Any Rochester area members with ham radios?

[usmcveteran]

Just curious who in Rochester area has ham radios? Wondering if anyone wants to figure out communications for our area in case things get shut down?

If interested post here. We could created invite only area to discuss details on here or some other way to maintain opsec.

[Norm DeGuerre]

I have a complete Drake set up that I have owned since the 1980's
no antenna though
perhaps I should rig something

[WARFAB]

I was just thinking about you and your HAM radio when I saw your truck at lunch last week. Suddenly wondering how much a handheld unit costs.

[usmcveteran]

I would say so! Just remember everyone that during an emergency you don't need a license to operate them. Uhf vhf are all local communications only and typically use repeaters. HF can be used locallyish if you set up antenna right but mostly used for regional or worldwide communications.

When you communicate via radio it's possible to triangulate your position. They can't triangulate your position if your just listening.

I picked a heck of a time to get surgery and have lifting restrictions lol.

[Norm DeGuerre]

License ..??
LOL not here !

[usmcveteran]

I was just thinking about you and your HAM radio when I saw your truck at lunch last week. Suddenly wondering how much a handheld unit costs.

Cheap. https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R...baeofen&sr=8-3 .

[usmcveteran]

Oh and I just bought antenna with same connecter as radio I linked too. So my antenna on truck is magnet mounted and hooks up to radio I linked above. You also need to program radio with local repeater information to use repeaters. Here are some for Rochester area. Offsets is difference between frequency given and 2nd frequency. Basically you transmit on 1 frequency and listen on another. Plus some have code you program in so it will let you talk to repeater.

https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeate...&loc=Rochester

[WARFAB]

If I bought one of these radios for my father could repeaters enable communication with Buffalo or would a HF unit be needed? (I'm clueless about this stuff.)

[usmcveteran]

I'm not completely knowledgeable but I know that it's possible to link two repeaters. So if you know how you can use your radio to have a repeater (if it has the functionality) to connect to another repeater via internet. So you could in theory talk to him in Buffalo.

That said these repeaters are owned by individuals and they could always change there codes or they could shut them down. So there is no guarantee. HF on the other hand doesn't use repeaters so you should be good. That said the learning curve is a bit more.
After this whole thing is over I'm pretty sure you can get licensed for free in our area.

[Cgrutt]

Can also buy small external amp for the Baofeng (or any other handheld) to bump up output wattage and range. I didn't have a lot of luck with my Baofeng (thanks USMC!) hitting local repeater not sure if it was too little output or too many mountains in my area...

[usmcveteran]

Didn't know they had amps for them.
I know mine can hit repeaters miles away but I don't have mountains to contend with.

[Cgrutt]

Didn't know they had amps for them.
I know mine can hit repeaters miles away but I don't have mountains to contend with.

https://baofengtech.com/amp-v25

[Meketrefe]

I have a ham in the fridge and a radio in the car so I am all set.

[usmcveteran]

https://baofengtech.com/amp-v25

I wonder if I could use that with my HF radio? I'll have to look into that, that would triple my power for a pretty inexpensive price.

[Cgrutt]

Have to keep input to 2 to 6 what's but they make other amps that would work fine with your Elecraft. I think Elecraft even makes one.

[usmcveteran]

Elecraft does but they are way expensive. I can adjust my output to 6 watts on radio instead of the max 10 or 12 watts.