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SurvivalComms
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Добавлен 11 мар 2015
I create videos primarily to assist others in effectively using telecommunication tools available to the common man to communicate in austere environments. Secondarily I create videos to assist others in building self reliance and enhancing the survival of the individual or group in said austere environment. I hope you find my content helpful.
BK Technologies BKR9000 Multiband P25 portable radio - Florida man tests radio built by Florida men
In this video we discuss the BK Technologies Multiband ( VHF, UHF, 7/800mhz) portable radio We then test the radio against a Motorola APX8000.
Product links -
www.bktechnologies.com/product/bkr-9000-portable-radio/
#survivalcomms
Product links -
www.bktechnologies.com/product/bkr-9000-portable-radio/
#survivalcomms
Просмотров: 588
Видео
Starlink Mini initial thoughts - a portable satellite data solution that really sells itself
Просмотров 7 тыс.Месяц назад
Short introduction video on the Starlink Mini. Extremely compact satellite data solution that really sells itself. When you need data now and there is no local infrastructure Starlink delivers. #survivalcomms
T2FD Full coverage HF radio antenna B&W AC 3.5-30 salvage, rebuild, and testing of a classic antenna
Просмотров 1,1 тыс.2 месяца назад
Video on the granddaddy of broadband HF radio antennas. In this video we take a decades old Barker and Williamson AC 3.5 - 30 terminated folded dipole antenna that was run over with a lawnmower and resurrect it. We disassemble and study the core components. We build new elements for the antenna and then we test the antenna. #survivalcomms
1980s Vintage Emergency CB radios tested. Kraco Mayday 1 and Mayday 2 RF lifeline before cellphones
Просмотров 5033 месяца назад
Video where we discuss and test two vintage emergency CB radios from the early 1980s the Kraco Mayday 1 and Mayday 2. Straight from the trunk of Granny's Lincoln to my lab. Thanks to my wife for helping me with the range testing . #survivalcomms
Jungle Antenna build for HF. Proven performer survival antenna for HF through VHF CB radio antenna
Просмотров 1,5 тыс.3 месяца назад
Short video on how to construct a simple wire ground plane for the 27mhz CB band . Proven performer when cut for HF through VHF frequencies. Only tool used in the project is a leatherman tool. #survivalcomms #survivalantennas
Is the HF vertical antenna magic carpet magic ? Ham radio antenna test with the Super Antenna MP-1
Просмотров 1,5 тыс.4 месяца назад
Short video where we test the popular "magic carpet" faraday cloth against plain old wire radials on a Super Antenna MP-1. #survivalcomms
Firecom intercom and radio PTT headset repair / Electret condenser microphone element testing
Просмотров 2514 месяца назад
Short video on doing a check and replacement of an electret condenser microphone in a Firecom headset. Initial complaint of bad audio following headset immersion in water. #survivalcomms
Motorola APX Next XN NFPA1802 VHF UHF 700/800mhz P25 Smart Radio testing and review
Просмотров 2,9 тыс.5 месяцев назад
Video where we test the Motorola APX Next XN NFPA1802 compliant Multiband P25 Smart Radio and do a basic review of its features and controls. #survivalcomms www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/products/two-way-radios/project-25-radios/portable-radios/apx-next-xn-fire.html# www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/solutions/what-is-nfpa-1802.html www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-1802-standard-developmen...
Vintage secret agent antenna tested - STI-CO VHF/800 mobile antenna. $1 at Orlando Hamcation 2024
Просмотров 8435 месяцев назад
Short video where we test the STI-CO VHF / 800 MHZ antenna and it's diplexer. Purchased at Orlando Hamcation 2024 for one dollar. #survivalcomms
Orlando Hamcation 2024 Finds - Measurements Model 920 Standard Deviation Meter for FM LMR Ham Radio
Просмотров 2226 месяцев назад
Short video on a really cool piece of vintage test equipment I purchased at the Orlando Hamcation 2024 Tailgate for a few dollars. We discuss the instrument , how to tune and operate the instrument, perform a test, and compare the results obtained to those obtained from a legacy Marconi service monitor testing the same radio. Together we can preserve radio history saving artifacts such as this ...
Vintage Boston Champion Pencil Sharpener - Writing utensils for bad times
Просмотров 3276 месяцев назад
Short video on an underappreciated item until you need it - the pencil sharpener. We discuss the vintage Boston Champion pencil sharpener. #survivalcomms
Baseplate compass fundamentals - Land navigation 1 Quadrant bearing conversion USNG Grid map basics
Просмотров 4056 месяцев назад
Concise video on the fundamentals of baseplate compass use. We discuss the features and use of a baseplate compass . We discuss quadrant bearing and whole circle bearing and how to convert the two formats easily. We discuss map basics specifically USNG gridded maps and how to interoperate with MGRS and UTM grid and how to use tools on the baseplate compass to plot and read points on a topo map....
VHF portable ham radio antennas that are practical - what can you expect over an ICOM factory whip?
Просмотров 1,9 тыс.7 месяцев назад
In this video we look at a few popular aftermarket antennas that are practical and compare them head to head against an ICOM factory whip. How much benefit do they provide and do they actually perform better than adding a simple radial to the radio chassis ? #survivalcomms Field strength meter plans for a DIY build : www.qsl.net/kl7jef/RF Field Strength Meter.pdf
ZS6BKW Ham radio HF antenna 80meter 3.8mhz modification add a capacitor build it yourself
Просмотров 3,7 тыс.9 месяцев назад
Short video where we add a capacitor to an existing ZS6BKW HF antenna to raise the 80M resonant point to the voice portion of the band without negatively impacting the other bands the antenna operates on. We also look to see the benefit of using this approach vs the use of an antenna tuner if there is one and the benefit of using this in conjunction with a tuner. sources: www.qsl.net/k1lh/Anten...
L3 Harris XL400P VHF UHF 7/800mhz P25 LTE 15k dollar ham radio NFPA 1802 compliant vs Baofeng
Просмотров 4,9 тыс.9 месяцев назад
In this video we discuss the Harris XL400P portable radio. We do some limited testing against other radios as well. Please refer to the links below for more information. @survivalcomms www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/xl-extreme-400p-portable-fire-radio www.l3harris.com/resources/xl-extreme-400p-portable-radio-data-sheet www.l3harris.com/resources/xl-extreme-400p-portable-radio-operators-manua...
Organize your ham radio HF wire antennas like a boss for 3 bucks
Просмотров 1,1 тыс.10 месяцев назад
Organize your ham radio HF wire antennas like a boss for 3 bucks
FLIR Scout TK Thermal imager battery replacement
Просмотров 4,2 тыс.10 месяцев назад
FLIR Scout TK Thermal imager battery replacement
How to tighten a variable capacitor ham radio hf tuner or amplifier
Просмотров 34210 месяцев назад
How to tighten a variable capacitor ham radio hf tuner or amplifier
Low Loss EFHW Ham radio HF antenna antenna tests. Do capacitors matter ? DIY and save your money !
Просмотров 6 тыс.11 месяцев назад
Low Loss EFHW Ham radio HF antenna antenna tests. Do capacitors matter ? DIY and save your money !
EFHW ham radio HF antenna transformer tests - build the best yourself - save money build and learn
Просмотров 13 тыс.Год назад
EFHW ham radio HF antenna transformer tests - build the best yourself - save money build and learn
QRP guys Digital power SWR meter with dummy load kit build, testing, and review.
Просмотров 1,1 тыс.Год назад
QRP guys Digital power SWR meter with dummy load kit build, testing, and review.
Cleaning your corroded and tarnished RF adapters for ham radio coaxial cable
Просмотров 1,1 тыс.Год назад
Cleaning your corroded and tarnished RF adapters for ham radio coaxial cable
Building a 1:1 common mode coax feedline choke Ham Radio DIY Save money do it yourself
Просмотров 7 тыс.Год назад
Building a 1:1 common mode coax feedline choke Ham Radio DIY Save money do it yourself
Yaesu FT-991 Frequency Expansion MARS / CAP modification
Просмотров 16 тыс.Год назад
Yaesu FT-991 Frequency Expansion MARS / CAP modification
Yaesu FT-857 Frequency Expansion MARS / CAP modification
Просмотров 8 тыс.Год назад
Yaesu FT-857 Frequency Expansion MARS / CAP modification
PowerFilm Lightsaver 1 Battery Replacement Repair
Просмотров 766Год назад
PowerFilm Lightsaver 1 Battery Replacement Repair
What really happened at 0445 04/20/23 in Florida
Просмотров 706Год назад
What really happened at 0445 04/20/23 in Florida
Fluke 1912A Vintage Frequency Counter - USB power modification
Просмотров 284Год назад
Fluke 1912A Vintage Frequency Counter - USB power modification
RF-204/U RFI Detector Ham radio tool Orlando Hamcation 2023
Просмотров 451Год назад
RF-204/U RFI Detector Ham radio tool Orlando Hamcation 2023
Rare JIL SX-400 scanning radio receiver Orlando Hamcation 2023 Finds
Просмотров 927Год назад
Rare JIL SX-400 scanning radio receiver Orlando Hamcation 2023 Finds
As a QRP operator this is amazing and thank you for sharing. RF into the antenna is so important and especially at low powers it just shows after this were my power was going!! Best 73 Dave M0GGK
Thank you very much ! Thanks for watching !
This is very very helpful
This is very very helpful
Thank you and thanks for watching !
Great job thanks 73 from kb2uew
Thank you and thanks for watching !
Me to! picked up one today at the goodwill for $5. you are right cool case.
That is awesome ! Thanks for watching !
Ceramic capacitor?
Nice video , thanks a lot
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
Found the Mayday II at a thrift store today with faux leather case, antenna mount, antenna whip, minty condition for $2 Works with 10 AA batteries and a USB to power plug compatible with power port. Have not had a chance yet to test it outside of turning it on LOL =D
Cool ! Thrift stores have all kinds of cool stuff. Thanks for watching !
Lol
Thanks for watching !
Excellent video. Thank you !
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
Thank you. I think this would be my first radio.
You are welcome thanks for watching !
Hi, i saw a tutorial from a french guy hwo has soldered all the jumpers to unlock his FT 817. Do you know if there are different setup ? maybe FT 817 and 817ND are not exactly the same ? how to know exactly wich modification is ok for a specific model ? - thank you for your answer :)
do you need sim cards to use them ?
Not at all. These are radios.
I'm getting one of these for field day and portable ops! Jeff - W3AAB
They are handy for a lot of things. Thanks for watching !
Hi Brett. Thanks for the outstanding review of the BKR 9000. Just what I was looking for.
You are welcome and thank you !
great video really enjoyed it
Thanks for watching !
It's the size and dimensions that account for the differences. That difference however, are limited to single core use. The fat cores cannot be stacked like the 240's.
Thanks for watching !
Thanks a lot for this video, it was very good timing as I am actively seeking quotes to purchase this personally to supersede my XTS5000 handhelds. Unfortunately the price point of less than $6k for a loaded radio is not true in my experience so far as 2 quotes I've received have been $6-7k (not loaded with features). I have seen some concerns or issues with the encryption concentric switch, where in apparently if you turn the volume there is the possibility of turning the switch, have you noticed anything like that? Thanks!
I was quoted that retail from a representative last week. The volume causing the concentric switch to move was not experienced by myself but it was by my friend who is also a testing the radio. The representative was informed of the problem and it was demonstrated. Thanks for watching !
What is the photo that you used in the thumbnail ?
Great video. What is the advantage of dogbone insulators over egg insulators ?
Thank you. I don't believe there is a science based advantage. Thanks for watching !
Hi Brett. Really enjoyed the video. It’s nice to see the instrument testing of these as opposed to just putting it on the air for a QSO. Thanks for what I’m sure is a time consuming breakdown on these. If you know, what are the crypto options on the BK? Thanks for adding the Baofeng testing in there as well. Another example of you get what you pay for.
You are welcome ! I don't find QSO or my autotuner will match this antenna to be useful videos either. The crypto options are comparable to other radios on the market. The radio supports AES, ADP, DES , DES-XL, DES-OFB algorithms, supports multikey and can use a KVL or P25 OTAR. The baofeng is a great demonstration tool. Thanks for watching !
Nice review. BK definitely has a long-standing reputation in the wildland firefighting field. The BK is very price competitive in the public safety P25 multi-band radio arena. I would like to see a drop test on those large unprotected pots for on/off/volume & channel selector knobs. That and the rubber overmolding may be the achilles heel. I have long been amazed at the compound used by Motorola in their mic cables, programming, cables, and knobs. Over time, they split and crumble. Is there an "Impres" battery option for the BK?
Thank you very much ! I have an EPH and a KX99 in my collection. It definitely is a price is right radio and that price is retail on the tier 3.5 everything including the kitchen sink option variant. There MAY be a multi-mode variant in the future as well. That volume control moved a lot when minor pressure was applied to it and my friend who is also testing these had a several instances where the concentric switch on his radio would follow movement with manipulation of the volume control. The self destruct Moto plastic is a legit concern and storage consideration seems to have no bearing on the phenomenon . If one was in a sealed environment I venture to say the plasticizer outgassing could poison everyone in a few days . I'm not sure if there is a smarter battery option available for the BK. Thanks for watching !
Are you aware of any ISM band repeaters?
The 900 mhz ISM band is the only part of the spectrum where it would be practical and hams do it all the time (33cm band) . Commercial ones are out there for sale. It is not a difficult to build one and the core components are two radios, some sort of controller, a duplexer , and of course an antenna system and some source of power. For unlicensed strictly part 18 ISM use I personally could not find any outright prohibition of it but then again I'm not a legal expert and if someone here can correct me I'm all ears. Keep in mind the standard subject to or causing interference to potential and the hams as licensed users of the spectrum could have cause to complain. I hope this answered your question and thanks for watching !
Can't find a price on this thing, and I'm not calling a salesperson.
I was told retail fully optioned is less than 6k. It is close to the end of the video. Thanks for watching !
What is the size of the fabric? Also please describe your radials: length, number, layout; all on the ground (i.e. not elevated)?
No elevated radials were used. I gave the radial lengths and number in the video. It was 3 yards of fabric before hemming so 36" x 108" . Thanks for watching !
@@survivalcomms Thank you
@@stephensussman-fort5786 Any time !
I have this exact Antenna ...It's a winner for 2 meters Thank You Well done
Thank you and thanks for watching !
I tried this and it didn't set for me. Maybe grape juice was too hot when I added the pectin? Maybe I didn't hard boil it enough with the sugar? Don't know. Have to figure out how to fix it now...
It is hard to tell. I had that happen with elderberries before and kept the syrup and mixed it with seltzer for a soft drink. I know it is a drag when things dont come together the way we anticipate. All I can say is keep at it and use what you produced - muscadine syrup will make a good mixer or soft drink. Thanks for watching !
Excellent video. I have both, the AH-710 and the B&W90. Your approach and clarity surpasses what is available from both companies and what is written on the net. Your meticulous attention to detail is superb. Kudos to you sir. Fernando N2FQ
Thank you very much ! If I was to share something else from experience use element wire that is flexible like the flexweave that I used or even hookup wire. I had to stow a radiowavz one today that used copperweld wire and it was like rolling up a spring. Thank you for watching !
Great video, Nice to see and listen to someone who knows what they’re talking about, much appreciated, after nearly 60 years, I now now where most of my losses are, (in the Ferrite cores) BTW like the use of the vice, makes it look perfect, thanks for sharing 👍😃
You are welcome ! Thank you very much and thanks for watching !
Would it be realistic to keep a mini kit have the subscription paused & in an emergency ie cell towers & grid power down. Be able to turn the subscription on?
Not that I know of. Thanks for watching !
picked up one today at the goodwill. you are right cool case. Here is some info on it www.prc68.com/I/RF204.shtml
Wow..incredible review. You certainly know your stuff and made it easy to understand for us that do not know the science behind these antenns. I have the micro version of this antenna with a 9 to 1 transformer and it has its place when I cannot deploy a wire do to space or my nosey neighbors in my HOA that see my putting up masts in the yard. It works , and when conditions are great I have made a ton of contacts with little power, 5 to 10 watts. But an EF always seems better on the amount of contacts I can make and the strong signal reports I receive. My favorite part of this antenna is the quick deployment and the ease to ground spike, attach to a table or fence with the optional mounts and quality of components. The worst part is the cost. Chameleon should send you gear to tear apart and review, you are the perfect person to give an unbiased review. Again, great review, very much appreciated.
Thank you very much and thanks for watching !
A REAL MONEY/TIME SAVER. Thanks
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
I want to build the 3 wire version (T3FD). Let's say I use a 1000 ohm termination resistor. There seems to be disagreement about the balun. Can you explain how to choose a balun ratio of 9:1 vs 12:1 vs 16:1?
The simplest way is If the end equipment is looking for an impedance of 50 ohms your desired transformation ratio is the quotient of the resistor value divided by 50. for a 1000ohm resistor 1000 /50 = 20 or 20:1 . Thanks for watching !
Works great
Thank you thanks for watching !
Hello SurvivalComms, thank You for this excellent video. My guess is that Chameleon, Alpha and other antenna companies are influenced by military. Easy to use and NVIS purposes. I was 30 years in a desaster releave organisation here in Germany and our equipment followd the same approach: easy and fast to use, also for non - technician. I watched a lot of MPAS videos but noone did such an in deep research as You. Thank You again for that. In Germany this antenna system is extremly expensive, too. But i'm looking for a SOTA or travelling equipment, easy to install vertical. With the learnings out of Your video i will spend some time and build my own "rebuild" with modifications shown by You. By the way: immediately put an abo on Your channel!
You are welcome ! It definitely is easy to set up in a vertical configuration when one uses it with the wire kit its setup setup speed is like any other end fed design and it is a very configurable package as delivered. The lossy transformer is the Achilles heel but again that loss is what gives the antenna its broad banded characteristics . Thanks for watching !
where can i get this prep tool?
Tessco sells the Commscope produced one www.tessco.com/product/1-2-corrugated-coax-automated-prep-tool-478126 Thanks for watching !
The JT was one of my favorites. We sure have come a long way in radio technology! This sure brought back old memories. When I first began as a volunteer for my small local volunteer FD, we had a rack charger with a few HT220 2-channel portable radios that were mostly used by the officers and EMS crews. Our small town shared a single VHFHigh-Band simplex frequency with 4 or 5 surrounding town for police use and a second freq for fire and first aid squad (now called “EMS”) use. Everything was carrier squelch and transmit discipline was pretty decent. Surprisingly, there was not much abuse. The biggest problem was lack of radio to radio comms without involving dispatch center as the “middle man” and too much traffic during major events. Plectron 2-tone sequential paging on the fire channel and every firefighter was issued a home alerting receiver with Nicad internal battery that worked only long enough to go to the grocery store and back before recharge was required. THIS also caused issues during large events. Each PD had a base station at HQ and some had remote transceivers using DC remotes over copper RTNA leased circuits from the phone co. When our PD’s detectives upgraded radios, we got their “hand me downs”. P220 “Slim” portables. I believe they were only 2-watts ..? They did not have the fire frequency installed, so we had to have channel elements and crystals ordered to “upgrade” them. It took weeks, if not longer, just to get the parts in. We eventually got a few MT500’s, but didn’t have the funding for quality gear, so we’re sold on the Midland/Regency radios by a local radio shop in the late 1970’s. They lasted under a year or so. You get what you pay for. Then Radius P200’s and HT-600’s (same ?) and then HT1000’s for in town and JT1000’s for mutual aid out of town use. Then came 9/11 and the nightmare of lack of “interoperability”. It’s been a nice advancement since then, but with too much unnecessary encryption and the “T-Band UHF” nightmare initiated by the Obama admin. President Trump must have had a knowledgeable source from FDNY or NYPD brief him on the looming disaster of losing the spectrum and their phenomenally performing system. They ditched the “T-Band Take back” from the Obama era “Stimulus Act” before it went into effect. But, most large agencies had already jumped to 700/800MHz, for fear of losing their allocated + licensed T-Band spectrum. The world has changed so much. Mostly for the better. Sadly, the tragic attempted assassination on President Trump exposed the lack of “interoperability” in emergency communications still exists. DHS-HSI & SS / PA State Police / Butler - county are all on different systems. Each wirh encryption. Not great. Thank you so much for your videos. 😊
Thanks ! I really like the concept. Over decades of collecting odds & ends of connectors and adapters, from top of the line to Chinesium, tarnishing has been a factor with most. I USED to do my most used adapters, especially the silver plated ones, using Flitz metal polish, a toothbrush and old T-shirt rags. After doing a few, I always found another project that was more important. ANY project! LOL I have advanced A.S. (ankylosing spondylitis) now, so it’s almost impossible to do anything by hand. Even though I’ve either donated or given most of my gear away to deserving younger fire dept volunteers, I still keep a few for emergencies. This will now be my new cleaning method. 👍🏻 I kept my largest collection of older silver-plated “UniDapt” connectors. They were a minor $ fortune, so I’ll definitely use the air compressor option and possibly use distilled water. These adapters/connectors have been my favorite emergency “go to” for so many years. I even used the blue color RG223 double shielded / silver plated pre-made cables with their proprietary “UniDapt” connector on each end. Incredibly good quality and not too pricey if purchased in sets of 6 or 10. I just can’t recall the mfg now, but they are USA mfg’d. I recently bought a new, smaller (40pc?) Chrome Plated generic set on eBay as a gift to one of the young kids starting out in world of radios and electronics. I was so disappointed with the quality. Thank you again for a great idea and great channel!
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
You are killing me! The pain caused from watching the concrete hit required enough aspirin that i emptied the medicine cabinet. 🤣 I’m getting most of my spare gear to donate to our local volunteer fire department who are still using low band VHF simplex to page / dispatch / and use for fireground communications. (46.xx) with GM300 mobiles and beat up P200LB portables. A jump to UHF and a pair of Quantars w/ Hytera PD782 Portabłes / MD782 mobiles and Motorola XPR7550e / XPR5550 radios, they should be a bit better. I had a few Anytone portables, but didn’t even offer them up. (Actually kinda nice for ham/personal use on a budget) but I cracked up when I heard your commentary 🤣. I’m gonna stick to a pair of portables in my old age years. I wish some of the multi-band, multi -protocol radios included analog/p25 phase 1+2 AND DMR. You’ve had one of the best RUclips channels for quite a few years now. Thank you.
You are welcome ! Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching !
I got my dad's. Still works.
Very cool ! Thanks for watching !
Great tip using the vise.. Good video thanks..
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
I tried this modification and my radio will not power up. Am I missing something?
Very informative video Thx for sharing
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
This is a very *USEFUL* series. Ideally, I would buy a *_Chameleon_* antenna system, but … I can’t afford it, so building a _field expedient_ antenna is the next best thing, especially if I had a Chameleon but it wasn’t with me, was too heavy, etc. There are some really *tempting* antenna systems, but they sound like _”snake oil”._ You know the ones with a single vertical element, a _”magic black box”_ at the bottom, no radials required, and claim 80-6 meters *WITHOUT* a _”tuner”!_ Plus they’re a bit bulky and made of pure _”unaffordium”_ and _”unobtanium”!_ 😣 *73 de AF6AS*
Thank you ! I have a lot of antenna content in my catalog please check it out and thanks for watching !
That worked. Thank you!
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
Snagged my EFHW on a branch and broke it, using too much force. Have not had to splice an antenna wire in eons and found your video. Ant is back up in the air with a permanent fix, thanks to your quick video refresher. 73!
Awesome ! Knots are amazing. I'm glad you got it up and running. Thanks for sharing !
Thank you for sharing. Definitely loving this set up! Question, What size Wire Connectors Nuts did you use?
I used Gardner bender green guard 25-095 you can use yellow or grey wing types as well. Thanks for watching !
@@survivalcomms awesome good to know thank you very much!
$600 bucks in the US , same dish in Panama $200. Starlink a little price gouging
I just saw that. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching !
This looks like a game changer for those deployable assets. Thanks for the informative video Brett
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching!