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I have one of those neato Yaesu FT8900 quadband things, not to mention a UHV4 antenna, mounted on my white Chev van, but haven't really worked much more than the 2m around here with it. How far could I expect to get with it given conditions these days? Keep in mind, it's FM only. I'd really like to try and work a certain K2 station in and around the Fort Erie area. Is that a possibility or could I even go further?
I'm not set up to transmit on 10M-FM but I do listen to it on my HT and Scanner. If conditions are right, there are no terrestrial limits on range. I've heard Australia, England and Japan come in like they were locals.
If the prop is good and your antenna is tuned, you should have no problem. A lot of people listen to CB to find out what band conditions are. If it's happening on 11M, it's pretty much happening on 10 too.
The FT-8900 is a cool radio. I have the FT-857, FT-817, Alinco and Azden all which have 10M-FM. I also have a 10M h/t but the antenna on it is a joke.
If I ever get deployed to Afghanamistan, I'm going to make sure I have a FT817 along...
Are there any 10M FM repeaters in your area?
We have one in the Akron-Canton vicinity (Massillon Amateur Radio Club) and another in Akron proper - WA8DBW's interlinked multi-band system. Another is located in Salem, about 35 miles east of me.
Expect a coverage area of about 50 miles or so in diameter when operating 10M mobile, and if you're operating from a fixed station and utilizing a decent antenna you can double that distance for line-of-sight to the repeated.
10M FM simplex...I have a couple of rigs in the shack which are FM-capable and will be rearranging the Yaesu lineup in the next few days to include an FT726R and FT-901DM w/ transverter. Either rig can do the simplex bit.
My friend Marty, N8XPK has a high-profile 6M repeater on 53.17; it's PLed but all are welcome on it. AFAIK, the PL frequency is 110.9. If you're near the northern shore of Lake Erie you ought to be able to hit the machine via your -8900.
Dude, I have not talked to Marty in months.Quote:
Originally Posted by N8YX
Hmmm...nowhere near the north shore of Erie. Trenton is on the Bay of Quinte, an offshoot of Lake Ontario. The antenna and rig are set up mobile, as I mentioned. <sigh> I'll have to get that 706 working. Oh, for another 20 feet of tower height...Quote:
Originally Posted by N8YX
I saw him a few weeks back - he got a Gold Wing last year and was wondering how to integrate his VX7R into the bike's electronics. 'DSG's bike has all the neato goodies mounted on it, so we went over and showed him what to get. The ladies chatted by the hot tub, and the three doodz checked out the bikes, Marty's radios and other assorted man-cave stuff... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by KB3LAZ
You're close enough that you should be able to hit the 29.620 machine in NYC, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by radargrrl
Quote:
Originally Posted by N8YX
By the hot tub, why not in it? :lol:
Wasn't heated up enough. 'DSG has an aversion to 50-degree water ... :snicker:Quote:
Originally Posted by KB3LAZ