Testing 1,2,3...
Test Your Radios
Noobs and seasoned operators alike have a vested interest in testing their equipment. Using the equipment regularly allows the amateur radio operator to remember the operation of their radio. Not all radios are the same. Whether it is a Yeasu, ICOM, Kenwood, Alinco, Xiegu, or Baofeng, the menus of each make and model of radio are different. Plus, there's a learning curve with learning how to use any given radio.
The reason I have decided to write an article about testing your equipment isn’t to have a reminder. I’m a prepper and having backup communications in the form of radio has become a priority for me. The purpose of this article is to encourage those who are reading (that’s you, dear reader) to get out and test the equipment you have and to share with you some testing I have done.
The skill of using the protocols of operation, plus the knowledge of how a radio operates (ie. programming and knowing how to navigate the functions and menus), diminishes without practice. This is true for everyone regardless of the reason for getting into ham radio. Additionally, setting up a station with a corresponding antenna in any given location is going to produce a certain result. It is important to know and understand how to change the setup of a station and antenna to improve the result. Everyone wants to talk on the radio with as little noise as possible. To accomplish this, it’s important to test and discover the limits and abilities of the radio gear. Changes in antenna type, height, and location can affect the quality of how transmissions are sent and received.
I’ve been testing many things within the sphere of radio communications. I’ve been on HF, VHF, UHF, and mesh, testing with other operators who are also friends. We set up a day, time, and frequency to meet and test. Usually, the meeting place is on a local repeater which we switch to between the tests on the simplex frequencies.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I conducted some simplex tests using our Diamond antennas. I have a Diamond X30 and he has a Diamond X50. We recently moved these antennas to new locations on our respective properties, which are currently at heights near 20ft. Our physical locations are separated by about 7 miles in a semi-urban area. My elevation is slightly higher than his.
My base station consists of a Btech 50X2 and an ICOM IC-7300. I use two different radios so I can listen and monitor one while using the other. My friend uses the Yeasu 991 all-mode radio. They call it the “shack in the box” radio because it does pretty much everything.
The first test was on the 2-meter band. I think we tested a couple of different frequencies including 146.46MHz and 157.555MHz. My friend could barely hear me. He later stated that he could hear me but couldn’t make out what I was saying. The signal report was 2-2, meaning that my readability was not good and my signal strength was also not good.
After the first test, we switched to a local repeater frequency, at which time we discussed what to do next. We decided to switch to the 70 cm band, using 444.050MHz. I switched channels on the BTech, entered the new frequency, and called my friend. The reports both ways were 5-5. The audio was full quieting for both of us.
There are two reasons that the 70 cm band works better for us. First, my friend has a couple of tall buildings behind him that block the 2-meter band. Second, 70 cm can find pathways and reflect off surfaces better due to its shorter wavelength. We even lowered the power on our radios to as low as possible, without compromising the signal. I went to 25 watts and he went to 10 watts. The two of us have used Yagi antennas with our radios too. Similar results were shown.
I recently climbed to the top of the Flatiron of Superstition Mountain and spoke with someone over 30 miles away using a Baofeng UV-5R and a 5-element portable Arrow Yagi antenna using only 4 watts of power. The audio was clear and strong. I also managed to get into a repeater over 60 miles away from that same location, using the same setup!
If you’ve decided to get an amateur radio license and have a radio, don’t let it sit without using it. Learn its functions, its capabilities, and its limits. As you do, you will sharpen your communication skills and practice the protocols of operation. You never know when this will come in handy. Stay Radioactive everyone!
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