Product Updates

[elkaholic]

With a new year come some updates ....

As some of you may know, the FCC has stepped up some enforcement actions and issues a C&D to one of the "big guys". I have reviewed the FCC order to them (RR), the products I carry, and the FCC regs (that is really enjoyable) covering HAM and FRS/GMRS radios. As a result, once my current stock is sold, I will no longer be selling what are technically low end HAM Radios pre-programmed to specific 462 - 465 MHz frequencies.

I will continue to sell the radios (at a reduced price) and I hope to be able to sell the programming software that will allow you to easily program the radios yourself. If I am not able to become a dealer for that company, I will include links on my site for where you can purchase the software (it is the same software I use for the business as well as my HAM hobby).

On another note, I do still have some SPOT Gen 3 devices that I am marking down below my cost. If you have any desire for an emergency Satellite Communicator, this one will be hard to beat. The performance of the Gen 3 is similar to the current Gen 4 just in a slightly dated case and form factor.

Thank you for your support and I hope 2021 is a great year for all of us ....

Oh and the FCC has lowered the GMRS License fee!

 

[Admin]

 

[Farmer]

Hey @elkaholic can you or your ham buddies help me out? This antenna was on our roof when we bought the house. There's also tons of really thick coax running around the crawlspace and into some wall jacks. Can you guys tell me what it's for and if I can use it for my new RTL-SDR dongle?... There are really no identifiers on it other than a serial number......

 

[Farmer]

 

[Farmer]

The main body is fiberglass and it's about 40 inches tall.

 

[elkaholic]

That is clearly a lower French antenna or portion of one. Is the top threaded? Are there any manufacturer labels / part numbers on it? It has an N type connection at the base.

As to the existing coax, I am not sure if it will work with your RTL SDR dongle as I am not familiar with that technology. I will ask around though.

BTW, when did NTC publish a claendar?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Farmer]

That is clearly a lower French antenna or portion of one. Is the top threaded? Are there any manufacturer labels / part numbers on it? It has an N type connection at the base.

As to the existing coax, I am not sure if it will work with your RTL SDR dongle as I am not familiar with that technology. I will ask around though.

BTW, when did NTC publish a claendar?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, the top is not threaded. The only label other than the typical warning stuff is just a serial number 9169. There is a foam plug nea the tip.....

 

[Farmer]

 

[Farmer]

Update...there are 3 flush (almost hidden) screw holes down low on the body....right below the upper bracket. I pulled one of them out and there are brass threads in there. This leads me to believe that these are to add antenna wires here????? Like directional wires???

 

[NTCPrezJB]

That is clearly a lower French antenna or portion of one. Is the top threaded? Are there any manufacturer labels / part numbers on it? It has an N type connection at the base.

As to the existing coax, I am not sure if it will work with your RTL SDR dongle as I am not familiar with that technology. I will ask around though.

BTW, when did NTC publish a claendar?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We don't publicly discuss the NTC calendar. 😁

 

[elkaholic]

Update...there are 3 flush (almost hidden) screw holes down low on the body....right below the upper bracket. I pulled one of them out and there are brass threads in there. This leads me to believe that these are to add antenna wires here????? Like directional wires???

I was hoping for some info to be able to tell you more about the antenna. Those holes are for what are called radials that help create a good ground plane to polarize the antenna. If I had to guess, I would think this is a base antenna for a 2 meter setup (144 MHz or so)

As for the coax, if it tests OK with a multi meter, it would be usable with the RTL-SDR with the appropriate connection adapter. The antenna might even be suitable. That looks like an interesting listening setup


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[Farmer]

10-4 thanks for the info! I'm just not ready to dive into the ham forums yet.

 

[HondaTech]

The scariest words ever uttered:

"We're the Government and we're here to help"