I am just starting out with all this stuff and it is frankly daunting! But as several of y’all have said, with all the garbage (my summation for a description of our current world/society) going on, we have to be able to adapt and stop being dependent on “the system.”
This sounds like a huge topic, but if any of you don’t mind, please drop any advice y’all have for any of the four parts of my topic. There is SO much wrong information out there: some of it accidental, some designed to deceive. However, I feel like LM has a pretty awesome group of supporters/friends, so I decided to ask y’all for your wisdom and insight.
When I was in the military, I was a Ham Radio operator and I loved it! Fast forward many years, and I would really like to have one for myself, but have no idea which kind to buy and do not trust the paid advertisers yet again, as with everything else. Additionally, I also am seeking any sound advice on off-grid requirements and details commonly missed, as well as tips for homesteading and farming.
Tall order, I know!
Thank you so much in advance for anyone willing to give me some reliable information!
Good night, sweet dreams.
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As for off grid we have started small as in our shed is solar and wind powered to a battery backup which we can use for lighting, power tools, starlink internet, and a backup fridge for my son’s medical supplies. This is how we are learning the right and wrong things to do. Ha
For Ham radio my suggestion is to f8nd a local club to join and see what the members say about decent and excellent choices. The old bad one they will want to sell to a newly fast.
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Thank you again for great advice here on this topic, too! There is so much we need to change, so I am trying to research and accrue info along the way, and be ready when we are able to move.
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I need to get some new radios for the trucks… ours are old and outdated, range was never that good, and I’d love to have new stuff. I prefer to reach over and grab a radio and talk to the house and other rigs, than to call or text.
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My budget is lower I am sure, but I would be interested in what you find for some choices, if you don’t mind letting me know!
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Ok, first of all, what kind of radio is a little more complicated than you might think.
If you are currently licensed, and holding a call sing, get a dedicated portable SW radio like the Xaigu 90 or an old yaesu TRX if you need some cheap options.
For VHF UHF, you might want to look into something like the TIDradio H8 or H9. They do come with some handy features. At a reasonable price with very good quality and performance. I’m using one right now.
For the case you are not licensed, you get a cheap CB radio for shortwave (TEAM electronics type Expert 1) do a little snip snip at the jumper wire 1 on the main PCB (when you lift the side with the speaker. Effectively turn it into a 10 - 15m SW radio. And crank up the power. It’s also useful that it will run on a 9V battery for listening, or anything from 10 to 30V.
For VHF UHF needs, id recommend the TIDradio again. If you have further questions. Just ask.
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That is awesome! Thank you for the great info – I reaeally appreciate it!
Before the post, I checked for radios on amazon and I did not know what to choose. I chanced upon someone recently at a visit to the VA, and he loved ham radio as well. He checked for me, and verified my call sign from 30 years ago is still not taken! So I actually want to try to re-apply for that one, if possible.
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That should be possible. Currently I’m working on getting a license here in Germany. Which would translate to the American Extra licence class.
Also the Quäncheng K9 is quite nice if you want to modify the software. It’s a wildly capable scanner too, down from 14MHz up to 1.3GHz once modified.
If you want, I can foot the bill on the modification kit.
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Oh wow, that would be crazy! That is so much more compact than what I used 20+ years ago! hehehe! Nice.
Also, you should get a Nano VNA. That device is perfect for setting up your antenna. Especially if you end up building some yourself.
You should watch a tutorial video on that topic, before buying one. There are different versions.
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Thank you Sebastian for being willing to share so much wonderful information and offer of help. I will definitely have more questions as I go along. Baby steps!
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I have another question that still fits under this category:
What is a good state that has farmland fairly cheap, and is amenable to off-grid living? The state I live in is beyond expensive and I would like to find somewhere maybe mid-west for farming and temperate weather.
