I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in news:XnsAD806F30BCB47mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

It's all in the antenna.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Tecsun PL-880 is your absolute best bet. I own one, and I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL880-Conversion-Shortwave-Reception/dp/B00GJ51NVA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pl880&qid=1628537055&sr=8-1


No matter what, you will need an antenna. Do you own acreage? If you
own a couple acres of land, I would highly recommend building a
beverage antenna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_antenna

https://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/hf-receive-beverage-antenna-systems


With that unit from Dxengineering, and 500 feet of wire, along with
that radio, you'll have a shortwave receiver set up that is much
better than ones costing literally thousands of dollars.


Ask me how I know.



The main thing with Shortwave receiving is the elimination of noise.
You always want to minimize noise. If you can do that, stations will
come in loud and clear. If you can't eliminate noise, you will hear
static.

If you don't have the land for a beverage, buy a LOOP antenna---


https://www.wellbrook.uk.com/loopantennas/ALA1530AL



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQdqDj_yCk


The difference between either of those and a beverage is ASTOUNDING,
however--

Get ready to be BLOWN AWAY---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkEgzaIZsIY



Do the beverage if you can :)






On Sun, 8 Aug 2021 03:01:07 -0000 (UTC), JustMike
<JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable >tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power >depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

No <no@no.com> wrote in news:8b03hgdc5hr4dm4goijafkpsft5k7sbh1r@4ax.com:

Tecsun PL-880 is your absolute best bet. I own one, and I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL880-Conversion-Shortwave-Reception/dp/B 00GJ51NVA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pl880&qid=1628537055&sr=8-1

No matter what, you will need an antenna. Do you own acreage? If you
own a couple acres of land, I would highly recommend building a
beverage antenna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_antenna

https://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/hf-receive-beverage-ante nna-systems

With that unit from Dxengineering, and 500 feet of wire, along with
that radio, you'll have a shortwave receiver set up that is much
better than ones costing literally thousands of dollars.

Ask me how I know.

The main thing with Shortwave receiving is the elimination of noise.
You always want to minimize noise. If you can do that, stations will
come in loud and clear. If you can't eliminate noise, you will hear
static.

If you don't have the land for a beverage, buy a LOOP antenna---

https://www.wellbrook.uk.com/loopantennas/ALA1530AL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQdqDj_yCk

The difference between either of those and a beverage is ASTOUNDING, however--

Get ready to be BLOWN AWAY---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkEgzaIZsIY

Do the beverage if you can :)

On Sun, 8 Aug 2021 03:01:07 -0000 (UTC), JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable >>tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective
power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

ThANK YOU for the very informative reply.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in news:XnsAD806F30BCB47mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

I guess maybe I used the wrong word: transceiver mean transmitter+receiver.
I don't want to just listen I want to transmit to others.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

No <no@no.com> wrote in news:8b03hgdc5hr4dm4goijafkpsft5k7sbh1r@4ax.com:

Tecsun PL-880 is your absolute best bet. I own one, and I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL880-Conversion-Shortwave-Reception/dp/B 00GJ51NVA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pl880&qid=1628537055&sr=8-1

No matter what, you will need an antenna. Do you own acreage? If you
own a couple acres of land, I would highly recommend building a
beverage antenna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_antenna

https://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/hf-receive-beverage-ante nna-systems

With that unit from Dxengineering, and 500 feet of wire, along with
that radio, you'll have a shortwave receiver set up that is much
better than ones costing literally thousands of dollars.

Ask me how I know.

The main thing with Shortwave receiving is the elimination of noise.
You always want to minimize noise. If you can do that, stations will
come in loud and clear. If you can't eliminate noise, you will hear
static.

If you don't have the land for a beverage, buy a LOOP antenna---

https://www.wellbrook.uk.com/loopantennas/ALA1530AL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQdqDj_yCk

The difference between either of those and a beverage is ASTOUNDING, however--

Get ready to be BLOWN AWAY---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkEgzaIZsIY

Do the beverage if you can :)

On Sun, 8 Aug 2021 03:01:07 -0000 (UTC), JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable >>tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective
power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

By transceiver, I meant one that can transmit also. not just a receiver.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Well now you're talking nonsense. You need an Amateur Radio License to transmit, and you WILL spend thousands of dollars to get started.

Get the Tecsun and beverage antenna to start so you can listen. If you
like it, then you can still use the beverage when you buy your $1000+
Ham Radio, and $300+ Power supply, along with all of the necessities
that go along with it.


Start off with a Gordon West Book-


https://www.amazon.com/2018-2022-Technician-Class-Gordon-West/dp/0945053908/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=gordon+west+tech&qid=1628693660&sr=8-6


Do NOT get the "Newer version" of the book as recomended by Amazon,
it's the wrong one to start off with.

Buy that book linked above.

Once you get your tech, start studying for the general--- Then you
will be able to talk on HF, unless you want to do morse code on HF,
then you can do that with your tech.



Enjoy!





On Wed, 11 Aug 2021 00:51:26 -0000 (UTC), JustMike
<JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in >news:XnsAD806F30BCB47mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable
tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power
depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

I guess maybe I used the wrong word: transceiver mean transmitter+receiver.
I don't want to just listen I want to transmit to others.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 09/08/2021 20:39, No wrote:

Tecsun PL-880 is your absolute best bet. I own one, and I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL880-Conversion-Shortwave-Reception/dp/B00GJ51NVA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pl880&qid=1628537055&sr=8-1

No matter what, you will need an antenna. Do you own acreage? If you
own a couple acres of land, I would highly recommend building a
beverage antenna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_antenna

https://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/hf-receive-beverage-antenna-systems

With that unit from Dxengineering, and 500 feet of wire, along with
that radio, you'll have a shortwave receiver set up that is much
better than ones costing literally thousands of dollars.

Ask me how I know.

The main thing with Shortwave receiving is the elimination of noise.
You always want to minimize noise. If you can do that, stations will
come in loud and clear. If you can't eliminate noise, you will hear
static.

If you don't have the land for a beverage, buy a LOOP antenna---

https://www.wellbrook.uk.com/loopantennas/ALA1530AL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQdqDj_yCk

The difference between either of those and a beverage is ASTOUNDING, however--

Get ready to be BLOWN AWAY---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkEgzaIZsIY

Do the beverage if you can :)

A proper beverage antenna is highly directional and not particularly
good for transmitting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_antenna

You'd have to build one for each direction you wanted to receive from.

--
Brian Gregory (in England).

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

In article <n0p7hgt9op828hn4npmg82i3oiek2q2i2f@4ax.com>, No <no@no.com> writes:

Well now you're talking nonsense. You need an Amateur Radio License to transmit, and you WILL spend thousands of dollars to get started.

You can buy used amateur radio equipment.

You can use low power (QRP).

Either way, you will need a good antenna, and for frequencies that
reach around the world it's tough to get it into a backpack. If, say,
you focus on the 20 meter (14 Mhz) amateur radio band you might be
able to come up with a vertical antenna that is 16' high (shorter
if it has a loading coil, say something designed for a car bumper).

That band tends to be long distance during daytime hours.

But, no, you do not need $1000 to get started. But the less you
pay the more you are going to have to learn about amateur radio.

And if your authorities are banning other types of communications
they will be banning amateur radio as well. Still better to get
a license though. You can always plead ignorance if you use your
equipment after a ban, but it's a hard sell in court if they catch
you using an illegal transmitter.

I recommend the rec.radio.amateur.* newsgroups, various other
amateur radio forums, or publications of the American Radio Relay
League.

George Cornelius

On Wed, 11 Aug 2021 00:51:26 -0000 (UTC), JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in >>news:XnsAD806F30BCB47mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable
tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power
depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

I guess maybe I used the wrong word: transceiver mean transmitter+receiver. >>I don't want to just listen I want to transmit to others.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

In article <XnsAD83595D9CFBmikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91>, JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in >news:XnsAD806F30BCB47mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable
tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power
depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

I guess maybe I used the wrong word: transceiver mean transmitter+receiver.
I don't want to just listen I want to transmit to others.

Hi Mike,
I can say without a doubt, the best radio for you would be a CB radio. With
a CB you'll be able to talk to a shit-load of people as dumb or dumber
than you. You'll feel right at home.

Now run along to rec.radio.cb and they'll hook you up.

G.Marconi

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

No <no@no.com> wrote in news:n0p7hgt9op828hn4npmg82i3oiek2q2i2f@4ax.com:

Well now you're talking nonsense. You need an Amateur Radio License to transmit, and you WILL spend thousands of dollars to get started.

So I guess instead of answering peoples post, you an ahole that just
likes to start flame wars eh? Transceiver: trans=transmitter
ceiver=receiver get it birdbrain. When the shit hits the fan and that is
likely to happen soon there will BE NO FCC or any regulatory agency
stepping on the necks of Citizens freedom. It doesn't take any genius
skills to operate a ham radio, your proof of that.

Get the Tecsun and beverage antenna to start so you can listen. If you
like it, then you can still use the beverage when you buy your $1000+
Ham Radio, and $300+ Power supply, along with all of the necessities
that go along with it.

Start off with a Gordon West Book-

https://www.amazon.com/2018-2022-Technician-Class-Gordon-West/dp/094505 3908/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=gordon+west+tech&qid=1628693660&sr=8-
6

Do NOT get the "Newer version" of the book as recomended by Amazon,
it's the wrong one to start off with.

Buy that book linked above.

Once you get your tech, start studying for the general--- Then you
will be able to talk on HF, unless you want to do morse code on HF,
then you can do that with your tech.

Enjoy!

On Wed, 11 Aug 2021 00:51:26 -0000 (UTC), JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in >>news:XnsAD806F30BCB47mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a
portable tranceiver that might include the following
characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective
power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an
alternate way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

I guess maybe I used the wrong word: transceiver mean
transmitter+receiver. I don't want to just listen I want to transmit
to others.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Thanks for the intelligent reply. Are there any good online sources to
shop for the used equipment you speak of? Maybe a collabsible antenna
with base? By loading coal, I am guessing you mean some type of signal amplification coil. Can you recommend any models that might be
lightweight enough that can be operated from a battery pack for short
periods or will I have to rely on grid power source? Thanks again for
your reply.

cornelius@eisner.decus.org (George Cornelius) wrote in news:eTaexY6Gm1Lf@eisner:

In article <n0p7hgt9op828hn4npmg82i3oiek2q2i2f@4ax.com>, No
<no@no.com> writes:

Well now you're talking nonsense. You need an Amateur Radio License
to transmit, and you WILL spend thousands of dollars to get started.

You can buy used amateur radio equipment.

You can use low power (QRP).

Either way, you will need a good antenna, and for frequencies that
reach around the world it's tough to get it into a backpack. If, say,
you focus on the 20 meter (14 Mhz) amateur radio band you might be
able to come up with a vertical antenna that is 16' high (shorter
if it has a loading coil, say something designed for a car bumper).

That band tends to be long distance during daytime hours.

But, no, you do not need $1000 to get started. But the less you
pay the more you are going to have to learn about amateur radio.

And if your authorities are banning other types of communications
they will be banning amateur radio as well. Still better to get
a license though. You can always plead ignorance if you use your
equipment after a ban, but it's a hard sell in court if they catch
you using an illegal transmitter.

I recommend the rec.radio.amateur.* newsgroups, various other
amateur radio forums, or publications of the American Radio Relay
League.

George Cornelius

On Wed, 11 Aug 2021 00:51:26 -0000 (UTC), JustMike
<JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in >>>news:XnsAD806F30BCB47mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a
portable tranceiver that might include the following
characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective
power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this
field. I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an
alternate way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

I guess maybe I used the wrong word: transceiver mean >>>transmitter+receiver. I don't want to just listen I want to transmit
to others.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 8/27/21 4:35 AM, JustMike wrote:

It doesn't take any genius skills to operate a ham radio, your proof of that.

But, you have to be smart to use the proper form when posting.

YK

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 11:01:09 PM UTC-4, JustMike wrote:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

Try a Eton Elite for about 150 bucks but a Tecsun 880 or 990 or even one of the 400 dollar ones from Tecsun and get a good portable antenna or maybe as much as 50 to 75 feet of wire. Just make sure not to overload the receiver. Internet blackout by
government.......not likely because the economy would totally crash and burn without a way for people to make money and pay taxes. If the Feds didn't have trillions in tax revenues they would shrivel up in a matter of weeks.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Monday, August 9, 2021 at 3:39:43 PM UTC-4, No wrote:

Tecsun PL-880 is your absolute best bet. I own one, and I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL880-Conversion-Shortwave-Reception/dp/B00GJ51NVA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pl880&qid=1628537055&sr=8-1

No matter what, you will need an antenna. Do you own acreage? If you
own a couple acres of land, I would highly recommend building a
beverage antenna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_antenna

https://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/hf-receive-beverage-antenna-systems

With that unit from Dxengineering, and 500 feet of wire, along with
that radio, you'll have a shortwave receiver set up that is much
better than ones costing literally thousands of dollars.

Ask me how I know.

The main thing with Shortwave receiving is the elimination of noise.
You always want to minimize noise. If you can do that, stations will
come in loud and clear. If you can't eliminate noise, you will hear
static.

If you don't have the land for a beverage, buy a LOOP antenna---

https://www.wellbrook.uk.com/loopantennas/ALA1530AL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQdqDj_yCk

The difference between either of those and a beverage is ASTOUNDING, however--

Get ready to be BLOWN AWAY---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkEgzaIZsIY

Do the beverage if you can :)
On Sun, 8 Aug 2021 03:01:07 -0000 (UTC), JustMike <Just...@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable >tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power >depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

I wouldn't run a 500 foot antenna with a Tecsun 200 dollar receiver though. Get some extra cash and buy a communications receiver or take the Amateur Radio tests and buy a transceiver that will double as a receiver. The 500 foot antenna will more than
likely overload the Tecsun or Eton or whatever portable receiver and then get images and received signals that aren't supposed to be there.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

JustMike <JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote in news:XnsAD8357B6498F1mikeisHere22dxxwqm99@46.165.242.91:

ThANK YOU for the very informative reply.

Hi Mike, You're so welcome, glad I could help. :-)

So what CB radio did you finally choose to buy? I hope it wasn't one with a shit-load of knobs and buttons. We don't want your dumb-ass back again asking how to work it.

Guglielmo

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

In article <eTaexY6Gm1Lf@eisner>, cornelius@eisner.decus.org (George Cornelius) writes:

In article <n0p7hgt9op828hn4npmg82i3oiek2q2i2f@4ax.com>, No <no@no.com> writes:

Well now you're talking nonsense. You need an Amateur Radio License to
transmit, and you WILL spend thousands of dollars to get started.

[I know, bad form to follow up my own post. But I don't want to just
copy all the clutter and negative comments - and I do want to revise
mine.]

After rereading your initial post I have decided that in a number of
ways the other posters are correct.

You want to be what the people in amateur radio call an appliance
operator. You want minimal investment of time and energy and then
want a solution that just, out of the box, solves all of your
evergency connectivity problems. You ask for us to keep the price
low, but do not provide any particular target range, while there really
is a certain minimal investment that is going to be required.

So it's quite possible that amateur radio does not actually solve
your problem as originally posed.

You want to be able to talk around the world. Well, hams do it all
the time. But they don't just pick up a microphone and reach out
to any specific person or any specific location on the planet. That's
what cell phone service is about.

Amateur communications is significantly different. You cannot really
predict that conditions will be right at any specific time to reach
any specific location. You may be able to wait for conditions to be
right, but your remote contact may not be listening at that time.

There are a number of bands - frequency ranges - assigned to amateur
service. Depending on the time of day you may have a good chance of
reaching your friend on some band. Is that where he will be listening?

Do you know what bands are available, what kind of antenna is required
for each band and what kind of propagation is available for that time of
day and that time of year, while also taking into account the current
solar conditions?

Now you are starting to get an idea of what amateur radio is about.

It's not anything like, say, satellite cellular service, which I
know absolutely nothing about but may be a better way to work
around regional cellular bans. For a small country, that is. If
the U.S. were to block various kinds of communications it would find
a way to keep satellite carriers out as well. And, with some effort,
might find ways to seek out and confiscate amateur radio equipment
used to violated whatever new regulations were put into place.

So, please, don't expect to post to a 'prepper' forum some specific
set of amateur radio equipment they can store away for an emergency.

Much of your request may actually be possible. People do it all the
time - e.g., adventurers traveling to remote outposts or sailing around
the world in small craft. But, first, they invest in good equipment -
ordinary run of the mill just won't do. And then they spend many hours learning to operate their equipment properly. Or they might recruit
someone who has the expertise to begin with.

You can buy used amateur radio equipment.

I should have qualified this: it's OK if you want to learn the technical
skills to make an odd collection of acquired equipment all work together.

You can use low power (QRP).

Mea culpa: not really for around the world use. But it is a way
to learn what you actually can achieve with minimal investment in
equipment - and, first and foremost, you are going to have to understand
what your tradeoffs are going to be.

Either way, you will need a good antenna, and for frequencies that
reach around the world it's tough to get it into a backpack. If, say,
you focus on the 20 meter (14 Mhz) amateur radio band you might be
able to come up with a vertical antenna that is 16' high (shorter
if it has a loading coil, say something designed for a car bumper).

I am _not_ an active radio operator, although I have had a General
Class license for quite a few years. So I can't speak to any
particular use of the ham radio bands. But 14 Mhz (20 meters) has
a reputation for being very usable across a range of conditions
and might be the closest to a band that is predictably able to
reach large portions of the world's surface at reasonable times of
the day. And since it uses shorter antennas than tend to be needed
at the lower frequency bands you may actually be able to improve your
ability to communicate via lower powered equipment just by acquiring
a directional "beam" antenna and an antenna rotator.

But no, it won't all fit easily into your backpack, and if it does
fit, expect a certain amount of setup time once you get it out and
begin deploying it.

Also, the batteries you'll have to carry to support a 20 meter rig
that can communicate with stations around the world are going to be
on the heavier side: at a minimum, a motorcycle battery and a solar
panel to charge it.

A portable directional antenna is likely to be a wire antenna you
throw up into a tree and arrange so that it has maximum signal in the
direction you are interested in - not too much different from having
a traditional dipole, or vertical antenna, that you carry with you.

[...]

I recommend the rec.radio.amateur.* newsgroups, various other
amateur radio forums, or publications of the American Radio Relay
League.

As you have found, this group is not really too receptive to those
who are interested in amateur radio. It's a shortwave _listeners'_
forum. If you want to invest some up front effort and visit the
appropriate forums, and if you are willing to invest a certain
minimal amount of money, you will find amateur radio will solve a
good portion of your emergency communications requirements, but if
you want everything handed to you on a platter, you may want to look
elsewhere.

George Cornelius

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The best advice I can really give here, is to get in touch with a ham
radio club that's local too you. Let them know you are interested in
getting started, and ask for advice from them. I'm assuming since you
are concerned about a Gov. internet blackout, that you are somewhere
outside the US, and may, or may not be somewhere where ham radio is
tightly regimented. But a local ham club will be able to give you
fairly good advice about both what sort of equipment you need, as well
as how feasable it is, to get licensed to a suitable level within a
timeframe you can live with.

On Sun, 8 Aug 2021 03:01:07 -0000 (UTC), JustMike
<JustMike@nospaminvalid.org> wrote:

I am a new poster her. I am looking for recommendations on a portable >tranceiver that might include the following characteristics.

1) Strong enough to be heard worldwide with a minimal antenna as
possible 2) Lightweight, carry on a backpack
3) Easy setup for portability
4) minimal power consumption with battery backup, maybe selective power >depending on desired signal strength
5) frequency bands that are widely
available to the public for worldwide dissemenation
6) I am on a budget so not super expensive.
7) Not super complicated to use-user friendly.

As you can probably tell from this post I am a novice in this field.
I anticipate internet blackout by Gov. and I need to have an alternate
way to communicate.

Thanks for any helpful answers.

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