[OT] HAM Radio Folks?

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LBussy

LBussy

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This is not beer-related, obviously, but it might keep me alive to continue brewing. :)

I have moved to rural Kansas and last week's tornadoes were close (the north side of my land close.) I have a weather radio but in the camper where I am staying while we build, I have zero reception. If I walk outside I get the expected signal. Of course, I turned to Amazon for a solution, but the recommended Midland 18-259W Through Window Mount Weather Band Antenna did nothing for the reception no matter which way it faced.

The radio I have is the Midland WR120B/WR120EZ - NOAA Emergency Weather Alert Radio which has an RCA-plug-looking external antenna connection on the back.

Does anyone know of anything I can use without buying random promises online? I don't have a lot of options to run cables through the walls here, but I can figure it out if I need to. If it matters, the local broadcast is on 162.550 MHz.
 
estricklin said:
Just get yourself a cheap Baofeng from Amazon, and an easy mag mount or mass mount vertical. Most of us hams build our antennas for VHF, such as J Poles or a beam from tape measures. The rubber duckies are poor antennas obviously.
Click to expand...
Uh ….. almost no idea what you just said. :)

A J-pole seems pretty simple, I found a few designs. Weather.gov also has a design for a ground plane antenna. Not sure what’s best but I’m not going to be talking, just listening.

I searched “baofeng” on Amazon and found a crap ton of radios. This one for instance seems to receive alerts - would that have a severe weather alarm (as in: wake me up with a heart attack) like the Midland does?

passedpawn said:
Icom 7300
Click to expand...
That seems sorta expensive and still leaves me needing to figure out an antenna unless I’m missing something?
 
The reason why I suggested buying the cheap radio on Amazon is I’m not sure if the weather radio you listed is capable of using an external antenna. If it is you can just stick with it, and get a better antenna. If you purchase the Baofeng, you would simply tune it to the frequency of the nearest weather repeater.

As for antennas you could buy a magnetic mount antenna, and use a cheap cake pan or something as a base, you can use that right inside your house. You could buy something like this, and mount it on an antenna pole (a mast).


Here is an example of a magnetic mount. You need something marketed for 2 meters or the 144mhz band.

 
estricklin said:
The reason why I suggested buying the cheap radio on Amazon is I’m not sure if the weather radio you listed is capable of using an external antenna. If it is you can just stick with it, and get a better antenna.
Click to expand...
It does, it has an RCA connection on the back.

estricklin said:
As for antennas you could buy a magnetic mount antenna, and use a cheap cake pan or something as a base, you can use that right inside your house.
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure the metal frame is killing any chance of reception inside. The telescoping antenna works fine outside. Inside I get nothing.

estricklin said:
You could buy something like this, and mount it on an antenna pole (a mast).
Click to expand...
Now that I know what I am looking for there, the last part I am concerned about is making it a lightning rod. There seem to be solutions for that from $8 to $500 so I am not sure what I need.
 
Welcome to life in a Faraday cage. If the recommended external antenna didn't help, then you'll have to get the antenna outside the walls of the camper somehow. If you put the external antenna on with the receiver outside, does it at least increase the signal strength? Could be a faulty external antenna.

If it does increase the signal, then you are going to have to find a way to mount the antenna outside (insulated from the metal of the camper) and route the cable inside (also ensuring it is insulated from the metal, so no nicks or cuts in the insulation of the cable)

Marine radio VHF whip antennas are probably the best option. They are designed to take weather exposure and have often have through-panel mounts that bring the signal connection through the mount point.
 
I have some TV coax connectors that pass through the walls which I am not using. There are more than a few so I need to get a tone chaser to figure out which goes where. The way I understand the theory, I can "balance" the 75-Ohm, or just not worry about it. I like the "not worry about it" approach. :)

I've done a little more research this morning on lightning arrestors, so far I think I need a "DC-pass" device, and the wattage can be low since I am not transmitting.

This guy sells a J-Pole specifically for the Weather band:

KB9VBR-NOAA-Weather-Band-J-Pole-Antenna.jpg


I'd like to figure out a good way to mount this to my ladder, and then figure out the ground, then I should be fine. I think.
 
One of the nice things about the dedicated WX radios is the ability to alert based on geographic location. I'd think that a random wire, plus RCA connector might solve your metal frame issues. Maybe.
 
bruce_the_loon said:
How many bars do you get with the receiver outside using the built-in antenna? An antenna like that feels like massive overkill unless you're only getting one or two bars in open air.
Click to expand...
I am getting 1-2 bars out in the yard, depending on how I turn/point the antenna. I'm in somewhat of a fringe area where I am, with the station being dependent on which side of the rise you are on.
 
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wouldn't DVB-S be better then land based ham?

i'm sure you could find a bird in orbit to point a dish at? if all you want is the weather report? ku dishes aern't the bahemoth C-Band ones of old times....

check out lyngsat.com, see what's free, and available in your area, and what size dish....
 
bracconiere said:
wouldn't DVB-S be better then land based ham?
Click to expand...
I need a weather alert radio, and these are ~162MHz run by NOAA. These will wake you up from a coma if there's a warning in your area. So yeah for signal fidelity there are lots of better choices. What I need is that alert feature which is only on the seven NOAA bands.
 
LBussy said:
I need a weather alert radio, and these are ~162MHz run by NOAA. These will wake you up from a coma if there's a warning in your area. So yeah for signal fidelity there are lots of better choices. What I need is that alert feature which is only on the seven NOAA bands.
Click to expand...


ahh...sounds scary! so you just want to wake up so you don't find out you're not in kansas anymore. didn't realize tornadoes formed, and moved that fast!
 
bracconiere said:
didn't realize tornadoes formed, and moved that fast!
Click to expand...
They do, man. And because I'm in an RV I need enough time (hopefully) to hook up and get out of the way.

I was thinking I might make a ground-plane 1/4 wave based on the SO-239 and copper rod DIY's would be fine - but honestly, once I buy all the parts it's not much cheaper than the J-Pole.
 
Seriously all you really need is a 1/2 or 5/8 wavelength vertical wire that is outside your RV. Elevation is good. You could attach it to a painter's pole and lean it against the outside of your RV.
 
LBussy said:
They do, man. And because I'm in an RV I need enough time (hopefully) to hook up and get out of the way.

I was thinking I might make a ground-plane 1/4 wave based on the SO-239 and copper rod DIY's would be fine - but honestly, once I buy all the parts it's not much cheaper than the J-Pole.
Click to expand...
The Spider on a SO socket could be done with coper wire, no need of rod.
Just 1mm or big wire will do.
Mount it on a pvc pipe and adjust the impedance matching with the ground radials vertical angle.
I have done many of them for 144Mhz band. QRV for help.
 
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LBussy said:
How does one do that with a receive-only setup? I thought SWR was a transmit function?
Click to expand...
That’s no true. The energy the anntena put into the transmision line goes with the same rules.
If part of the wave is reflected, this is energy that do not reach the reciver input.
Try to connect a tv antenna with the wrong impedance cable and you will see.
 
Lalo_uy said:
That’s no true. The energy the anntena put into the transmision line goes with the same rules.
If part of the wave is reflected, this is energy that do not reach the reciver input.
Try to connect a tv antenna with the wrong impedance cable and you will see.
Click to expand...
So how does it get tuned with no transmitter?
 
Well. I do have an impedance meter - but I also think we might be over-studying for the test. If I get alerts I'll be happy. I find this interesting however and want to learn more.
 
Lalo_uy said:
That’s no true. The energy the anntena put into the transmision line goes with the same rules.
If part of the wave is reflected, this is energy that do not reach the reciver input.
Try to connect a tv antenna with the wrong impedance cable and you will see.
Click to expand...

I know what SWR is. You're right, but so what. The receiver is well equipped to deal with non-ideal matching. They have gain to waste. Impedance matching is a waste of time for receivers.
 
Well to close it up:

I didn't have parts and pieces to build a "spider on a socket." When you have nothing to start with, a "cheap and easy" project starts to add up. So I purchased one of the J-Poles I linked to above. The guy selling them was pretty quick to get back to me (within reason) and for $46 for a proven solution, it was a good deal for me.

Today I'll actually put it up on the RV's ladder, as soon as I find my coax.
 
LBussy said:
Well to close it up:

I didn't have parts and pieces to build a "spider on a socket." When you have nothing to start with, a "cheap and easy" project starts to add up. So I purchased one of the J-Poles I linked to above. The guy selling them was pretty quick to get back to me (within reason) and for $46 for a proven solution, it was a good deal for me.

Today I'll actually put it up on the RV's ladder, as soon as I find my coax.
Click to expand...
Cool news. Hope you never have to be saved by it.
 
I thought I would necro-post my thread in case anyone would be interested in where this all took me:

I mentioned I am in rural Kansas, so when things happen, people notice. I heard a siren going by one day, and I wondered WTH was going on. I talked to a work buddy about scanners, trunked radio systems, etc. After a bit of research to learn more (and finding out that the local systems were not encrypted), I went on eBay and purchased a lightly used Radio Shack Pro-2096 Digital Trunking Mobile / Base Scanner.

Before that even showed up, my OCD tendencies drove me further into a rabbit hole. I ended up purchasing a Baofeng HT off Amazon. Suddenly I had two pieces of equipment sitting there and no idea how to use either. After more web searches, hilarity ensued, and I decided to get licensed. Again, OCD hit, and I did all three:
  • Technician on 12/18/22
  • General on 12/28/22
  • Extra on 1/14/23
Keep in mind I am still living in an RV, and the HT is all I have right now. There is a "local" 70cm repeater I can hit if I walk outside, but no traffic. I chuckle, thinking about all the work to study through the Extra, and I have no HF radio. :)

73 de KF0LDK/AE (going to do a vanity as soon as my Extra hits the FCC database).
 
LBussy said:
I thought I would necro-post my thread in case anyone would be interested in where this all took me:

I mentioned I am in rural Kansas, so when things happen, people notice. I heard a siren going by one day, and I wondered WTH was going on. I talked to a work buddy about scanners, trunked radio systems, etc. After a bit of research to learn more (and finding out that the local systems were not encrypted), I went on eBay and purchased a lightly used Radio Shack Pro-2096 Digital Trunking Mobile / Base Scanner.

Before that even showed up, my OCD tendencies drove me further into a rabbit hole. I ended up purchasing a Baofeng HT off Amazon. Suddenly I had two pieces of equipment sitting there and no idea how to use either. After more web searches, hilarity ensued, and I decided to get licensed. Again, OCD hit, and I did all three:
  • Technician on 12/18/22
  • General on 12/28/22
  • Extra on 1/14/23
Keep in mind I am still living in an RV, and the HT is all I have right now. There is a "local" 70cm repeater I can hit if I walk outside, but no traffic. I chuckle, thinking about all the work to study through the Extra, and I have no HF radio. :)

73 de KF0LDK/AE (going to do a vanity as soon as my Extra hits the FCC database).
Click to expand...
Congratulations Lee, 73 & DX when you get HF.
Lalo CX7AAB
 
Congrats on punching your tickets!

They do make handheld HFs just so know, for those who are limited on space or who live a more mobile life. When I lived near Little Rock I talked to a guy in New York from his HT, and I've talked to many truckers on them as well.

Try to stay active in your local club as well, I learned a ton from my elmers, one of which is a silent key now.

73s
 
Congrats. I'm on the air all the time, I'll listen for your sign (update with vanity when you get it). I'm almost exclusively on HF, mostly 40/20/10m so our paths might not cross. I've been spending a ton of time on FT8, a digital mode. You can see my Icom ic-7300 below.

BTW, here's a great place to find your vanity: AE7Q's Amateur Radio Database Query Tools

73s N3VG

1673915349301.png
 
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estricklin said:
They do make handheld HFs just so know, for those who are limited on space or who live a more mobile life.
Click to expand...
I have not seen any. I have seen mobile HF rigs, which is a possibility for me. Living in an RV at least gives me a DC power system that's available for a radio. I have two AGM batteries, a charger, and a solar panel. SWMBO may not appreciate a radio over the sink, but you know, compromises.

estricklin said:
Try to stay active in your local club as well, I learned a ton from my elmers, one of which is a silent key now.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your Elmer. There's one club about 20m from here, but I am not sure how active they are. I went for a drive today and hit a couple of repeaters separated by about 30m and never heard another soul. My wife told me she heard someone "saying something like you did" while I was in the fast food place, but no answer when I called again.

Seems funny to have an Extra and never have made a contact on Ham.

Beerstein said:
You will have a lot of fun on HF. It's kind of like a box of chocolates....
Click to expand...
Well, if I can figure out how to get one in here. As I have suggested, there's not a lot of room in here. I ordered a new truck but I'm not sure about mounting a radio in it - at least right away. Maybe there's a WiFi-controlled mobile rig I can leave in the truck and operate from in here? Seems like a stretch, maybe someone makes one.

passedpawn said:
I've been spending a ton of time on FT8, a digital mode. You can see my Icom ic-7300 below.
Click to expand...
That Icom is the one I have been looking at. One thing confuse me about it: Why no tuner? I know guys that have been hams for a while probably have one already but it seems like a big miss to me.

I have been kicking at the idea of WSPR with one of the smaller QRP rigs for now. I know an antenna is still something i need to figure out, but surely I can find room for a QRP in here.

passedpawn said:
BTW, here's a great place to find your vanity: AE7Q's Amateur Radio Database Query Tools
Click to expand...
I have been browsing that. I found a pretty good one I am hoping will be available on Wednesday/Thursday when the database updates. I'm former Army, so I want one of the A callsigns.
 
LBussy said:
I have not seen any. I have seen mobile HF rigs, which is a possibility for me. Living in an RV at least gives me a DC power system that's available for a radio. I have two AGM batteries, a charger, and a solar panel. SWMBO may not appreciate a radio over the sink, but you know, compromises.


Sorry to hear about your Elmer. There's one club about 20m from here, but I am not sure how active they are. I went for a drive today and hit a couple of repeaters separated by about 30m and never heard another soul. My wife told me she heard someone "saying something like you did" while I was in the fast food place, but no answer when I called again.

Seems funny to have an Extra and never have made a contact on Ham.


Well, if I can figure out how to get one in here. As I have suggested, there's not a lot of room in here. I ordered a new truck but I'm not sure about mounting a radio in it - at least right away. Maybe there's a WiFi-controlled mobile rig I can leave in the truck and operate from in here? Seems like a stretch, maybe someone makes one.


That Icom is the one I have been looking at. One thing confuse me about it: Why no tuner? I know guys that have been hams for a while probably have one already but it seems like a big miss to me.

I have been kicking at the idea of WSPR with one of the smaller QRP rigs for now. I know an antenna is still something i need to figure out, but surely I can find room for a QRP in here.


I have been browsing that. I found a pretty good one I am hoping will be available on Wednesday/Thursday when the database updates. I'm former Army, so I want one of the A callsigns.
Click to expand...

7300 has a tuner. It will bring in any antenna that is within an SWR of 3:1. Outside of that, you'd need an external tuner if your antenna isn't matched to the frequency. I don't need a tuner at all with my antennas as they are 1/2 wavelength (and I tuned them manually by adjusting the length). Mobile, probably hard to put up a 40m antenna (~ 65').

I've got a mobile HF rig here that I don't use. One day maybe, who knows. HF Yaseu radio, 500W solid state amp, tuner. I hope to mount it in my truck one day.
 

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