Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #161
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Montco, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
    Posts
    4,171
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    21474853

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    I had a couple like that one (there are many Chinese manufacturers making the same radio under different name plates).
    Problem is that they use inferior parts. The finals (final amplifier transistors) are designed for low wattage handy talkies. They can overheat and burn out under heavy usage.
    When they are working, they are great and very economical. I got many long road trips out of mine before it died.

  2. #162
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Cranberry Twp, Pennsylvania
    (Butler County)
    Posts
    978
    Rep Power
    21474848

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    Quote Originally Posted by Hoppy View Post
    Mini review of a new radio...

    I've been without a vhf radio in my truck for almost a year. I picked up a QYT KT 8900. ($80 on Amazon). It's a dual band, 2 meter and 70cm, radio. 25 watts out on 2 meters. I think 20 watts on 70cm.

    First test was in the house on my attic ground plane antenna. No problem doing simplex to Jason O 16 miles away. It's actually pretty easy to program with chirp ( I used a raspberry pi). There is a programming cable included. It comes with a cigarette lighter plug which is handy or you can direct wire.

    I just finished installing in my 2019 Nissan Frontier. I have a magmount antenna up on my truck racks. So far, good audio reports from a couple repeaters.
    Much thanks to Hoppy for plugging the this QYT, I ended up giving it a try myself. I still can't believe how small this radio is, really makes it easy with mounting options. Also decided I wasn't quite ready to give up the CB either, so I upgraded/downsized that to a Uniden all-in handheld device. I still need to do some cleanup on the wiring, etc, but I'm excited to get this out and see what it can do.
    truck_radios.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images
    -Brandon


  3. #163
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    384
    Rep Power
    21474849

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    Very nice! So far, it's been a good little radio. There was good activity on 146.520 yesterday including a summits on the air activation south of uniontown.

  4. #164
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Cranberry Twp, Pennsylvania
    (Butler County)
    Posts
    978
    Rep Power
    21474848

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    Quote Originally Posted by Hoppy View Post
    Very nice! So far, it's been a good little radio. There was good activity on 146.520 yesterday including a summits on the air activation south of uniontown.
    I'm really enjoying it so far, programming with chirp was a piece of cake too. Unfortunately from the Cranberry area I cannot hit W3EXW (wpxi repeater), although I can receive with no issue. I guess it's just a little under powered for that distance. When I'm mobile I'm monitoring K3SAL (wexford repeater) and 146.520.
    -Brandon


  5. #165
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Mercer, Pennsylvania
    (Mercer County)
    Posts
    208
    Rep Power
    8881041

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    Have you guys set up a routine for radio checks or nets? We have a number of new techs in NW PA and now have three additional generals.

    I was planning on doing a Western PA check next week. We start in Erie and work our way south and a little east to Pittsburgh.

    We use the attached radio plan except we compress it into about a two hour check starting at 1800. We hit each frequency for 5 minutes and move to the next. I am in Mercer and able to start Rx and Tx from Meadville (sometimes Waterford) all the way south to Wexford and sometimes North Hills.

    I post here because it is not a state secret. We just want people to figure out their radio capability.

    NW Radio Plan Rev 6 210319.pdf
    Attached Files Attached Files

  6. #166
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Cranberry Twp, Pennsylvania
    (Butler County)
    Posts
    978
    Rep Power
    21474848

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    Quote Originally Posted by PA_Robert View Post
    Have you guys set up a routine for radio checks or nets? We have a number of new techs in NW PA and now have three additional generals.

    I was planning on doing a Western PA check next week. We start in Erie and work our way south and a little east to Pittsburgh.

    We use the attached radio plan except we compress it into about a two hour check starting at 1800. We hit each frequency for 5 minutes and move to the next. I am in Mercer and able to start Rx and Tx from Meadville (sometimes Waterford) all the way south to Wexford and sometimes North Hills.

    I post here because it is not a state secret. We just want people to figure out their radio capability.

    NW Radio Plan Rev 6 210319.pdf
    I'll be out of town next week, but will try to be around for the next one. I've hit/used several of these repeaters in the north-Pittsburgh area (home and mobile rigs). Curious to see how far north I can hit on this list from the Cranberry area. Thanks for posting.
    -Brandon


  7. #167
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    (Lebanon County)
    Posts
    1,811
    Rep Power
    9718106

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    You guys out on the western side are doing well, here in the central portion, I don't know of a dedicated net, but I know many clubs may double as NRA gatherings, so to speak. As for me, I had to pull my response radio for a deployment and haven't' been on HF since Feb or early March, and I think it's been over a year since I've practiced with FLDigi. too many things on the plate

  8. #168
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    Moon Township, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    58
    Rep Power
    651402

    Thumbs up Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    My apologies for being absent from this thread for several weeks. I now have the new tuner in line and am anxious to return to the air. I'll be watching this forum as to what frequency and when.

    73 to all.
    The Bosun

  9. #169
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Mercer, Pennsylvania
    (Mercer County)
    Posts
    208
    Rep Power
    8881041

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    Quote Originally Posted by pens87pgh View Post
    I'll be out of town next week, but will try to be around for the next one. I've hit/used several of these repeaters in the north-Pittsburgh area (home and mobile rigs). Curious to see how far north I can hit on this list from the Cranberry area. Thanks for posting.
    Unfortunately I won't be doing another one. Out of a possible 100+ people who could have been on from all the places we put it to, there were only four of us on. This was the forth scheduled test and check since November. There is a serious lack of interest. I am not wasting my time anymore on "patriots".

    I know what my radios are capable of and what our very small (remaining) group's capabilities are. That's all that matters to me at this point.

    There is a Western PA/ARRL health and wellness check everyday on 3.983 (80m HF) at 0900 (ET). I am also following a few other existing/scheduled nets in the region (2m VHF and HF). These are HAM nets and they seem to have consistent interest and involvement.

    If you want to do a test from Cranberry, let me know day and time and which repeaters.

  10. #170
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    127.0.0.1, Pennsylvania
    (Lancaster County)
    Posts
    20,351
    Rep Power
    21474874

    Default Re: Radio communication as part of preparedness

    I just ordered one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Don't care about shooting skip or anything else, just wanna listen into the truckers nearby when I'm driving. I'll carry it with my evil Baofeng.
    Rules are written in the stone,
    Break the rules and you get no bones,
    all you get is ridicule, laughter,
    and a trip to the house of pain.

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