C. Hamm
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Will rally for free.
Posts: 165
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The way to really do this PROPERLY is to find somebody with a SWR (standing wave ratio) meter. You want a SWR near 1 for max efficiency I believe.
As for the frequencies, it's all 2m band, and the band is THAT wide (4 in 146, 2% avg. relative bandwidth), and all the frequencies are listed in the 'band plan' in your Basic Guide, as well as online. Keep that handy, otherwise you may pick a simplex frequency some day and find you're stomping all over somebodies data packets, amateur satellite, or whatever.
I'm no radio guru, but try not to restrict your use to rally on 2 or 3 days of the year, and other times not know what you're doing, p-ing off knowlegable users. It's even annoying at rallies like Tall Pines, where there's so MANY radios out there, it can take only a few people to really mess things up sometimes. Just a bit-o-friendly advice to be careful with the new toy.
Bring the radio manual with you, too! You might find a version of it online. Download it, and print it off. Keep the original one in your files. I still use my manual occasionally out in the field.
What's your call Doug?
Craig
ps - of course, you know by Murphy's Law this means I'll be the guy out there sitting on the PTT now!
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