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Radio's v1.3 Guide

Written by: gear queer general

Glossary

  • Dual Watch: Monitors two frequencies at once

  • Chirp: http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home lets you program and set frequencies, repeaters, etc http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Beginners_Guide

  • Ducky antenna: Stock antenna, usually rubber, short and thick

  • RX: Repeater output / Radio Receive

  • TX: Repeater receive / Radio output

  • Gain in dBi: Decibels relative to isotropic antenna, you don't have to know what this means, but higher gain is better if you know where the signal is coming from (ie. using directional antennae) low gain is better if you don't know where the signal is coming from (Using a repeater, or transmitting to your buddies radio)

  • SMA vs SMA-RP: SubMiniature version A and SubMiniature version A Reversed Polarity are two standard connectors for HAM radio's and antennae. SMA male connectors have threading on the inside of the connector head and a male pin, SMA female connectors have threading on the outside of the connector head and accepts the pin from the male head. RP-SMA male connectors threading on the inside of the connector head and accept a pin from the female SMA-RP connector head which has threading on the outside of the head but has a pin.

Thread Center Pin Center Receptacle
Internal SMA MALE/plug RP-SMA Male/Plug
External RP-SMA female/jack SMA female/jack

http://www.antenna-theory.com/basics/gain.php

Handheld

Baofeng UV-82HP $63~ USD

Quick stats

  • 1800 mAh battery

  • RF power output 1,3,7 Watts

  • Dual Push to Talk

  • Dual watch

  • SMA

Pros

  • Cheap

  • Works with Chirp

  • Flashlight

  • Good all around radio

Cons

  • Cannot use dual watch while transmitting

  • Stock antenna is mediocre, thick, and rather short

Reviews

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11364

Yaesu FT-60R ~$180 USD

Quick Stats

  • SMA connector type

  • 1400 mAh NiMH battery

  • RF Power Output: 5W (High) / 2.5W (Middle) / 1W (Low)

  • Receives 108-520Mhz and 700-999.99Mhz (less cell), Transmits 144-148Mhz & 430-470Mhz

Pros

  • Very good display, keypad and usability

  • Wide RX range

  • Rugged, water resistant case

  • clear loud wide frequency range speaker

  • External DC power

  • Works with Chirp

Cons

  • Single Receiver

  • No charge level indicator

Reviews

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4286

Antenna replacements

Nagoya NA-771 ~$10-15 USD ( /!\/!\ BEWARE OF CHINESE COUNTERFEITS /!\/!\ )

How to spot fake NA-771

http://www.nagoya.com.tw/style/frame/m7/news_detail.asp?lang=2&customer_id=2277&content_set=color_5&name_id=98129&Directory_ID=0&id=31478

Contact for pain in the ass but surefire legit NA-771's

http://www.nagoya.com.tw/en/2-2277-66883/product/NA-771-id384799.html

Quick Stats

  • SMA-RP

  • 144/430 MHz Dual-Band

  • Impedance 50 Ohms

  • Gain 2.15 dBi

  • Max power (10?) Watts

  • 15" length

Pros

  • Cheap

  • All around well performing VHF and UHF antenna

Cons

  • Fake antennas may result in hardly any if any at all performance gain over stock rubber ducky antenna

Reviews

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/7741

Diamond SRH77CA ~$30 USD

Quick stats

  • SMA connector type

  • 144/440 MHz. Dual-Band

  • Rx: 120~900 MHz

  • Gain: 440 Mhz. 2.15 dBi

  • Max Power 10 Watts

  • 15" length

Pros

  • Good solid well performing antenna

Cons

  • long

  • base of antenna has possible strength issues, may lead to breaking with intense use

Reviews

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3504

Comet SMA-24 $30 USD

Quick Stats

  • SMA connector type

  • 144/440 MHz Dual-band

  • Gain: 44 Mhz. 2.15dBi 1/4 wave / 440 Mhz 3.5dBi 5/8 wave

  • Max Power: 20 Watts

  • 17" length

Pros

  • Extremely well performing Antenna at UHF (Ultra high frequencies)

Cons

  • Mediocre performance at VHF

  • VERY long

Reviews

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1839