Old Project Avalon Forum (ARCHIVE) - View Single Post

Operator · 09-09-2008, 03:26 PM

Hi,

I will try to compile a few hints to get you going ...

To my opinion there are 3 categories to look at:

1. simple 2 way radio
Handsets that you can buy for personal close range communication. Some of
these sets operate on 430 .. 450 Mhz. I think

2. CB stuff
Nowadays allowed in a lot of countries. Most of the time channels are
overcrowded but that might be less the case after ... you name it.
I think it's capable of extended ranges.

3. HAM radio
In most countries you need a license and you will probably not be able to buy
equipment without a license. To get a license may technically be easy (requires
a short simple study) but in some countries you can only participate an exam
twice a year. A disadvantage may be that in a government controlled environment
HAM radio operators are registered and thus known to those who want to control

If you DO already have the equipment available it's important not to lose it due to EMP
(either man-made or natural). It's important to keep it stored in a
metal container (all necessary parts incl. power supply etc.). isolated from the
container itself. Also important not to have antenna's or other cabling connected
otherwise it will still 'suck in' the EMP ...
(By the way it's useful to keep a spare watch EMP safe as well to track time/date)

Ok in order to organize upfront and improve your chances to contact others in (maybe)
a sea of silence indeed you need more info:

SSB modes:
LSB (lower sideband) is used most under 10 Mhz
USB (upper sideband) is used on frequencies above 10 Mhz
It's no strict rule however ...

Now you already gave a table of the most important HF bands. And in order to keep
things simple you need simple rules.

E.g. extend the 14.210 Mhz. rule to all bands i.e.
Make the base of the band + 210 Khz. the frequency to use ...

This will work for most bands .... so for 80 meters the result will be:

3.5 + 0.210 = 3.710 Mhz which is a sound frequency to use phone (LSB) contact

The same could apply to CW (Morse code) e.g. base + 100 Khz.

Ok, for shorter range FM modulation is used. Most of the time for VHF
(2 meter band 144 .. 148 Mhz.) But on the 10 meter band FM is used also.
I know that in the US even repeaters are used ... Some CB (11 meter band)
sets can be modified to operate on 10 meter band. So you will have a cheap set
but avoid the crowded CB channels.

Ok, to technically make things work you need knowledge about how antenna's work.
If you use wrongly sized antenna's it's possible that you won't get
any power transmitted but reflected back to your set which may even cause
to damage your set.

Ok, if everything is technically working you might need a bit more knowledge about
operating procedures:

- in the USA 10-10 codes are use
- Q codes are international
- NATO spelling alphabet
- learn about prefixes in call signs to establish a country (or maybe even an area)
where the signal is coming from

Please be also aware that the world is divided in ITU regions and that usage of bands
differ a little from region to region.

Ok here are some links to speed up your searches:

http://www4.plala.or.jp/nomrax/ITU_Reg.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-code

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_code

http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/itucalls.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet

Good luck to all of you, success and keep the positive flux going !

09-09-2008, 03:26 PM	#15
Operator Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Caribbean Posts: 375	Re: Amateur radio Hi, I will try to compile a few hints to get you going ... To my opinion there are 3 categories to look at: 1. simple 2 way radio Handsets that you can buy for personal close range communication. Some of these sets operate on 430 .. 450 Mhz. I think 2. CB stuff Nowadays allowed in a lot of countries. Most of the time channels are overcrowded but that might be less the case after ... you name it. I think it's capable of extended ranges. 3. HAM radio In most countries you need a license and you will probably not be able to buy equipment without a license. To get a license may technically be easy (requires a short simple study) but in some countries you can only participate an exam twice a year. A disadvantage may be that in a government controlled environment HAM radio operators are registered and thus known to those who want to control If you DO already have the equipment available it's important not to lose it due to EMP (either man-made or natural). It's important to keep it stored in a metal container (all necessary parts incl. power supply etc.). isolated from the container itself. Also important not to have antenna's or other cabling connected otherwise it will still 'suck in' the EMP ... (By the way it's useful to keep a spare watch EMP safe as well to track time/date) Ok in order to organize upfront and improve your chances to contact others in (maybe) a sea of silence indeed you need more info: SSB modes: LSB (lower sideband) is used most under 10 Mhz USB (upper sideband) is used on frequencies above 10 Mhz It's no strict rule however ... Now you already gave a table of the most important HF bands. And in order to keep things simple you need simple rules. E.g. extend the 14.210 Mhz. rule to all bands i.e. Make the base of the band + 210 Khz. the frequency to use ... This will work for most bands .... so for 80 meters the result will be: 3.5 + 0.210 = 3.710 Mhz which is a sound frequency to use phone (LSB) contact The same could apply to CW (Morse code) e.g. base + 100 Khz. Ok, for shorter range FM modulation is used. Most of the time for VHF (2 meter band 144 .. 148 Mhz.) But on the 10 meter band FM is used also. I know that in the US even repeaters are used ... Some CB (11 meter band) sets can be modified to operate on 10 meter band. So you will have a cheap set but avoid the crowded CB channels. Ok, to technically make things work you need knowledge about how antenna's work. If you use wrongly sized antenna's it's possible that you won't get any power transmitted but reflected back to your set which may even cause to damage your set. Ok, if everything is technically working you might need a bit more knowledge about operating procedures: - in the USA 10-10 codes are use - Q codes are international - NATO spelling alphabet - learn about prefixes in call signs to establish a country (or maybe even an area) where the signal is coming from Please be also aware that the world is divided in ITU regions and that usage of bands differ a little from region to region. Ok here are some links to speed up your searches: http://www4.plala.or.jp/nomrax/ITU_Reg.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-code http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_code http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/itucalls.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet Good luck to all of you, success and keep the positive flux going ! Last edited by Operator; 09-09-2008 at 05:13 PM.