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.
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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 KZread 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!
I am curious how you align if you have it is passthrough mode
I just point it North. The app tells you if you need to align it further. Thanks for watching !
The data plan needs to change (50 GB is too small for todays needs and use) and needs to be a separate buy vs having to piggy bank onto the residential plan. Along with the release of the "approved" 5521 to USB -C adapter. Then we can talk game changer...
I dont have a data cap. Thanks for watching !
I got mine.. I got it running on usbc
Cool beans ! Thanks for watching !
I was really thinking about getting into ham radio but after listening to the 40 meter band at my friends house and how rude everyone was on that band I don't think I am going to take the general test anymore I mean come on man just a bunch of men carrying on and on about nothing and wont let any one else break in or talk guess not
I understand the sentiment. I would tell you not to let a bad experience make up your mind for you. The access to spectrum is worth it in my opinion. Thanks for watching !
That sure beats a trailer full of equipment to basically accomplish the same task!
So true! Thanks for watching !
Thanks for the info. I'm currently running the Mini on the 50' power cable with 5521 to USB-C connector into a USB-C PD port on my small portable power bank. Performance has been exceptional. I'd like to experiment with direct to 12V, as I'm guessing that is going to be the most efficient in terms of power consumption while out in the field.
You are welcome ! I have a have one of those power banks here that I use to power a small soldering iron. Its good to know running it through the 50' cable works . Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching !
What fuse you used? 5 amps? 3 amps?
4 amps is what I used. Thanks for watching !
🤙🐑🤙
Thanks for watching !
My Starlink Dishy has been hitting 350Mb/s down and 80 up! It's not just important that its a stable connection. It's just as important that the connection is low latency especially when using it with a phone. I don't know the last time you used an geo-sat based ISP but besides the slow speeds, the delay makes things like VoIP and video calls un-useable. Thats why people still pay big bucks for inmarsat phones. I think Starlink will dominate that market shortly though.
The VOIP provider I use says as long as it falls below 100ms it is useable. Thanks for watching !
Big thing for people to remember is Starlink relies on a lot of ground stations (and their associated fiber) to help keep that speed up and latency down. So depending on the scale of disaster, Starlink might not be fully operational. I know some of the newer satellites they are launching support more bird to bird meshing to provide some diversity in case of ground station failure - but I don’t think it’s the full constellation yet. But overall, 110% worth it.
It isnt infrastructure free by any stretch of the imagination. For localized disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes Starlink has been great. Thanks for watching !
Got my mini today, can't wait to get out in the field with it. Did some test runs with my battery bank using a small inverter, my 200w worth of panels will keep me in plenty of internet. Have a great one, threw a sub. 73
Awesome ! Thanks for watching !
:O )
Thanks for watching !
Glad to see this. I've been wondering about this system, or more specifically, the mobile version.
I have really good luck with the service. Lessons learned are that it does not work well in dense foliage but only a really blinding rain causes it to lose service. It isnt cheap but it is cheaper than any other satellite option. The land mobile plans (moving vehicles) www.starlink.com/business/mobility do cost more than the fixed or portable solutions however the data rates and equipment cost outlay are more reasonable than the competition and the performance is very good. Unless one really needs satellite mobile data they should stick to the roam plan IMHO. I hope this helps and thanks for watching Rob !
I have Starlink out here in Maine. Had it over a year and I use it for redundancy for my spectrum which I use for primary data source. I’m a merchant mariner and when I go to work I want to make sure my wife is connected it here because we lose power a lot in central maine it gives Mr a piece of mind when I’m out on the ocean knowing she is connected regardless. Starlink is a game changer we do use it on the USNS ships I sail on now.
It really is. The performance increase and cost of metered data in maritime service compared to the competition definitely sells itself. You wont see me throwing out my PACTOR modem anytime soon however. Thanks for watching !
Starlink SCUD….Self Contained Uplink Device
I think smartphones will continue to dominate that market for the foreseeable future :) Thanks for watching !
Last I checked this service was $600 a month...a complete non starter for most people.
That is not correct. Thanks for watching !
@@survivalcomms Well how much is it then?
@@wntu4 You have to have the home service ($120/month) then it's $30/month extra.
@@wntu4 Their residential service is $120/month unlimited. The roam RV/Portable/camping plan is $150/month unlimited. Business and other plans vary.
@@wntu4 www.starlink.com/service-plans roam is 150 a month
They still make analog phones???
They do :) Thanks for watching !
Starlink = ushering in the worlwide tracking system/electronic prison. Be careful what you wish for.
Perhaps so . The only way to truly be free is to opt out. Thanks for watching !
@@survivalcomms Thanks for the info.
Nice Killdozer shirt!
TY best thing about it is the puzzled looks :) Thanks for watching !
It's a game changer.. I'm actually watching your video at a incident & commenting with a trial Starlink setup for a wildland fire ICP. Easy peasy setup compared to some comtraptions I've seen roll into camp.
It truly is GC. Decades ago the state had a contraption called the Edwards package which was a trailer mounted VSAT . I went to a training on it and was glad I never was tasked with setting it up. Setting up Starlink is actually fun. Stay safe out there and thanks for watching !
Man I’d pay to get this done to my unit 😅 great vid 👍🏽 thanks
Thank you and thanks for watching !
Can the FT-857 models sold from Japan be modified for U.S. frequencies or MAR/CAP mod?
I am not sure thanks for watching !
These are super cheap but great quality. They also narrowband (most of them) and just work. I remember having several of these. The /XTS1500XTS2500 M1 has kinda replaced them and can easily be had for about $100. HT1000 will always be a great radio.
Thanks for watching !
The jumper that's way out of focus, right LOL 😜
Thanks for watching !
I think that perhaps one advantage of the groundclothe over radials in well trafficked areas is a smaller footprint with higher visibility. This I believe could translate into potentially less liability from potential tripping hazards. I have been in the habit of using two sets of the SuperAntenna 17m-10m ground radials with my EFHW 80m-10m antenna. Normally I choke and ground at the feedpoint as suggested by Steve Ellington's RF ammeter and field strength meter testing. I haven't done any real testing, but the addition of radials doesn't seem to hurt, and when I cannot ground they seem to offer some improvement.
Thanks for watching !
Thanks for the video. I have a problem with the battery. Its useful life is at the end. I looked for a new replacement battery on the Digikey website but it seems that Glob Tek no longer manufactures them. Is there a compatible third-party battery for the Flir Scout TK camera? So far I haven't found another battery.
Tie together single 18650 cell and a 1S BMS , encapsulate it and you SHOULD be set. Safely cannibalize your existing connector from the old cell. I have not tried doing such but that is what the Globtech cell is. Thanks for watching !
Hey! Is that something that is possible to do with all XTS5000 M3? Even if theyre the "civilian" models?
I love these radios. When all the public safety agencies around me went "encrypted", I decided to basically do the same thing. While not actual "encryption" when programmed to private groups, these are nearly as secure. If I can't listen to them, then I won't make it easy for them to listen to me.
This is the best presentation I’ve seen .Not only theoretical but also practical demo’s with real life results. Thanks Brett. 73 VK2SS
Thank you ! and Thanks for watching !
Very clever for use as an antenna for a fixed field location.
Thanks for watching
Interesting tests. Sorry, but I have to add a however ... As I think you mentioned, as an important function that I rarely hear any credence given to is that the human body is a factor in the design of portable radios, i.e., the body is part of the antenna system, providing the “other half” of the 1/4-wave antenna. At about 12:35, you discuss the data on your chart. I question the real world application of this data as for each measurement - including using your Nano VNA chassis simulator - the in-circuit human body element is missing. I would expect an objective measurements to be made with a human holding the min-spectrum analyzer. To me, using anything else to collect data yields results of limited value. Also, a critical piece missing: I would like to see your test range. I see potential interference/influence from the wire fencing and vegetation behind you. You probably know that in the electronics world where antennas are manufactured, testing is done with signal source and receiver in either RF anechoic chambers or free space. In your situation, an open field with a helper holding the signal source under test would have served the purpose.
The chassis simulator was held. Thanks for watching !
Detector, RFI - 1 each Cool!
the container is what caught my eye too . Thanks for watching !
I acqired a couple of these 10-12 years ago. I paid $25 for the first one, the first I'd ever seen in person since being at HamFests since 1971. I may have paidc$15-20 for the second one. CB is many decades behind me. I am a QRP Ham Operator and have one on each QRP Bench. Pretty much this and a VOM do everything I need. The Watt Meters were both Soot On. My 30 meter Ten Rec Dial is 1-100, so the Crystal Oscillator is handy to Zero on our Net Freq. I'll buy any I see (reasonable price) and gave my eye open for a couple other Makes, also.
They are a great tool. I have had good luck using CB watt / swr meters on HF in the past as well but I never put this one to use outside of CB but its cool you have. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching !
Wow - ONLY 2 'S' units. OK. Wait, what? That's 12 dB. Damn!
Broad band and gain are like matter and antimatter never occupying the same space. Thanks for watching !
Hello. Very nice build job. Would it be to much trouble to ask if you could check the SWR on 4724, 8992, 11175 and 15016. I want to find an antenna that is good on these milcom air frequencies as well as wire antenna for the ham bands. Thank you, Scott W3CV
Thank you. The zs6bkw does not work well outside of the ham bands. The lack of harmonic relationship in the frequencies you specified above pretty much inhibits any sort of EFFICIENT simple wire antenna as such antennas require at least some form of harmonic relationship in the frequencies covered. The best choice in my opinion for having a working match across those frequencies you listed would be a T2FD. Fortunately I have a video in my content catalog on the T2FD and more are in the works. Thanks for watching !