Standard 2M or Dualband??

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Hey Guys

Just went to my local HAM store to look at some stuff. I picked up the FCC license prep book as well as HAM for Dummies.

I was looking at several options but was wondering what you guys use.

Is a Regular 2M radio fine for what we do or do you guys run Dual bands?

Thanks and sorry for the newb question!

:26_7_2:

 

[big sky trapper]

Well a few questions to think about...to answere yours...

Are you entering the amature arena as a better choice than cb/frs/gmrs ect when out exploring and trail running?

Or are you actually interested in the whole of amature radio when not only outdoors.

If its question 1 then a reg 2m would be a good choice.

If its question 2 then go as far as the checkbook will allow and get a multiband

but im thinking your going to really enjoy amature radio as a second third or ??? hobby so go all out and get the big one !!!

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Are you entering the amature arena as a better choice than cb/frs/gmrs ect when out exploring and trail running?

Yes, for clearer and longer range coms on the trail and from base camp at races and such if we split up! Yes, that will be its only use

Or are you actually interested in the whole of amature radio when not only outdoors.

No, this will be used in the rig only!

I cant get into another hobby!

:rally_guys:

 

[SOAZ]

With the trail and offroad comment, I'd say a 2m and a good old CB would be the way to go. Only a couple of elite desert racers use some band other than 2m. (and thats because they want to keep it secret)
When I bought my first 2m radio (about 15 radios ago) I looked at the instruction manual and realized that it could do a couple thousand things. Here I am 8 years later and I still only use it for one...... Talking on the trail or at a race.....

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I've been using my 2M for a year or so now... While I had every intention of eventually picking up a dual band rig, I've just never really needed it quite yet. Damn near every hammer has a 2M unit, especially the entry level "trail users" like ourselves.

The 2M only units are a bit cheaper... buy a portable (handheld) unit with the leftovers. I've found my 2M handheld is pretty convenient... hiking, around camp, a spotter outside your rig.

 

[asteffes]

I strongly suggest purchasing a dual band radio. The number of repeaters on 440 is astounding. You'll have a larger universe of repeaters and people to work with. Dual band radios are hardly much more money than a good single-bander, and are no more difficult to use.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

With the trail and offroad comment, I'd say a 2m and a good old CB would be the way to go.

Ok good, i have a nice CB tuned really well right now.

Only a couple of elite desert racers use some band other than 2m. (and thats because they want to keep it secret)

Yup!

When I bought my first 2m radio (about 15 radios ago) I looked at the instruction manual and realized that it could do a couple thousand things. Here I am 8 years later and I still only use it for one...... Talking on the trail or at a race.....

HA!!! Yeah, that will be its sole purpose on my rig!

 

[Mlachica]

BostonMangler,

Look into radios with aprs. It allows you to connect your radio to a gps and when you transmit, it gives other aprs users your gps location. And allows you to view the location of others as well.

Here's the model I'd like to get for my 80...

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1118

It can be had for about 500 at www.hamradiooutlet.com

 

[SOAZ]

That sounds pretty cool!! I can imagine meeting up with some other folks from different places at say, MOAB and you know where each other are and can meet accordingly. That would be nice.
Also, a great emergency tool.

BostonMangler,

Look into radios with aprs. It allows you to connect your radio to a gps and when you transmit, it gives other aprs users your gps location. And allows you to view the location of others as well.

Here's the model I'd like to get for my 80...

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1118

It can be had for about 500 at www.hamradiooutlet.com

 

[SOAZ]

Cool. Are you heading by the "little" des race this weekend. Whipash is doing their Vulture mine race in Wickenburg on Saturday. We just cancelled doing it in favor of doing the buffalo bills 400 next month. I might still head out there in the afternoon though.

Ok good, i have a nice CB tuned really well right now.


Yup!



HA!!! Yeah, that will be its sole purpose on my rig!

 

[Mlachica]

Our great friend asteffes used the radio I listed along with a garmin 276c - too cool

 

[asteffes]

Mark, I have not forgotten that you need pictures of my Garmin/Kenwood setup. Really, I haven't. :snorkel: It's a cool/neat/fun thing using APRS, but the reality is most people have not invested the money into the necessary gear to do it. It can be done with a handheld GPS and the nice Kenwood HT, but it's not nearly as pretty or handy as with a GPS with a big screen. Kenwood really made it easy to do with the D700A and a Garmin GPS (it's nearly plug-and-play.) Regardless, not many people will invest $1k+ in GPS and radio gear to do it.

The TM-D700A does everything. You'll never need another radio, unless you want HF access. However, it's also the most expensive dual-band mobiles around. If you just want to talk, you don't need the D700A.

I like dual-banders for the flexibility. I live in a state with a great linked repeater network, but you need 440 to get into these repeaters, as they use 440 for I/O and 1.2GHz for linking. Other areas with developing networks might use 2M for talking and 440 for linking, you would have to check on that (if you even care.)

 

[Pskhaat]

I strongly suggest purchasing a dual band radio.

x2

I have found ironically that the most remote places often only have UHF (70 cm) coverage not 2 meter. Just food for thought.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

So what is the recommended wattage?

I see single band 2M that are 75watts, but dual bands are only 50 watts, affordable ones anyway!

 

[DaveInDenver]

So what is the recommended wattage?

I see single band 2M that are 75watts, but dual bands are only 50 watts, affordable ones anyway!

Doesn't matter enough to worry about it. Find a radio that seems intuitive to operate to you and fits your budget. The difference between 50, 65 and 75 watts has been talked about before. The bottom line is anything 50W up to around 100W is going to result in roughly the same real world distance. The best upgrade for the money is to optimize your antenna.

Semi-mathematical stuff:

The theoretical increase in range is found roughly by the square root of multiplicative increase in power. So a doubling of power should ideally increase your range by 40%. This is a 3dB increase in power, dB = 10 LOG (2). The jump from 5W to 50W is a 10 times increase (or 10dB) and is roughly a 300% increase in range. The jump from 50W to even 75W is only 1.5 times (1.7dB) and that's about a 25% increase in range under perfect conditions. All of this assumes ideal conditions, which are rare. In the real world, it's more useful to consider radios in bunches. You have low power up to about 5W, typical mobile power of 40W to 80W and high power above 200W. Each of these steps represent genuine gains in range.