Ham Radio Network

congrats on the license.

Good for you...I note that it looks like that took you three full months, is that typical?

Yes, and actually I likely would have gotten a higher mark and the course would have been more manageable, time-wise, if spread out over maybe 6 months. We learned the exam material but also practical considerations to actually use the radios. Mind you I had the flu when I wrote the exam, but I still found it challenging as a non-electronics person.

So I'm curious about these Baofeng radios you guys often mention. They seem to have transmission capabilities on Ham bands. Do they sell them as a handhelds because they have a short transmission capability only and therefore require no license or they do require a license to even use them at all? Is there channels that they can transmit on that make them useful still for those without a license or are they only transmitting on frequencies that require licenses?

The boefeng radios have a pretty good range of frequencies.
They are able to make use of the 2 meter and 70 cm ham bands, FRS, GMRS, many police, fire and other emergency bands, and can also tune into the weatheradio bands.
As a bit of a bonus, they also have an FM broadcast receiver so you can listen to your favorite FM radio station too.
There is no license required to own one...only to transmit on ham bands, but you can listen to them to your heart's desire with no issues.

So I am looking at the on EBay right now and see various pricing for various models. I note that the GT3 TP is cheap here http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2x-Baofeng-GT-3-TP-Mark-III-Tri-Power-1-4-8W-Two-Way-Radio-2x-Speaker-Cable-/191459441995?pt=2_Way_Radios_FRS&hash=item2c93df3d4b at $29 for 2 with a crap load of accessories. It shows in the chart that they don't do the 170-460 range which must make them pretty much a basic walkie-talkie, but the 8 watt GMRS is still amazing, is it not. Is this some error as they are priced far more elsewhere as here http://www.sainsonic.com/baofeng-gt-3tp-mark-iii-two-way-radio-dual-band-uhf-vhf-136-174-400-520mhz-tri-power-1-4-8w.html , but then the same model professes to transmit those frequencies too..... very confusing!

A review worth the watch shows the differences with the GT3 compared to the UV5 and they are indeed notable improvements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zap9N4XN6gc I'd very much like to hear your advice on this as I'm itching to click the BUY NOW just because I can't see how a fella has much to lose.

So here is another of the same for $145 for 2 http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2x-Baofeng-GT-3-TP-Mark-III-Tri-Power-1-4-8W-Two-Way-Radio-2x-Speaker-Cable-/311218291761?pt=2_Way_Radios_FRS&hash=item48760e4431

Either it is a typo or a scam...

Then there is this UV5R that seems more bang for the buck for just a little more money as you go from a 1800 MaH to a 2800 MaH. Is this a better buy as one ad states the 1800 MaH gets 12 hours on standby? These are areas that I'm betting all you Baofeng owners can answer best.

They proclaim that these radios are waterproof. Anyone test this aspect yet thru accidental testing? 😕

How easy is it to understand conversation? The GMRS radios we use for security at an outdoor concert yearly are pathetic. And the range is poor beyond 300 yards too... not quite what the advertisers would proclaim. How far have you gone between handhelds without any modifications? The Motorola GMRS I've owned can't work well even hunting and flushing short distances. I'd spend money on radios that worked like they should any day.

The preview in the last post suggests that the UV5r has a few issues. Is this true in your opinion too?

All this new stuff is just to complicated for me, I will stick with the old ways. Nothing like the klackedy clack of a sounder ....

or to find a text mesage printed off waiting for you in the morning (roughly 1858, and works perfect)They just dont build them like this anymore!

as do these, and they require no power..wined up!

Will your radio's still be working in 157 years! 😆

Ofcourse for any one looking to learn morse there are all kinds of on line teaching aids, such as this one http://www.searchamateur.com/Play-Free-Online-Games/Morse-Code-Machine.htm

Though nothing beats the feel of a proper key in your hand..and morse is the ultimate stealth comunication system...can be taped out through walls, sent by flashlight, or infared.

Knuckle, I bought a UV5R. It has VHF/UHF range in the ham bands plus the FM bands, as Denob mentioned. The local ham guys said it's a good handheld radio and much cheaper than the usual ham equipment, plus more portable and lower draw to power with batteries in an outage. I paid $41 total including tax and shipping on eBay. The local guys said I should be able to get decent reception in the local municipal area, although I am still twiddling with the settings so can't speak to that yet. There are after market antennas you can get apparently that improve reception. I know for sound quality, the FM freqs come in perfectly clear, just like my home stereo. You can program in channels, like local ham freqs (to transmit & receive/monitor) and also weather channels and some emergency freqs (police, fire, SAR), to monitor if necessary.

Knuckle, I bought a UV5R. It has VHF/UHF range in the ham bands plus the FM bands, as Denob mentioned. The local ham guys said it's a good handheld radio and much cheaper than the usual ham equipment, plus more portable and lower draw to power with batteries in an outage. I paid $41 total including tax and shipping on eBay. The local guys said I should be able to get decent reception in the local municipal area, although I am still twiddling with the settings so can't speak to that yet. There are after market antennas you can get apparently that improve reception. I know for sound quality, the FM freqs come in perfectly clear, just like my home stereo. You can program in channels, like local ham freqs (to transmit & receive/monitor) and also weather channels and some emergency freqs (police, fire, SAR), to monitor if necessary.

Thanks for the reply.

I just ordered one now too so I'm glad to hear they have clarity on all bands. What had me questioning is the comparison done on that YouTube link above and them stating how much better the new units are. Yet many seem quite happy with their units and so I was wondering... It appears they are capable of monitoring police bands for the OPP and Air Ambulance too if I read the frequency charts right. Could be handy in a life and death situation to call them but It'd be a onetime affair if you did as you'd likely be spanked as you are recovering and lose the radio.

What I'd like is to just use the local channels for hunting and maybe chatting while riding motorcycle. Finding a unit that has decent noise cancellation and enough clarity to hear what the other is saying without constantly asking for a repeat would make me a happy camper. Often when hunting we work separately in hopes of moving game towards the other if were making any game move away from us while walking. I used to rarely use large CB radios(in the 80's) that ate batteries 6 at a time and evolved to Motorola GMRS junk that made me rarely attempt to converse due to the guesswork required to decipher the content. I only ordered one so far as to checkout their quality before ordering the 2nd. Sounds like they might finally be a worthy purchase over previous attempts.

Hey all,
sorry for not chiming in earlier...had a bit of a busy holiday season with 2 out of 3 family vehicles dying at the same time and needing immediate replacement (more on that later in another post)
I also am a bit confused...
In the review video, we see a UV-5R and a GT-3.
However, in your Ebay link, we see 2 x GT-3TP.
Is there a difference between the GT-3 and the GT-3TP?
Also in the Ebay link, I am not sure that you also get 2 x charging bases, 2 x wall wart adaptors.
The new power level of 8 watts sure would help with the range, which is probably why they upgraded the antenna.
My guess is that the overheating issue was caused by a slight mismatch in the antenna impedance, which would send some power back down the antenna and into the TX circuitry, and could cause damage with the greater power output
As for UV5R range, I use a home brew ground plane antenna mounted about 15' high outdoors and can hit a repeater aprox. 65km away.
I used the same gear at the Larose Forest meet (the antenna was sitting on a picnic table next to me, not up in the air) and hit the same repeater which was aprox. 75 km away.
I cannot hit that repeater from either location with the OEM antenna...but the DIY antenna only cost me a few bucks to build.
Now, back to the GT-3TP set on Ebay...
pros:new modulator chip seems to increase sensitivity
new antenna eliminates a mismatch in impedance,reducing SWR and heat issues.
new power amp increases output to max.8watts
Mic/speaker sets are handy
Programming cable included makes for easy programming (get the free CHIRP software)
Cons:new modulator chip reduces frequency range (loss of channels in certain ranges as per the chart)
Need to clarify the basic accessories such as the charging base and wall warts

Edit: here is the video I modeled my DIY antenna on...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFp8CYLfq0c

While riding a motorcycle?.. like while driving? Or when you stop? If the former, then I don't think a ham radio is really suited for that kind of operation, unless you are just listening to FM bands, but then there are other cheaper FM radios for that, unless you wanted something that could do everything.

Also as an FYI, re: the emergency channels, you are right, the layperson is prohibited from transmitting on those frequencies, however it is part of the amateur regulations that if someone is in distress (truly life or death type situation) they can transmit on the amateur bands (even if not licensed) and any amatuers listening should respond and offer help, to call ambulance, police, fire, etc. Not sure what is involved in the followup regarding penalties if misused. They can but not sure if they often do. However whether there is anyone listening and if they hear you, could vary depending on time of day, where you are, etc. I don't know if the police/emerg bands have the same protocol.

I was considering using the radios on the GMRS bands only while riding. The usual hand signals are what is most commonly used and all one needs but there are times when we get divided and the one if front can give the "alls clear" for a safe pass and such. It would be good for riding with others mostly as the wife and I have a routine from 20 years of touring together anyways and ran out crap to say somewhere all the way. 😆

Mostly the hunting and scouting aspect would prove their worth I'm betting. It's more the game where we never get it quite right and I'm itching to see if they work out. As I stated earlier, this something I've tried before and only been annoyed with the results as communications were often indistinguishable and making alot of noise while hunting is never a good thing.

In both situations, I will be using simple earpiece headsets for the "hands free" approach is required for both.

Site for home brew ham ant projects.

http://www.hamuniverse.com/antennas.html#Antennaprojects . Anyone build home brew tv ant?

Thanks for the tip. A friend is going to help me build one but once that is working I will likely try my hand at dome others...