Zombie Squad Amateur/CB Radio Network: pt 4 - networking

[Cromwell]

Dr. Jest:

Do you suppose there are enough Generals here at present to try a HF net/ragchew/QSO?

Let me know time/freq and I'll do my best to be there.


Cromwell

[kyle]

Dr. Jest:

Do you suppose there are enough Generals here at present to try a HF net/ragchew/QSO?

Let me know time/freq and I'll do my best to be there.


Cromwell

Ollie and I are working on our General licenses now and I hope to take the test and have mine before school starts again in January. I have an HF rig kindly donated to me by Doctor Jest so I'll be up in a few months.

Just trying to get a power supply for it. I keep getting outbidded on Ebay. bastards. Once I get that I can at least listen in.

[Doctor Jest]

I don't know how many Generals we have. Do you have one? As far as I know, I'm the only ZSer above Tech, though as kyle noted, a couple more are working on it.

[kyle]

I don't know how many Generals we have. Do you have one? As far as I know, I'm the only ZSer above Tech, though as kyle noted, a couple more are working on it.

I think 2now and Ghostbear have higher than tech licenses but they're not on the forum that often.

Anyone else?

Guess we'll have to make some new hams.

[airborn4x4]

I've got my tech license, but all I have is a mobile. I won't reach StL with that...

[zXzGrifterzXz]

Guess we'll have to make some new hams.

I had to put getting my license on hold till after the move but I plan on doing it once I get settled.

[kyle]

I've got my tech license, but all I have is a mobile. I won't reach StL with that...

Sure it will...

You just need to use a VoIP like one of these:
http://status.irlp.net/statuspage.html
http://www.vxstd.com/en/wiresinfo-en/activelist.html

[Cromwell]

I don't know how many Generals we have. Do you have one?...(snipped)....

You bet! See the fourth post in this thread for all the pertinent details!

Sounds like we may want to wait until Kyle and Ollie get the "/AG" after their name, if 2now and Ghostbear don't show up that often. Otherwise it will just be me and Dr. Jest. And while we will no doubt have a blast, it kind of leaves everyone else out in the cold.

But I am up for about any kind of QSO, with anyone who wants to shoot the breeze. Except my CW is a little..uh..a lot...rusty!

Kyle, I don't know what kind of rig Dr. Jest was gracious enough to supply you with, but for my radios I use a bank of 4 golf cart batteries to provide power. I thought about buying a power supply, but I spent the money on the batteries and a Vector "Smart Charger" instead. You can see them off to the left in this photo.


The battery bank has obvious uses besides powering radios, of course. Not much of a shack, but it works for me. Sorry about the mess.


Cromwell


Also I apologize for not getting the size (width, specifically) of my post under control. I don't know how to fix it.

[Hermit]

...You can see them off to the left in this photo.

Cromwell

Ok, now I'm itching to see everyone else's setup.

Anyone else care to share a pic of their "communications" setup?

[kyle]

Cromwell, that is a great idea! I do have an electric generator that I planned to run my rig off of but using batteries would be a much better idea. I could run the generator just long enough to charge the batteries and save gasoline. How long do those batteries last with regular transmitting?

Still I'll need something to hook up the batteires up to the rig. I've been looking into a Astron RS-20A 20 Amp Power Supply.

What I have is a older Yaesu HF rig but I don't remember the model. I think it's like an FT-101 or something. Jest also sent me a 100 watt amp that needs some minor repairs. Luckily I have a relative who can help me out with that. He's not into radio but he works with electronics.

You should start a "Radio Communication Rig Hot or Not" thread similar to the bug out bag one and the firearm one and I'll sticky it.

[Cromwell]

The batteries are 6V, each with 200 amp-hour capacity. I THINK since I series 2 to get 12V, (and series another 2 to get 12V) then parallel the strings for capacity, I think I have 400 amp-hours. I think.

I think this means I could transmit continuously for 20 hours at 100 watts output. ( 100W / 12V = 20 amps....400 amp-hours / 20 amps = 20 hours)

100W is the max output of my IC-706 or the Yeasu FT-77.
12V is the power that they eat.
20A would then be the current they draw.

But the deeper I discharge the batteries, the harder it is on them. I don't like to discharge them to more than 30% of capacity if I can help it. That way they will last for years.

I guess I am unclear as to the part where you said that you still need something to hook up the batteries to the rig. I thought a power supply was just a device that converted the 110V wall current to 12V with enough amps to run the radio. But I am still a relative newbie, so I probably missed something!

My radios have just a red wire and a black wire coming out the back, and the manuals said that they run on 12VDC. Red to positive terminal, black to negative.

Anyway, keep at that code. HF is really where the fun is at!



Cromwell


ETA: I seem to be digressing into more of the "equipment" section rather than the "Networking."

[jamoni]

From what I understand, 12 volt auto batteries are actually closer to 13.8 volts. I think what Kyle has in mind is something to regulate the current.

[evilpsych]

tagging along..

Section: Mount Sterling, KY
Your latitude and longitude: 38.06N, 83.94W
Your particular interest: CBs Scanners and getting into HAM and directed wireless Networks both RF and Optical
Your equipment situation: 3 CB's (one USB/LSB Cobra 148NW that's been 'tuned' ) with Weather stations and 500ch trunking scanner that moves between the Jeep and my base station at my computer.

[BejamminR]

Your latitude and longitude: +45.2,-80.2 / +44.6, -77.5 or on the road somewhere between (Live between two main locations)

Your particular interest: Long Range Station

Your equipment situation: Only Cobra FRS Radios and a larger (unused except during hunting season) Marine Band handheld at present, planning to get a CB for my car, studying for HAM certification including Morse Code for the past couple weeks.

Interested in getting into some of the HAM VOIP stuff, and similar digital-HAM interfacing as well as becoming a part of the ZS Net. Going to a local HAM Club meeting tonight to try and schedule a test date for my license.

[Ben]

Tennessee.

Your latitude and longitude: +35.2,-089.7

Your particular interest: Long Range station (I have my Tech. Will be taking General Feb 07)

Your equipment situation: Have a G5RV ant. I am building the radios now. I am thinking of getting a CB if the price is right.

[Ammonium]

KI6HGS
Santa Barbara, California
Your latitude and longitude: 34.462, -119.749

Your particular interest: DX, ARES, PC-aided transmissions

Your equipment situation: Just getting started...

[jonny290]

call: kc4ylv/5

location: em34vb

license: technician, upgrading to extra on Monday

I'm here to teach you guys about VHF/UHF simplex, NVIS HF communication, low orbit satellites and mobile radio operation.

[2now]

I’m just a tech extra.

I keep trying to move so everything is in still in boxes at the moment. [Except for a little 2M rig in my EDC.]

[RadioShooter]

N4CRX Amatuer Advanced Class
WQDL410 GMRS

Interests:

Tactical Comms using GMRS/MURS/2meters using portable repeaters.
I have a portable two meter wide split repeater built out of junk. Also have a desktop GMRS repeater nearly repaired for 462.700mhz
Presently don't have an HF rig, but am trying to get one in May or so.
I have a number of 2 meter and dual band mobiles. Also have two UHF portables with a couple of Icom F40GS (400-430 band) just bought off of ebay. I will reconfigure them to the 440-470 band when the service manual shows up. Also have portables on 2 meters, 220, and 440.
Latest project is getting my son to test for his Technician license.

[KillerRN]

equipment-handheald yaesu vx-2 ham
lat-44.9
long-123.5
looking to get my lisence this summer.and getting a home base radio.

[Topcat]

South Central Michigan here. 42° 47' N 84° 36' W Just starting to get set up for tech license.

[thorian]

Your latitude and longitude: 38° 58' N 92° 22' W

Your particular interest: Damn near any comm (the geek is in my blood)

Your equipment situation: Motorola Saber Hand held, Hughes 7000s satellite dish with 1W transmitter (VSAT Internet) 2 FRS radio's

after I get my situation settled again I am going to actually get the first ham license and get a mobile radio. However the Vsat I am going to sell with the house $100 a month for internet is a bit steep even if I can run it off of a genny after the phone lines in the area are completely cut off.

[OverlordQ]

Your latitude and longitude: +36.1,-094.1

Your particular interest: Whatever I can learn

Your equipment situation: Still studying for Tech, so no equip yet.

[Psycho_Bob]

Section: Cisne, IL
Your latitude and longitude: 38.5, -88.4
Your particular interest: Communications Relay
Your equipment situation: Mobile Cobra CB, Dual Band Yaesu HT, with MARS/CAP modification, 1 Watt FM Broadcast transmitter capable of reaching out across a medium size town (can easily be amplified if hooked to VHF amplifier, but wouldn't be doing that until after TSHTF)