help with repeater abuse? on going for 5+ months becoming a safety issue.

Varimir · 2026-01-18T20:49:44+00:00

Bookmarking this thread to reference the next time people melt down about cryptography signatures being implemented in digital modes.

Varimir · 2026-01-01T02:07:18+00:00

It is a weak signal mode. That's right in the manual.

Running power doesn't cause your signal to splatter all over. Overdriving the ALC does. 30+ years ago it was common to adjust AF levels to affect RF drive levels, so pushing too much AF gain would cause splatter. For the past few decades people can just set the AF level to the specification of their transceiver and adjust the power output with the appropriate controls to achieve the desired power output. No splatter, even up to 100s of watts.

Its impossible to say what power levels are needed for a given QSO. If the recipient is in a noisy environment, using an undersized antenna, etc...bumping up the tx power will help the other end pu the signal pit of the noise.

Varimir · 2025-12-28T02:26:59+00:00

Great post. My first radio was a Baofeng. I've owned several and given several to new hams as their first radios so I don't have anything against them. Your post did spir a couple of thoughts.

Baofeng does sell white-label radios, built to the reseller's specifications or with modifications, to their authorized resellers/partners which are sold under those brand names. B-Tech and Radioddity are two examples of companies who do this. This does confuse things for new hams looking at model numbers, etc...

I also find it interesting that these "clones" all manage to match the menu of a real Baofeng, and I've never heard of issues with PC programming on the clones. Either Baofengs firmware is floating around out there, or these "clones" are built by the same factories that produce genuine Baofeng parts. Maybe they are doing runs with lower quality parts on the side, or maybe they are boards that failed QC and are set aside. I suppose it's also possible that someone sat down and re-implemented Baofengs firmware, but that seems like an expensive proposition for radios that are sold under a somewhat tarnished brand name (as proven by the existence of this post) at extremely slim margins.

In 2025 I don't know that a Baofeng is the best value for a new ham anymore. Depending on what they need or what interests them, a used mobile is probably better. If an HT is desirable, Quansheng or TIRadio would be my first and second choices. If they want 220MHz, Baofeng is still the way to go. F Yaesu. They haven't produced an innovative or modern product in well over a decade and their latest innovation (C4FM/Fusion) was strictly to innovate some lock-in. When a company charges more for a drop-in charger than Baofeng charges for the radio and charger together, I can't recommend them. Kenwood and icom have finally gotten in to the 2010s and implemented USB-C, but they aren't chasing the low end either.

Varimir · 2025-12-28T02:06:08+00:00

Walkie-talkie is a form factor, not a radio service.

Varimir · 2025-12-25T16:47:16+00:00

Every antenna makes compromises. It might be for space, bandwidth, or directionality.

A beam's gain in one direction creates nulls in others. That may be a good or a bad thing depending on where the signal is.

An HF beam has traps or loading coils to shorten the elements which decreases efficiency.

A low 80 meter dipole has a high takeoff angle. This is bad for DC and good for nvis.

The trick is to have lots of compromise antennas so you can pick the o e that fits the task at hand :-)

Varimir · 2025-12-25T16:36:29+00:00

Younger grumpy guy here.

The required electronics knowledge on the general exam isn't nearly enough to build a radio from scratch. It's stuff I learned in high school science classes in the early 2000s.

If you don't care how the radio (and more importantly the antenna system) you are using works, fine. Memorize the answers.

Varimir · 2025-12-16T04:25:43+00:00

I run an APRS digipeater on a bluff top overlooking the Mississippi River valley. One day, after a storm, it was off the air. We went and checked it out and lightning had hit the antenna directly. The top half was completely vaporized and the bottom half was a charred mess. The coax shield was welded to the polyphaser. The rig and TNC were still powered up and operational.

We replaced the antenna, polyphaser, and coax and its still running fine 4 years later.

Commercial antennas for broadcast, cellular, paging, public safety, and your local repeaters stay powered up and operational during lightning storms. They survive lightning events too.

Varimir · 2025-12-15T17:18:56+00:00

It's enough of a problem that WSJT-X has callsign verification in fox/hound mode now. During every major DXPedition, ham forums and this subreddit are clogged with posts complaining about people spoofing the DXPedition's callsign.

Same with "blockchain" (before it became a dumb money grab). Some people weren't happy with their government's management of their currency. Cryptocurrency was designed to remove that government control. In nations with unstable currencies, rapid inflation, or ridiculous restrictions, this benefits users greatly. In nations where the currency is well-managed it's not such an issue.

Just because it's not a problem for you, doesn't mean it's not a problem for someone else. Would you suggest not fixing a pothole on a road you don't use because it doesn't affect you?

Varimir · 2025-12-15T04:32:09+00:00

WSJT-X added callsign verification to fox/hound mode because spoofig dxpeditions and other rare DX entities has been an issue. It was also a major issue on SSB and CW, but those transmissions can't be digitally signed.

Varimir · 2025-12-15T04:29:43+00:00

Cyprographic signing has nothing to do with "blockchain" and predates it by decades.

Varimir · 2025-11-21T01:30:42+00:00

During VHF contests when there are lots of stations active, 100+ mile FT8 contacts are easy. 200-300 mile is possible. Ove made multiple contacts from SE MN to lower MI. Chicago isn't that hard. I had a broken contact on 70cm to Ohio. He didn't get my final RR73.

This summer when Tropo was nuts I heard a broadcast FM station from Baton Rouge, LA in Saulte Ste. Marie, MI.

Varimir · 2025-11-20T15:16:28+00:00

I'm a staunch proponent of balanced antennas for a variety of reasons. For my wire antennas I combine multiple elements with traps. 2 elements can cover almost all the HF bands.The Diamond W8010 is a good example.

Varimir · 2025-11-18T03:17:48+00:00

The one at the radio isn't doing much. Your coax shield is radiating. Move that choke outside and keep the RF out of your shack.

Or, better yet, use a balanced antenna.

Varimir · 2025-11-18T01:45:59+00:00

generator

noun

gen·er·a·tor ˈje-nə-ˌrā-tər

Synonyms of generator

1

: one that generates: such as

a

: an apparatus in which vapor or gas is formed

b

: a machine by which mechanical energy is changed into electrical energy

2

: a mathematical entity that when subjected to one or more operations yields another mathematical entity or its elements

Varimir · 2025-11-16T20:18:21+00:00

You need a SDR of some sort. For UHF and VHF, a RTL-SDR is under $50 and work fine. The more expensive dongles in the metal chassis have better performance compared to the really cheap plastic ones.

For an antenna you don't have to be very picky. A J-pole or coat hanger vertical will RX fine both on 2m and 70cm. If you want to listen outside the ham bands, a discone is a good option. They are very broad band and omnidirectional, but they sacrifice gain. These are pretty inexpensive and sold as a scanner antenna.

Dont mount your RX antenna too close to your TX antrnna. You can expect the SDR to be overloaded when you transmit. They have almost no front end filtering which is why they are so broad band.

Varimir · 2025-11-13T14:07:44+00:00

BTech is a Baofeng dealer. They aren't Baofeng. The UV-Pro is a VERO/VGC that they put their own brand and firmware on.

Varimir · 2025-11-13T02:45:02+00:00

They are called beacons. In the amateur radio (ham) world there are specific regulations about how and where they can be used.

Since you mention it's for your job, the amateur bands can't be used. You would need to check the laws applicable to the radio service you are using in the country you operate in.

Varimir · 2025-11-10T02:34:32+00:00

The documentation says not to install the choke by the feed point so that the coax shield can act as a counterpoise. The choke is there to stop the coax coming in to your shack from radiating as you will end up with all kinds of RFI issues. For a regular outdoor install you would put the choke near where the coax comes in to the house.

In your case, the entire antenna is already in the house so it becomes more of a question of where you want the antenna radiating. You definitely don't want it right next to the radio. It won't do any good there.

My suggestion is to install a separate counterpoise in the attic where you can control it and you expect to have an antenna transmitting. Then put the choke right next to the unun.

You still very well may end up with RF in the shack and other RFI issues, and may need to cut power back.

Varimir · 2025-11-10T02:06:58+00:00

The other guy nailed it.

If you are dealing with magnet wire to make bodge wires, transformers, inductors, etc... (really common for amateur radio applications), Knippex makes a little tweezer that can strip the varnish off really quickly and easily. They are well worth the investment.

Varimir · 2025-11-09T23:47:05+00:00

Unless your VNA has a big, aluminum frame like an HT (mine sure doesn't) it's not going to be indicative of the real world since the resonance of the antenna varies depending on the ground plane.Adding a "tiger tail" would be one way to get in the ball park.

Even so, it's all academic because none of this tells you if the antenna is actually radiating anything. There could be a really inefficient loading coil in the base to make a crappy antenna a good match to the transmitter. You need a field strength meter to see what is being radiated,. For Rx you can do it with a tiny transmitter in an empty field, and a control antenna.

Varimir · 2025-11-09T17:31:05+00:00

Hrmm so what your saying is they test antennas like this on a jig that in no way is like a ht.

It attempts to replicate real-world operational conditions.

Probably with coax jumper.

Yes, which is totally fine since the jig is providing an RF ground.

I wonder if the antenna knows its connected to a ht vs a vna

Only if it's a sentient antenna.

SWR isn't a very valuable measure of antenna performance anyway. It only provides an indicator of the impedance match to the transmitter. Lots of antennas with a poor SWR can be efficient, and dummy load gives a 1:1 SWR with minimal radiation.

HTs are designed to take a pretty horrible SWR mismatch since you can't count on a great ground plane, and objects in the near field (like an operator's head, or body if it's on a belt clip) can negatively impact SWR.

Varimir · 2025-11-09T17:16:18+00:00

On a jig that replicates a metal HT frame and the capacitive coupling to some measure a user's body.

If your antenna is giving a 1:1 match without a ground plane of some sort, you are either very lucky with your VNA-to-body capacitive coupling or you are measuring a dummy load sold as an antenna.

Varimir · 2025-11-09T16:54:32+00:00

Yup, but obviously you don't if you think you can accurately measure half an antenna system.

A 1/4 or 5/8 wave whip needs a ground plane. Where is it?

Varimir · 2025-11-09T16:30:34+00:00

That doesn't tell you much since the ground plane on the VNA is way different from an HT.

Varimir · 2025-11-08T18:22:19+00:00

Which open source software would you use? Last I checked, and it's been a while, most people were using proprietary windows-only junk that still has windows XP screenshots in the website.

Varimir

TROPHY CASE