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My goal is to help the community in times of disasters with
contact through Ham Radio for better communication.


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You will need to click on F5 each time you go to one of the menu web pages to see the new things I have added!



RadioRepeaterRado


All About Ham Radio's


Here is some basic information on Ham Radios to help you get started:

NOTE: Some ham radios can also be tuned to the WALKI TALKI frequencies and used without a license. See frequency charts for CB and FRS radios at the end of this web page if you want more information about that!


Ham Radio Etiquette by Alan Jones, KD7KUS

Talking on the radio guidelines




How A Ham Radio Works

Click here to read a handout on what a REPEATER is and the difference between using long distance repeater communication and talking short distances using SIMPLEX on your ham radio.
How Ham Radios Work

The main difference between VHF Ham Radios and UHF Ham Radios is the frequencies they broadcast on.
2 Meter radios (VHF) operate between 144.0 and 148.0 Mhz.
70 Centimeter (UHF) radios operate at 420 Mhz to 450 Mhz.
A dual band radio will operate on both VHF and UHF
Most new ham radio operators with a Technician Class License use the 2 meter radio 


Here is a ham radio frequency chart if you want to understand which bands run on which frequencies:
Click here to see the chart


Most of these radios are water proof and in some cases even somewhat fire proof.
Click Here To See A Ham Radio That Survived A House Fire


You Will Have To Decide What Type Of Radio Is Best For You!

Hand Held Models We Have Tested:


BaoFeng Dual band UV-5R VHF/UHF Dual Band Radio 136-174 400-480Mhz Transceiver

This is a very inexpensive radio. It can be purchased from $25 to $35 depending on where you order it from. It is a dual band Ham Radio. I just bought 2 of them to test them out (Aug 2016) and it looks like it does most everything the other dual band radios we purchased for $240. I am having a little trouble figuring out why it keeps going to sleep and I have to put the PTT button to be able to keep listening to a conversation. If anyone knows why it is doing that I would appreciate hearing from you.

NOTE: This radio can also be tuned to the WALKI TALKI frequencies and used without a license. That is unusual for a Ham Radio and one of it's best features.
(SEE CB and FRS Frequecies at the bottome of this web page)

I have not been able to figure that out a lot of things the radio does yet. The manual is not very good at explaining things so it is more of a trial and error type radio.

Click here to see more details or to order it

MANUALS AND OTHER INFORMATION I FOUND ON LINE:

BAOFENG Radio Comparison Chart

Baofeng UV-5A Manual

Baofeng Radio Documentation Project From http://radiodoc.github.com/

2 Meter YAESU Single Band VHF - FM - VX-170 5 Watt Hand Held Ham Radio Transceiver

Click here to download the Manual

Properties:
2 meter, 5 watt, water proof, female SMA antenna connector

Advantages:
Pre-programmed NOAAM weather channels
Most of the people in our club have one of this type

VHF Frequency Range
137.000 to 174.000

Disadvantages:
This is an outdated model

Aprox Price:
$75 to $100 used - $200 to $250 new

Here is a simple Five Dollar 12 Volt Power Supply Terry Mann created that you can build to go with this radio. It uses AA and 9 volt batteries.
You Make It Battery Pack   



QUANSHENG DUEL BAND VHF - UHF - FM - TG-UV2 Hand Held Ham Radio Transceiver

Click here to download the Manual

Properties:
2 meter and 6 meter, 5 watt, male Male SMA antenna connector
Advantages:
Duel Band, 200 channels
Frequency Ranges:
FM Range: 88 to 108 MHz
VHF Range: 138 - 173.995
UHF Range: 350 - 389.995; 400-469.995; 470-519.995
Disadvantages:
Not water Proof, Made in and shipped from China (slow delivery time),
Aprox Price:
$75 to $100 New


Yaesu FT-60R Handheld 5W VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Transceiver - Dual Band with Twin Display 5W TYT TH-UVF1

Click here to download the Manual
Click here for the list of the 82 frequencies we can preprogram into this radio for you
page 1
page 2

Instructions for Programming your Yaesu FT-60

Properties:
2 meter and 6 meter, 5 watt, male Male SMA antenna connector
Advantages:
Duel Band, 5 watts Transmit Power
Frequency Ranges:
144 MHz and 430 MHz Bands
VHF and UHF TV Bands
VHF AM Aircraft bands
Wide range of commericial and Public Safety frequencies
Disadvantages:

Aprox Price:
Amazon prices
$120-$140 New
$80-$100 Used




Icom T70A Duel Band Ham Radio

Approximate regular retail cost new is $199.99.
You can look for discounted prices or used radios on GOOGLE.
For details on this Duel Ban radio go to:
Go here for a Product Review of the Icom T70A
Go here to download the Icom T70A Manual

Desk Top Models We Have Tested:

(Still Working On This Section)



Where Should You Go To Buy A Radio?

Internet Sites we have found you can trust:

AMAZON
www.amazon.com

DX Engineering
www.dxengineering.com

HRO
www.hamradio.com

AESHam
www.aesham.com

(Do you know of any other reputable places to buy radios we can add to this list?)

Be careful buying radios on Ebay and Craigs List.
Byers Be Ware....Some good deals some "REAL DEALS"...
And Some "What Was I Thinking Deals"...


Local stores that sell Ham Radios:
(Still Working On this list)

Flea Markets that specialize in Ham Radio Equipment:
Mike and Key Club Electronics Show and Flea market
Held in March at the Puyallup Fairgrounds
http://www.mikeandkey.org




RadioRepeaterRado

OTHER OPTIONS

If you cannot reach a repeater, you can operate in SIMPLEX mode which is radio to radio but you still need a license to do that with a ham radio if you use the ham radio frequencies....... However if your radio is programed so you can use Citizen Ban (CB) or Family Radio Service (FRS) friquences, then you can use your ham radio for short distance (line of sight) communication on those frequencies without a ham radio license.

NOTE: On a CB radio, channel 9 is only to be used for EMERGENCIES....

CB Channel Frequency Table

Channel Frequency Channel Frequency
1 26.965 21 27.215
2 26.975 22 27.225
3 26.985 23 27.255
4 27.005 24 27.235
5 27.015 25 27.245
6 27.025 26 27.265
7 27.035 27 27.275
8 27.055 28 27.285
9 27.065 29 27.295
10 27.075 30 27.305
11 27.085 31 27.315
12 27.105 32 27.325
13 27.115 33 27.335
14 27.125 34 27.345
15 27.135 25 27.355
16 27.155 36 27.365
17 27.165 37 27.375
18 27.175 38 27.385
19 27.185 39 27.395
20 27.205 40 27.405


Family Radio Service (FRS) Channels

Family Radion Service (FRS)
Channel Frequency(MHz) Notes
1 462.5625 Shared with GMRS
2 462.5875 Shared with GMRS
3 462.6125 Shared with GMRS
4 462.6375 Shared with GMRS
5 462.6625 Shared with GMRS
6 462.6875 Shared with GMRS
7 462.7125 Shared with GMRS
8 467.5625 FRS use only
9 467.5875 FRS use only
10 467.6125 FRS use only
11 467.6375 FRS use only
12 467.6625 FRS use only
13 467.6875 FRS use only
14 467.7125 FRS use only




RadioRepeaterRado


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