us with van support this summer reveals that 40 years ago he was
licensed in amateur radio. He got
excited when I told of our Ham radio classes and said he would contemplate
taking the tests in April. This would open up the blessing of communication
with the van. I don't, at the moment,
see how that will/would change our thinking about equipment chosen and bought.
A. Exactly what I hope to
do. At a minimum, you go simplex and are line of sight with more power than
Q. 146.520
A. There are not any standard
emergency frequencies. 146.520 is the 2-meter "national simplex calling
frequency." In theory, this means people would call for
other station here and move to another frequency. In practice, it is the
most popular simplex (non-repeater) frequency.
Q. Technician Class, 6 meter
would be the best at slight bending or reflection in the mountains. But when I
mentioned the expandable 1/2 wave antenna - and they had one there - the
comment was made that it was really good for 2 meter, but not particularly for
6 meter. Should one have 2 antennas, if
6 meter is slightly better in the mountains?
Maybe much later in the class I wouldn't ask simplistic questions.
A. There are 2 problems with
6 meters:
1. There just aren't that
many people on 6 meters, and very few repeaters. I've used it only a couple
times to see if it worked. (We have a 6 meter repeater in our area built by a
couple hams/engineers
who are about the only ones who use it.) In the more remote
areas, there aren't that many people anyway.
2. The antenna on the VX5
just isn't that good for 6 meters. A 1/2-wave antenna for 2 meters is roughly 3
feet long. For 6 meters it would be 9 feet long. Design can shorten this, but
you can see the problem.
2 meters is by far the most
popular, so I find it most useful in the backcountry. 70 cm (440 MHz) would be
second, but it is even more line-of-sight.
I did have a conversation at
home one night with a hiker in the wilderness north of
BASICALLY
ANTENNAS
Q. I don't know if I will
ever get to 40 meters.
A. It's certainly not for
everyone. I would not carry it, but the story of how it worked in this case was
interesting.
Q. For some reason, my early
understanding was that repeaters were repeaters... and would relay whatever was
being fed to them. I hadn't realized that they were "meter specific."
A. Not just meter specific,
but they only listen on one frequency and only transmit on one other frequency
(fancy remote bases excluded).
Q. "The Smiley antenna
would likely be helpful to increase VHF range but there are caveats to consider - all
mechanical. Compared to a "duckie", when the Smiley is extended, it is about as likely to
break as bend under severe duress. In addition,
the antenna will apply a relatively large moment force at the radio's antenna
connector. The potential to damage the
radio's antenna connection is increased over a duckie.
It is not common, but I have seen it occur.”
A. Yes, this is a problem. My
first handheld radio, an Icom T22A, had this problem.
I broke the antenna connector off the circuit board several times, requiring
either expensive repairs or begging an electronically-inclined friend to fix it
for me. I found myself using one finger to help support the antenna when it was
extended. Fortunately, I have not had this problem with the Yaesu. However, I
leave the antenna off when stored in my pack, and don't walk with this antenna
on and the radio hooked to my belt.
Q. 2M Hint: For either a duckie or the Smiley, simply connecting a 19 1/2" wire
to the ground portion of the antenna connector and letting it dangle below the
radio (away from hand a bit) may increase range. It becomes the ground counterpoise side of
the antenna rather than (or in addition to) the radio case.
A. Interesting. I can see
where it might help, but I learned just enough about electronics to pass the
tests. I was told, and once found, that standing on snow worked better than
standing on dry soil nearby, probably for a similar reason.
Q. Hmm... Had another
thought... You may be able to make the
Smiley work on 6M by clipping on a temporary whip extension wire of the proper
length.
A. Maybe, but the length
needs to be pretty close to correct or the radio can be damaged electronically.
Q. "Also have done tests using the standard issue antenna and the one
described below. The PRYME is best. Bill, not that you have tried every antenna in the world, but how
might this compare to your Smiley?
A. I have a Pryme antenna, but not the telescoping one. I've heard they
work well. One thing I like about the Smilie is that
the base is rubber, so it does bend a little bit before breaking it or the
radio.
Q. This same gentleman went
on to rave about the VX-7R and said that on Yahoo there was an enthusiastic 7R
group. My understanding was that the
basic difference between the 5R and the 7R was primarily (and maybe only) the waterproofness of the 7R.
To me, that's what double ziplocking at stream
crossings is all about. I, at present,
can't spot any superiority to the 7r.
I've asked him, but haven't heard back yet.
A. Waterproofness, and it adds 220 MHz. However, 220 is only at 300 milliwatts, so it
will only work near town. 220 used to be more popular than it is now, and is
still not common in the backcountry. However, some in
Q. toward not making the
effort to renew the license, which would put me in the position of buying some
sort of small receiver for the van and just being able (or trying) to
communicate one way with them... which is certainly better than nothing. The problem of course is that you would never
know if you got through. Is there a name for such a unit, other than
"receiver?"
A. A receiver would work.
Usually you would use a scanner (which is a type of receiver).
Q. BTW, what does "73" stand for?
A. 73 means
"best regards." 88 means "love and kisses" and obviously
not used as much. Since the meaning is already plural, "73" should
not be made plural as "73's" is redundant.They
are shortcuts, along with the various Q signs, generally for Morse code, often
on HF, but many feel inappropriate for VHF and UHF (like 2 meters). 73 is now commonly used as a closing in an email between hams
as well, like...
73,
Bill
various
q. I'm eating up your radio
thoughts. I'm gonna
crunch this thing through as quickly as I can, because I know I'll then have the
time-consuming challenge of learning how to use and program the radio, once in
hand.
A. Play with it early, but
understand there are a lot of features you will probably never ever use. Focus
on programming repeater frequencies
(including
PL (CTCSS) tones) into memory.
Q. Mods....
you know, initially I thought I'd never be interested, but it occurred to me
that it might be good if the radio could be modified to hear and/or communicate
ONLY in an emergency on Forest Service frequencies. Do you happen to know what frequencies they
use and have you considered this?
A. I think each
Q. Do you own other antennas
to use locally, other than the Smiley Super Stick II? I mean, other than the one that comes with
the radio?
A. I have another Smiley
that works on both 2 meters and 440, although the gain on 2 meters is not as
great as the single-band antenna. I also have an antenna with a very thin
2-foot whip which works sort of neat in town on the two bands, although not as
well as the Smiley. In a car or truck it works much better to have the antenna
on the roof. There are cheap (MFJ) magnetic mount antennas that work much
better than anything inside the vehicle, esp. since the metal of the car blocks
an inside antenna. You can just run the antenna cable out a window and use an
adaptor (or two) to convert to the SMA. If you ever get serious about ham
(doesn't sound like it), you'll find yourself wanting a true mobile radio as
they are easier to use while driving. Therefore, my VX5 really only gets used
while hiking
Q. Have you learned any
tricks to keep the numbers from wearing off?
I've read spraying with polyurethane and the Yaesu tech guy said maybe
nail polish. Any thoughts?
A. I have not had any
problem. Yaesu does sell a case for about $20 that has a clear plastic window
protecting the keys.
Q. It was the Yaesu guy who
mentioned the 2 sizes of Lithium batteries.
A. Hm,
I'll have to look at that.
Q. You said, “Listen to the repeater and move
around while looking at the S-meter to see where the signal is strongest. One
night I had to stand on top a boulder for one repeater, while a different
repeater was better six feet to the side"
I wish I could stand next to
you once when you did this. I, at present, know nothing about listening to a
repeater, etc. In time, I trust.
A. If you just listen to someone
else talking, there is a meter on the radio that showing signal (S) strength.
On most HTs, like the VX5, it's a line of LED
segments. The longer the line, the stronger the signal.
By moving to where the receive signal is strongest, it makes sense that the
repeater will likewise hear me stronger there too.
If no one is talking on a
repeater, if you push the PTT (Push To Talk) button
for a second a release, most repeaters transmit a carrier (squelch tail) for a
second or so. This is sometimes called kerchunking or
something like that. You can swing the radio around quickly to see where it
might be stronger. It is impolite to kerchunk
repeatedly, and you should always give your call sign when doing so, at least
for the first and last time, so you aren't mistaken for a lid (lousy operator)
or a kid who found his dad's radio.
Q. I just hit me that if the
van support man does indeed go ahead (I don't think it's gonna
happen) and get licensed again, he would also have to have as big an antenna as I do. I'm planning on buying 2 HT's
if he does, in that my wife would have that in the fall. But I hadn't
thought about the need for matching antennas until just a minute ago.
a. I'd suggest the van man get
a magnetic mount antenna as any antenna will work better outside the van than
inside. There are available in different sizes (bigger usually means more
gain), but even a cheap MFJ will work fine. I think they start at $15 for the
small size and go to about $30 for a high-gain antenna, so they're about the
same price as a telescoping whip, but, again, being outside the metal of the
van helps too.
MORE
Q. You said, “One night I
had to stand on top a boulder for one repeater, while a different repeater was
better six feet to the side.”
I'm into that thinking
after, 2 years in a row, we were attempting
A. Same idea.
Q. Regarding the 2 sizes of
Lithium batteries: The Yaesu fellow was
not definite in his recommendations... a bit "Well, it probably might be a
little better." Far
from a ringing endorsement. My
understanding is the regular one is
FNB-58LI 7.2V/1100mAh and the slightly larger
one is
FNB-80LI 7.4V/1300mAh
If you learn something
negative about the latter, won't fit etc, please give me a quick shout.
A. The larger one should
last about 20% longer (1300/1100). The power out of the radio would be the
same.
Q. I am going to get the
Rapid Rate Charger, for quicker motel room use on days off.
A. Good idea.
Q. I've been in touch with Smiley.
They are checking with their tech about a more flexible antenna they have as to
whether it would match the
super stick. I'll let you know if there are any surprises.
A. Let me
know if they have a better idea.
Q. One "expert"
told me to consider a 1/4 wave antenna with 4 foldable arms that extend out
from the antenna. I don't know enough
about 1/4 vs ½ waves to understand this yet. But I'm groping along, trying. It would seem to my current untutored mind
that regardless of foldable arms, a ½ wave has to be better than a 1/4
wave. No?
A. The foldable arms sound
like a ground plane: one 1/4 wave vertical radiator and four horizontal radials
to act as a ground. Sounds a bit heavy for backpacking.
A 1/2-wave has more gain (power) than a 1/4-wave. I think a 5/8-wave is even
Better, but don't really understand all the theory.
Q. The glossary in Now
You're Talking leaves out some things, I suspect.
Am I to understand your use
of
A. Ham radios can only
legally be used in the ham bands (and a few exceptions for MARS (Military
Affiliate Radio System) and
Q. You said, " Focus on programming repeater frequencies (including
PL (CTCSS) tones) into memory.”
My glossary just says
"private line" for PL.
Q. Does that mean private
phone numbers through an autopatch? Unfortunately, all the autopatch
ability in our home area has evaporated, I'm told. Bummer.
A. No. Autopatch
is a different animal, although you usually need to have PL turned on to reach
the repeater with the autopatch. Most autopatches around here also have "secret" codes
you have to enter using the DTMF keypad on the radio (just like a telephone) to
turn the autopatch on before dialing the number. This
restricts use to those who pay for maintaining the repeater. I've heard of some
that let anyone use it, but that is rare. Autopatches
are usually restricted to calling only local numbers, or at least in a
specified area, and usually hang up on you after a minute or two. They're
intended for quick calls (I'm running late, see you in an hour) and not chit
chat (How was your day, blah blah blah).
If you need a phone call made and don't have autopatch
access you can often get a local to make the call for you. Autopatches
aren't used a whole lot anymore as everyone has cell phones. Before cells, they
got a lot of use. I still use the ECRA autopatch a
few times a year when I'm way out in the desert where nothing else works, and
joined that club just for that reason.
Q. As to "programming
repeater frequencies," what I guess you are saying is that what I need to
do is sit down with your web list of repeaters in the Sierra and program them
in now, as well as anything local here that I can learn about.
A. Yes. If they're in the
radio memory, you can just dial up the memory "channel" you want
instead of punching in the frequency and the PL.
Q. Great idea and info about
the " magnetic mount antenna" for the van. Makes a lot of sense.
I guess I need to do that regardless of his getting licensed or not. He
would need it to hear me.
Q. "
get a scanner guide"... Uh,
OK, what do I ask for and where? Are
there different types?
A. Check your local
electronic store (Radioshack?) A friend of mine, Rod,
has a great website that lists thousands of radio web sites, including a number
of online scanner and repeater guides. www.ac6v.com
. Or just go to Google and search for the agency you want and a keyword like
"scanner" or "radio".
Q. Mods: Any discussion is based on the assumption of
listen only except "in extremis."
No need for warning here. I'm a
coward (no jail time, thank you.
Q. "
If you ever get serious about ham (doesn't sound like it)"
Ok, fella,
don't count me out yet. Seriousness
about ham depends, I guess, like beauty, on the eye of the beholder. I'm really serious about its outdoor use and
potential. I'm also intrigued by the
guys who have 50 watt mobile units in the cars that can act as repeaters,
taking in a weak call and sending it on stronger. That sounds good to me someday. I think all this has to grow on one as one
gets more competent in its use. One
problem for me is that I have had zero electronics in my background and all the
REALLY serious hams around here seem to be retired engineers, with big home
units, towers, mobile units and expendable cash! Retired profs don't
have the retirement income retired engineers do, for sure. Also, time.
It takes time to chat with distant lands (plus earning a higher
certification in order to do so).
Interest in helping in community events, emergencies, etc, sure! Even more so when I get to
be good at what I'm doing with ham.
As a nationally certified Wilderness
A. Ham radio is what you want
it to be. I started because I wanted emergency communications when I took a
Scout troop into the boondocks. It's grown on me from there. My daughter was
licensed about when I was, when she was 11 years old. It's also great for
rescue work. Many Search & Rescue groups use it in addition to their
commercial frequencies. I'm in a group called RACES (Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service) which was originally organized by FEMA and in our County is
part of the Sheriff Department. We use both ham radio and law and fire radios
in disasters and special events. We have two large trucks, one of which has
over 2 dozen radios and 40 antennas on the roof, including a folding tower, and
a telephone switchboard. The other has a bit fewer radios, but a conference
table for 12. Lots of fun, and lots of good service to
the community. I'm sure your Wilderness
aa
= antenna anxiety
A. I'm far from an expert
when it comes to antennas. I find something simple that works and don't replace
it when the next new thing comes out. That said, from the Smiley website http://smileyantenna.com/:
SUPER STICK
II-------------------------------------->
Super Stick II 5/8 wave , flexible base loaded telescopic antenna is the
standard for field use whether in the countryside of city. It provides
It is a true 1/4 wave when
collapsed. Available in the following bands.
118 - 174 MHz. Modular
construction features replaceable telescopic section, tuned coil/spring. Available with any TA Base.
So, you can order it with
the SMA to fit the Yaesu without an adaptor. An adaptor costs a few bucks more,
adds a bit of theoretical loss to the signal, and is one more thing to break.
Yes, I suppose any long
antenna puts extra strain on the connector. The
Simley has a coil/spring at the
bottom (very similar to the plain rubber duck antenna that comes with every HT)
which takes a bit of stress off. I often place my index finger along this to help
support it. Yes, you shouldn't touch antennas when transmitting, but HTs are only 5 watts and the rubber insulates.
Q. How did you arrive at
your Smiley antenna choice?
A. As I recall, the store
recommended it after I told them what I want. The popular choice was called the
Hot Rod. The company that made them went out of business (I think someone else
took it over since). The Hot Rod was rigid without the rubber coil/spring the
Smiley has.
Q
.Extensive comparison on your part, in which case I'm being somewhat dense in
duplicating your efforts?
A. Normally I'm that
finicky, but I don't think so. I didn't see much else. I know one guy who has
something he claims has more power, although side-by-side tests show it wasn't
much, and whatever it was had a rigid coil at the bottom
Q. In your view, a wire
J-pole is totally out of the question above treeline? Hanging off a bearbag
rope strung between two big boulders wouldn't do? Suspended from 2 trekking poles clamped
together and held (by one grimacing wife, or husband)? Just plain too much time
and trouble?
A. I tried a Pocket J-Pole,
which can be bought, or made from some twin-lead TV wire and a connector. I
tried hanging it from a tree, and found I couldn't get out. Using the
telescoping antenna just a few feet away out from under the tree, I got out
fine. My gut instinct is that the tree attenuated the signal, such that the
gain from the antenna was offset by the loss from being in the tree. Rigging from boulders, etc. - way too much work for me.
Also, some places, like in
Q. Lithium-Ion
batteries: I see they come in two
sizes? Is there a negative to getting two of the
slightly larger ones? Do they both fit
HT and charger the same?
A. I didn't know there was.
All I see on Yaesu's website is FNB-58LI Lithium Ion
Battery 7.2V / 1100mAh There may be third-party vendors that make others. I
don't see a problem getting a bigger one, but can't say if they'd fit the
charger.
Maha has replacements for lots
of radios, and cheaper too. Thanks for the info.
Q. Did you buy (or get free
shareware) any of the computer programs that help one program the 5R? Do you have a recommendation?
A. I bought the one Yaesu
sells, which is made by RT Systems
I then got the free EVE
software
http://home.comcast.net/~sllewd/vx5rmain.htm which I like better, using the cable that came with the Yaesu.
It's easier to use, IF you follow their instructions carefully.
sPOTTED
THIS
Q. The best performance for
an antenna mounted on a hand-held radio is a half-wave whip such as the AEA HotRod and others. These will have some sort of matching
"coil" assembly at the base, and often are telescoping
because the total length is
30" - 40" or so. You do NOT want to use a 5/8 wave antenna here - it
is longer, more awkward, and doesn't work as well.
A. Sounds right. The Smiley
I have is 1/2 wave. 5/8 wave would require a ground plane which is not
practical in the field.
Q. Depending on your
application there may be other possible improvements. I've used an antenna
mounted on a pack frame and connected to the HT with coax cable. A roll-up
J-pole that can be thrown over a tree branch and hoisted up 20' off the ground
will make a big improvement, but isn't practical to use while in motion. I have
several of the tape-measure yagis that I use while
running through the woods - they are cheap to build and provide more gain than
almost anything else (except more height!) but you have to point them in the
desired direction.\
A. I defer to the engineers
on what works better. It makes sense that a J-pole up high would work better
than a telescoping whip at arms level, assuming you were in the right position
on the ground for the repeater. I guess I'm just lazy. I have a friend who has
mounted a mobile antenna on the metal frame of his backpack.
A yagi
would be a BIG help, as they are directional, but the bulk and weight adds up.
ANTENNAS
Q. You said, “I have a
friend who has mounted a mobile antenna on the metal frame of his backpack”
Watch that low branch! Crack... too late!
The imagination goes wild.
If your friend can do that, why can't I get a Smiley half-wave (5/8, as yours)
and fashion a non-metallic connector that allows me to attach it to the end of
my trekking pole, held aloft?
("Say, who's that guy
over there trying to get struck by lightning?")
I obviously have too much
time on my hands... which I don't, actually.
I told you about adding the
dangling 19.5" wire ground to the ground of an HT antenna and getting 3 dB
additional out of it in class? You were
probably well aware of this, but here are two items I saw on the internet which
add that you are helped if you point the ground toward the intended repeater.
www.valleyradioclub.org/ht.htm
"An effective expedient
to improve a flexible antenna is to attach a counterpoise (19.5" long for the
2-meter band, or 6.5" for the 70 cm band) of stranded wire, crimped and
soldered to a battery clip or ring terminal which will fit over the antenna
connector. Reinforce the soldered connection with heat shrink to resist flex.
When attached to the outer collar of the BNC connector or the antenna shield,
the counterpoise prevents transmitted RF from coupling with your body. This
enables it to perform like a center-fed dipole, instead of an "end-fed
dummy load!" The main lobe of the radiation pattern can be
"aimed" by, grasping and pointing the end of the counterpoise in the direction where you
need a stronger signal."
www.scc-ares-races.org/emergency_operations_and_ht.htm
"A simple and
inexpensive improvement that can be made to the "rubber duck" is the
addition of what is called a "tiger tail". You can make one of these
using a quarter-wavelength (19-1/4" for 2 meters) piece of #14 through #20
stranded wire, crimped and soldered to a battery clip.
Reinforce the soldered
connection with heat shrink tubing or tape to resist flex. Clamped to the outer
collar of the BNC connector on your HT antenna, it acts as a counterpoise so
that RF from the HT doesn't couple with your body. A "tiger tail" is
directional and can be used to change both radiation angle and direction. It
gives best simplex performance when pointed in the general direction of the
station you are trying to "hit"."
A. Thanks for the tiger tail
info. I'm not sure if an HT antenna would or would not work if not mounted
directly on the radio. It seems to me it's using the radio itself as the
counterpoise. I suppose it might with the tiger tail. I'm going to try that and
see how it works.
ANOTHER
RECANTING
Q. Our 5R arrived yesterday,
just in time to take it to our last class and show the group.
I found that the Lithium Ion
80LI does indeed fit the 5R. The
salesman assured me it did and made sure it fit before sending everything to
me. A printed slip of paper says
"The enclosed FNB-80LI is a Lithium Ion Battery Pack for the VX-5R. The
FNB-80LI is a direct replacement for the original FNB-58LI Lithium Ion Battery
Pack." For a little price
adjustment, I ended up with 2 of the 80LI's.
Copyright Bill Jeffrey 2005.
Last update April 11, 2005