Chris Weatherman's Comms Setup

[@granite-headgold1038]

Chris is on point when he says "get your amateur radio license now"; I've been licensed for over 20 years now, work in the RF business, and I'm still learning something new about RF every day. In a hostile non-permissive environment/time, to cut down on probability of being found via radio direction finding (triangulation), NVIS on the low HF bands or directional antennae on VHF/UHF, and usage of terrain are your friend, in addition to short transmissions; look into it, there are military FM's that cover this stuff. You DO NOT want a beacon pinpointing your location in a SHTF scenario!

[@granite-headgold1038]

@@SurvivalDispatch You're most welcome brother. You have a lot of great videos and information; subbed!

[@granite-headgold1038]

​@@SurvivalDispatch I do have to say, that I don't like Chicom radios, as their receivers are sub-par (deaf and prone to intermod) and they're generally pretty flimsy, but they do make a good entry point. I personally recommend old Kenwood or Icom commercial radios (like the venerable Kenwood TK-260) for needs-to-be-reliable field comms, as they have decent receivers, they're built like a tank, and they're idiot proof if you have to hand one off to a radio illiterate; old surplus analog ones can be had CHEAP these days on Ebay, as all the public service agencies are now narrow band, and most have gone digital. I personally run a Kenwood TK-5210 on my first line gear, as it's a damn tough radio, and the P25 capability gives me the ability to liaison with the PD, if such a scenario arises.

[@ADHomesteading]

Good communications is important. I currently have CB, GMRS and HAM in my system and I'm looking for a fourth option. Thank you for your videos.

[@rustyshacklefort3715]

Smoke signals lol. We actually have an old Morse code repeater actually, problem is almost no one uses it anymore. Maybe the Air Force thats about it.

[@AntiFederalist58]

I got my Technician license after reading "Going Home" and passed the General test shortly after that.

[@vandermey456]

@@SurvivalDispatch what model radio is shown in this video?

[@CorsairTrainers]

Thanks for the information. After the fires here I am looking to upgrade the radios we have!

[@eastwindfarms3671]

Yo Steve!

[@CorsairTrainers]

@@eastwindfarms3671 👋👋👋

[@davidfulkerson1187]

I love Hytera. I have a PD782G UHF v1, an MD782 UHF v1 and and an MD782 VHF v1. Very rugged radios. My next Hytera will be a PD 782 VHF

[@KGB-FSB]

Can you recommend where you got the programming cable + software + and that rubber duck antenna for the Hytera radio from? Thx

[@tomm2812]

Yep my Beufeng is lacking. It is an entry point. I have my HAM Techician and Marine VHF RTO and Marine Station Lic toying with General for next Spring Exam. Comms are important in IHTF. 73s Best Kxxxxx

[@granite-headgold1038]

Definitely upgrade your license; HF is much more useful/capable, fun, and there are a lot of other preparedness minded folk on the bands! Upgrade that radio while you're at it too; Baofengs suck and are flimsy (not to mention, banned on the air now, look it up!). For your SHTF/concerned citizen/militia/bug out gear, I highly recommend getting an old surplus Kenwood or Icom commercial HT (like a Kenwood TK-260, they're CHEAP now!), as they're built like a proverbial brick and have much better receivers than a Baofeng, hence why PD's and FD's carry them (get a couple, then you can hand them out to the radio illiterate friends in your group, and they can't screw them up since they have to be programmed with a computer).

[@wanderingcalamity360]

Awesome!

[@jsb1964]

Hi Chris! Very informative video. Is your Hytera the PD782V? It's an impressive rig.

[@charlesisbell4340]

What model is that radio? Not familiar with the brand. One draw back I see up front which is a physical issue is the antenna location being in the center. I'd hate to find a nice radio and skip out because I don't want to buy another radio holder.

[@jimcalifwin3760]

Thanks

[@Gman-uv9bh]

Chris, I live in the Columbia South Carolina area. I have a BF-F8HP radio. At the present I can call out to approximately 13.4 miles with the factory antenna. Can I expect to improve that range with the antenna you are showing on this video? If so how much more do you this I can gain? Thanks Gary

[@Pops_607]

What the model of your HT? Thanks

[@voodookitchenmama]

Voodoo? lol. I have my license. Got it so I could learn now as you said. Hope others will be encouraged by you to get thier license and learn now.

[@pugk9unit]

Nick is a great guy!

[@19neufeld5]

VoodooKitchenMama what license are you talking about

[@herbertschroeder3739]

@@19neufeld5 it would be the technical license. There are three you can get for ham radio. Gonna try and get mine in March or April.

[@granite-headgold1038]

@@herbertschroeder3739 You mean Technician? Get your General class, at the least; HF is so much more fun, and capable. Good luck!

[@granite-headgold1038]

@@19neufeld5 He's talking about his Amateur (Ham) radio license.

[@jhosk]

I am rocking a cheap baofeng, it's all I could afford, don't have a license yet but that's coming after the first of the year. Don't know if other manufacturers have it but I have a battery replacement that you can insert aa batteries in it.

[@leemullins495]

Jason - be careful of the AA battery packs. You have to use rechargeable 1.2v batteries to not overload the transmitter. It won’t damage it, but it won’t allow transmit. Receive will work fine. If you do use regular AA 1.5v batteries you have to buy and use I think one dummy battery to get the right voltage. Also with the AA batteries ( rechargeable or not) it will only put out about 1 watt max. Best solution if your worried about charging it is spend a few dollars on a cheap 100-200watt inverter. Car batteries are everywhere.

[@jfrphoto01]

As Lee says, make sure that you use a dummy battery in the pack as 9VDC will damage the radio (over voltage). Dummy batteries are cheap and can be found on eBay and Amazon.

[@morrowfarm9693]

County Comm 2m J-poles are not available for sale currently on their website. Any alternate recommendations to County Comm?

[@electrophonic]

You can not go wrong with a dual band roll-up Jpole from N9TAX: n9taxlabs.com/

[@jokeal3613]

I searched for Hytera, what model is that?

[@sldsnk3]

I believe it's the PD982i UL913.

[@kevingee4294]

-8

[@williammccaslin8527]

What is the price point of the HYTERA setup vs. The BAUFANG an can you clarify why the haters is better. Totally agree with the concept of comm's an I'm looking into this, thx.

[@petercristiano4068]

So this is a ham radio? I’m getting into comms and everyone uses baofeng but I want something that’s durable and will last. Any advice would be really helpful thank you

[@jfrphoto01]

That antenna is actually a Slim Jim not a J-Pole. J-Poles are made of copper or aluminum tubing, not 300 ohm (the antenna you have) or 450 ohm twin lead

[@nickknight9134]

What's the link to the roll up antenna site?

[@rustyshacklefort3715]

Countycomm.com

[@setofirons]

Why the repeat video ?

[@wild-radio7373]

For people like me :)♡♡♡

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

Is that a 2 meter line of sight radio? If it is, it depends on the repeaters, machines that serve the same function as cell towers, and equally dependent on power grids. Also, if you use it for any length of time, it serves as a position indicating beacon to paired listeners, who can triangulate where you are. Use it with discretion.

[@derekcomingo2197]

I have asked for a baoufang for Christmas

[@nagasainathkoduru9995]

Alunce HD-1 is good choice

[@evilfluff6634]

Cb is good to but they all are slowly dying out