I WENT ON VHF AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED!!!

[@nicks4489]

Hi Andy. Just wanted to leave a comment as i've been following you for around 6 weeks or so and you and Lewis have inspired me to take my Foundation licence exam and get on the air. I got my licence about 10 days ago and am loving the hobby, so thank you both very much for that. Was always into CB as a kid but never had a rig, instead popping round my mate's to get on the air. 35 years later and here we are. I'm from Essex but currently living out of the area, but hope to QSO with you when I pop back to see the family at some point. As far as the haters go, just ignore it. There are loads of people thankful for your content, so keep it coming. Thanks again.

[@andykirby]

Thanks Nick! Congrats on getting your foundation, look forward to bumping into you on the air!

[@ianmangham4570]

Awesome nick mate 👍🇬🇧

[@JxH]

Congratulations. I'll be 45 years a Ham very soon, and it's a great hobby even when you get older.

[@justiceforall8574]

People that hate you,Why do they visit your channel Andy.Because they are very envious that you enjoy life and your interesting hobby.You have great fun and it shines through Andy and not taking things to serious just adds to the fun.THX ANDY KEEP THEM COMMING...PS..LOVING THE TRANS music AMAZING TUNES...

[@andykirby]

Thanks mate appreciate it🙏🏻

[@2e0txe]

For everyone, those practical tests are now scrapped! You can do the training and sit the exam all online now in the comfort of your swively chair :)

[@dazednconfused31337]

I did the exam on a laptop, sat on the bed. Think he was trying to prompt me to sit at my wonky old pc. Got told off for slouching out of webcam view later, haha. It must have an inbuilt tilt as it was awkward to aim and pan around the room.

[@ianmangham4570]

Hi Damien mate 👍🇬🇧

[@BillyNoMates1974]

great work. ignore the haters, carry on.

[@ianmangham4570]

Great channel Andys, always brings a smile to my boat 😊🇬🇧

[@altypeRR]

Cracking video Andy. Surprised that the handheld got 20 miles. As for antennas mine is completely home brew. That for me is the fun. Mine is a slim Jim made out of a piece of ladder line and then the coax to the radio attached to the end of a 3m section of plastic waste pipe. Also got an end fed half wave for HF

[@allthegearnoidea6752]

I have the same slim Jim and your right they perform very well

[@DJ-uk5mm]

I don’t know anything about CB radios I stumbled across your channel after your offgrade cabin video. Now I’m thinking of getting into CV as it could be quite useful if the Internet goes down. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm is great

[@DellFargus]

Thank you Andy for being the about only ham radio youtuber who isn't always trying to sell me something. Your videos are fun and not a sales pitch.

[@raymondmartin6737]

Here in the US, maybe North America, with the band for 2M being 144 to 148 MHz, 146.520 has been for a long time. 50 years ago when I started on FM, 146.940 was common as repeaters started here often on 146.940, with the standard split of 600 KHz, being that the input was 146.340. My first crystal controlled 6 channel HT in 1973, was a Ken KP-202, from Japan and it was wired in with crystals for 146.940 simplex and 146.34-94 for repeaters. The other 4 channels were open to put in crystals of your choice. Some use locally here is on 146.580, and the common analog frequency on UHF is 446.000 simplex, though both bands use other simplex frequencies, and DMR has it's simplex frequencies. I enjoy 146.520 here at home being about 320 (100 Meters), on a hill, and have good coverage of the area, and also in the mobile. 73 de W2CH Ray

[@JxH]

Once upon a time, I was up a 1500m tall mountain, and (using a 2m radio) I made direct simplex contacts with hams about 130 km away. Easy peasy actually. Another time I was in Colorado and up Pikes Peak (famously 14,100 feet) and made contacts far-far away.

[@Neo-luke]

like the tune at the end andy

[@PenryMMJ]

Hi Andy, discovered your channel recently after falling down the KZbin rabbit hole. I'm originally from Essex, but now live near Manchester. Up here, talking to strangers is completely normal, people think you're strange if you don't start talking to them 😁

[@M7ECR]

just finishing the course for foundation just got ton book a test in my local area

[@cam8754]

I have my Foundation exam on Monday, i have just a basic VHF set up for now.

[@andykirby]

Good luck mate, keep reading the book and you'll breeze it!👍🏻😎

[@Ei2iP]

Next week SSTV from ISS, would a good video

[@g4kfjve7kfj34]

well done pal keep up the experimenting

[@wisteela]

Fantastic. I'm going to be out and about on 2m on a handheld today here in Mansfield. 73 M7TUD

[@chrisb012]

Brilliant. I gather you used to live down the road from me ( relatively speaking) in Halstead. Great to hear other people on 2m. Can be quiet sometimes!! Hope to catch you on air some time!! 73 from M7LGC

[@mattd6128]

Thanks Andy ,I had just commented on the video of your giant mobile antenna. I mentioned using 2m and next thing I know getting notifications on your 2m video very cool. I primarily use 2m I’ve not upgraded to the other bands yet but will be in the near future getting a new radio and expanding. 2m/70cm is what learned to operate on so it’s really fun to see others go back to the basics and make simplex contact when conditions allow. Thanks again from the east coast of USA.

[@digitalmediafan]

Great video once again. 2m can be great especially in SSB mode where distance goes into many 100's of km and much further during tropo into Europe etc. Nice telescopic pole but at £300 for the fibreeglass version if I assume it's from moonraker that's one expensive pole !

[@josegregoriogonzalez874]

Andy, excellent video. I would just add that also DV radio in 2M is also really fun. It mixes both VHF and some form of global reach. I have started experimenting with it here in Patagonia, only two people around that can do YSF-C4FM but we can talk to groups anywhere in the planet. Indeed fun!

[@jyunte]

Just found your channel - good stuff! Have you tried 2m SSB? It's a lot of fun. I used to drive my old pickup to to the beach and use a small horizontal 144MHz loop to talk from Orange County, California to Hawaii, a distance of about 2,500 miles. This was possible when we had inversion layers and I could take advantage of tropospheric ducting! There are regular 2m SSB nets here in California. Your IC-705 would easily make contacts of 70+ miles on 10W SSB!

[@g1fsh]

Interesting video mate. Dont let the youtube cranks put u off.

[@petermainwaringsx]

I'm in Swansea and the QTH 561 ft ASL. I've not really been active on any of the bands since the late eighties but this has inspired me to get back on. I am going to have to get a Yagi and a rotator on the house again. 73's DE GW4NFJ

[@andykirby]

Do it!!!

[@nigelsheridan6229]

thanks for the great vid, love the music too, well done 72

[@AndyRaysWorld]

Another great vid Andy 🤘 keep up the great work buddy.

[@MM0XET]

Cracking videos as usual Andy. Need to get you on wire-x with handy cheers Gaz

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

2m can be very rewarding especially when there’s a lift such as Tropospheric Ducting, seems to happen more during spells of high pressure weather in the winter months. 73s Andy

[@M5JFS]

My best tropo on 2m was back in the early/mid 90s. Worked a station in Yorkshire from south coast UK via the Caen repeater LOL

[@kcstafford7997]

Thanks Andy

[@Image_72]

how do you have your telescopic mast secured? Thanks in advance...

[@joeblow8593]

We have the same town names here in the states like St. Albans, Vermont and Forest Hills, New York.

[@johnnorth9355]

Glad to see 2m getting more popular all the time but don't ignore 70cm. My advice - don't use rubber ducks they are a complete mess for proper distance . I use a UV5R with a small mobile mag mount antenna placed in the loft of my single story garage using an old metal cabinet door as a ground plan. Works well. 73 M7BLC

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

Around here, an answer to a 2m call is almost as rare as hen's teeth.

[@patmlaftr959]

Had fun yrs ago when we were class b hams on vhf Worked a few EU stations on 2mssb 1 crazy day back in 2002 3 there was a right good lift on vhf some 2m ssb guys were working states too Amazing stuff 6m is also a great band Where we learnt out stuff After yrs of 11m of course Great vids Andy keep em flowin An as fur the haters Deafy them Send them love they hate that 💪☝️

[@JPDW3072]

Hi where did you got the fiberglass pole from ? Thanks.

[@garrysmith9385]

Following.

[@zjzozn]

Fishing shop 😂🐸

[@andykirby]

Ita a flag pole on Amazon, the big one is a moonraker telescopic fibreglass mast.

[@MrWirebrain]

I tuned to 145.350 frequency and couldn’t hear you! Ha ha, Have a wonderful day. N9NVU in the year from the USA.

[@coyote1uk745]

Hi mate its Liam in Croydon...shame I couldn't hear you last night..I'm a bit scratchy on your end but if you saw how low down the antenna was and the distance between us that's good going. M3WZQ

[@andykirby]

Mate! Good to see you on here! you were making the trip no problem, its weird you couldn't hear me, we might have to do something about that.😁 I can put my antenna up a bit, if you get yours on a pole in the garden or something I reckon we could 2 way.👍🏻

[@coyote1uk745]

kirby yes mate we could probably work through a repeater up your way either GB3NL or maybe GB3OY....but even better if we could do simplex that would be a challenge. I could detect the change in the static when you keyed up but couldn't hear a thing...I'm pretty sure my radio was set to 10 watts lol. I'll think of a way mate to get you simplex mate I once made a homebrew 70cms yagi that worked great...I could point it your way from the top bedroom...think we are 30 miles roughly line of sight. I too came from CB so like the ch mate....seems to be the old school G8s and Gzeros that don't want to acknowledge cbers. 73s

[@Aikidomo]

Hi Andy, catch you soon re applied for my licence !

[@anonhollmuller4032]

well done Video:) i as a german prefer your slang, because it is easy to understand! are you growing up in the north part of uk? i myself am growed up in the Bavarian forrest on a Mountain. (about 900meters, we have a lot of snow in the moment). best 73 de dg2r?

[@davegilden6603]

Great to see the content - 2E0GGC, down in Hemel

[@2m0rot]

How do you find the FT5D? I'm still loving my old FT1D but I may be persuaded to upgrade.

[@photosbycharles9880]

Never hate the Haters Andy, Remember they brought you a radio few months back

[@andykirby]

Very true!🤣

[@gorby928ify]

Great QSO mate keep up the good work 😎👍🏻

[@andykirby]

Cheers Damien, cheers for replying to the call, catch you soon!

[@DafyddWalters]

I was listening to some of the QSO with Damien 2E0EUI and the others last night, but sadly I could not hear you. I'm based in Eltham in South East London, so perhaps a tad too far. Somone suggested using a repeater (can't recall which one they mentioned), but it would be interesting to try that some time. BTW love the music at the end of your video! 73 de Dav M0WDV.

[@andykirby]

Thanks Dafydd, that's cool to know...Damien really booms out from his location and one of the other stations was in Croydon so that's up near your way I guess. Maybe we can try a repeater next time 👍🏻I could probably get my antenna up higher, that should help.

[@williamgrocott8925]

Love the energy and enthusiasm and the videos. Nice work. 👍🏻😊 Will, M0LGW

[@BrianM0OAB]

FT8 my fav data mode, hopefully I'm not wiping you out with my big signal :o usually monitor 144.725 and 145.425 ( on scan ) yokels generally get on around 19.00 to 20.00 on 145.425 break in and say hello, qrz for my station info _._ 73

[@andykirby]

Hi Brian, I have a feeling we've worked before, I'll break in and say hi if I hear you 👍🏻😁

[@BrianM0OAB]

@@andykirby It's very possible, have spoken to an Andy who walked about with a handheld but don't recall the callsign, I don't log 2m unless it's a data mode or a special event call, will listen out for you, right back to Ola Ola 73

[@BeavistheLizard]

Andy Kirby Net! ;)

[@Mr_Meowingtons]

i have no clue how the Diamond x50 works for people I have one and it SUCKS! even sent it back 2 times! and the mobile Tram 1180 and a stub J pole antenna blows it away.

[@kenn743]

hanradio is fun and amazing nice channel are there radio fox hunting in uk on vhf / hf in Forest / car ?? 73- 51 from denmark

[@paradime100]

Wait till you get either a temperature inversion or Sporadic E and then see how far you can get even on QRP ! Peter G4YAD

[@nicoschadjidemetriou4373]

Hellow Andy , my REGARDS to everyone. I am an old Physics teacher. I would like to warn all of you to protect yourself from thunderbolts, because they like the high antennas especially if you live in low populate area or villages . If you ask for more information you will have answer. With all my love, 73s from 5B4ER.

[@andykirby]

Thanks Nicos, it's a valid concern yes. We should be careful about lightning strikes. 73

[@ERICtheLATE]

2 meter out here has repeaters all over, they all identify on the hour, half or 15 minute cycle, but they are just dead except for maybe 2 with steady traffic. They should announce their pl tones, but maybe they like their investment to be exclusive.

[@Paddy_Roche]

You pronounced Jealous Pr*cks wrong Andy, I think you said Haters instead. Keep up the good work promoting this awesome hobby.

[@andykirby]

Nice one 🤣

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

Your getting trolled!? That's crazy.. probably Lewis using aliases lol

[@the1spyderryder]

The music is way too long Andy.

[@andykirby]

Some people asked for it as they enjoy listening to it at the end so that's why it's there 👍🏻😉

[@Andy71]

Love your channel and your attitude.. keep it up and keep enjoying the hobby. Anyone who has a problem are probably just knobs anyhow 🤷🙄

[@gingermongoose100]

I've got a cracking 2m set up - Watson 2000 antenna 15m in the air, Yaesu FT2800 putting out 65w, can get out 80 miles in a straight line - but I bloody hate 2m - it's CB for posh boys who look down on CB'ers,.

[@zjzozn]

We can change it…..💪

[@andykirby]

Nice setup! Anyone that looks down on CB is not worth bothering with IMHO, it's all radio. 😎

[@adrianthomas4660]

They are all ex CBers now , we were the new blood back in the 80,s 😎😶

[@zjzozn]

Great one 💪

[@erikswanenberg8719]

great vids let’s try 2 meter to NL when the propagation is right 😃👍😎

[@andykirby]

Yeah love a bit of 2m SSB! I've always wanted to DX on 2m 👍🏻ill be listening!

[@adi-hg2zt]

Hello is this music made by Andy?have a great day all

[@andykirby]

It's is indeed 👍🏻😊

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

Why do we need a licence anyway, just think about it, i do not think we should need a licence.

[@mark2w0jmk7]

Keep up the good work you do with all the video's. I enjoy watching them. Mark 2w0jmk

[@digitalanaloguehamradio]

Good work Andy 2E0UKH

[@brian.7966]

2 meter most popular ? is there anyone on there.

[@Johnyrocket70]

I found a bunch of people on vhf usb

[@andykirby]

Was it right at the bottom of the band?

[@nigelsheridan6229]

should have been 73, typo, sorry

[@M7BCN]

👍

[@Slickthirtysix]

I couldn't understand anything he said.

[@Tommy_Boy.]

Great video Andy! Fun and inspiring! Cheers & 73 brother! 👍📻⚡Tom - WA7FLY