| Comm possibility; From our Alarm and Muster Brethern | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 25 2009, 09:45 PM (431 Views) | |
| Angryconservative | May 25 2009, 09:45 PM Post #1 |
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I posted the guide for setting up a comm on the Alarm and Muster Forum. This is what was posted in response and I did look at the unit. Now for $189 for this hand held unit that does have some CB freq's it seems like a decent unit. There is a dealer on Biloxi. This may be something to look at. But a good GMRS will meet the same distance as this one. Here is the result of the first test of the two radios my friend and I bought, ICOM M-72's. These are 6 watt, the maximum allowed. http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/marine/handhelds/m72/specifications.aspx Range seems decent for the stock antenna, but we are hoping the additional antennas he built will increase the range dramatically. I use to have a cab company, and I know full well about height. These radios were recommended by an ex-service member who used them while in service with additional antennas thrown up into trees where possible. We are going to try and communicate between Cape Carteret, NC and Virginia Beach, Virginia. (200+ miles, sending and receiving around the water's edge.) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "I got an opportunity to test one of those radios for real over the weekend. I was on race committee (actually, the race organizer) and a squall came down the bay Sunday morning. We were setting up the race course, 10kts out of the southwest. As one of the crash boats was helping to set the start line the wind turned west. Then it turned northwest. The entire time it was building. It built from 10kts SW to 35kts NNW. Waves went from one foot to eight feet. 18' catamarans started to get blown around like paper dolls. It was Armageddon. Anyhow, the skipper of the committee boat (thankfully a 33' World Cat Powercat) carries the exact same radios. Between the two of us we were coordinating with the Port Authority, the Virginia Beach Police, EMS and the Coast Guard. I do believe you might get ten-fifteen miles, line-of-sight, out of these radios with no modification. I asked Roy (skipper) if he had any experience with antenna modifications for handhelds and he said that they lack the power to transmit but so far. It's not so much an antenna problem as a power problem. However, after the way the radio performed on the water in "rescue" conditions, I am confident that it was worth the purchase. Strong winds may not have much effect on radio frequency transmissions, but I do know that I was receiving Coast Guard transmits from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront about 8 miles SSE from our position and over sea and land and 8 miles to the Port Authority at Little Creek/Pretty Lake Inlet. I figure that atmospheric conditions (air static, storm clouds, etc) may have played a role in signal dampening, to be sure. However, soaking wet, the radio performed very well and was easy to read and maintained its aural clarity even when the speaker and microphone diaphragm were completely drenched. There is a "blowout" feature that this radio has that emits a 9-second audible hum that is designed to clear the speaker when it gets wet and you don't have time to let it dry completely between transmits. I forgot the key sequence while I was on the water, but I believe it would have made an even better radio if I'd remembered it. All in all, like I said, even if they don't give us 100 miles (which I find very unlikely at 6 watts, based on the people I have spoken with) I am still pretty impressed with this radio. Especially since one of our crash boats' console radios stopped transmitting once the storm kicked up. When I finally heard back from them via cell phone they said they could hear us hailing and were picking up intermittent CG and EMS chatter, they could not get any copy from their responses. I never heard them on the radio. I should have told someone where the other radio ashore was located... right in the t-shirt box next to the score sheets. Could have saved a lot of trouble tracking people and boats coming ashore. Anyhow... I'm going to ship your radio to you this week (along with one of the antennas I built. Perhaps someone down there has a VHF and you can experiment with communications setups and whatnot. We could still try something from here to there, if you wanted, but I'm not giving it much hope at 6 watts." Edited by Angryconservative, May 25 2009, 09:46 PM.
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| Deleted User | May 26 2009, 08:29 PM Post #2 |
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Deleted User
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Over lapping comms is a good practice. Redundency is almost a necessary evil when it comes to communications. A set of GMRS radios is a great inexpensive start. They are usually sold by the pairs and include an AC charging stand at your local Wally World or Radio Shack. The bubble pack may say your radios are able to transmit up to 12, 16, or even 25 miles.... but that is only "line of sight" miles. In reality, through the woods and over the hills.... you may only reach out about 2 or 3 miles.... so don't be disappointed. Buy the type of GMRS radios that use AA batteries. Most use "specialized" battery packs... and can not be easily reloaded with a fresh power source if you are out in the middle of nowhere. By having radios that use AA batteries.... one can at least carry extra AA's to replace the dead ones. A well prepared person could even carry a small portable solar charger that is capable of charging AA's. The next step up the comm ladder is the old reliable CB radio..... or 11 meter, and operates on a different set of frequencies than the GMRS radios do. The CB can handle the same shorter distances that the GMRS can handle... but is also able to reach out much farther with the added extra wattage. Of course, CB's are mostly 12 volt sets for automotive use or base stations that can be set up for home use. There are even some hand held sets. With the right antenna and a sizable wattage power amp... one can reach out many miles... but keep in mind, the other person may be able to hear you because of the wattage you are pushing your signal with..... but if their set is not also equipped with a extra power amp.... you may not hear them. CB's are relatively inexpensive and is a good addition to your personal comms. They are also a very public form of communication... so you will be able to hear other folks outside of your preparedness circle. You may be able to get local information if cells, cable, and internet are disabled. But remember... those outside your circle can also hear you and yours.... so do not say things you do not want "the world" to know about your position or situation. Moving up a notch.... this would be the 10 meter radio. Not much more expensive than a good CB.... but the 10 meter will not have the "rest of the world" on the same radio you are. This radio can handle the distances the GMRS and CB can..... but with the right power amp... you can reach out to the surrounding states. Like the CB.... the 10 meter can be used in a automobile, as a base station in a home, or if you are very lucky.... you can find a used hand held 10 meter radio. The hand held is so rare that you will probably pay more for it than you would for a brand new automotive type. I suggest everyone have a set of GMRS radios. I would also suggest that a group have at least one CB base station and CB's in their vehicles. If economically feasible.... each group should try and have at least one 10 meter base station so as to reach across the state to communicate with other groups. Then there is the HAM radio.... if there are those that have their radios.... they will have dang near global comm abilities. Another good radio to have is the shortwave. You can by a good Grundig with AM/FM and shortwave capabilities for about a hundred bucks. This is a "listen only" radio. |
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1:23 PM Jul 11