Comments on: Ham Licenses. Who has one? http://polyphase.ca/2008/09/02/ham-licenses-who-has-one/ In Soviet Canuckistan, Blogs Read You! Wed, 09 May 2012 23:16:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Alan http://polyphase.ca/2008/09/02/ham-licenses-who-has-one/comment-page-1/#comment-27257 Alan Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:43:42 +0000 http://polyphase.ca/?p=253#comment-27257 Regarding FRS; Trouble is that the intercom manufacturers (the equipment that interfaces the helmet speakers to the mics to the other equipment) all expect you to purchase one of their own GMRS radios. They are approximately 2x the price of the unbranded version of the radio. In most cases they get a Yaesu or Kenwood radio that has been programmed with customer frequencies from the manufacturer. With this in mind, and the limited range available to GMRS, I was thinking that going with something in the amateur band might make more sense. We'll see. If we want to talk to anyone else, we'll need GMRS frequencies anyway. Most folks report outstanding success from ham / GMRS applications and seem miserable about the FRS applciations. Regarding FRS;

Trouble is that the intercom manufacturers (the equipment that interfaces the helmet speakers to the mics to the other equipment) all expect you to purchase one of their own GMRS radios. They are approximately 2x the price of the unbranded version of the radio. In most cases they get a Yaesu or Kenwood radio that has been programmed with customer frequencies from the manufacturer.

With this in mind, and the limited range available to GMRS, I was thinking that going with something in the amateur band might make more sense. We’ll see. If we want to talk to anyone else, we’ll need GMRS frequencies anyway.

Most folks report outstanding success from ham / GMRS applications and seem miserable about the FRS applciations.

]]> By: Herb http://polyphase.ca/2008/09/02/ham-licenses-who-has-one/comment-page-1/#comment-27250 Herb Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:19:50 +0000 http://polyphase.ca/?p=253#comment-27250 With an after-market whippie antenna, my VX-3R has toggled VE6RCB from my livingroom, 75km away, line of sight... That's plenty good. For real distance, I use crossband repeat through my mobile.. As long as I'm within range of my truck, I can hit whatever I need. But that's a different use-case than biking.. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1839 With an after-market whippie antenna, my VX-3R has toggled VE6RCB from my livingroom, 75km away, line of sight… That’s plenty good. For real distance, I use crossband repeat through my mobile.. As long as I’m within range of my truck, I can hit whatever I need. But that’s a different use-case than biking..

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1839

]]> By: Ryan http://polyphase.ca/2008/09/02/ham-licenses-who-has-one/comment-page-1/#comment-27225 Ryan Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:31:38 +0000 http://polyphase.ca/?p=253#comment-27225 I have the VX-7R. I also have a short aftermarket antenna that shrinks the form factor quite a bit. And I have the desktop charger/stand because I typically use the 7R as the world's most expensive weather broadcast receiver. From my perspective the main advantage of the 7R is the ability to transmit at 5 watts vs. 1.5, which is nice in the backcountry but probably irrelevant for motorbiking. So I basically agree with Herb and would add that the 3R saves you a bit of dough. For riding motorbikes, I would imagine a simple FRS system would be the cheapest way to go. I have the VX-7R. I also have a short aftermarket antenna that shrinks the form factor quite a bit. And I have the desktop charger/stand because I typically use the 7R as the world’s most expensive weather broadcast receiver. From my perspective the main advantage of the 7R is the ability to transmit at 5 watts vs. 1.5, which is nice in the backcountry but probably irrelevant for motorbiking. So I basically agree with Herb and would add that the 3R saves you a bit of dough. For riding motorbikes, I would imagine a simple FRS system would be the cheapest way to go.

]]> By: Herb http://polyphase.ca/2008/09/02/ham-licenses-who-has-one/comment-page-1/#comment-27209 Herb Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:17:54 +0000 http://polyphase.ca/?p=253#comment-27209 My friends all have VX-7R's and I find them big/clunky and more feature-rich than I need. I bought a VX-3R which is relatively small, probably half to 1/3 the volume of a 7r...... It's not submersible but it's water-resistant whereas the 7R is submersible... I opted for size over swimmability. My friends all have VX-7R’s and I find them big/clunky and more feature-rich than I need. I bought a VX-3R which is relatively small, probably half to 1/3 the volume of a 7r…… It’s not submersible but it’s water-resistant whereas the 7R is submersible… I opted for size over swimmability.

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