VHF or UHF?
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VHF or UHF?
Apart from Low-band VHF, what would be better for use in environments such as Dartmoor?
I'm getting a few transcievers to be used by duke of edinburgh leaders to keep in contact during the walks.
I'm thinking VHF would be better and UHF would probably work too? But any opinions?
I'm getting a few transcievers to be used by duke of edinburgh leaders to keep in contact during the walks.
I'm thinking VHF would be better and UHF would probably work too? But any opinions?
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Re: VHF or UHF?
Which band do you or they have a licence for?
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Re: VHF or UHF?
I've got a licence for both and handsets for both. Just enquiring as to what'll be best to bring along.
I'm guessing VHF. But would UHF handle the hills better?
I'm guessing VHF. But would UHF handle the hills better?
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Re: VHF or UHF?
If it’s UK General then VHF, as you would have a repeater
Motorola GP300 would be good radios, Built like a brick you can hammer the tent pegs in with it if you don’t have a hammer.
Motorola GP300 would be good radios, Built like a brick you can hammer the tent pegs in with it if you don’t have a hammer.
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Re: VHF or UHF?
I've got GP300s
What repeater do you mean?
What repeater do you mean?
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Re: VHF or UHF?
Repeaters on UK GEN? tut tut.MikeSE9 wrote:If it’s UK General then VHF, as you would have a repeater
Motorola GP300 would be good radios, Built like a brick you can hammer the tent pegs in with it if you don’t have a hammer.
Alex, low vhf would be better, but vhf is your second choice for a wide open space with not a lot of glass / concrete.
If possible, and it could be viable if taking a large rucksack, consider a loooooong antenna for the gp300, put it in the side pocket of the rucksack with the antena fed through loops, run off a speaker mic.
Or if you are using shorter helicals, place the radio as high as possible on the front straps, and use without accessories
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Re: VHF or UHF?
On Hire frequencies you are allowed to put up repeaters.
But if it’s a UK General Licence you are only allowed simplex
If it’s simplex then VHF would be best on the hills
But if it’s a UK General Licence you are only allowed simplex
If it’s simplex then VHF would be best on the hills
- Yeti
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Re: VHF or UHF?
Agreed.
And it's been discussed on here before - Low Band VHF on handies really isn't much better than High Band because of the shortened aerials.
Last Christmas I took UHF handies out with us in the Galloway Forest - but this year I've sold them all and we'll be taking VHF next time.
And it's been discussed on here before - Low Band VHF on handies really isn't much better than High Band because of the shortened aerials.
Last Christmas I took UHF handies out with us in the Galloway Forest - but this year I've sold them all and we'll be taking VHF next time.
Will the next movie in the series be The Fast and The Funeral?
- bigbloke
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Re: VHF or UHF?
Search and Rescue teams use low band vhf (though one primary channel was /is due to be withdrawn - end 2008 or 2009??) and have in the last few years been allocated a wide selection of high band vhf allocations.
The only non-sattelite UHF SAR channel I know of (excluding Airwave) is the helo intercom which is intentionally VERY short range.
I would therefore follow their experience model...however...that said...
If you have a UK general licence, I would look at VHF high band primary with low band as backup, I derive this suggestion from sheer practicality of hand portable antenna perspective (low band helicals arent much cop - and a quarter-wave telescopic whip, though do-able at around 86cms, is seriously top heavy on most radios , unless you vehicle mount the all the low band kit.
BUT given as you are on Dartmoor I would use DCS channel lock coding rather than CTCSS as you may find yourself hearing the business minutae from all-the-world-and-his-wife for miles around otherwise!
I would advance survey a few high spots on the proposed routes with something like a uniden 3500 in tone search mode to see which channels are quietest and what lock tones are in use in the areas.
You also need to be aware that there are some BIG tx sites on dartmoor (e.g. North Hessary Tor) so you need to ensure your comms dont get blocked by signal overload.
Can't beat good planning!! - in fact since there is a safety of life issue, I would extensively test comms along the routes on at least one weekend prior to the event !!
regards
BB
(who has practical experience in the field having managed comms for a local outdoor group who undertake an annual public 25ish mile hill walk)
The only non-sattelite UHF SAR channel I know of (excluding Airwave) is the helo intercom which is intentionally VERY short range.
I would therefore follow their experience model...however...that said...
If you have a UK general licence, I would look at VHF high band primary with low band as backup, I derive this suggestion from sheer practicality of hand portable antenna perspective (low band helicals arent much cop - and a quarter-wave telescopic whip, though do-able at around 86cms, is seriously top heavy on most radios , unless you vehicle mount the all the low band kit.
BUT given as you are on Dartmoor I would use DCS channel lock coding rather than CTCSS as you may find yourself hearing the business minutae from all-the-world-and-his-wife for miles around otherwise!
I would advance survey a few high spots on the proposed routes with something like a uniden 3500 in tone search mode to see which channels are quietest and what lock tones are in use in the areas.
You also need to be aware that there are some BIG tx sites on dartmoor (e.g. North Hessary Tor) so you need to ensure your comms dont get blocked by signal overload.
Can't beat good planning!! - in fact since there is a safety of life issue, I would extensively test comms along the routes on at least one weekend prior to the event !!
regards
BB
(who has practical experience in the field having managed comms for a local outdoor group who undertake an annual public 25ish mile hill walk)
- bigbloke
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Re: VHF or UHF?
also - afterthought !!
take a look at AQUAPAC watertight bags - the large VHF marine handy one particularly - radios can get quite soggy in low cloud / dropped in streams / mud etc - I swear by mine !!
take a look at AQUAPAC watertight bags - the large VHF marine handy one particularly - radios can get quite soggy in low cloud / dropped in streams / mud etc - I swear by mine !!
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Re: VHF or UHF?
You'd also need a similar length trailing counterpoise to get decent performance from a low band antenna - not very practical unless you're going to use a backpack.bigbloke wrote:I would look at VHF high band primary with low band as backup, I derive this suggestion from sheer practicality of hand portable antenna perspective (low band helicals arent much cop - and a quarter-wave telescopic whip, though do-able at around 86cms, is seriously top heavy on most radios
Same here - they might look expensive for what they are, but in my experience if you're going to get rained on solidly all day your radio will get full of water, wherever you put it, unless its either waterproof or in an aquapac.bigbloke wrote:take a look at AQUAPAC watertight bags - the large VHF marine handy one particularly - radios can get quite soggy in low cloud / dropped in streams / mud etc - I swear by mine !!
- jackdawman
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Re: VHF or UHF?
I know beggar-all about VHF, but I use UHF in some appalling conditions from October to February every year with reasonable success. I've just started using purpose-built radio covers and they're very good, but don't ignore the humble freezer bag which will save your radio, fags, wallet, mobphone and sweeties. I seriously never leave home without 5.
Intek HR5500, RCI Ranger 2950,Sirio Megawatt 4000, Wouxon UVD2P
Baofeng UV3-R, Baofeng BF888S, Baofeng UV-5R
Midland G7, Binatone Action 950 and other PMR446 orphans
Baofeng UV3-R, Baofeng BF888S, Baofeng UV-5R
Midland G7, Binatone Action 950 and other PMR446 orphans
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Re: VHF or UHF?
That'll be the VHF ones I take then
I do search eBay for low-band handheld but they rarely come up and when they do they cost a lot!
I do search eBay for low-band handheld but they rarely come up and when they do they cost a lot!
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Re: VHF or UHF?
well these days on low band I run a KG-699E (chinese jobbie) admittedly NOT with the supplied helical very often - most days its on 4m (70.4- 70.475) running into a 1/4 wave on a boot lip mounted panorama base.
Superb rf performance, (genuine lab figures posted to the UK 4m website)
It makes my old PFX look pig sick! and NONE of the goddamned PFX zebra strip problems!"
worked in excess of 50 miles on it - and heard in excess of 100!!
regards
BB
Superb rf performance, (genuine lab figures posted to the UK 4m website)
It makes my old PFX look pig sick! and NONE of the goddamned PFX zebra strip problems!"
worked in excess of 50 miles on it - and heard in excess of 100!!
regards
BB
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Re: VHF or UHF?
Up in the Yorkshire Dales SAR use Hi band VHF and airwaves.
In Scotland they use Hi band VHF with low band VHF as a feed link for cross-band rebroadcasting
In Scotland they use Hi band VHF with low band VHF as a feed link for cross-band rebroadcasting