VHF Radios

[Jacques KZ]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of getting a radio for convoy use and to influence our convoy in the VHF direction. Most guys recommend to go the VHF route, since their reception are much better.

The ICOM's look fairly nice. What models can you guys recommend?


Thanks,
Jacques

[d4d]

Speak to Joe Berg, he owns JB 2 way Radio in Stellenbosch and
has extensive knowledge of all models pros and Cons ragarding
this. He also involved in 4x4 as part of Boland Echo fours.
His number is 021 8721245
As far I know he has the best prices on units as well

greets

Jacques

[Family_Dog]

Hi Jacques,

VHF radios offer many advantages over the 29MHz AM radios, but are more expensive and licensing becomes an issue.

Basically, the type of radio you use should be similar to the ones that others in your group, be it AM or FM, are using. While the acquisition of an AM license is straightforward, this is not the case with a VHF/FM radio.

Please hold fire for a short while, we are preparing a whole series of articles on the differences between the various types of radios and licensing procedures which will be included in this forum within the next couple of days.

We are probably going to introduce "Forum Specials" as well, so byt vas!

-F_D

[BenHur]

So BTW if you have not figured it out yet Eric (F_D) is our resident Radio and GPS guru/supplier, so it would be nice if the people here would consider supporting him.

[Jacques KZ]

Thanks Jacques, Eric, Bennie!

Will definately hold on until I can have a read through the articles and have a look at the specials!! :D


Thanks,
Jacques

[Knersus]

Jacques
Any Icom,Motorola, Kenwood and Yaesu products are in my opinion very good to have. Just make sure your antenna is set to the correct frequency and you will never have any radio problems

[pietpetoors]

Welcome back Knersus, good to see you here.
I uploaded a comprehensive article Eric wrote at
http://www.hilux4x4.co.za/radios

[Jacques KZ]

Thanks Knersus, Piet.
Very nice article Eric.

In the case of a VHF frequency, you will receive a frequency which can be used within a 50Km radius of your home, or Base. You are not legally allowed to make use of the same frequency outside this area

Does this mean that one needs to get a club license in any case and that this frequency allocated to you are pretty useless?
I intend at this stage to talk to 2 other vehicles in my convoy and not to a club.

Thanks,
Jacques

[Knersus]

Jacques I know ORRA (Off road radio association)is having a open frequency allowcated to the off road clubs ext. Look at the association of all wheel drive clubs "AAWDC" (do a google search i do not know their adress) and you will find info on the ORRA frequency's. Maybe Icasa can help you as well or maybe Family dog can pull a rabbit or two out of his hat and help you to get connected and get talking.

[Family_Dog]

Thanks Knersus, Piet.
Very nice article Eric.

In the case of a VHF frequency, you will receive a frequency which can be used within a 50Km radius of your home, or Base. You are not legally allowed to make use of the same frequency outside this area

Does this mean that one needs to get a club license in any case and that this frequency allocated to you are pretty useless?
I intend at this stage to talk to 2 other vehicles in my convoy and not to a club.

Thanks,
Jacques

Basically, ICASA gives the VHF/FM license for business use, and they reckon that 50Km is good enough. Over & above that, unless you work through a Repeater, 50Km is about the maximum you can expect with a normal VHF mobile radio in any case.

The ORRA does things slightly differently: They applied for a "Roving Licence", which allows them to use the VHF frequency anywhere within the Country's borders. A private individual could also do this, but you are required to apply for a minimum of 40 radios, and pay the appropriate annual licence fee.

Having said that, it is very doubtful that you would disturb any one else who happens to share your "private" frequency in another area where you might be using your own radio somewhere out in the bush, away from any urban or metropolitan area, although you would be bending the rules somewhat.

For what it's worth, ICASA generally shares a given frequency with up to 100 radios within one geographical area before it is considered saturated. The larger cosmopolitan areas have a frequency congestion problem, while the smaller municipal areas that are more sparsely populated, do not.

-F_D

[george]

Hi Eric.I just did my RRT Operators lisence for marine use.You need this to operate a VHF on the sea
Do you also require this to operate a VHF for land use?

Great article

[Family_Dog]

Hi George,

Nope, that is for Maritime use only.

For inland use, you have two choices: Either become a Radio Ham (Knersus can give more information here) but then you are restricted to only talking on the Amateur channels, or apply for the normal ICASA "Land Mobile Radio Communication" license, which permits you the use of a single VHF/FM (or 29MHz AM band) frequency. No exams for the latter are required, it is only a formality.

-F_D

[Knersus]

George you do not need to do it for commercial use. Only if you want to become a radio Ham then you write your radio ham license and get your call sign. I am a radio ham as a hobby and we use VHF and have repeater networks country wide. It is actually very nice to be a Ham as the operator gets licensed and not the radio. Therefore we can use HF,VHF, UHF with one license and yearly fee is R27. :D I know there are some 4x4 club members that became radio hams for the VHF and HF use for overlanding communications. It is also nice to know that should you be in any emergency you can always contact a fellow ham where ever you are. Any other hams out there

[pietpetoors]

What is a Ham?

[Family_Dog]

What is a Ham?

Heh... I could answer that in different ways, but I've met Knersus and he knows where I live... and he's a B-I-G guy! So I'll be polite :D

I don't know how this term originated, but anybody expressing an interest in Amateur Radio and writing the exam before going on live on air is fondly known as a "Radio Ham". Maybe Eben can tell us where the term was first used?

-F_D

[pietpetoors]

What does this whole Amateur Radio thing entail? Is it like they teach you the correct ethics and ways of calling people on a radio, like the courses we did in the army? Or is it more than that?

[Family_Dog]

Hi Piet,

In days gone by, when radio transmissions were still in their infancy, many people became interested in this "new" technology that enabled them to talk to similarly minded people all over the country, and by further experimentation, all over the world. Chaps with an interest in radio started designing and building their own equipment from - at the time - readily and easily obtainable parts. Clubs were formed throughout the world, the largest undoubtedly being the American Radio Relay League, or ARRL, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/history.html

Radio Amateurs, or "Hams" as they became known, were a special breed of men and women, all sharing a common goal - Communication with others, both locally & internationally. QSL Cards were born, this was a post card of an acknowledgment of a conversation between two people via radio. The QSL cards often depicted pictures and details of the Sender's location, radio gear, etc. Competitions were organised and radio hams had to make as many contacts with people in exotic countries as possible. It was a great way to break down barriers between people of differing nationalities and ideologies. Remember, this was long before the evolution of the Internet, whereby people nowadays get into chat forums (such as this one!) or even use PalTalk or Skype to verbally contact friends and relatives in any other country.

In days gone by I was very keen on Amateur Radio, when Hams used to build their own gear, some specialising in Low Power equipment of only a few Watts to cover great distances. Radio Transmitters those days were big & bulky, but they looked so damn impressive with their glowing valves which actually dimmed & brightened in tune wioth the audio & RF information passing through them. Now, it is a matter of purchasing little ready-built black boxes which are extremely complicated things and horrible to work on, albeit they are very much more functional and precise than the old valve gear of yesteryear. If a radio amateur of the 60s or 70s had to look at the inside of one of today's radio Transceivers, he would be at a total loss to even know what it was supposed to be! All he would probably recognise is the loudspeaker and antenna connector... :D

I feel that there is just no challenge to it anymore, but I'd better stop right here because, as I have already said, Knersis is a big guy!

"REAL RADIOS GLOW IN THE DARK!"

.

[Family_Dog]

What is a Ham?

Heh... This definition is from the ARRL site that I posted above...

"Ham: a poor operator. A 'plug.'"

That's the definition of the word given in G. M. Dodge's The Telegraph Instructor even before radio. The definition has never changed in wire telegraphy. The first wireless operators were landline telegraphers who left their offices to go to sea or to man the coastal stations. They brought with them their language and much of the tradition of their older profession.

In those early days, spark was king and every station occupied the same wavelength-or, more accurately perhaps, every station occupied the whole spectrum with its broad spark signal. Government stations, ships, coastal stations and the increasingly numerous amateur operators all competed for time and signal supremacy in each other's receivers. Many of the amateur stations were very powerful. Two amateurs, working each other across town, could effectively jam all the other operations in the area. When this happened, frustrated commercial operators would call the ship whose weaker signals had been blotted out by amateurs and say "SRI OM THOSE #&$!@ HAMS ARE JAMMING YOU."

Amateurs, possibly unfamiliar with the real meaning of the term, picked it up and applied it to themselves in true "Yankee Doodle" fashion and wore it with pride. As the years advanced, the original meaning has completely disappeared.
-Louise Ramsey Moreau W3WRE/WB6BBO

So now you know! :D :D

-F_D
<Stirred, Not Shaken>

[Knersus]

Pieter a radio Ham and a Radio amateur is the same thing. Some people prefer to be a Ham instead be called a amateur. Family Dog you have explained it well but maybe you all can have a look at http://www.sarl.org.za This is the website of the SA radio leaque for radio amateurs. To become a radio amateur you have to write the test and pass it before you can operate your radio and yes Pieter the basics of the test is to be on a standard to communicate via radio. Its a fun hobby and I love it. My interest in radio's started in the early 80' with CB radio and today I love my HF radio as I am able to talk anywhere in the world.

[pietpetoors]

My Oupa het 'n CB oppie plaas gebruik met 'n helse antenna langs die huis, "Ek soek 'n maatjie vir 'n praaitjie"

[Jacques KZ]

Basically, ICASA gives the VHF/FM license for business use, and they reckon that 50Km is good enough. Over & above that, unless you work through a Repeater, 50Km is about the maximum you can expect with a normal VHF mobile radio in any case.

The ORRA does things slightly differently: They applied for a "Roving Licence", which allows them to use the VHF frequency anywhere within the Country's borders. A private individual could also do this, but you are required to apply for a minimum of 40 radios, and pay the appropriate annual licence fee.

Having said that, it is very doubtful that you would disturb any one else who happens to share your "private" frequency in another area where you might be using your own radio somewhere out in the bush, away from any urban or metropolitan area, although you would be bending the rules somewhat.

-F_D

Thanks for all the informative replies so far.

So in terms of licensing, it looks like:
1. Using your private frequency en route and in bush and bending the rules somewhat, or
2. Getting licensed for the ORRA frequencies, but that requires membership to some or other club

Now the membership fees are R495 pa for FWDCSA...
In my books a small fortune for me to pay only to get access to an ORRA license...

Are there other club options?
Won't mind to participate in the odd club event, but some clubs requires minimum attendance to events...

Thanks again!
Jacques

[Knersus]

I thinks that amount of money is to much. If this is the case I will "Pirate" a frequency Get yourself a private channel and I do not think anyone will ask you questions. Ask F.D to assist you with ICASA applications. If you are lisenced no one can tell you not to use your radio. I think in any case that 80% of the security company's and private sectors who uses radio communications is not lisenced and nothing happens to them

[TopHilux Hilton]

My point exactly Knersus....what can happen to me if I dont have a licence..??

Nevermind a TV licence...

Is that risk worth taking though..??

[george]

most of the guys I nkow does not have.
I think problems can arise when you cross the borders.(Nam,Bots)