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Welcome to Pew Pew Panel with Ava and Chad. Today we’re going to discuss ham radios, but first we’ll discuss Chad’s latest cerakote job and my new way of protecting myself when a gun isn’t an option.
Gideon gideonoptics.com
Mail Call
Chad Mail: Scott Cerakote project – Canik TP9SFX slide, 45Blast comp in Arctic White MC
Ava mail: Amend2 self defense pen
Rossi rossiusa.com
Listener questions
@tacticalrabbit308 This is for Chad what do you charge for laser engraving and can you do a m1 Abrams tank on an upper for a AR-10?
Listener comments
@frank4fun64 Well done Chad… we’re all mesmerized by Ava’s eyes…..you’re concentrating on the trigger. Great episode, love watching the Panel
@Big_Mawcus I am trying to get my shadow system pistols cerakoted by Chad!
@readytodefend1325 Ava, you look ridiculous rolling your eyes when talking about revolvers. Just because YOU don’t choose to carry them, you shouldn’t discourage others from doing so. I know several women and men who carry .357 revolvers. That is a superior caliber with tremendous stopping power. Don’t confuse personal self-defense with a gunfight against a gang. Whether or not you’re carrying semiautomatic or a revolver, the odds are stacked against you until you can get to your self-defense rifle.
Main Topic Part 1 Ham Radio
Online Study resources
Hamtestonline.com, HamStudy.org, HamExam.org, QRZ.com
Electronic Transfer electronictransfer.com
Main Topic Part 2
Types of Radio/Systems
- Different radio types and bands allow different freq & power levels, more power = greater range
- Bands are allocated for different uses, FM, AM, SSB
- FRS (Family Radio Service) UHF, Limited range, free to use, radios sold at Walmart, Amazon, etc.
- GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) VHF, more range, repeaters available, paid license required, no test
- Maritime (VHF, line of sight, tall antennas to get over the horizon)
- CB Radio (Citizens Band) Shortwave, low power, short-range direct communications. Popular with truckers
- Scanners – Listen to public EM comms, Police, Fire, EMT, most networks are encrypted/trunked and require special radios to decrypt and listen in
- Weather towers – Forecasts and emergency broadcasts from NOAA, Skywarn activations/volunteers, weather available over APRS network (discussed more below)
- VHF/UHF – Handhelds, Mobile rigs, repeaters
- APRS – TNC (Terminal Node Controller) for APRS capabilities on analog radios
- Digital modes DStar, DMR, Fusion
- Hotspots (OpenSpot2/3) for long-range comms over the internet using 1w (LR comms Available for Techs)
- SMS Gate – Texts over radio to a recipient from areas with no cell service, can receive return messages from SMS network
- HF – Various bands Method of long-range communication, morse code typically used for basic comms across vast distances
- Many HF bands bounce off of the upper atmosphere to propagate signal across vast distances
- Echolink – Software for streaming audio between stations over the internet (older)
- Winlink/Pat Winlink – Email over radio
- FT8 – For contesting and making contacts, no true comms
- JS8Call – Keyboard-to-keyboard messing service over 40m 7MHz radio (My favorite mode)
My Equipment
VHF/UHF Handhelds – Kenwood TH-K20 / TH-D74A / Baofeng BF-F8HP, UV-5R
VHF/UHF Mobile TM-D710G
HF Portable Rig – Yaesu FT981, Chameleon MPAS, SignallinkUSN, RaspberryPi, Powerfilm Solar, 12V 30Ah Impulse Electronics Battery Box, Small PC or iPad w/GPS Unit
Youtubers
OH8STN (JS8/off grid/prepping)
KM4ACK (Pi stuff)
KB9VBR (lots of great info for beginners)
Tactical Comms
Listener of the Week
Taz 1125 Been watching pew pew panel since it’s been on iv8888. Really enjoyed with Eric, and Chad I’m sure will be great also! I’m sorry things with Eric didn’t work out. Would love to see an episode with both Chad and Eric! Ava your an interesting person, l’ve been watching your channel for a couple years. I love seeing a variety of subjects, sometimes it seem like odd subjects but l do enjoy learning more about you and your hosts. Sometimes you talk about things in the firearms world I will never be able to have or try but I love seeing them and learning about them. Keep up with it and we’ll see you on your next episode!