New to ham radios

[golddigger14s]

You can listen all you want to.

[Talonap]

dogfish, Did you ever decide what your next step will be? Any other questions you have? Anyone else have any, "HAMMY", things to talk about? This seems like a good topic to keep going!

[golddigger14s]

New radio that has GPS too. A bit pricier, but with GPS, programing cable, and two batteries not too bad:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B076H96BDC/ ... _lig_dp_it

[dreadi]

[reginald_burrito]

Not mentioned in the 5 watt vs 8 watt discussion: heat and duty cycle. The tiny HTs can only dissipate so much heat, and you might run into issues with higher wattages if you expect to be a heavy user.

I had a 5 watt handheld and during long conversations, it became too hot to hold. Aside from that, if you key up for too long on a radio with a short duty cycle, you risk burning out the components. The Baofengs are good value for the money, so I hear, but an ICOM or Yaesu is likely to handle more abuse.

[golddigger14s]

:zombie:

I know it is an old thread, but technology changes. Also RB these radios are not made/designed for long term usage. I think for what they do, and what they cost, and if you know their limitation they are a good value.

[Selador]

Wake me again when they make a bacon radio.

[golddigger14s]

I can tune to this freq, but is the tone of 103.5 mean my little won't be able to hear them?
453.90000 KKN345 RM 103.5 PL Comanche Co SO Sheriff (Dispatch before OKWIN)

[TechnoWeenie]

I can tune to this freq, but is the tone of 103.5 mean my little won't be able to hear them?
453.90000 KKN345 RM 103.5 PL Comanche Co SO Sheriff (Dispatch before OKWIN)

PL = CTCSS, by default, you'll hear it without a tone set.



You should have a digital scanner so you can monitor https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6949 but Comanche county currently uses https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=844

453.9 is deprecated.

[golddigger14s]

I can tune to this freq, but is the tone of 103.5 mean my little Bao won't be able to hear them?
453.90000 KKN345 RM 103.5 PL Comanche Co SO Sheriff (Dispatch before OKWIN)

PL = CTCSS, by default, you'll hear it without a tone set.



You should have a digital scanner so you can monitor https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6949 but Comanche county currently uses https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=844

453.9 is deprecated.

Thanks, but what is "depreciated"?

[NWGunner]

I can tune to this freq, but is the tone of 103.5 mean my little Bao won't be able to hear them?
453.90000 KKN345 RM 103.5 PL Comanche Co SO Sheriff (Dispatch before OKWIN)

PL = CTCSS, by default, you'll hear it without a tone set.



You should have a digital scanner so you can monitor https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6949 but Comanche county currently uses https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=844

453.9 is deprecated.

Thanks, but what is "depreciated"?

Deprecated – This tag denotes a frequency or talkgroup that is no longer used. This tag should be used only temporarily during transition/migration periods for new radio systems. Frequencies and talkgroups should be deleted when they are truly obsolete.




https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Function_Tags

[TechnoWeenie]

I can tune to this freq, but is the tone of 103.5 mean my little Bao won't be able to hear them?
453.90000 KKN345 RM 103.5 PL Comanche Co SO Sheriff (Dispatch before OKWIN)

PL = CTCSS, by default, you'll hear it without a tone set.



You should have a digital scanner so you can monitor https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6949 but Comanche county currently uses https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=844

453.9 is deprecated.

Thanks, but what is "depreciated"?

Deprecated.

Not in use.

[PTmorgan]

Antennas are more important than wattage. You can have an 8 watt radio with a shit antenna get smoked by a 5 watt with a good antenna.

Put a good antenna on both and the 8 watt will of course have more reach.

Understand that VHF is largely line of sight, and you'll be having problems with obstructed and uneven terrain and greatly cut the range of your signal down. If you just want hunting radios get a GMRS or FRS radio and call it good, unless you really want to get into ham radio or are already licensed.

Short answer, just buy the 8 watt and a good antenna, because people get really, really, really worked up over those extra three watts, just because bigger seems better, and in the end, you'll save yourself hours of second guessing and having other people who went for "ZOMG TEH WATTS!" question your choice of the 5 watt. Me, personally? I'd go 5 watt, an upgraded antenna and carry a a dipole and adapter in my pack, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

Get these three things, and you'll be good.
http://amzn.to/1XZ8jZ8
http://amzn.to/1XZ8mEh
http://amzn.to/21PXrxF

Add a spare battery if you want http://amzn.to/1Ss41YE

Good advice, thanks!

These links were from 2 years ago. Do you have any other recommendations, any newer models?

I just passed my Technician exam 2 days ago, waiting for my call sign. There are a couple local groups I'll check out as well.

[Raygun74]

I passed my Technicians exam about this time last year and have everything on the same list above except I went with the 16.2" antenna and added a bigger battery:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013W ... UTF8&psc=1

Everything has been working great.

I hear programming can be a pain, but the local groups you mention will probably be able to program all the local repeaters, etc for you.

I need to get back to tinkering with this stuff, I'm starting to forget everything.

[beckdw]

I'm sure it's been mentioned, but you should look into the Chirp program. Allows you to download info from multiple sources, create lists for multiple radios, and transfer to radios. You will need to get a transfer cable (make sure you check reviews to ensure you get a good one).