Ever wonder what the range is on a portable/mobile amateur radio?

[GySgt D]

My apologies in advance to anyone who is bored with my commo posts on other boards. I just can't shut up about it...

Soo.... What is the use of a ham radio, anyway? Communication, of course!

The relevence of amateur radio, post-disaster, is that it does not require any infrastructure (of which is controlled by someone other than yourself, as well as being particularly susceptible to interruption). It is just you and your radio, talking directly with another radio operator.

But how far can you talk? Below are a few examples from my QSL card collection. QSL cards are traditionally exchanged between ham radio operators in order to "prove" a contact. Many of these contacts were made with only 5 watts of output power (no more than 100 watts), and using simple, inexpensive antennas.

These are but a small portion of the number I've received over the past four years.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl20.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl18.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl4.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl6.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl2.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl5.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl11.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl13.jpg

The next one is mine
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/QSL29.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl24.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl12.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl10.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl9ab.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/qsl8.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl39.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl38.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl37.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl32.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl28.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl27.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl22.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/qsl21.jpg

[m14insd]

I'm impressed! Could you describe the antenna/s?:)

[bsdmon]

crazy i didn't know you could reach overseas with a smaller sized setup. i thought everyone just relayed into from spot to spot. i might just have to get into this.

[FN74]

Yes, 5 watts and the proper dipole antenna and HF bands with the right propagation will reach worldwide. HAM radio is an important tool for sure.

[Goldenspurholderx2]

GSD, I never get "tired" of hearing about it!

Roll on!,
Dave

[GySgt D]

I'm impressed! Could you describe the antenna/s?:)


Most of the contacts you see in the pics were with a simple home-made dipole antenna. Rolls up small enough to fit in the cargo pocket of your trousers. The coax to feed the antenna, however, is a bit bulkier ( depending upon what type of coax you use).

[GySgt D]

I got another postcard in the mail today, my first from Iran. Worked him with my Yaesu FT-857 and a dipole.

Was beginning to think he was never going to send it, as it was over two years ago that I spoke with him.


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/gysgtdqsls.jpg

That bottom pic... That is one heckuva cool BOV. That was the vehicle he was in when I made the contact. According to the back of his card, "My rover ZIL-131 is for hamradio and hydroarchaelogical expeditions. For usage in hard-to-reach places of beach of the river Dnieper, Crimean Mountains and beaches of the Black and Azov seas. Is Equipped with a diving post-compressor, altitude chamber and so on, douche, capacitance for water on 1000 liters, air conditioner, autonomous heater, gas oven.
Military radio station R-140, transceiver ICOM-746, Pentium 2,6GHz, electricity generating plant of 1 and 8 kW. The aerial -GP and dipole on the mast of 16 meters on a cover of the automobile."

Just a neat envelope..
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c256/arfcompics/envelope.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/avk6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007084713PM.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007085152PM.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007091654PM.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007085653PM.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007085944PM.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007093059PM.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007092909PM.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007092552PM.jpg

[GySgt D]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/03-24-2007092112PM.jpg