Build The Best CB Antenna EVER! IMHO. The Half-Wave End-fed is an excellent antenna for CB, best used vertically. The 49:1 transformer is easy to make and affordable. This is a full size antenna with a low take-off angle great for skip and local communications. Wire length usually falls between 4.5 and 4.8m. Starting wire length in feet is 468 divided by the frequency in MHz. Check SWR and cut a little bit at a time. Do not use a metal box or expoxy. Hot glue is ok. Do not use another material than 43. The FT-140-43 can probably take up to 100W SSB, 70W AM/FM. For more power you… Read More
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Testing My Mini 64:1 Half-Wave End-Fed Antenna Transformer. Field test of the Mini 64:1 HWEF transformer on 40m and 20m, with a surprising contact at the end! Who says you can’t use an FT-82-43? You don’t need three 240-size toroids stacked together to make contact, nor do you need hundreds of Watts. Save your money and build something that works well without breaking the bank and is light to carry in a backpack. Version Française: En traitement. Build video: https://youtu.be/6er591dwtl0 Shirts and mugs: https://teespring.com/stores/radio-preppers Help this channel: https://www.patreon.com/radioprepper Twitter: I left Twitter because of censorship issues. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/radiopreppers Radio Preppers Forum: http://radiopreppers.com DISCLAIMER: The Radio Prepper logo (depicting a microphone)… Read More
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Icom IC 705 Ham Radio Raspberry Pi | Easy PAT Winlink Setup Hello Operators Todays video is a Ham Radio Raspberry Pi tutorial for the Icom IC-705 and eventually other radios. We will be using a new setup script call the Easy Mode setup for PAT Winlink running on a raspberry pi. This raspberry pi project will be the fastest and easiest version of PAT Winlink available, and perfect for someone just learning ham radio basics with a raspberry pi. Where traditional organisations like ARES have focused on EMCOMM (emergency communications) for disaster relief, regular people are increasing their skills and capabilities, by adopting asynchronous modes like Winlink and JS8Call,… Read More
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Winlink Email P2P Asynchronous Ham Radio for Preppers Hello Operators This is the second video in our Winlink Email series, Asynchronous Ham Radio for Preppers (or Ham Radio for Preparedness). In this episode, we will be making a Winlink Peer to peer P2P connection, without internet or any intermediate stations, to send and receive winlink email with another station (OH7T). Teme OH7T and I will be using Vara HF on 80 meters, to make an NVIS range P2P connection between our stations, 275.61 km (172.256 miles), bearing 135.9 degrees. Todays Winlink HF setup is Windows 10 running Winlink express with a Xiegu G90 and Vara HF. In our previous video… Read More
Continue ReadingA Reader’s CB Antenna Question
A reader’s question I wanted to post a readers CB antenna question and my response. So here goes… “I have my 70cm/2m Diamond antenna on my roof for my TYT 9800 and it works great, but I want to string a separate CB/SSB field antenna up into the very large trees in my yard to get the best reception I can get. I live on a hill, 600ft MSL but between me and the closest city. 15-20 miles away is a hill that is 760ft MSL. I have “cobra heads” and resistors, 50’ of 12GA Solid copper clad PE jacketed wire and a 42’ Beldon 8340 50 Ohm RG-58/U BNC… Read More
Continue ReadingGetting your Amateur (Ham) License
Why should I care? There are many means of communications available to you in the everyday world including Cellular and Landline Telephones, SMS, Instant Messaging, Instagram, etc. But these require a certain amount of infrastructure which may not always be available in a disaster. Radio however and specifically Amateur (Ham) Radio provides that last means of contact, “When all else fails”. For some, preparing for a grid-down scenario is all they want. For others, they find Ham Radio is a collection of different hobbies. The question is what you do want to do? From radio and antenna building, to volunteering for your community, there are many different activities that you… Read More
Continue ReadingBuilding the Tiger Tail Antenna
“If you can make a dipole antenna, then you can make any antenna.” – NC Scout Background Your handheld radio has an antenna that is a quarter-wave “monopole”. It’s not very efficient, but it’s a compromise for better portability and convenience. You can improve this by using a Tiger Tail (also known as a Rat Tail). This is done by adding a counterpoise to your HT antenna, turning your monopole antenna to a dipole antenna. This inexpensive and simply made extension will increase your transmission range and may increase your reception. Because it is tuned you will need to create one for each of your commonly used frequencies. You can… Read More
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Portable QRP Ham Radio & PowerFilm Lightsaver Max Hello Operators. Today we are taking about portable power for man portable QRP ham radio. For some time now, I have been testing the PowerFilm Lightsaver Max with a variety of popular portable QRP radios. Often what these portable ham radios are lacking, is a lightweight and reliable portable power supply, which is easy to use, and airplane friendly. The PowerFilm Lightsaver Max is a Hybrid Solar panel and power bank, with built-in 60wh lithium ion battery pack. This is perfect for radios like the Elecraft KX2, KX3, Yaesu FT-817, FT-818, Xiegu G90, X5105, Lab599 Discovery TX-500, and QRPVer Minion. Make sure… Read More
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Refurbishing Batteries With Lithium Ion Phosphate Cells. I bought some cheap Liitokala lithium ion phosphate cells from Aliexpress for my military TRC-372 radio to replace the dead NiCad cells. Whether this was a good choice, time will tell. Beware of the really thin insulation on the cells… Shirts and mugs: https://teespring.com/stores/radio-preppers Help this channel: https://www.patreon.com/radioprepper Twitter: https://twitter.com/Radio_Preppers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/radiopreppers Radio Preppers Forum: http://radiopreppers.com View on YouTube
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The Retevis RT-24 PMR/FRS UHF Handheld Radio. A quick presentation of the Retevis RT-24 PMR/FRS walkie talkie, which is programmable on UHF and has CTCSS tones. For waterproof versions see the RT-648, RT-29, RT-47 and RT-48. Get in US: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FRetevis-Rechargeable-Handheld-Two-Way-Earpiece%2Fdp%2FB07JC6LQJC%2Fref%3Dsr_1_6%3Fdchild%3D1%26keywords%3Dretevis%2520h777s%26qid%3D1597309617%26sr%3D8-6%26fbclid%3DIwAR2ejOOpLu8k4eMBZ3446IqRp5Y2SR-69BeULMdgpT6nxHocVtrSeHKnYiE&h=AT2tccBTnTuHrvjlArtUBiAObHNSpufuPd41Fy32Sv7YaiahJtkK4Mkn4nXCA9HlPkUeQHK2wLzFlQEPq_wxIfLfsDx_Awmrsrdsvk6ReP3tmgaJcZ4puJtenxLXc2G8f7lUQnX4_syn3VNiYdHInEPW Get in UK: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FRetevis-License-free-Professional-Channels-Earpieces-Black%2Fdp%2FB06VWNRJDY%2Fref%3Dsr_1_3%3Fdchild%3D1%26keywords%3DRetevis%2520RT24%26qid%3D1597306413%26sr%3D8-3%26fbclid%3DIwAR3d3V6q4Yjuosbbwj-ZpMj8bMdMSIr2bp0BlJL6u6BdYR5zHUatS11WcA0&h=AT2tccBTnTuHrvjlArtUBiAObHNSpufuPd41Fy32Sv7YaiahJtkK4Mkn4nXCA9HlPkUeQHK2wLzFlQEPq_wxIfLfsDx_Awmrsrdsvk6ReP3tmgaJcZ4puJtenxLXc2G8f7lUQnX4_syn3VNiYdHInEPW Retevis: https://www.retevis.com Shirts and mugs: https://teespring.com/stores/radio-preppers Help this channel: https://www.patreon.com/radioprepper Twitter: https://twitter.com/Radio_Preppers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/radiopreppers Radio Preppers Forum: http://radiopreppers.com View on YouTube
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