So you asked a question and decided to go the opposite of what everyone said?
Seems to me like you didn’t actually want anyones opinion.
Seems to me like you didn’t actually want anyones opinion.
i will quote my post after much intensive research, for viable options for my needsSo you asked a question and decided to go the opposite of what everyone said?
Seems to me like you didn’t actually want anyones opinion.
which i replied i will go the licensed route to cover all angles thereby in the meantime 11m handheld cb radio will suffice and will compliment 2m band when i have the time to do the coursesI do have a set of baofeng uv5rs, and plan on undertaking the relevant courses, both so I am legal and have an understanding and knowledge of what I'm doing with it.
everyone opinions comments and experiences are more valuable than some can fathom and have all had a valued bearing on my decisionSeems to me like you didn’t actually want anyones opinion.
i hope this clears any and all confusion some may haveafter much research i decided to go with handheld cb radio which does-not need a license
plus one does not need to rely on unit-pairs whereby someone needs to be in range of paired units
or mobile masts whereby two-way radios type that require use of mobile towers will be hit hard with the shut-down of 3g networks in the near future, iirc 2023 and 2024
there is a [UK] online map showing many cb operators in the locals where i propose to hike and or backpack or bush-craft, thereby
furthermore vintage working cb radios are reasonable priced many less than £30.00 [gbp]
i am looking at the possibility of the claimed to be tried and tested T2lt as it can be easy chucked in a backpack for carryingWith the handheld CB, you may want to research into more efficient, external antennas. Because they operate on fairly low VHF frequencies, in order to have an efficient (i.e. 'powerful') signal you are best off with an antenna that is a 'quarter wave' - for CB frequencies, that's approximately 2.5 meters long - I suspect the antenna in your vintage CB handheld is substantially shorter! Higher frequency radios - such as the licence free PMR 446, or other radios in the high VHF or UHF bands need much shorter antennas to reach that magic quarter wave length, and thus in a real world, for the same wattage radio, have a much stronger output.
I’m not familiar with that antenna, but I have a Slim Jim ladder-line antenna that I made for use on the 2 m band. Together with the coax cable, it rolls up into a nice little coil that’s easy to bring and not particularly delicate. A flower pot antenna would posibly be even more sturdy and for CB frequencies I thing the flower pot antenna might be a good choice.i am looking at the possibility of the claimed to be tried and tested T2lt as it can be easy chucked in a backpack for carrying
options for elevation are
or other viable most portable suggestions are welcome with open arms
- portable flag-pole
- walking-poles [could tie them both together if need be]
- carbon-fibre fishing rod [collapsible]
- use a drone [would have to experiment if drone will cause interference aka noise]
- tree branch [would test my grappling hook style throws]
thank youI’m not familiar with that antenna, but I have a Slim Jim ladder-line antenna that I made for use on the 2 m band. Together with the coax cable, it rolls up into a nice little coil that’s easy to bring and not particularly delicate. A flower pot antenna would posibly be even more sturdy and for CB frequencies I thing the flower pot antenna might be a good choice.
I’ve got 5 m of coax cable attached to mine in order to hoist it up on a 6 m telescopic antenna, but it could equally be hung from a branch using a throw line, or at the end of a walking pole held by yourself or a friend. The important thing is to make sure there’s no metal touching the antenna itself, as it’s quite sensitive to that. For similar reasons, people advice you to avoid carbon-fibre poles (although others use them without issue - maybe different types of antennas?).
You obivously don’t need to hang it up really high, and if you’re not out to specifically make contacts, then why carry a telescopic pole ”just in case”. A thin throw line and a bag to put a stone or something in as the weight might be more realistic.
There are sooo many antenna designs, you wouldn't believe it! Check out ones used for SOTA (summits on the air) or other portable activities if you want ideas for quirky designs.thank you
i have not heard of flower pot antennas until now [learn something new everyday]
very interesting and looks quite easy to make and still half-wave https://vk2zoi.com/articles/half-wave-flower-pot/
will need to dig deeper as a quick search shows for 2m band as opposed for cb radio thus far [yet i will not be perturbed though]
i like your idea for a bag and a throw rope rather than something telescopic due to weight factors
I don't really think it would hold up to the weights involved (all that coax) especially in windy conditions. But by all means try it out! Perhaps if you made three larger holes in two different sized discs and put 3 lengths in as a narrow tripod tower of sorts. Also metal is a no-no, or at least will affect the antenna.@SaraR
a thought i would like to run by you if i may
i have around 21ft of tent-poles rescued from an a small tent they weigh a mere 400g with no elastic as elastic is well worn and taken out for putting all poles together in a straight line with sections being at
1 x 480mm
12 x 350mm
1 x 380mm
1 x 318 mm [had to cut a portion that was split from a 380mm section]
if i fabricate a round disc with four [4] holes to use one [1] in the middle to slip over the poles and three [3] guy lines and make a removable spike for the end to push into the ground that should work [in theory]
meaning that adding or removing sections to get various heights of up to 21ft and a single man or [wo]man could potentially erect in mere seconds to a minute or so
or am i missing something...??
Can we not call reading various webpages as research please. It’s not.i will quote my post after much intensive research,
thank youThere are sooo many antenna designs, you wouldn't believe it! Check out ones used for SOTA (summits on the air) or other portable activities if you want ideas for quirky designs.
It's hard to see on my phone, but I think this is the one I was looking for by a guy who's done a lot of 4, 6 & 10 m antennas including flower pot ones: https://g6ohm.webs.com/antennadesigns.htm
You don't need the whole pvc pipe housing, just the bit for the coil.
i did not come back to you sooner as i waited til i spoke with folk at my local radio club for their knowledge and recommendations thereofI take it you live somewhere relatively flat and not very remote /rural.
No MR team has ever been called via CB - and very unlikely to. If you did manage to get a 3rd hand message to them via handheld radio they'll try and contact you via phone definitely not radio (nor will a POLSAR)
Mobile phone on the other hand - I've been to 6 call outs in the last week alone, initiated via casualty's mobile phone. CB wouldn't of been any use to any of them.
And obviously a 5w VHF /UHF pumps out a lot more non ionising radiation than a phone... Especially when used briefly to text
my word you have much common sense and knowledge and i thank you for sharing in this threadI don't really think it would hold up to the weights involved (all that coax) especially in windy conditions. But by all means try it out! Perhaps if you made three larger holes in two different sized discs and put 3 lengths in as a narrow tripod tower of sorts. Also metal is a no-no, or at least will affect the antenna.
I've got a SotaBeams Tactical Mini, but a lot of people use thinner campsite flag/kite poles or roach fishing poles etc. As you can see from photos, even that type of pole often struggle on the hills.
I think you should get one method that works at home and off the hills/near the car for testing your antenna, chat to people and familiarise yourself with your new radio etc. Then have a more lightweight/packable option for incidental use when out hiking etc.
You need to really know your radio if it's going to be any use at all in an emergency and you only get that by using it before hand.
I don't really know enough about the CB radio scene, but you might also want to get a group of regulars who listen out for you when you're out on the hills. That way you won't be a random one-off person on the radio but that bloke who was up X hill with his radio last weekend and is up Y hill this Saturday and lets see if we can get a contact from here etc
I met a guy in a carpark in the Preselis (hills in Pembrokeshire) once who was running a European CB net from his car with an antenna up a 10 m pole strapped to a fence post. He obviously had more power than you'll have with your handheld, but it looked like fun.
that is like sayingCan we not call reading various webpages as research please. It’s not.
thank you for such a great moment i almost wet myselfReading online pages, articles, data does not count as research if the articles are not peer reviewed before publication and if those papers are slanted to prop up a specific viewpoint I would question their validity rather than seek more to back up a belief.
Your original query was to ask advice, you got it in spades from people of varied experience yet you decided to ignore that. You then focused on a specific aspect of radio comms and went quite tangential at that point.
Here’s the thing I’ve a fair bit of experience in the SAR world and a fair bit in comms. What do you want? A radio that you can talk to people if the ****? You have one with a very limited range that you’re unlikely to ‘catch’ many people using unless you have an established complan with your gang. If you want a comms system to use if you get stuck out in the boonies in the UK, mobile phone or VHF are likely to be your best bet. Don’t trust mobile phones, don’t use it then, good for you for taking the hard route you must be a man. VHF, very limited range on land, high points help. Dont forget to be properly licensed or OFCOM will be keen to fine you. Especially if you are operating it and disrupting other users such as SAR assets or other licensed users on specific limited channels.
In the words of a more recent wordsmith “enjoy your night”. 73’s AR+
Your original query was to ask advice, you got it in spades from people of varied experience yet you decided to ignore that.
that proves you either have not read or ignored knowledge in this thread as the area of limited range with handhelds whether it be pmr446 walkie-talkies cb radio or other have been covered with portable solutions such as t2lt that can not be done with handheld walkie-talkies or pmr446 due to restrictions as mentioned previouslyWhat do you want? A radio that you can talk to people if the ****? You have one with a very limited range
really...?? come on man be honest with yourself if not with othersHere’s the thing I’ve a fair bit of experience in the SAR world and a fair bit in comms
Dont forget to be properly licensed or OFCOM will be keen to fine you
for concrete proof for license free cb radio needing a license in the last forty [40] years for here in the [UK] whereby they will be fined by ofcompeer reviewed before publication
Not to go on about my telescopic mast too much , but mine is 56 cm long and weighs 800 g, so it fits fine in the side pouch of my backpack (or inside the bag if needed). Having said that, it’s not something I would bring unless I intended to use it. For shorter bands than yours, there are some really lightweight and foldable antennas that just amaze me what you can do with bits of wire and some understanding of the physics behind. People even use retractable metal measuring tapes! (Although they are heavier than many other options out there.)my word you have much common sense and knowledge and i thank you for sharing in this thread
you could be correct in the high winds and for prolonged time, well not much holds in the high winds anyway
on the basis of double tether a triple tether or strategic placement of tethers would be worth experimenting with and adds to the fun
i will be mainly on foot or public transport as i do not currently and cannot afford a vehicle thus limiting my options for portable antenna for stuffing in a backpack
i spoke to the founder and members of the local radio club who have echoed what you have said and are willing to help me too
what was he running at 100w plus...??
yes their is much fun in experimenting see what does and does not work
you can talk about your portable mast as much as you like, it is fine by meNot to go on about my telescopic mast too much , but mine is 56 cm long and weighs 800 g, so it fits fine in the side pouch of my backpack (or inside the bag if needed). Having said that, it’s not something I would bring unless I intended to use it. For shorter bands than yours, there are some really lightweight and foldable antennas that just amaze me what you can do with bits of wire and some understanding of the physics behind. People even use retractable metal measuring tapes! (Although they are heavier than many other options out there.)
I see a lot of mentions of people in the US buying a small handheld Baofeng ”for emergencies” but they never try to learn how to use it, don’t want to learn anything about propagation etc and they would have to be very lucky to get any help when stuck at the bottom of a ravine or wherever they might end up when they have one of those emergencies. I think the only way radios would be useful in that kind of scenario is if you know your equipment and how to get the most out if, you have a community of people within that hobby that you can contact and conditions are favourable.
I don’t count on mobile phones to work when I’m out in the countryside (or indeed at home!) as coverage here seems to be patchy at best. Best thing you can do is to have a few different options depending of what you think you’ll have success with and then hope for the best. I wouldn’t bring my VHF radio with me on hikes ”in case of emergencies”, but if I had it with me I most certainly would try that route too if I found myself in one!
Since you’ve got yourself a CB radio, I think it’s great that you want to learn more about all things ’radio’ and that you’ve got in contact with locals who share your interest, even if it’s a different flavour so to speak. Radio is much more fun out on the hills and I find it a good motivation to spend time in places you would otherwise drive on by, so why not enjoy your new hobby and the combination between that and just being outside?
I know a lot of people enjoy the solitude when they are out in the great outdoors, but I listened to a talk by a SOTA activator in the Canadian Rockies recently and he said that he often found the voice of another human very comforting during his long, hard solo trips into the Rockies. The great thing about a radio is that you can turn it off when you want to be alone and (if you’re lucky) have a nice conversation with some random person when you are feeling lonely.