An outstanding 100watt SDR rig with all the bells and whistles one needs.
1100.00 delivered....
Cool, Thanks for creating this RB.
For any informed Ham operator, I appreciate some guidance.
I have questions about setting up the most cost efficient reliable solutions to doing secure packet and voice radio HF comms over short and long ranges (like a few hundred to 1500 miles). I just need someone to help guide me through building a shopping list so that I dont spend a lot of cash on the wrong stuff or have it not work together the way I envision it.
I have been around this stuff but not kept up with all the converging tech that is available. I assume any modern set will be able to connect to a laptop and send packets, but I have never done it myself. Likewise I dont know how versatile in bands I can expect a transceiver can be given the advances in SDR.
Does SDR allow for the same hardware to do HF plus other bands? I appreciate any informed recommendations. My main budget goes to metals, like lead, copper, brass...so I am not looking for the limousine radio, just the utility vehicle equivalent. :)
Thanks in advance.
If you can can offer anything to my post 10, much appreciated.
Hi TT, appreciate any thoughts on my post 10. Thanks
You used the word “secure” and if you mean that the transmission is encrypted against being understood by unauthorized users, then ham radio is not your solution as encryption is not allowed in the Amateur Radio Service.
As to your other inquiries, I’m on my phone so can’t respond at length right now. Bet you get plenty of other information...
Hi chuckr, could you look at my #10 and offer any advice for a greenie in the hardware?
I’ve been in the hobby for 15 years. The best advice anyone can give you here is to find a local amateur radio club and get involved with them. they will be the best ones to help you along in the hobby and can often find you very low cost or free gear. That is how I acquired my Mosley tribander and other pieces of radio equipment. The great thing about amateur radio is it can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.
Except for where I have been corrected about my use of the word ‘secure’, could you look at my post 10 and offer any starting advice? Thanks
A tech license (easiest to get) would get you HF (2-30Mhz) voice privileges from 28.3 to 28.5 Mhz in the 10 Meter band and all the Ham Vhf and Uhf bands.
10 meter band is good for local, approx 1-20 miles anytime, and when band is open, best in summer during the day can go to 1000’s of miles.
General Ham license, next step up, gives you voice privileges all over the HF band, at 160, 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, and 10 meter bands. You should also check out the various digital modes, (like texting over radio) FT8 is popular and extremely efficient. a QRP radio (5 watts or less transmitting power) can make contacts around the world easily once you learn which bands to use under which conditions. Range is affected by season,time of day and sunspot cycle.
I have questions about setting up the most cost efficient reliable solutions to doing secure packet and voice radio HF comms over short and long ranges (like a few hundred to 1500 miles). I just need someone to help guide me through building a shopping list so that I dont spend a lot of cash on the wrong stuff or have it not work together the way I envision it.
I have been around this stuff but not kept up with all the converging tech that is available. I assume any modern set will be able to connect to a laptop and send packets, but I have never done it myself. Likewise I dont know how versatile in bands I can expect a transceiver can be given the advances in SDR.
Does SDR allow for the same hardware to do HF plus other bands? I appreciate any informed recommendations. My main budget goes to metals, like lead, copper, brass...so I am not looking for the limousine radio, just the utility vehicle equivalent. :)
Thanks in advance.
First let me say the MOST important aspect of any Amateur Radio Station are antennas. (You can't work em if you can't hear 'em.) As far as SDR (Software Defined Radio) is concerned, my choice would be Flex Radio if I could afford them. You didn't say which HF and or VHF bands you want to work but most of the popular SDR capable radios operate all the HF bands and usually include our 6 meter band too.
An outstanding 100watt SDR rig with all the bells and whistles one needs.
1100.00 delivered....
I have only done digital on my 2M rig. Through the WIRES system on a Yaesu.
That said, I know that you will need a transceiver than is compatible and an SDR card if your rig doesn’t have one. I understand MOST new rigs are coming with them now.
I would imagine the ARRL would have information on their site. It has been on my to do list. Drop me a note if you get anywhere. Its time I upgraded my skills—I’ve gotten rust.
73s.
Depends on your intended use. Communicating with other hams you know may require a whole different setup than communicating with other hams randomly.
...I assume any modern set will be able to connect to a laptop and send packets
Anything that has an audio jack can be used with just about anything with a soundcard or audio capability.
...Does SDR allow for the same hardware to do HF plus other bands?
This question is difficult to answer without further info but generally SDR stands for software defined radio which is superior, in my opinion of course, to older technology radios. It can be used to span 'DC to daylight' frequencies but, as with everything else, capability comes with a price.
Check into APRS radio for short text messaging needs that offers global coverage and is built into some very inexpensive VHF radios. Packet communication is slow but with APRS it's not really an issue.
I gave you a short answer about “secure” at Post #21 and just got back on a regular computer so I can expand on answers to your #10. I also see you’ve had lots of other responses which have raised other questions. Let’s see what I can cover as 30-year licensed ham, Extra Class, Volunteer Examiner who has also taught Technician courses several times.
Shopping list for HF: you’ve been given lots of guidance already and I would suggest you carefully consider the ICOM IC-7300 that some others have posted about in the thread. My amateur radio club bought a couple for our mobile operations trailer and I got to try it at Field Day back in June. It worked really well and got good signal reports with just a dipole antenna about 30’ in the air.
Most of the current radios offer easy connectivity for data transmission. Older radios will require some outboard equipment and cabling to interface with a computer for the various data modes. As others have mentioned, the current hot data mode is FT8 and is very good for long-distance contacts.