ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ย. 2024
- Contacting some PMR446 stations on Channel 8 from the second location in this series. Today I'm on Toghill about 8 miles east of Bristol, UK.
Highlights from today's episode include a 70km contact on a 0.5W handheld radio.
Mobile Radio - geni.us/rt98 (UHF variant)
Handheld Walkie-Talkie - geni.us/xt420
Magmount - bit.ly/327mDtG
Antenna - bit.ly/339gYCv
The locations shown in the video are my best guess. They are not exact locations for any of the stations and no home locations are shown (unless by pure luck). They are indicative to show distance and rough elevation profiles. Since editing this video, I have realised that 'Tog Hill' is actually one word and is written 'Toghill'.
I'm not an amateur radio operator but I love testing out radio gear and have always enjoyed trying out different locations to see where they can reach the best. I'm using CH08 which is the calling channel for PMR446. I use the name Miles on the radio to keep things simpler. Feel free to call me Torsten if you speak to me.
I use a mobile radio whilst driving during the opening clip in the video. This is legal in the UK and 2-way radios do not fall under the same law as mobile telephones. See bit.ly/mobiler... for more info. I am not qualified to give legal advice so this is purely my understanding.
Thanks to everyone who I spoke to during the filming of this video. It was great to get a few contacts and I hope to speak to you all again in the future.
Thanks for watching.
#pmr446 #channel8 #radio #dx #amateurradio #rangetest
Business Enquiries: info@tdcat.com
Collaboration: collab@tdcat.com
Gear: tdcat.com/gear
Music: tdcat.com/artlist
The equipment used in this video can be found here...
Mobile Radio - geni.us/rt98 (UHF variant) (affiliate link)
Handheld Walkie-Talkie - geni.us/xt420 (affiliate link)
Magmount - bit.ly/327mDtG (not affiliated)
Antenna - bit.ly/339gYCv (not affiliated)
How much is the antenna? I can see prices on all the other items that 👍
I got it from Radiotronics in the UK and paid £18.98 (ex VAT) for the AUGHB-VAR.
I don't understand how come so little people watch these videos... they are pretty good. Keep up the good work.
@@tdcattech Many thanks for the reply it's much appreciated. Keep up the great videos 👍
I've been idly monitoring the 8 at 8 and have noticed that most of the primary players in the PMR446 nets are using higher power and/or external antennae. Leaving aside contacts from major local hills, most of the contacts will be very local without non standard radios or antennae. Probably the best bet for a net is in urban areas. I live in a built up area on a hill, overlooking largely urbanised area with a view of two towns 10 and 20 miles away. Using a Retevis Rt24 PMR446 I've never had a contact from either of those towns. These radios are so cheap it's worth buying a pair. But for most people, don't expect loads of contacts. Also, during the day, most regular business users aren't aware of the significance of calling channel, channel 8. Again, from a hill during the day you'll find a lot of business activity if overlooking a built up area.
Thanks for the video. I hope the above observations will be of use to those getting into radio.
Are there some changes in UK Ofcom PMR446 regulations that diverge from EU PMR446? According to original standard it is legal to use PMR446 frequencies with only PMR446 certified radios that emmit 500 mW ERP, are for portable use only (not mobile) and have factory fixed, non-removable antennas. When antenna is removed and changed, the whole setup could potentially violate max 500 mW ERP requirement, that's why fixed antennas are required to ensure the requirement is met in manufacturing and radio certification process.
We have quite a lot of buisiness users here near Bury St Edmunds, I have not heard many recreational users as yet.
Channel 8 is used by a garage that is less than 200 metres from me for office to workshop communications, they haven't a clue I'm listening.
I have a CRT Space U with a Sirio CX 440 antenna which is about 20 ft above ground level.
Nice. How does the Sirio perform for you? Is it on a mast or chimney mounted?
The CX 440 is at at a height 0f 6 metres on the same pole as my CB aerial which is a Moonraker telescopic, about 1 metre underneath CB . I have bolted on a cross- member that clears the mast about 1 metre to the side, it just clears our Single story house/ bungalow roof top height by 1 Metre.
It is not guyed at present but is surprisingly rigid enough despite off centre weight. SWR is 1:1 across PMR 446.
I have a CRT Space U connected to this. Whole setup for PMR Aerial, rig, coax, cost only around £100 as I already had the mast.
don't want to hang about too long at Tog Hill!!
That’s why I was dangerously parked at the roadside rather than in a delightful picnic area nearby. 🤪🤣
I was chatting to someone recently who went up there to test a new rtig- he flashed his lights to let him through and the other guy followed him! BTW- is there much PMR activity in Bristol? Had very few contacts.@@tdcattech
Why bother with 27 when uhf is much better and no need of big lumps of metal in the air
Great cantacts
Interesting video with some friendly contacts. I don't have PMR experience, so would you say that it is more polite than UK CB, which is so bad in my area, you dare not use it if children are about?
It’s better than CB but not great. There’s a lot of business use which is certainly not for children’s ears (unless you choose to swear in front of your children). Remember, this is an edited video. Radio is always spoiled by this kind of thing even though there are some extremely friendly people out there too. 👍🏻
I thought it was Doghill...!!
It is. That’s why I avoided that car park 😂
If you are going to operate illegally why not do it on 172MHz or 143MHz
Hi. I’m very new to this. I’m assuming that you have to turn off any CTSS tones when you are calling out on Ch.8? I’ve tried around me but get nothing so far.
Correct. That’s normal for the calling channel to make sure everyone can hear everyone else. 👍🏻
@@tdcattech Thank you for taking time out to reply. Most helpful. Short of just shouting out into what appears to be dead air every now and again, how can I find other recreational PMR446 users near me (Ilkeston, Derbyshire)?
Go up on a hill on a weekend afternoon or 8pm on a Sunday evening and see if you can raise anyone. You'll need the elevation if you're only using 0.5W.
Pmr 446 UHF is brilliant better audio quality .
Yes, it can sound lovely. Particularly using 25kHz bandwidth as many operators do (not really PMR446 standard).
Brilliant signal ..
What equipment .
Equipment is shown in the the description and the pinned comment.
@@tdcattech thanks . Great vlogs .
Could you do a top 5 Walkie talkies under £100
Hi what was the software or app you used under Google earth to show the line of sight terrain please
This is all part of Google Earth. No addon or extra software for the terrain.
Hi..I was wondering what car antenna your RT98 is using?
It’s all listed in the description and the pinned comment 👍🏻
You need an ear piece.
I WISH FRS/GMRS WAS MORE POPULAR HERE IN THE USA. EUROPE HAS 0.5 or 1/2 OF A WATT. WE ARE ALLOWED 2 WATTS AND COULD REALLY BENEFIT AND ENJOY IT WITHOUT A LICENSE. ON GMRS WE ARE ALLOWED 5 WATTS ON CHANNELS 1-7 AND 50 WATTS ON CHANNELS 15-22 WITH A LICENSE.
Pmr 446 is not good any more know one on any more
I haven't checked for a while now (probably proving your point) but I'm curious if there's still anyone on around Bristol.
What garbage, you can tell that's a recording being played through the car stereo. Years as a radio communication expert you pick up on things like this.
He had the line out into his car’s Auxiliary. Years as a radio communication expert mean nothing if you have no common sense, Mr “Expert.”
@@EmperorMingg Chap. Fook Off 🤣
Radio ham user i expect, expert as being a ham operator🤣🤣🤣
@@JohnSmith-wl8cv I put the X in expert, fart head!