Radios

[Invisible]

I recently got these, to celebrate my full license:




Kenwood TH-F7E

The Kenwood is a dual band (triple after the mod) amateur band HT that does both the 2m and 70cm bands, out of the box. It's very compact and lightweight; I don't like bulky stuff in my pockets and I hardly noticed this. Additionally, the TH-F7E can be modified into the TH-F6A (USA version which transmits on an extra band, 220MHz (aka 1.25m)), and have all it's transmit bands opened up wider to include all PMR and many other VHF and UHF frequencies.

Intek MT-5050

I chose the 5050 for my wife. The decision was partly on price as well as how it answered my requirements; mostly being simple to use. It's a bigger radio than the Kenwood, probably 50% heavier. Like the Kenwood, the 5050 can be modified, and it needs to be to get the best out of it.

[hobo]

I recently got these, to celebrate my full license:

Invisible,

Please tell me about the aerials! I have a couple of Intek 5050s and am interested in extending their range. When I read up on replacing the aerial it mentioned the dreaded word 'solder' and I thought uh-oh!

Hobo

[Invisible]

Before I continue, just to be 'proper', everyone should know that it is illegal to use a PMR446 radio with power over 500mw or a modified aerial; likewise to transmit on unlicensed frequencies.

...

The longer aerial in the picture is for the Kenwood - it's a tri-band (2m, 1.25m, 70cm) one with a bit better gain than the helical it comes with.

The other is an Intek that I got free, but I've not got the adapter to fit it yet. Well, it might be at the PO by now - it's on the way. I also have a longer Intek aerial on the way with it.

There are a few tutorials on the 'net for doing it, including a two part video here, although it's a bit long-winded:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcXNv1Bc3GA

This is the adapter I've bought:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

and this is the long aerial:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

and the shorter one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

They were the cheapest I found, but check before you order.

...

When I get them, and crack open the Intek, I'll try to take some good photos and post a small tutorial myself intended for those not so familiar with soldering. It doesn't look a hard job, but I'm an electronics geek.

Do you know about cutting the three wires in the radio to increase power output and channels? If not, take a look at these photos I took:




The service label (note the spelling mistake on it - quite an appropriate one) pops out with the tip of a knife.

Just snip all three looped wires to increase power to 4W and get lots of extra channels. Make sure the wires can't touch again with a dab of araldite or something, or just cut a section of them out like I did.

Be aware that the wire is hardened steel, like piano or guitar wire - not copper! I notched a very expensive miniature wire cutter on it before I realised . Use something with hard jaws.