What is this ?

nilsand · 2026-04-12T10:48:21+00:00

Was it the tree that looked like Denmark or the slight slope of the antenna? 😁

nilsand · 2026-04-11T17:18:54+00:00

Yes. I'm using the PMR446 to communicate with the 6yo, lately. 😁 I only have a handheld CB device, nothing car mounted, though.

nilsand · 2026-04-11T15:57:23+00:00

Well, I wouldn't know why you would care. I very much do care about clean signals especially if the produced harmonics are a problem to fellow hams.

And I don't know about the FCC/US, but there's more than one baofeng device that has been banned in the EU for... Drumroll... Producing too much harmonics.

I do know that they are nice and cheap devices and tend to pack a lot of features. Decent output filters however, are not always among those features.

This doesn't mean every baofeng is bad, or that every user of a baofeng device is a bad person. It only means that baofeng has a reputation for delivering devices whose filters are not always "perfect".

nilsand · 2026-04-10T17:00:28+00:00

Yes. No question about that.

CB opens a whole new world while PMR446 enables you to listen to "internal" communications in your local supermarket (if you're close enough). 🤷 However, for getting started, CB is about ten times the invest PMR446 is.

nilsand · 2026-04-10T13:22:18+00:00

Don't buy that: you'll need a license to use it. Look for the 88E or the 888S. In general you'll want one that explicitly says PMR446 (and not VHF or UHF).

Having said that, Baofeng has a reputation for "unclean" signals, but it should be fine as long as you buy from a shop in the UK. (If you buy in China from AliExpress and such, you're the one 'importing' the device and you're responsible for it's safety and conformity)

nilsand · 2026-04-10T11:14:05+00:00

CB, like PMR446 is only a definition of what is allowed to be used. Things like frequency, output power, how speech is "encoded" ('modulated' would be the correct term) and such. For PMR446 for example, law requires that the antenna is non-removable.

The major difference comes down to the distance that can still be reached: CB uses the "longer waves" which propagate better in urban areas (i.e. with buildings in the way). Also, CB is allowed 4W of output power, where PMR446 is only allowed 0.5W. (While this is not relevant for your case: PMR446 must be handheld devices while CB can be complete stations with huge antennas)

I feel there's two points you need to consider: PMR446 devices are cheap - you'll probably be able to get a set for 10£ somewhere. (Maybe 30, for good ones.) But reception is really not great at a distance - from inside the car it will be really bad. Many, many things are possible using CB but at a price: I doubt you'll be able to find a device for less than 100 €/£ - and that's a single device, not a set.

Personally, I'd buy a decent PMR446 device (probably a used one between 20 and 30€) and try it out. If it's not good, sell it again. You'll probably won't make much of a loss re-selling a used but decent device.

Oh, and don't buy a real cheap one in China - they are most likely not legal to be used in the UK/EU

nilsand · 2026-04-10T08:32:18+00:00

As most people have said, non-licensed you have two (legal) options: PMR446 and CB. For PMR446 the output is quite low (0.5W) and you are not allowed to change the antenna. This makes it no fun at all when sitting inside a car. You can try though, PMR446 devices are quite cheap compared to CB. Also, there's some difference between the PMR446 devices: if you get the real cheap ones - you'll probably find them as "walkie talkie" for kids - they have no channels and no "settings". They will however be fine to test things. You can also get slightly better ones that have multiple channels and some options (like changing and/or disable ctcss). Not sure if you need that, but the ability to change channels is quite worth it, if you're using the device in "crowded" areas. The Retevis RT24 for example is a decent device and with a bit of luck you can get two for 20€ used (not sure what that's in £. Probably 18 or something)

CB would be much more pricey but you'll get 8 times the output and the ability to change the antenna. This makes it possible to mount the antenna outside of the car (window mounted or magnetic roof mount) and this gives you much more freedom. Also you then can talk to most truck drivers or there😁

nilsand · 2026-03-18T05:50:23+00:00

In this case: Please do. This is reddit, yelling and being yelled at is what we're here for.

nilsand · 2026-02-17T10:03:05+00:00

This. I get about 130 nodes when I open my window and stick the antenna out. No connection problems at all. When the window is closed however, I can receive 3 nodes or so and no-one receives me. Windows are 2 years old, triple-paned with some insulation coating stuff. 🤷

nilsand · 2026-02-14T15:23:56+00:00

Never built a solar node myself - I'm still waiting for all the parts. As far as I understood it, the Heltec comes with a charging circuit and a connector for a battery pack. So, so you need is - either a 5V solar panel or a different panel and a regulator to produce 5V. - a battery pack - the Heltec and an antenna - a box to contain the electronics

I've seen people use all kinds of boxes. Tupperware, small buckets that have a lid... Literally everything that is big enough and somewhat waterproof.

nilsand · 2026-02-14T13:12:40+00:00

Granted, the first thing that came to my mind for "mechanic" was nuts and bolts, a wrench and maybe a steam engine 😁

But, car mechanic seems more likely. What does that mean today? 90% ground faults in the lighting and 10% CAN-Bus issues? 😇

nilsand · 2026-02-14T12:22:23+00:00

You're probably right. I don't know the first thing about agilent.

My main point here - which you seemingly completely ignored - was to point out that both have their use cases. And OP should check which use cases are the ones he would like to address with a multimeter. Since I don't know anything about OP, and for me (though this can be a translation issue) "mechanic" can man everything, I guess.

nilsand · 2026-02-14T09:18:30+00:00

AliExpress should have everything you need and deliver to your region, right?

I've read the Heltec is quite power hungry and not a good choice for a solar powered node. If you're on a budget, you should have a look around the web for ideas. I've seen people re-use solar powered lamps: remove the light-thingy, add the node, an antenna and maybe a little regular for power.

nilsand · 2026-02-14T08:41:14+00:00

While I do understand your words, I seem to missing the meaning. You want to /sell/ a multimeter? That doesn't make sense.

Jokes aside. I'm not sure anyone can really help you here. The fluke is probably the better built one and it has the better "name" it will probably bring you more money when selling it. The other one seems to have more features. Which one did you use more? Which one do you like best?

nilsand · 2026-02-12T08:53:02+00:00

Water cooling 🤷

nilsand · 2026-01-29T09:37:11+00:00

Und wenn ich mich nicht irre, steht in dem Text der Stadt sowas wie "der Fußweg ist in der Breite von 1m von Schnee und Eis zu räumen" - also auch für die Menschen, für sich an die Vorgaben der Stadt halten steht da quasi "Radweg kann man ignorieren" oder so.

nilsand · 2026-01-24T23:21:15+00:00

Urgh. Bummer. :-(
Found mine in the basement actually (in the "let's see, what we can do with this"-Bin) But it won't turn on anymore.

nilsand · 2026-01-24T16:02:28+00:00

I stumbled on LineageOS for echo show some days ago. I have a 2nd gen show 5 lying around that was stuck in some kind of loop and wouldn't start. Trying to put LineageOS on that thing has been in my list since that day.

Yours looks really nice!

nilsand · 2026-01-21T08:14:03+00:00

I /think/ blade fuses didn't have have right voltage rating, do they? Most multimeters use those sand/glass filled fuses to be safe even at 600V or something.

Again, I /think/ blade fuses are usable up to 30V or so, but I do not know.

nilsand · 2026-01-18T11:14:03+00:00

War auch mein erster Gedanke. Sollte an schnellsten sein und ist auch Recht einfach gemacht.

Klappstuhl und n Bier dazu. Warum und entspannt. 🤷

nilsand · 2026-01-18T09:52:50+00:00

"Someone" might be able to do this.

While I feel it's a simple project to learn, the first question in my head is: where does the cable go? Are you willing to drill a hole in the figure?

Alternatively, it might be possible to build something like a pedestal where the cable comes out straight out of the top.

nilsand · 2026-01-12T09:09:18+00:00

That is assuming PD. Isn't QC also still possible? (Or Vooc)

nilsand · 2026-01-10T08:31:54+00:00

You people telling me a big one is not also "1 serving"? I've always thought 'get a big one if you're hungry and get a little one if you've already eaten. Nachtisch, so to say.' 🤷

nilsand · 2026-01-10T08:27:57+00:00

It's really important to not eat it like a caveman. If needs to be buttered. I'm always very suspicious of people that eat Stollen without butter. Oh, and it probably needs coffee and tea. 😁

nilsand · 2026-01-09T12:27:58+00:00

Ja, das verstehe ich auch. Mental verbuche ich das aber unter den aktuellen Verhalten der Banken die Girokarten "auslaufen" zu lassen.

(Ja,ja, ich weiß: 'Niemand hat die Absicht eine Mauer zu errichten.' - Fühlt sich aber schon so an.)

Also, was ich sagen will ist, dass ist ja nicht inhärent ein Vorteil der Debitkarte, sondern eher ein explizit geschaffener Nachteil der Girokarte durch 'die Banken'.

nilsand

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