HAM radios UK

[Deathwish]

Thinking of getting one of these new fangled thingies, anyone want to give me an idea of a decent cheap one just for listening too within the UK.

[deephaven]

What frequencies are you interested in?

HF 3.5 - 30 MHz - hear the world - needs a long wire aerial
VHF 144 MHZ - UK and near europe - needs a yagi or maybe a vertical
UHF 432 MHz, 1296 Mhz
and beyond...

If you think you might get a transmitting license, you could start with a cheap Baofeng 144/432 MHz handheld transceiver

[Deathwish]

144Mhz I guess, well actually the cheapest I can get I suppose as I may not have a real interest after a while so I dont want to waste money if that occurs. I also do not want to listen to that Tautech over the airwaves all day too you know..... 

[deephaven]

Search for UV-5R in Amazon or Ebay and you can pick up a cheap 2m/70cm rig

[gm0otb]

Try the RTL SDR dongle "Cosycave" sell them cheap, coverage is from 24Mhz to just under 2Ghz (no gaps) and 0 -60Mhz using a upconverter or direct sampling method.
Suggested free software SDR# or HDSDR covers all modes etc

[Deathwish]

Search for UV-5R in Amazon or Ebay and you can pick up a cheap 2m/70cm rig

will this do me ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Sale-BaoFeng-UV-5R-Plus-Qualette-Dual-Band-V-U-136-174-400-520MHz-Ham-Radio-/400918114545?hash=item5d5894f0f1:g:vfEAAOSwBLlVUdC4

[tggzzz]

What do you want to listen to? That will define the frequency (but be aware hams tend to think in terms of wavelength)  of interest. As I'm sure you are aware, higher frequencies tend to mean shorter range - but I've receiver radio4 FM in the south of France (for 10mins! ) , and the range record for 10GHz is far far longer than I would have guessed.

The antenna will be critical.

Consider getting an ARRL or RSGB handbook, old ones should be sufficient to orient yourself, and can be cheap.

[Deathwish]

If i am honest I dont care what I listen to, I just want to listen , I do however have a couple of friends on the south coast who I would like to catch as I can then ring them or ask them later wtf they were going on about just to wind them up some. It's one of those I am bored so lets try something new and see if I like it or not. Clive is usually on the 20 or 40m bands and mick is usually with him.

[tggzzz]

If I was going to listen on those bands, I'd use my 30yo Sony icf-7600d "spy radio", with a long external antenna. That will also get all  commercial and ham SW bands below 30MHz, IIRC.

Don't forget that you will also need to be able to demodulate ham transmissions,e.g. SSB etc.

[Flump]

UV-5R is fine if you have a 2m or 70cm repeater nearby, if you don't then don't expect to hear much
as on the "rubber duck" antenna the receive range will be limited to a few miles.

There are web based SDR radios you can listen to that you might be able to hear your friends on which depends on where they are
and what Band/frequency they are using.
http://hackgreensdr.org:8901/
http://hackgreensdr.org:8902/

Have you considered doing the Foundation Exam ? it is very very easy
I am doing the Advanced Exam on 9th of Dec.

[Deathwish]

Exam ?. You mean they test you on this stuff !, Never going to happen because I suffer with Agoraphobia and never go out, on top of that they only give you a measly 10W of power , how mean is that, if I did this I would want Radio Caroline type power or even BBC masts. Pfft, 10W , honestly , that is so tight wad of them.

Seriously, I'm thinking on just listening, not as exciting as most of you would think and clipped wings and all that but still something.

[Augustus]

If you just want to listen you don't actually need to buy a receiver, check out some of the online web sdr services:  http://websdr.org/

This one's great    http://weert.websdr.nl/

[deephaven]

Exam ?. You mean they test you on this stuff !, Never going to happen because I suffer with Agoraphobia and never go out, on top of that they only give you a measly 10W of power , how mean is that, if I did this I would want Radio Caroline type power or even BBC masts. Pfft, 10W , honestly , that is so tight wad of them.

Seriously, I'm thinking on just listening, not as exciting as most of you would think and clipped wings and all that but still something.

You can talk to Australia with 10W

You might not hear an awful lot just listening on 2m. If you're within range of a repeater, you might hear a bit more. Mobiles often use repeaters to have a chat on their way to/from work.

You can have a much more interesting time if you have a short wave receiver (1.8 - 30 MHz). Bands like 14 MHz (20 Meter band) will have a lot of foreign stations to listen to - don't worry it is almost exclusively in English.

[Deathwish]

ok. thank you

[VK5RC]

The exam/s isn't that hard, gee I passed! If the agoraphobia is bad, you don't have to take classes, I didn't, have a look for your local ham club, they are usually good guys and will try hard. If your theory is OK you can go for the standard licence which gives you 100W (I think, it does in Aus.)
There are lots of areas to muck about with even if you really don't want to talk that much. My current big project (taken about 2 years so far) is to bounce a signal off the moon, I am in no rush 'cause once I have done that , what do I do next, well………maybe…...
I have had a confirmed radio contact Australia to New York using 100mW on 14MHz, a crack hot antenna, some sun spots and a lot of computing grunt.
More reason to buy gear, some quite cheaply

[Deathwish]

As it is xmas, I got myself one of these. See, I do listen you know

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191626388241?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[deephaven]

Excellent, they're amazing value.

Now all you have to do is decode this: 73 de G8AYC

[Deathwish]

You too. and if your G8AYC then your not far from where I used to live. Woolton-hill ,Newbury

[deephaven]

You too. and if your G8AYC then your not far from where I used to live. Woolton-hill ,Newbury

What a small world. Yes I am G8AYC in Wash Common!

[Deathwish]

I used to live right next to a big empty field , opposite the Dr's Surgery, used to potter about my garden doing my veg and such and my electronics / photography in the loft etc. I miss the place badly, sadly she got it all and I ended up with not a thing, then she literally destroyed the place. Turned it into a dump with every nutter about coming and going. Damned Horse flies used to get to me every year from the stud farm up the road though.

I don't know who it is that lives in Washwater just up from the local pub but I do know there used to be a few plod on the main road at times with Machine Guns as if doing guard duty.

Oh well. Nice to meet you anyway. Onwards and upwards

[deephaven]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience while living here. I haven't seen any machine guns but have noticed some rather professional CCTV cameras outside a certain residence.

Getting back to radio, you might like to look at http://www.ukrepeater.net/wales.htm and see if any of those are within range of you. You should be able to tune your new transceiver to their output channel.

If you want some radio mags, I could send you some RadComs which is the RSGB official mag. PM me your address if you're interested.

[G7PSK]

As it is xmas, I got myself one of these. See, I do listen you know

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191626388241?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They can be variable on quality, I had one and sent it back as it was a bit deaf. Got another and it was worse but put out 50% more RF than it was rated at.

[Deathwish]

It came today, put it into scan mode ...nothing, oh sausages !. So it looks like the welsh are not into Ham radio.

Maybe they are more into Lamb radio than Ham radio

[SeanB]

No, just the supplied antenna sux. Put on a simple counterpoise and try again, you will get something, even if you get a WACS award.

[PA0PBZ]

Find out what repeaters are active in your region and try to tune to that and be patient 
http://www.ukrepeater.net/wales.htm

[Deathwish]

ok

[Flump]

I am doing the Advanced Exam on 9th of Dec.

After 5 months of hard studying I passed the Exam so now have my full callsign.
Thanks for all the well wishers   

Deathwish have a look on these maps and tune the handset to the output of the repeater nearest to you
(click the pin then details tab)

http://www.ukrepeater.net/2m.htm
http://www.ukrepeater.net/70cm.htm

And if you feel adventurous http://www.essexham.co.uk/foundation-online
If you have a recognised disability you can take the exam at home.

[Deathwish]

thanks flump. i already have, however i swear this radio is trying to make me it's bitch, but it aint gonna work. now and then it lights up blue, I get excited thinking ooh im going to hear something and nothing comes out of it.

It hasn't seen the large hammer under the table yet, we will see who is who's bitch on this one.

[moya034]

If your buddies are on 20 and 40m bands, and you only want to listen, find yourself a shortwave radio that does SSB in addition to AM.

[Deathwish]

Too late moya034, since the guys on here got involved it has got much larger than that now, I want it all, the full monty, I want to hear the world. Well, actually, I want to prove there is at least one other fool like me about  .

[Towger]

I lot of guys in Wales would chat through the Dublin 2 meter repeater.  That was 20 years ago, still maybe worth a try if you are near the coast.

[Deathwish]

GB3CR / GB7HM and GB3MP are the nearest too me. Still not getting anything though. I know the set works as I was picking up sporadic 2-3 second convos earlier.

[PA0PBZ]

GB3CR / GB7HM and GB3MP are the nearest too me. Still not getting anything though. I know the set works as I was picking up sporadic 2-3 second convos earlier.

How far are you away? Could be that they are not allowed by SWMBO to go to the shack at this special evening 

[Deathwish]

within 12-14 miles of all of them

[PA0PBZ]

within 12-14 miles of all of them

That should work as long as you are not in the cellar. They all have a coverage map when you click on the pin, so you can see if you should be able to hear anything.
Of course the rubber duck antenna is not optimal.

[andybarrett1]

GB3MP etc...

Just to check you are listening on the O/P Frequency of the repeater.... In the case of MP :- 145.750

Just a thought

73 de Andy (G7IIF)

[Deathwish]

GB3MP etc...

Just to check you are listening on the O/P Frequency of the repeater.... In the case of MP :- 145.750

Just a thought

73 de Andy (G7IIF)

Hi Andy. yes im on the O/P not the Input freq.

[andybarrett1]

Supplied antenna with HT's tend to be more of a dummy load (screened) indoors.

Have you tried it out doors...Or can you plug an external antenna into it ?

To be honest any thing that is  high and outdoors will bring in more than the supplied dummy load :-).... Just don't tx though it;  your final PA wont like it !

Best 73 de Andy




 

[Deathwish]

No not yet, I dont go out Andy. as for tx'ing through it, erm , no I have no licence and I dont wish to make plod happy

[andybarrett1]

When you get a chance do try it on an  external antenna of some description.

You will be surprised :-)

Best 73

[SeanB]

They are as deaf as a post with the internal antenna, and the best you can do is take some copper wire, unscrew the antenna and wrap a turnaround the outer shell, then put the antenna back on and drop the wire down, so it is around 20 inches long, to make a rough counterpoise.

http://www.linuxwolfpack.com/2-meter-quarter-wave.php

Does work with my one, though i generally just do it the easy way, as I bought some SMA to BNC connectors that fit there, and use a slightly cut down FM broadcast antenna as external antenna.  I use either 0.5W or the whole 5W, and the original balun transformer in the antenna ( will handle the power) and it works to get into the local repeaters 30km away. Omni directional as I removed all but the shorter folded dipole active element and mounting arm. Has 30m of sat coax to get to the roof as well, but it works well.

[Deathwish]

I ordered these as they were cheap if no good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281888168158?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262173433213?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Sure I can shove the latter on a tin box somewhere.

[PA0PBZ]

Sure I can shove the latter on a tin box somewhere.

You need a bit bigger than a tin box, like 1M² (like the roof of a car).

[Negative-Bias]

If i am honest I dont care what I listen to, I just want to listen , I do however have a couple of friends on the south coast who I would like to catch as I can then ring them or ask them later wtf they were going on about just to wind them up some. It's one of those I am bored so lets try something new and see if I like it or not. Clive is usually on the 20 or 40m bands and mick is usually with him.

I know things have moved on however , I built my own receiver, on passing my exams and CW test I built my own Transmitter, like I said things have moved on these unfortunately, isn't there a dongle you can use with your computer.

[Deathwish]

Ok so let me push this boat out further. if I was to go get a proper radio , which one would you direct me too, a Yaesu , kenwood or icomm. I can get a yaesu 2m for £50 but i think i would like an all band .....

[Flump]

they dont make an all band radio but you can get HF + 6m + 2m + 70cm
they call them shack in the boxes, mate of mine went to Lynchs today and bought a
yaesu ft-991 which covers the above bands.

If you want something cheaper then a used icom 706 mk2G or yaesu ft-857 / 897D
There really are so many to chose from.

I prefer to have seperate HF radio then I can be on 2M talking to local freinds and
scanning around on HF at the same time.

[GreyWoolfe]

+1 for what flump says.  I have a separate 2M radio next to my HF transceivers.  I monitor our club primary repeater as I am the trustee and spin the big dial on the HF rigs to see if there is anything going on.

[Deathwish]

Ok. Well I just got the yeasu ft-8900r .

[Flump]

8900 is a very good quad bander, i have a 8800 dual bander

with the 8800 you can use it as a cross band repeater which means
it will relay messages it hears on the set 2m freq to your baofeng on 70cm
and if you transmit on the baofeng on 70cm the 8900 will retransmit it on 2m.

so its like having a home based repeater, i take my dual band handheld out with me to my local
shops at end of the road ot out in the garden with me, and my hand held has the full RX & TX
of my main 2M station.

I Think the 8900 can do the same.

[andybarrett1]

Hi

29 is good when propagation right … Excluding the Russian Taxis and the Italians (Are they still there) ?
50 is dead quiet mainly link repeaters.
2 / 70 Local Babble

But don't forget …. Any radio is only as good as what you put in to the ant socket on the back…..
You really do NEED a decent outdoor high antennae as well !!!

Best 73 de Andy

[Flump]

But don't forget …. Any radio is only as good as what you put in to the ant socket on the back…..
You really do NEED SOME decent outdoor high antennae as well !!!

Best 73 de Andy

Fixed it for you Andy 
But he is dead right, I would go to say the Antenna/s and feeders @ vhf/uhf you use are more important than the radio.
My main radios I will never change but I am always looking to upgrade my Antennas.

[Negative-Bias]

That depends on where you live, I'm in Peterborough and it's quite, other areas are busy. if you can afford a 2m all modes, that could be more useful on usb/lsb,am/ local radio clubs usually have stuff for sale, l'd  be careful on ebay before you buy check out the sellers feedback, when it states NO RETURNS walk away, and always remember, there are some very dishonest people in every walk of life. Radio rallies can be good to, but again , be careful  ask to see it working, if they have nothing to hide, it won't be a problem for them to hook it up, finally haggle.
On Radio's I have all Kenwood, there down fall is capacitors, Icom's down fall is ribbon cables, Yaesu not sure the downsides if any.

[Deathwish]

I left the all bells and whistles set alone as less can be more in some cases, especially mine, as for ebay , I went to lacom in Barnsley and purchased new, I didn't want any problems from other peoples problem sets on my first real transceiver.

Antennas , yeah I learnt that one in the 70's, but I still try and get a bargain that ends in tears at times. I still havent heard a peep out of this baofeng handie yet so its rather disheartening, but the landlord said he would put up a bracket for my antenna, he just has no idea what he agreed to there I dont think.... 

[andybarrett1]

Will be watching with interest…

How soon for the bracket ?

Maybe brackets …… Although my Diamond X2000 does 50/144/433   

[Deathwish]

No idea Andy, it was easier when i could get out and go look for myself and size things up, now i have to rely on people who have no idea of what I need to make the right choice. Shouldn't be long if I get my way

[SeanB]

Come live here, your UK pension will do you well at the moment. Plus no snow, and cold is when it drops down into the low teens.

[Deathwish]

I lived in Cyprus at Akrotiri for a number of years when younger, loved the heat then a little too much, ended up all blisters hanging of my back and then the worries afterward. I don't like the cold and it does me no good, but equally to much heat can be just as bad.

Apart from that you have too many dangerous creepy crawlies as well as big cats etc etc for my liking over there.

[SeanB]

I lived in Cyprus at Akrotiri for a number of years when younger, loved the heat then a little too much, ended up all blisters hanging of my back and then the worries afterward. I don't like the cold and it does me no good, but equally to much heat can be just as bad.

Apart from that you have too many dangerous creepy crawlies as well as big cats etc etc for my liking over there.

Not many poisonous creatures, that is Dave land. Here we just have big cats and the most dangerous animal in the world, the Anopholes mosquito. But the pills do work,  and certain common ailments are treated for free from public clinics, when medicines and doctors are in stock.

[Deathwish]

I lived in Cyprus at Akrotiri for a number of years when younger, loved the heat then a little too much, ended up all blisters hanging of my back and then the worries afterward. I don't like the cold and it does me no good, but equally to much heat can be just as bad.

Apart from that you have too many dangerous creepy crawlies as well as big cats etc etc for my liking over there.

Not many poisonous creatures, that is Dave land. Here we just have big cats and the most dangerous animal in the world, the Anopholes mosquito. But the pills do work,  and certain common ailments are treated for free from public clinics, when medicines and doctors are in stock.

Noo , I dont like snakes or scorpions and spiders... yuk.

[SeanB]

Noo , I dont like snakes or scorpions and spiders... yuk.

What is wrong with a puffader, black mamba, green mamba or Mozambican cobra.  There is antivenom for them all, and they are nice garden snakes, I have had a few in the garden. Spiders do not get that big here, mostly sub fist size. Haven't seen a scorpion for years, must be all getting eaten by the spiders....

[Deathwish]

I'm not brave and dont ride a brough ss100, so let me know when it is safe to come out from under the table

[Deathwish]

Ok. So I now have a yeasu 8900R on my table, now I need an antenna as mine hasnt arrived to let me play ... slowly slowly

[moya034]

While you are waiting for an antenna just stick a piece of wire a few feet long in the antenna connector if you want to listen. (Just don't transmit!)

[andybarrett1]

While you are waiting for an antenna just stick a piece of wire a few feet long in the antenna connector if you want to listen. (Just don't transmit!)

+1

[dexters_lab]

only just spotted this thread, i picked up a UV-5R recently too, its just tuned to the PMR446 channels to work with my other midland PMR radios... never heard anything on the 2m or 70cm amateur bands around here, i'm 10 miles from the nearest repeater with crappy antennas so not surprising

PMR446 can have some social chatter on it, usually in the evenings, worth a try if your just looking for interesting things to listen too and easily programmed onto the UV-5R

[voltz]

Hello all.
Located in the Sunderland area, North East. I remember when the TW repeater on 2m used to be good here but after a long break from radio, it seems like it's gone. Anyone know if its still operational?. Maybe i just need a better aerial. 2m seems dead here. Recommended frequencies to tune to?

cheers.

[andybarrett1]

Seems as if it alive and well… But I can't QSO from here 



http://herc-hastings.org.uk/gb3tw-repeater/

[voltz]

Hi Andy, same, nothing at all here from TW. Mind you, not a great aerial here just a make shift wire dipole. So it seems its there but maybe in a not great location.. Might check the NGR numbers and see where it is. Thanks for the response and the link. Is it still s20 145.500 around here for CQ calling? cheers.

[andybarrett1]

Hi

Yeah… 145.500 for calling nationwide, 145.550 for Rally talk-in !

Best 73 de Andy

[andybarrett1]

Anything head yet DeathWish