What equip to buy?
 

I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away. With either rig you have all mode 160 thru 70CM operation.
They are not too large and do 100W 160 thru 6M--50 W on 2m and 20 W on 70CM.
If you want QRP then the FT-817 is the rig you want, ALL MODE 5W 160 thru 70
CM.

wrote in message
...
I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

Try eham reviews for user opinions -- and they are just that --opinions
http://www.eham.net/reviews/


--
Caveat Lector (Reader Beware)
Help The New Hams
Someone Helped You
Or did You Forget That ?



"John Franklin" wrote in message
ink.net...
Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away. With either rig you have all mode 160 thru 70CM
operation. They are not too large and do 100W 160 thru 6M--50 W on 2m and
20 W on 70CM. If you want QRP then the FT-817 is the rig you want, ALL
MODE 5W 160 thru 70 CM.

wrote in message
...
I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away.

Of those two above..... what do you like best and why?

There are many radios to look at.
The Icom 706 mk IIG is a great small 100 watt HF rig that will also do
VHF and UHF. The Icom is driven via menus and takes time to get use to.
I have a Yaesu FT-847, a small base radio that can be used in the car
and does 160 - 10 plus 2 meters and 440. It's larger than the Icom.
There are other small radios also. I'd would stay away from QRP radios.
They work well but you need a lot of patience. They only run about 5
watts or so and many people get annoyed using them because they just
don't have enough power for every day use.
73 and good luck.


wrote:
I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

John Franklin wrote:

Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away. With either rig you have all mode 160 thru 70CM operation.
They are not too large and do 100W 160 thru 6M--50 W on 2m and 20 W on 70CM.
If you want QRP then the FT-817 is the rig you want, ALL MODE 5W 160 thru 70
CM.

wrote in message
...

I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

wrote in message
...
Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away.

Of those two above..... what do you like best and why?

I HAD an ICOM 706 MK IIG and now I have an FT-897, the 897 is the same
rig pretty much as the 857 only it has a bigger box for batteries to be
added for portable ops. I got rid of the 706 because the DSP was done in the
audio stages and not in the IF where it belongs. I also think the 897 has a
better receiver. The 706 is not a BAD rig, I am just more demanding for what
I want to do. Have you considered PSK-31?

I also think the 897 has a
better receiver. The 706 is not a BAD rig, I am just more demanding for what
I want to do.

I see

Have you considered PSK-31?

For what use? can you explain?

There are other small radios also. I'd would stay away from QRP radios.

That's my gut feeling as well... to stay away from QRP
rigs for now

Again...... the intended usage is to get back into ham
radio..... and to keep in touch with outside world in
possible remote locations

Plus.....Im very interested in the ham equivalent of
internet email..... i.e. dig comms that is

On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 10:35:32 -0600, wrote:

I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

It is a lot easier to keep in touch with other hams with ham radio,
somewhat more difficult to keep in touch with non-hams.

Having a 2 meter FM rig will allow communications locally, and with
repeaters around the country. Other VHF or UHF bands will add to this,
but 2 meter only will get you through.

An HF rig with a decent antenna will allow long distance comms. You
will have to compromise to get one that is portable, and mounts on
your vehicle.

Packet radio would work for email, but bandwidth is rather limited
compared to the worst dialup options. 1200 baud is common, 9600 is the
most out there. Dialup Internet providers range from 28.8 to 53K.

Depending on who and how you wish to keep in touch, you may still want
a cell phone and set up with a national dial-up ISP.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

It is a lot easier to keep in touch with other hams with ham radio,
somewhat more difficult to keep in touch with non-hams.

Agreed..... no doubt

Having a 2 meter FM rig will allow communications locally, and with
repeaters around the country. Other VHF or UHF bands will add to this,
but 2 meter only will get you through.

Would 2M only suffice for the "email/packet" end of
things tho? I mean.... since an RV will be moving
from one area to another.... does that affect the
transmission and reception "protocols" of email sent
via 2M packet?

Sorry for the dumb questions guys. Please bear with me
ok?

An HF rig with a decent antenna will allow long distance comms. You
will have to compromise to get one that is portable, and mounts on
your vehicle.

Fortunately these all mode and all band radios now days
look pretty small tho. Correct?

Packet radio would work for email, but bandwidth is rather limited
compared to the worst dialup options. 1200 baud is common, 9600 is the
most out there. Dialup Internet providers range from 28.8 to 53K.

Understand. But since things are automated and once I
buy the equip I have it and there are no other monthly
"costs"..... what will it hurt if it takes all night
for the rig/computer to send that email message? Cant
it be doing it's "thing" (sending and receiving email)
while Im asleep or doing other things?

Depending on who and how you wish to keep in touch, you may still want
a cell phone and set up with a national dial-up ISP.

Oh sure. Just looking into ham radio as a cheap method
to use as well

Would 2M only suffice for the "email/packet" end of
things tho? I mean.... since an RV will be moving
from one area to another.... does that affect the
transmission and reception "protocols" of email sent
via 2M packet?

The availability and density of ham packet-radio nodes (whether on 2
meter, 220, or 440) isn't what it was a decade ago. The widespread
availability of Internet access, and the low costs and high
bandwidths, have lead to a big "decay" in the amateur radio network.
Even here in the SF Bay area (densely populated, high-tech-oriented
population) there just aren't more than a handful of 2-meter and 440
packet nodes and BBSen left operating, and most of them seem to be
special-purpose rather than being set up for open use.

In order to use packet at all, you have to find a node or BBS in your
area, and that's not necessarily going to be easy. You'd then have to
find out what sorts of connectivity and services the system provides,
figure out which of several semi-incompatible networking protocols it
uses, come to an agreement with its owner/operator to make use of it,
etc.

HF packet (e.g. PACTOR, or AX.25 using a slower bit rate) helps to
some extent, as it can be used over long distances where there are no
local 2-meter/440 nodes. However, it's even slower and is subject to
HF propagation issues.

Understand. But since things are automated and once I
buy the equip I have it and there are no other monthly
"costs"..... what will it hurt if it takes all night
for the rig/computer to send that email message? Cant
it be doing it's "thing" (sending and receiving email)
while Im asleep or doing other things?

Maybe so, maybe no.

Remember, the FCC rules generally require that you (the amateur) be in
control of your station. Even if you use automatic control, you're
responsible for making sure that you do not interfere with other
amateurs' communications.

Also remember that there are legal rules concerning what sorts of
transmissions you can do... nothing "for profit" may be of concern.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

wrote in message
...
I also think the 897 has a
better receiver. The 706 is not a BAD rig, I am just more demanding for
what
I want to do.

I see

Have you considered PSK-31?

For what use? can you explain?

PSK-31 is a digital mode that works quite well on HF. Most people I have
talked to about it keep their rig throttled down to about 30 watts when in
this mode.

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:58:22 -0000, (Dave Platt)
wrote:

Would 2M only suffice for the "email/packet" end of
things tho? I mean.... since an RV will be moving
from one area to another.... does that affect the
transmission and reception "protocols" of email sent
via 2M packet?

The availability and density of ham packet-radio nodes (whether on 2
meter, 220, or 440) isn't what it was a decade ago. The widespread
availability of Internet access, and the low costs and high
bandwidths, have lead to a big "decay" in the amateur radio network.
Even here in the SF Bay area (densely populated, high-tech-oriented
population) there just aren't more than a handful of 2-meter and 440
packet nodes and BBSen left operating, and most of them seem to be
special-purpose rather than being set up for open use.

In order to use packet at all, you have to find a node or BBS in your
area, and that's not necessarily going to be easy. You'd then have to
find out what sorts of connectivity and services the system provides,
figure out which of several semi-incompatible networking protocols it
uses, come to an agreement with its owner/operator to make use of it,
etc.

HF packet (e.g. PACTOR, or AX.25 using a slower bit rate) helps to
some extent, as it can be used over long distances where there are no
local 2-meter/440 nodes. However, it's even slower and is subject to
HF propagation issues.

Understand. But since things are automated and once I
buy the equip I have it and there are no other monthly
"costs"..... what will it hurt if it takes all night
for the rig/computer to send that email message? Cant
it be doing it's "thing" (sending and receiving email)
while Im asleep or doing other things?

Maybe so, maybe no.

Remember, the FCC rules generally require that you (the amateur) be in
control of your station. Even if you use automatic control, you're
responsible for making sure that you do not interfere with other
amateurs' communications.

Also remember that there are legal rules concerning what sorts of
transmissions you can do... nothing "for profit" may be of concern.

While packet is an interesting mode to experiment with, I do not think
it will work well as a sole access to the Internet.

A national dialup provider with local numbers in the places you
travel, would be best as a primary Internet access.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 10:35:32 -0600, wrote:

I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

Are you trying to keep in touch with hams or non-hams?

If non-hams, ham radio won't help much here. Phone patches are pretty
much a thing of the past.

Your best bet in contacting non-hams through ham radio may be simply
to join some of the traffic nets on SSB or CW, and pass messages to
the outside world through the nets, but that's a little laborious.

A computer with email might be much better for contacting non-hams.
There should be a lot of places on the "road" where you can hook up
temporarilly to the Internet.

There may be wireless Internet hookups, too, but I'm not real sure...

For staying in touch with hams, you have a lot more options. Yaesu,
Icom and Kenwood all make small multi-mode radios that give you
coverage of all bands from 160 meters up through 440 mhz. See their
web sites. Combined with a screwdriver antenna on your RV, you can
work the world -- see the High Sierra web site for the latest on
screwdriver antenna technology -- "screwdrivers" are pretty much the
best way to go now, mobile-wise.

A few compact, 100-watt, multi-mode RV-appropos radios to look at:
Icom 706 series
Yaesu ft-857 series
Kenwood 480 series
Kenwood ts-2000 series

Bob
k5qwg

wrote in message
...
There are other small radios also. I'd would stay away from QRP radios.

That's my gut feeling as well... to stay away from QRP
rigs for now

Again...... the intended usage is to get back into ham
radio..... and to keep in touch with outside world in
possible remote locations

Plus.....Im very interested in the ham equivalent of
internet email..... i.e. dig comms that is

Hi,

I think you might be interested in AirMail. You can get additional
information at http://www.airmail2000.com/.

73, Jim

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:17:19 -0600, wrote:

Would 2M only suffice for the "email/packet" end of
things tho? I mean.... since an RV will be moving
from one area to another.... does that affect the
transmission and reception "protocols" of email sent
via 2M packet?

HF Mobile is not very reliable. I operate HF mobile voice, primarily
on the County Hunter's net. The bend in a road is sometimes enough to
drop from readable to unreadable. I realize that in digital modes,
the signal gets through when voice doesn't, but there will be times
when you can't reach that one place you desire to reach at that time.

Once you settle down, changing bands and frequencies may not be much
of a problem, especially if you non-mobile antennas at your campsite.

Good luck
and 73
Buck
N4PGW

--
73 for now
Buck
N4PGW

wrote:
I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?

I agree with "Sky King", my recommondation for a does-it-all "RV
transceiver " is the unique FT-847.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/1467.html

It's larger than the current crop of very popular mobile xcvrs like the
IC-706 which were designed for underdash installations. But RVs are
usually not as cramped for installation space as are cars & small
trucks so an FT-847 would likely "fit"OK. The major advantages of the
847 vs. the mobile rigs include a far better receiver front end
(overload & intermod) and ease of operation (much less "menu dipping"),
among others. It's basically a complete full-blown home desktop station
in a very compact package vs. the collection highly compromised mobile
rigs out there today.

I'm an old fart hard-core HF dxer and CW dx contester and was inactive
for 25 years who came back to the hobby just a few years ago. I'm very
demanding when it comes to topics like receiver performance and
operating flexibility/convenience. I wanted a compact and lightweight
but not miniaturized rig for portable operations. With jaundiced
expectations about it's performance after reading all the reviews and
such I bought a new FT-847 a couple years ago.

When I first got it on the air during a Field Day operation I quickly
concluded that it was a diamond in the rough. Except for it's rather
dismal selectivity it perforned far beyond my expectations and my
jaundice evaporated. Particularly since it only cost me about a third
of what I would have spent on a "real" HF xcvr. From there I fixed it's
selectivity problem by installing eight-pole 400 Hz and 2.1 kHz xtal
INRAD xtal CW & ssb filters. The addition of the filters dramatically
changed the whole character of the thing and turned it into a real gem.


http://www.qth.com/inrad/

The two filters cost me $310 bucks grunt! on top of what I'd already
paid for the radio but now I'm absolutely convinced that I've managed
to come up with the biggest bang for the buck rig out there today.

847 Modes: CW, AM, FM, ssb, satellite, all digital modes via a
computer, 12 bands 160-440 out-of-the box plus 60M with mods. Simple
null modem cable between the radio and the computer and done.

The two most common HF digital modes are RTTY and PSK-31. Pactor and
packet are out there but are nowhere near as commonly used as RTTY and
PSK-31.

http://www.aintel.bi.ehu.es/psk31.html

Depending on who you'd like to stay in touch with while you're on the
road my take is that you're pretty much stuck with a cell phone based
on it's much higher reliability compared with any ham radio mode/band.
At this point in history "traffic handling" via ham radio has all but
died. The Internet has eaten it.

w3rv

On 24 Feb 2005 07:41:40 -0800, wrote:

wrote:
I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

It's larger than the current crop of very popular mobile xcvrs like the
IC-706 which were designed for underdash installations. But RVs are
usually not as cramped for installation space as are cars & small
trucks so an FT-847 would likely "fit"OK. The major advantages of the

In an RV installation, there may not be sufficient air circulation
around the rig.

It would also makes sense to add extra cooling fans for the space
where all this is installed, essentially the way that rack mounted
electronics have a second level of cooling fans beyond what what each
component has.

You cannot run electronics too cool.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Gary S. wrote:
On 24 Feb 2005 07:41:40 -0800, wrote:

wrote:


It's larger than the current crop of very popular mobile xcvrs like
the
IC-706 which were designed for underdash installations. But RVs are
usually not as cramped for installation space as are cars & small
trucks so an FT-847 would likely "fit"OK. The major advantages of
the

In an RV installation, there may not be sufficient air circulation
around the rig.

Depends on how/where the equipment is installed.

It would also makes sense to add extra cooling fans for the space
where all this is installed, essentially the way that rack mounted
electronics have a second level of cooling fans beyond what what each
component has.

If xcvrs are installed in open-air spaces like under dashes or on
desktops, which is usually the case with ham rigs in RVs there
shouldn't be any particular need for additional fans. My 847 internal
fan very seldom kicks in when the rig is used on a desktop even when
running high duty cycle CW and I don't see why the fan would run any
more in an underdash installation. But stuff any 100W xcvr into some
close-fitting blind cubbyhole there better be a second fan which forces
air through the cubbyhole "or else".

You cannot run electronics too cool.

I could not agree more - but within common sense limits.


Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

w3rv

I'm happy with my TS2000x. I normally run it from either the shack
or remotely at the office from a laptop. I have extended a mic and
speaker there. It actually allows me to make adjustments from either
point, as all of the controls make software adjustments. Vol, Sq,
whatever, it doesn't matter. If I touch the remote control it takes
over control. If I touch the face control, it takes over. So you
can have the radio mounted in the back at a comfortable position with
a Multi-mode controller and keyer, and a control head up front. I
have not tried dual control like that with the remote head though,
but it controls from a dedicated RJ45 serial port alongside the
RS232C PC port. I have used the radio mounted up front in the van
from a laptop back in the trailer, but not for CW.

Oddly enough, there is only one transmitter active at a time,
although it has a main and sub-band. But if you have packet or
pactor on one band unit, you can still operate on the other band, as
the TNC will wait until you are finished talking before sending a
packet on the other band. Just the ticket for APRS on the road. It
has a built in packet TNC for DX cluster, and it is usable as a
packet station but I have never used it as I had a PK232mbx from the
start.

The only drawback is 2.6 amps in RX Squelched! This seems high for a
rig on batteries, but it is great for a coach with either Solar or
autostart generator. I suspect the DSP and controllers are always
active and this will be the norm for most new rigs with bells and
whistles. It brings air in from under the front panel and out the
rear around the cables and all heat sinking is internal. Because of
this, the fan will kick on even in RX.

wrote in message
oups.com...

Gary S. wrote:
On 24 Feb 2005 07:41:40 -0800, wrote:

wrote:


It's larger than the current crop of very popular mobile xcvrs
like
the
IC-706 which were designed for underdash installations. But RVs
are
usually not as cramped for installation space as are cars &
small
trucks so an FT-847 would likely "fit"OK. The major advantages
of
the

In an RV installation, there may not be sufficient air
circulation
around the rig.

Depends on how/where the equipment is installed.

It would also makes sense to add extra cooling fans for the space
where all this is installed, essentially the way that rack
mounted
electronics have a second level of cooling fans beyond what what
each
component has.

If xcvrs are installed in open-air spaces like under dashes or on
desktops, which is usually the case with ham rigs in RVs there
shouldn't be any particular need for additional fans. My 847
internal
fan very seldom kicks in when the rig is used on a desktop even
when
running high duty cycle CW and I don't see why the fan would run
any
more in an underdash installation. But stuff any 100W xcvr into
some
close-fitting blind cubbyhole there better be a second fan which
forces
air through the cubbyhole "or else".

You cannot run electronics too cool.

I could not agree more - but within common sense limits.


Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

w3rv