Running my Radio

The Transceiver

They are called “Transceivers” because theyBoth transmit and receive radio signals.

Hand Transceiver(Called HT for short)

YaesuMobileTransceiver(For use inAutomobile)

IcomBase StationTranseiver(Powerful and canBe used at homeIn a fixed location)

How Do I Make Them Switch from Receiving to Transmitting?

Kenwood mobile or base Transceiver

Baofeng(Pofeng) HTThey have a

Button on theMic or unit thatActivatesTransmit whenPushed“Push to Talk”

Many radios also have a voice activated function where your voice will trigger thetransmit function. (Menu Option #4 on the Baofeng)

Opinion – I don’t like it. You will often have noise in the background. The last thingI need is a radio switching to transmit when someone drops something.

Great – How Do I Turn It On?Some radiosPut the turn onAnd volumeControl on oneKnob – first clickTurns it on.

Baofeng UV5R

KenwoodTM281

Some have a push buttonFor power

Yeasu FT 2900

Icom V 8000

Your manual is yourFriend. Radios that doA bunch of stuff have aBunch of steps and controls

How Do I Tell it What Frequency to Use?

Most Radios run in one of two modes

1- In memory mode you access preprogrammed“channels” that have the frequency instructionsAlready programmed in.(example I have a program for loading information on all theLocal repeaters into a Baofeng radio)

2- VFO mode (Variable Frequency Oscillator)Which lets you enter what ever frequency youWant to use. (If the radio is made to run onthat frequency – this Baofeng is made for2 meters and 70 cm – it won’t do anything on6 meters)

There is usually a button that switches betweenVFO and Memory mode.

Lets Start with Memory ModeThe VFO/Memory button switches between functions.

Since the Baofeng “talks” it tells you that you have gone“Frequency Mode” (VFO)Or“Channel Mode” (Memory)

There is also a small indicator in the window when it isIn memory mode.

Memory Mode on a BaofengThe Baofeng can monitor two programmed channelsAt once. (Two frequencies display at once)

The one with the triangle beside it is the one it is setTo transmit on.

* 146.52 50 446.00 127

You select between top (A) and bottom (B) with theA/B button.

You move up or down through the channel numbers withUp and down arrow keys.

The radio “talks” and tells you what channel you are on(nice touch for the visually impaired)It also displays the channel number

How Do I Do That on a Mobile or Base Station

Most radios have buttons for switching betweenVFO Mode and Memory

KenwoodTM 281

YeasuFT 2900

Once in memory you can go from one channel to the next by turning the selectorKnob – or the microphones normally have up and down buttons on them.

What if I’m In VFO Mode?

You can turn a knob that will changeThe frequency

Or you can just type in the frequency on the keypad on the mic.

But What About My Baofeng?

Once you are in VFO mode –

Just type the frequency in using the keypad

My Manual Talks about a Squelch – What is that?

The world is full of “white noise” orA hissing static background. WeUsually don’t enjoy listening.

Great Idea – How do I do that?

On a Baofeng theSquelch level isProgrammed in(Though it can be reset withA menu option)

On base station and Mobile units thereIs normally an adjustment knob.(I usually set mine just high enough to stop the“white noise” so I have the maximum chance to hearA weak incoming signal)

IcomV 8000

How Do I Set the Volume?(Especially since there may be no one talking

when I’m trying to set it)

AlincoDR 135TEasy answer – use the

Volume control knob.

With the Baofeng the radio“talks” and tells you whetherIt is in channel for frequencyMode when you turn it on –So you will have someoneTalking.

With mobiles and base stations try this

1- Set the squelch down so that you hear“white noise”

2- now use the “white noise” to set your volume

3- Then set the squelch up to quite the “whiteNoise” (before the hissing makes you go nuts and starthearing poltergeists)

What Else Do I Need to Set?

The Power Level

We’ve always talked about having a strongsignal and putting out power so we havemaximum range (unless earth curvature anda low antenna height is getting us first).

Is maximum power really always the bestChoice?

1- A transceiver with a lot of power draws alot of power. If the telephones are out thereis a good chance the power is out and youare on back-up power.

2- Its important for your signal to reach itsDestination, but not all listeners are goodpeople. Why go further than you need to.

The FCC also wants amateur radio frequency to be open to as many as

possible.

An out of the box radio is not going to exceed maximum power limit.

(T2A-11)

So How Do I Adjust Power?

With the Baofeng power levelIs usually set during programmingAnd usually at max.

Setting power levels is a major enough taskThat some radios will put the function onA button.

With All the Functions on Today’s Radios

Many burry power as one of a list of numberedMenu options

On this Baofeng you get keyedAccess to menu options byPressing menu and then keyingIn the number for a menu item

On this Kenwood you push F, then you pushA menu button (happens to be on a knob) –Then you rotate the knob to get to the numberOf the menu you want to work with.

Comment on Manuals

Always keep your manual forReference.(I have digital versions for a bunchOf radios so I can help people)

During power outages digital manualsMay not be readily available.

I Have a Bunch of Different RadiosI pin instructions for basic functions or lists ofRepeaters and channel numbers on a corkBoard near the radio

Staying familiar with your radio is one of the reason for regular nets

Having a number of people with the same radio also facilitates sharing notesAnd instructions. (Another reason for standard programming for BaofengHand helds)

The Baofeng Instruction ManualThe manual that comes with your radioIs actually in English

And the English sentences have meaning(those familiar with instructions fromChinese products know how rare this is).

Unfortunately the descriptions are so brief that they often cannot teach you to runThe radio.

US Hams have written a full manual for the Baofeng that is on pare with the manualOf any radio out there.(Also Baofeng radios have a lot of how to Utube videos)

My Microphone

We’ve all heard the distortion problems youGet when you try to play a signal (your music)To loud for the equipment to handle.

Radio uses the term “over deviating” for tryingTo get too much amplification and distortingThe transmission.

I’ve lost my Microphone or would like to add one to my Baofeng – Can I just use any

microphone?

Say What?

Companies – even the same company between models are notorious for havingTotally different wirings for their microphones. They may not even put the sameFunctions on the microphone wires.

A Polite Test Question

So Where is that External Microphone Port on my Baofeng?

One side of the radioHas your Push to Talk(PTT) button.

The other side has aPlastic cover (keep outDirt) that opens toReveal two holes – aBig one and a little one

The microphone plugs inhere

Commentary on Baofeng Port

The Baofeng mic is also aSpeaker so when you plugIt in the speaker on theRadio shuts off and theMicrophone talks back

The Baofeng comesWith an ear pieceFor privacy but youCan also buy fancierHeadsets that useThe same port.

Cover warning. The cover is stiff andIt is easy not to open it all the way up.Then the microphone or head set catchAnd don’t plug in all the way and don’tWork.(Don’t say you would never be that dumb – you’llHurt my feelings)

What Makes a Good Radio?

The ability to detect the presenceOr absence of a radio signal.

The Ability to Select Between Multiple incoming signals

While most major manufactures can get this right for $150 to $200 the little BaofengHas amazing sensitivity and selectivity – and does if for less than $35.

Keeping Constant Audio in a Changing World

Radios attempt to automatically doSome signal amplification adjustmentAs signal strengths rise and fall.

Ok – How do I Set This Up?

The Big Four

Power Transceiver

CableAntenna

The Power is connectedTo the Transceiver

The Transceiver is connectedTo the cable

The Cable is connected to theantenna

Sometimes the Big Four are a No Brainer.

Power in the batteryOn the back

The Transceiver isMost of the box

The connecting cable isVery short

And here is the antenna

The all in one HT

Of course if I hookMy BaofengTo an externalAntenna. I’llHave to payMoreAttention.

We’ve Already Talked About

Power

Transceiver

Antenna

?

The Cable isThe MissingPiece.

The Most Common Cable of Choice is the Coax Cable

Screw cable onhere

Screw cable ontoBase of antenna

Run over a practical route in-between

Is All Coax Cable Created Equal?

TV coax has 75 ohmImpedanceRadio coax has 50 ohmImpedance

If the radio circuits are designed to put out a signalOver 50 ohm cable and run into 75 ohm the currentFlow will be all wrong.

So is All 50 Ohm Coax Created Equal?

RG 58 RG 8(Does one look heavier duty than the other?)

Some of the energy needed for a strong signal is used up in the cable. As you mightGuess, lighter, easier to bend, and cheaper cable also eats up more energy.

Air Insulated Hard Line

(a beast to work with and worse to pay for)

So Where Did the Missing Power Go?

No – not into a radio signal.

So Are Any of These Losses Frequency Dependant?

The higher theFrequency theHigher the penaltyFor bad cable

70 cm gets dingedWorse than

6 meter

So are all screw-on connectors on Coax Cable the Same?

Somewhere in a largeAnd spacious building.

PL 259 Male also called UHF

PL 259FemaleAlso calledSO 239N type

ConnectorMale

FemaleBNCFemale BNC

Male

SMAPlug

Ok So Where Do We Find them and What's the Difference?

The PL 259 System is the most widely used

The back of most mobile or base stationTransceivers and amplifiers for HTsHave SO 239 plugs on the back

So we will match themWith a PL 259 on ourCable.

They have one little problem.They are not too waterproof

(Of course if its raining insideOn your radio you alreadyHave problems).

Of Course Outside on Our Antenna

Which of the following is the mostCommon cause for failure ofCoaxial cables?

Remember that great Air core cable with such low losses?T7C11 – What is the disadvantage of air core coaxial cableCompared to foam or dielectric types?

It requires special techniques to prevent water adsorption

As Long as We Are Talking Coax Cable Destroyers

Oh the handi-work of UV rays

D. Ultraviolet light can damage the jacket (outer coating) and allow water to enterThe cable.

Well Back to Those Connectors

The PL 259 system is commonly found on radio transceivers

Its not the best at water resistance

Water in our coax increases line losses

The higher the frequency (ie UHF) the more likely we are to get in trouble.Hey that may mean we can get away with PL 259’s for HF (or even VHF) applications

So What Do We Do With UHF Frequencies

(Like our 70 cm transmissions)

The N type connector has an extra sealTo keep out water and keep the coaxEfficient at UHF frequencies.

You’ll still find PL 259s on 70 cm antennas but the 33 cm and 23 cm users haveAlmost always switched to N connectors on the antenna (the radio still uses a PL 259On the back)

So Where Are the BNC’s and SMA’s?

They are common for connecting antenna’s to HTs

BNC connectors a lot of majorBrands.

SMAConnectorsAre usedFor BaofengAntenna’s

Warning on Baofeng SMA plug

Notice the radio has anSMA male plugBut also note that

A matching antennaMust thread into the socket – most SMA male connectors thread onto something.

If you buy a Chinese antenna made for Baofeng you’ll never know this is a funkyPlug. If you buy an American or Japanese antenna for your Baofeng you may needA special adaptor (don’t ask me how I know).

Personal gripe – I have to spin the entire connecting cableTo fit into the socket instead of a rotating head on a normalSMA male.

Transmitting Through a Happy Antenna

Remember the Ohm’s Law Pie

Remember that coax cable for radio needs to be 50 Ohm

Your radio is expecting the cable and antenna to be 50 Ohm.If its not the current draw will be all wrong.

What if the Antenna isn’t 50 Ohm?

This is Why Antenna Length and a good unshorted connection is Important

You and about $200 to $400 can buy a deviceThat analyzes an antenna to make sure it is“resonant” on the desired frequency and will present50 ohms of impedance.

This is an antenna analyzer.

I Don’t Have $400! Is there another way?

Yes there is!

If the antenna or the cable thatFeeds it is not resonantIt will try spiking the power backDown the cable and down theRadio’s throat!

This will create a standing wave inThe cable and we can measure that.

The SWR Meter(The $40 alternative to $400)

Put the SWR Meter Between the Transceiver and the Antenna. It will beWaiting to measure any power reflected back that indicates a bad match ofThe feedline and antenna.

So What Do the Numbers Mean?

(Numbers up to about1.7 are quite livable)

The Double Whammy

Why is a high SWR so Bad?

Any power reflected back down the cable is not beingSent out as a radio wave – its blocking the power youNeed for a strong signal.

Your radio will try to protect itself fromThe reflected power by cutting backThe power it puts out.

Your signal strength will crash.

Something Almost Like an SWR Meter

A directional watt meter.

It tells how powerful the signal being putOut by the transceiver is.

It then measures the power beingReflected back.

Where the needles cross is the SWR

I find it more useful because I can check the power output of a transceiver orAmplifier. (I get two measurements in one box for about the same price)

I Have an SWR Reading that is Ok Sometimes and Others its Bad

SWR reading of 10

That’s Not My ProblemI need to run an antenna that is not a perfect

Length

Most HTs do this all theTime. Remember I saidThey used power killingCoils at the base to foolThe radio?

What they are trying to do is beat the“Double Whammy” where the radio cuts back powerTo protect itself from reflected power.

If I can put something between the radio andThe reflected power I’ll still loose power that isReflected back, but my radio won’t cut back onPower transmission because its not gettingClobbered.

Such a Device is Called an Antenna Tuner(Used mostly on HF)

It matches the antenna systemImpedance to the transceiver’sOutput impedance.

The devices can be automatic or manual butYou put them

Radio to tunerTuner to coax cableCoax cable to antenna

The tuner stops the reflected waveFrom hitting your radio.

Testing My Transceiver/ Amplifier Output

The Baofengs connected to Amplifier The Amplifers Connected to The Directional Watt meter The Watt Meter is connected to The Antenna

Of course this means I have to transmit all my testing activities to anyone listening

That Also Means Following Station Identification Rules

This is KC9JPN doing an equipment test

What if I Don’t Want to Do All My Testing on the Air?

Replace the antenna with aDummy load. A bank ofResistors to eat up the powerAnd a way to vent the heat(heat sink)

What is the primary purpose of aDummy load?

To prevent the radiation of signalsWhen making tests (T7C01)

For My Next Problem of the Day

The Radio in my car is whining

(The generator in your car that keepsThe battery charged)

Ok, How Do I Shut it Up?

It’s a filter circuit available on some radios

Things You Might Do With Your Radio

Probably the single most important is re-unitingAnd checking on your family in the event of anEmergency that knocks out conventionalCommunications.

Helping your Bishop, Priesthood leaders, and Relief Society toAssess and begin addressing the needs of ward members in theEvent of an emergency disrupting normal communications.

A Skill Practiced in Non Emergencies for Emergencies

The use of directional antenna’s or even signal blocking forRegular antenna’s to find the path to a radio source.

How Might We Use It

Finding someone lost in the woods

Or buried in rubble

The Baofeng Emergency Beacon

Hit Menu

Type 32

Use up down arrows to go to Tone or Code

Hit Exit

(We program to Site – a local panic alarm mode – flashesLight and make sound – you need to change if your trapped).

Boosting Repeater Ranges

Herald

Burnt Prarie

Evansville

Linked Repeaters

One repeater repeats theMessage to another

Repeaters and Radios Connected Through the Internet

A repeater or even anIndividual radio station thatLinks the signal into theInternet is a gateway.

How Do I Access Nodes

Find the Stations in Your Area that Serve asGateways(just a Boafeng handheld probably can’t reachThem from here)

Echo Link Nodes

IRLP Nodes “Near” Carbondale

Closest is in Bellville, IL

Improving Radio Propagation Skills

A Field Day and Contesting(trying to contact as many stations asPossible)

More MethodicalTrying toSystematicallyFill in gridSquares.

Our More Local TrickWho can hitWhat chart

Flying Airplanes

Controlled over amateur radio

Communicating with Outer Space

This time I want my signals to not bounceBack down to earth but go into space.Frequencies of Choice are 2 meter, 70 cm(both of which you get with a technicianLicense)

Satellites Can Be Repeaters

I’m a repeater and I approve thisMessage.

Satellites Can Use Really Large Repeater Offsets

We call it “cross band” when the repeater receives onOne band and sends out on another. Many SatellitesReceive on 70 cm and then repeat the signal on 2 meters

Hint – the U is short for UHF and the V is short for VHF

Well Cool – Why Don’t We Use them for Repeaters to extend our

Range?

Amateur Satellites are fast moving and may only be in rangeFor a short time (you only have a few minutes to get the space station). ManyAmateur Satellites are in a low earth orbit and have to move to avoid falling to earth.

So How Do I Transmit to One of these Elusive Critters?

You need a computer program to keep track ofWhere the satellite will be and when it is in range.

What do I tell the program?

It’s a list of numbers that describe the satellite orbit.

What does the program tell us?

Where Can I Get InformationOf course there are books and looking things up on the internet

SatellitesMay also actAs a beaconAnd announceInformationAboutThemselves.

Satellites can be Tricky

It involves tracking satellitesAcross the sky with directionalAntennas at exactly the rightTime.

Signals can fade out because the antennas on the satellite are spinning around.

The Doppler Effect ProblemEver heard a train blow its horn coming toAn intersection.

It has a high pitch while coming toward you

And then a lower pitch after it passes

Satellites are moving fast enough to alter send and receive frequencies.

Many Satellites are not Interested in Your Voice

It would much rather listen to the digital messages of aComputer.

(little short bursts or “packets” of digital information)

So How Do I Do this Packet Thing?

Computer to terminal node controller to radio

Local Radio Nets for Practice

• Most Regular– 7:30 AM Monday – Saturday

• Alto Pass Repeater 146.85• “Gettim Up and Off to Work Net”

– 6:30 PM every evening• SEMO UHF net 444.2• (You’ll need base station power – your Baofeng won’t cut it)

– 7:00 PM every night• SEMO VHF net 146.685• (a Baofeng with a power booster and a car top antenna can

hit this unless you have an obstruction – area around church has an obstruction)

More Nets

• Sunday– Cape Girardeau Humanitarian

• 8:00 PM 146.685 (Cape Repeater)

– 146.64 (Marion Repeater – Probably can hit)• 8:30 PM Ares• 8:45 PM Skywarn (Highly directed – rollcall)

– 147.09 (Ava Repeater – should be able to hit)• 9:00 P.M. Sara Net• (not verified)

More Nets

• Monday– 8:00 PM 146.805 Benton Repeater ? LEARS– 8:00 PM 147.135 Mount Vernon (need power

booster and maybe base station)

• Tuesday– 442.025 Carbondale Net 8:00 PM can hit with a

Baofeng– 146.73 Carbondale Net 9:00 PM can hit with Baofeng– 146.82 Marble Hill Cape Ares net 8:00 prob need

base station.– 146.88 Herod Repeater ? 8:00 PM Scan club net