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All-mode base station radio and antenna for emergency communications?
If you could only have one all-mode base station radio for emergency communication use (assume a working generator or simple batteries for power), what would you choose? Portable use is not expected or required, although a good mobile rig should not neccessarily be disqualified, since an emergency situation can force mobile use.
Just curious. I expect to see quite a variance but it would be interesting to see if a particular rig was more heavily favored. It would need to cover all bands, at least 160-2m, and all modes, but CW use is less important.
Second part of the question is what antenna(s) would you pair that rig with? If you choose more of a base station radio, also choose a more permanent antenna system and if mobile, more of a mobile system. A DX antenna configuration is not as important as NVIS and east-west coast operation.
FT-50RD, HW-8, HW-100, Swan 600 Twin, Kenwood TS-570d, MFJ-949, multi-band inverted V, homebrew Spiderbeam
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If you could only have one all-mode base station radio for emergency communication use (assume a working generator or simple batteries for power), what would you choose? Portable use is not expected or required, although a good mobile rig should not neccessarily be disqualified, since an emergency situation can force mobile use.
Just curious. I expect to see quite a variance but it would be interesting to see if a particular rig was more heavily favored. It would need to cover all bands, at least 160-2m, and all modes, but CW use is less important.
Second part of the question is what antenna(s) would you pair that rig with? If you choose more of a base station radio, also choose a more permanent antenna system and if mobile, more of a mobile system. A DX antenna configuration is not as important as NVIS and east-west coast operation.
For emergency communications, you don't need all mode or all band...you just need something that works. For Interior Alaska, 60 meters is wonderful....low enough that NVIS works at night and high enough that the absorption is low during the day.
YMMVEric
"A word to the wise ain't necessary; it's the stupid ones who need the advice."
---Bill Cosby -
I agree "all band" probably isn't a real requirement for emergency communications.
I'd want a separate HF rig and a separate VHF rig that covered at least 2m FM (for "local" work), and I'd want to be able to listen to and use both at the same time, which is something that cannot be done with most transceivers.
I'd also want something very, very reliable and easy to operate, since after the Big One makes the roof fall on my head, I may not be thinking so clearly but still want to communicate. I'd also want something that can be powered by 12Vdc, and preferably even by 10.5 - 11.0Vdc, as batteries drain and maybe can't be recharged.
For home, I'd want a variety of antennas in case some fail, or in case propagation favors differing radiation angles at different times of day (which normally happens, anyway).
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw
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The bigger challenges for a home station for emergencies is securing adequate emergency power and ensuring that your antennas are still functional.
For HF operation, transcontinental operation is probably not needed, though there is a new Transcon Net operating on digital modes on 20 meters in the daytime. Gearing up for NVIS operation will probably be most useful. That means 160-80 - 60 and 40 meters.
I'd start with an indoor antenna - in the attic - where it is not subject to ice and wind. Then add an outdoor horizontal antenna. Surprisingly, the T2FD design from B+W has worked well for me, and will work on the NVIS bands. It's not the world's greatest antenna, but it doesn't need to be either. There are other companies out there selling T2FD's that I haven't tried. If you are on the right band at the right time, you can lay down a LOUD signal in a radius of 300 miles using NVIS and low power - 10 watts or less.
Indeed, 10 watts might be an important number. Consider The new Ten Tec Argonaut VI. You can buy a 100 watt amp for it. But it will be easier to keep the 10 watter on the air with batter power than a 100 watt rig. The Elecraft KX3 should be a nice option, too.
The 'default' all band radios are the IC-7000, IC-706, and FT-857/897. The 897 with batteries would be another good option if you have a means to recharge it. 20 watts might be better than 10. Study the choices and look at receive power drain - that will determine how long you can listen without recharging batteries. If you can find one - the IC-703 would be another good choice.
If you have unlimited funds, the IC-9100 is the answer.
EchoLink, IRLP and DSTAR - adding interest to repeaters worldwide 24X7
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Any of the-commercial rigs that have 160-2m are fine. Really. Buy what strikes your fancy.
For HF antenna a 160m dipole fed with ladder line and a hefty outboard antenna tuner is simplest and most flexible.
Your choice on 6m and 2m antennas.
Are you planning a career of disaster preparation, or do you expect to ever step back, smell the solder fumes and enjoy ham life?
Bill
"Lossy Traps, Oh my!"
"Supporting AMSAT-NA Fox-1 Cubesat Launch in 2013!" -
I'd just use what I have right here in the shack - FT-950 for whatever band I hear folks on, with
a general coverage receiver to hear Radio Havana for the absolute honest accurate and up to date
information about what happened <grin>, 2m and 70cm for local repeater simple, and the most
important, local broadcast band on the 950 for local news.Dave
W7UUU -
Look into the FT-857D. You can work 70 cm, 2 m, 6 m through 160 m. You can work with 5 watts to conserve power or crank it up to call for help. As with most modern tranceivers you can work CW, AM, FM, SSB with it. The FT-857D is designed so that it can be used as a mobile unit, as well as, a base unit. It's small, light-weight and has a detachable faceplate (if you care to separate it). It has pretty low current draw when monitoring. But unlike it's little brother the 817, you can crank up the power when it's needed.
Regarding, antenna's a simple dual band slim jim is great for UHF, VHF (build one or just buy one for about $25.00). Simple dipoles for the others bands or use something easy like an end-fed and a tuner. I have a 40/80 m NVIS system sitting in the garage that can be setup in the back yard in about 10 minutes, if needed. I hope I never have a true need for it.
DXCC barefoot
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No trees were harmed in the posting of this message, but billions of electrons were terribly inconvenienced. -
What kind of "emergency" ?
Are we talking about a local event? Then 2 meter FM.
Regional Traffic Handling? HF NVIS
Or we talking DoomsDay Prepper Emergency? Then you want a TS-2000 "Mars Modded" for open transmit and buried in a bunker in the middle of nowhere and an AR-15 to defend it from the crazed hordes of survivors who are going to be coming.
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