Actually there allot of FRS/GRMS activity around here...  I guess its easier for people to buy those cheapy handhelds that almost all the stores sell...

But there's no activity on the 3 151mhz channels and some business activity on the 2 154Mhz channels on MURS...  I guess this is due to 2M MURS radios not for sale locally...

QTH is actually West Kendall (Still within Miami-DADE) But all the way West near everglades...

WB2WIK:
>>Probably the "boonies" situation, I'd guess.

Your right on that one...  I am net control for the Miami-Dade Areas races VHF simplex net every WED @ 7:pm and my station does indeed have good ears..  

I monitored the MURS channels with my 746 pro, My radio cannot TX out of band, But can receive.. I am quite certain my station can "hear" well..

Theres not much VHF activity here, heck on 2M VHF SSB there only activy I hear is during contests..

WB2WIK:
   Before all this I was monitoring to see how much activity was in the air...  And in the 151Mhz channels.. None...  And the "DOT" 154's I hear business one in a while..  And I was using a colinear 17 foot vertical siting on top of my tower.. The bottom of vertical sits approx 55 feet up in the air...


K7PEH:
  Cant do that because my friends already know how much all the equipment is.. Because of all my gear, they are fully aware costs..  

The radios are not hand held units but actually mobile radios...
 
For a fact, I will be using low loss coax, short runs...

I dont want to freak out my friends suggesting I need to install a 30 foot mast...

Maybe better antennas (more money) are in order...  But what antenna?

I thought about the Yagi but an omni would be a better choice so all kids can d othe round table thing...


I think I will need more than a J-pole and/or 1/4 wave...    


bummer... I was hoping I can pull this off...

Hello guys/Gals..   I was wondering if you guys can provide some input and help save me some money also..

Here is the scoop, I have 3 friends of mine that their kids have been somewhat interested in HAM radio, but they are young (ages 11 -13) After talking to my friends about my plans they are super cool with it..

They are the typical kids playing with those cheaply GRMS type radios and can only play with the radios when they are together...

My plan:  I have allot of old ham equipment (hehe what ham doesn't)  I was thinking of lending them and help them setup a simple setup using some old commercial radios type accepted for MURS operation (2w max).. I also have good coax I can use...  But my question is antenna selection?   Keep in mind, this is all out of my pocket so I need to keep costs down to keep XYL happy...

The parents will allow attaching a 15ft tv mast and vertical antenna...    

What vertical antennas can accomplish communication amongst these fellows?  Assume 10 miles as the crow flies (max distance) 9.1 miles is the max between 2 kids houses.. the others are shorter distances..

Building an antenna should be saved for when they get exited and start studying for HAM test.. Im just trying to spark their interest so they can take it to the next level...

I have everything except antennas...  I was thinking about those cheap 5/8 wave verticals that sell for 25 bucks or so, but will this be enough?  

The MURS rules state, radios must be type accepted
(narrow band) and 2 watts max...  No limit on antenna gain, and anntenna hight is not an issue (5 ft or so above roofline)


The last thing I want to do is buy some cheap antennas and realize it doesn't work or work well...

We are in Miami, Florida so its FLAT...   Within the grid of the kids QTH, the tallest objects are 2 story houses here and there..  No buildings.. Trees are 2 story high, approx...


Your Inputs welcomed...

Joe/KI4CYB

FYI:  I found the answer...

Thanks...

>>Power is adjusted by a small variable resistor accessible through a hole in the final RF-stage metal shield, directly behind the RF-output connector on the rear.

Anyone know how/where the TX power level can be adjusted?  Someone mentioned to me there is some sort of pot somewhere to adjust TX output power level?


Thank You...
Joe

No problem....  

Just in case you did not know, HS Meteor scatter contacts can/and are usually scheduled...
Check out the scheduling page at www.pingjockey.net .  

But as you found out yourself, you never now who you will hear by monitoring the calling freq...



73 - Joe
KI4CYB

I was headed down that same road..   When designing antennas there are always compromises made when
designing and optimizing the designs.  I selected the 2M9SSB because my needs were solely for
144.100 - 144.300 SSB... (Phone/CW/Meteor scatter)  The 2M9SSB gain is optimized for this portion of the band,
If you needed 145-148 then 2M9FM is optimized for this area of the band.

The question is what part of the band does the maximum gain occur on the 13B2 that is optimized for the whole band
of 144-148?,   At least I know the M2 has max gain exactly where I need it!


By the way KE5COS, I have worked grids in your sate OK., along with other grids in Texas with (1) 2M9SSB and
100w via meteor scatter on 2M... And those stations had similar equipment, meaning they were not "big gun stations"


Like all 2M weak signal work, after you select your antenna.. Do your self a favor and use GOOD coax! and a mast mount
pre-amp DOES help in meteor scatter!

73, Joe-KI4CYB
Miami, FL
Grid: EL95

I use Logic7, its not free but can be customized to suit all your needs...

I don't blame you for not wanting to use the nets....  There's nothing wrong
with Nets, but why? Just pick a band and start calling CQ... and start logging..
The fun part is not knowing who will respond and from where...

And for DX, there is nothing more fun than breaking a pileup...


73 - KI4CYB

Grids worked from my QTH (EL95) SFL. In that
1 hour opening. Most Grids had more than one call sign logged for each grid.

EN51
EN52
EN60
EN70
EN72
EN73
EN82

EM87
EM88

FN00
FN03
FN21
FN31
FN32
FM17
FM18
FM19
FM29


It was fun...  

73 - KI4CYB

That same day Friday 21st from Midnight to 1:am EST there as a awsome opening covering the East Coast..  From South Florida All the way up North to Canada...  

This opening lasted 1 hr.. Band went crazy with activity..


Joe - KI4CYB

WB2WIK,  don't talk about bird problems!  That's a battle I am still fighting and loosing.

I feel like they laugh at me as I walk out to the car!
Maybe I am imagining things...  

73 - KI4CYB