Curious about what you can hear on shortwave ham radio? This video is a brief survey of the diverse world of communications on the shortwave spectrum. Expand your radio horizons and enhance your emergency communication preparedness by tuning in to the world of shortwave ham radio. If you’ve started delving into radio communications beyond local […]

The Colorado Search and Rescue Association is promoting FRS (Family Radio Service) Channel 3 as “the default during backcountry search and rescue (backcountry SAR) emergencies.” FRS channel 3 is the same as GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channel 3. There is more GMRS info here. To keep things simple, no CTCSS (“privacy code”) is used…carrier squelch only.  See the CSAR Continue reading FRS3 For Colorado Backcountry→

The post FRS3 For Colorado Backcountry appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

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The Colorado Search and Rescue Association is promoting FRS (Family Radio Service) Channel 3 as “the default during backcountry search and rescue (backcountry SAR) emergencies.” FRS channel 3 is the same as GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channel 3. There is more GMRS info here. To keep things simple, no CTCSS (“privacy code”) is used…carrier squelch only.  See the CSAR Continue reading FRS3 For Colorado Backcountry→

The post FRS3 For Colorado Backcountry appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

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The Colorado Search and Rescue Association is promoting FRS (Family Radio Service) Channel 3 as “the default during backcountry search and rescue (backcountry SAR) emergencies.” FRS channel 3 is the same as GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channel 3. There is more GMRS info here. To keep things simple, no CTCSS (“privacy code”) is used…carrier squelch only.  See the CSAR announcement here: FRS Radio Use for Backcountry.

For backcountry exploring, it is important to emphasize self-sufficiency and to avoid reliance on electronic gizmos that may fail. Avoiding an emergency situation is way better than having a device to call for help, which may be many hours away. See this article for a discussion of The Ten Essentials for Hiking.

Still, the FRS3 concept has merit. Many backcountry hikers already carry FRS or GMRS radios, so designating a preferred channel makes sense. My read on this is that randomly calling for help on FRS3 will not be very effective due to the limited range of FRS radios. However, it does not hurt to try. More likely, FRS3 can be used for local comms once Search and Rescue crews have been deployed and are within a few miles of the party in distress.

Ham radio operators may want to carry a handheld transceiver capable of transmitting on 462.6125 MHz. For emergency use only, of course.

73 Bob K0NR

The post FRS3 For Colorado Backcountry appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

When starting something new, like Parks on the Air (POTA), one of the first hurdles to get over is assembling the right equipment. Let’s face it, it’s easy to fall into a rabbit hole when exploring a new aspect of the Ham radio hobby—and that becomes an excuse to buy more gear.

What can happen is you wind up with boxes of stuff that you put in the back of your Jeep and transport to your next adventure. But when you get to your operating destination and start setting up, you find 175% more stuff than you need and 30% of stuff you need but don’t have. 

DX Engineering is committed to making sure you have all the equipment you need without buying all the items you don’t. We started with our DX Engineering Go Box Kits, featuring either Icom (IC-7300 and ID-5100A) or Yaesu (FT-7100 AESS and FTM-500DR) transceivers plus equipment case, rack shelving, antenna tuner, mobile mounts, DC power panel, and other accessories. 

Now we are excited to bring you four different DX Engineering HF+50 MHz POTA Kits—a collection of gear perfect for POTA, SOTA, or whatever other portable OTA event or EMCOMM activity you have in mind.

By ordering these as complete DIY packages, you’ll be able to quickly assemble them according to your likes, charge the battery, and get on the air. You will have every component, jumper wire, and adapter you need to assemble it, even if you are brand spanking new to the hobby. 

DX Engineering offers a POTA QRP kit featuring the Icom IC-705 for the minimalist who enjoys the challenge of making contacts on low power. Next, there’s a POTA kit centered around the Yaesu FT-891. It is still a lightweight minimalist approach but gives you a full 100W. Then we have our “full sized” POTA kits featuring the Icom IC-7300 or the Yaesu FT-710- FIELD transceivers. Click on the links below for details about each POTA package and to check if items are currently in stock:

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DXE-POTA-1 with Yaesu FT-891 Transceiver

In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 20 Ah, 480W battery; AC to DC battery charger; 40W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include DX Engineering RG-8X PL-259 low-loss 50-ohm cable assemblies, lengths of 15 and 50 feet; mAT TUNER 1.8 to 54 MHz automatic antenna tuner; Chelegance JPC-12 portable HF vertical antenna, 40-6M; RigExpert STICK-230 antenna analyzer, 100 kHz-230 MHz; REZ Antenna Systems backpack; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.

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DXE-POTA-2 with Icom IC-705 Transceiver

In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 4.5 Ah, 108W battery; 40W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include Consolidated Wire RG174U cable assembly with BNC male connectors, 20 feet; Chameleon lightweight 4010 end-fed sloper, 40-10M; DX Engineering coaxial RF connector adapters; Icom AH-705 compact 1.8-50 MHz automatic antenna tuner; Icom IC-705 portable transceiver backpack; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.

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DXE-POTA-3 with Icom IC-7300 Transceiver

In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 20 Ah, 480W battery; AC to DC battery charger; 60W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include DX Engineering RG-8X PL-259 low-loss 50-ohm cable assembly, 25 feet; REZ Ranger 80 Antenna System with tripod mount; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.

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DXE-POTA-4 with Yaesu FT-710-FIELD Transceiver

In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 20 Ah, 480W battery; AC to DC battery charger; 60W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include DX Engineering RG-8X PL-259 low-loss 50-ohm cable assembly, 15 feet; mAT TUNER 1.8 to 54 MHz automatic antenna tuner; Chameleon MPAS Lite modular portable antenna system with backpack, 160-6M; Yaesu FH-2 remote control keypad; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.

What if You Already Have Some of the Pieces You Need to Go Portable?

Just let your DX Engineering rep know which components from the POTA kits you need and we’ll customize your order—easy peasy. Or maybe your creative juices start flowing and you want to upgrade some items? We can make those changes for you as well. The concept behind DX Engineering Go Box and POTA kits is to provide hams with a framework from which to model your personalized kit.

The post DX Engineering Introduces Complete POTA/EMCOMM Kits appeared first on OnAllBands.

WINDHAM, ME – The Wireless Society of Southern Maine will participate in the American Radio Relay League’s Summer Field Day activities during Windham’s Summerfest event on June 22nd. Once Summerfest activities end on Saturday evening, ham radio operations will continue through the night and end on Sunday at 2 pm. The public is welcome to visit each operating station to learn more about ham radio.

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.

Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest, and, most of all, FUN!

It is a time when many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

The contest is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less-than-optimal conditions.

Ham operators use these same skills when they help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fund-raisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls, and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities.

But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex — ham radio has been called into action repeatedly to provide communications in crises when it matters. Amateur Radio people (also called “hams”) are well known for our communications support in real disasters and post-disasters.

What is Amateur Radio?

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just normal folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data, and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems.

The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment but can create whole new ways to do things.

Look for them on the athletic field next to the Windham Primary School. They will have signs throughout the facility to point to the location. Actual ham radio operations will begin on Saturday @ 2 pm and end on Sunday @ 2 pm.

To find out more about Amateur Radio locally, and how to get involved in this rewarding pastime, please visit the Wireless Society of Southern Maine’s website at: www.mainehamradio.com

Hope to see you there!

WINDHAM, ME – The Wireless Society of Southern Maine will participate in the American Radio Relay League’s Summer Field Day activities during Windham’s Summerfest event on June 22nd. Once Summerfest activities end on Saturday evening, ham radio operations will continue through the night and end on Sunday at 2 pm. The public is welcome to visit each operating station to learn more about ham radio.

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.

Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest, and, most of all, FUN!

It is a time when many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

The contest is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less-than-optimal conditions.

Ham operators use these same skills when they help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fund-raisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls, and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities.

But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex — ham radio has been called into action repeatedly to provide communications in crises when it matters. Amateur Radio people (also called “hams”) are well known for our communications support in real disasters and post-disasters.

What is Amateur Radio?

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just normal folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data, and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems.

The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment but can create whole new ways to do things.

Look for them on the athletic field next to the Windham Primary School. They will have signs throughout the facility to point to the location. Actual ham radio operations will begin on Saturday @ 2 pm and end on Sunday @ 2 pm.

To find out more about Amateur Radio locally, and how to get involved in this rewarding pastime, please visit the Wireless Society of Southern Maine’s website at: www.mainehamradio.com

Hope to see you there!

ARRL has released two new courses to train emergency communications (EmComm) operators for volunteering within...

Time + technology= options. Ham radio has a lot more options than it did years ago. Back in the day your choices were phone or CW and that was about it. In the 1970s/1980s slow scan TV and early data such as RTTY came about, but they were niche modes... Read more »

The post Data Modes: Game Changer or Gimmick? appeared first on Off Grid Ham.

These are the two things you need to do to a new piece of coax cable before you start using it.

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The post Do This! These Two Things Help Your Coax Last Longer appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas.

The unloved child. Lots of hams are very successful with solar. It seems to be the “go to” off grid power source. I don’t have firm numbers, but anecdotally it appears solar is more popular than even gas generators. Of course, solar is not the only game in town. Wind... Read more »

The post Wind Turbines For Off Grid Radio: Pros and Cons. appeared first on Off Grid Ham.

It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. It’s been quite a summer! Flooding, extreme heat, wild fires, and (at this writing) a hurricane just tore up the Western USA and another storm is churning in the Gulf of Mexico. Every time... Read more »

The post Turn Thinking Into Doing (But Do Some Actual Thinking First). appeared first on Off Grid Ham.

It cannot be avoided… Batteries are arguably the weakest link in the off grid radio chain. Solar panels, controllers, connecting cables, and almost everything else can last years, even decades. But batteries are a consumable product and no matter how good yours are, it’s almost certain they will not last... Read more »

The post Batteries: Your Weakest Link. appeared first on Off Grid Ham.

Revisiting an old topic. I don’t do a lot of antenna articles because there is already so much information in circulation I can’t see much ground left to cover, at least that’s what I thought until new Off Grid Ham reader Rick sent a nice email that inspired this article.... Read more »

The post Cheap & Easy Portable Antenna Hacks! appeared first on Off Grid Ham.

Hello Operators. As I sit here enjoying the last week of my summer holiday, the disaster in Maui is an important reminder of maintaining our network [...]