So the Icom-7300 arrived the other day. It is, hands down, far more radio than I know what the heck to do with. First thing I noticed, though, was that the manual included with the thing was extremely lacking. Fortunately, the internet is a handy resource.
It appears that the 7300 ships with the ‘Basic’ manual…around 80 pages (https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/ico-ic-7300_it.pdf) . What I wanted was the ‘Complete’ manual…which is around 180 pages (https://www.icomjapan.com/support/manual/2271/).
Does a hundred pages make a difference? Oh yes. Keep in mind, my radio experience is virtually nil…but, like a good survivalist, I need to learn (and retain) the necessary skills to make full use of this tool.
I am, unfortunately, going to have to set up a small desk in a corner of the bunker and make a little listening station for it. This means having to, once again, re-arrange thigs and make some room. Truly, space is the final frontier. At the moment, all I want to do is listen. I am told that, since I am listening and not sending, pretty much any antenna would do the job. It is unfortunate that Ticom doesn’t live nearby since he’d be pretty much the last word on these matters.
Getting a ‘serious’ radio is something I’d been blowing off for, well, way too long. There were a bunch of reasons for this…none of them really good. The biggest was the expense. The bloody thing is not cheap at almost $1200. But I suppose thats the test of your convictions about the future: do you really believe that there are bad times coming that will be bad enough that you’ll need to have your own communications network? If the answer yes then you bite the bullet and spend what needs to be spent. Another excuse is simply that things like shortwave radios are low on my list of Uncertain Goods. To my way of thinking, which may or may not be correct, I foresee the availability of things like AK’s and 30-rd magazines being more threatened than the availability of radio equipment….thus, my priorities in terms of acquisition lean towards the things that I deem as being ‘threatened’ in terms of their availability to me. As a result, a very expensive radio took a backseat. And, finally, I’ve been doing the whole paranoid survivalist thing for over thirty years…but its only recently that my life has hit the point where I can afford (barely) such grand expenditures.
So, I’ll set up a small desk in the corner of the bunker, pick up a few support items, and start getting my brain up to speed on things. Part of me is looking forward to it and part of me really wonders where I’ll find the time. But…as I said…if you really think uberbad times are coming, well, then you make the time, mister.
Yes. It is now and more so in the future the lack of accurate truthful information that will be the major problem to overcome. Guns, ammo, and kit is cool and all but having good info and intelligence is a decisive edge. This new hobby can just minimally edge out your other endeavors in time and money but the r.o.i. of added intelligence will make your position stronger overall. Two ears on everyone’s skull means listening is very important. Stay frosty and tune in for the news.
https://brushbeater.org/training-courses/
NC Scout also has books for sale which will help you a lot !
The ham license will let you learn how to use it on the transmitting side when times are still good. If/when thing turn south you’ll want to keep silent as much as possible, BUT having climbed that steep learning curve when things are ‘normal’ will mean your chance of getting it to work if you really need it orders of magnitude better.
I’m sure there are lots of people that have purchased a firearm ‘just in case’, and have never fired it. Without practice, most of those people might be in for a rude surprise the first time they try to use it in a life or death situation.
That’s where the gun ranges and ham radio clubs come in mighty handy. I’ve belonged to two different clubs (I moved to another state), and I can honestly say that the money I spent for dues was the wisest investment ever.
You can do a lot with the manuals, but for regular practice, you need to get on the nets. Nets have regular check-ins at scheduled times, that give you hands-on experience with using your radio, as well as getting you in contact with others who will gladly help you master your radio.
Well if you think our benevolent Regime will over look Ham, CB or other ways to communicate let me tell you this. Last year during one of the cataclysmic events that seem to befall the nation everytime a Marxocrat is running things. The state government demanded that HAM operators refrain from using their radios. It wasn’t a request. It was an order.
As we have seen with the terrorist arm of the left comms is everything we could hope for. They all carry, as do we a comms unit on our person. And since the government seized control of the airwaves in the twenties they can control everything. Even the internet is subject to being shut down by Uncle Socialist. The only real issue with radio communications is most of the time you have to transmit in the ” clear”. Everybody including the FCC can listen. For regional areas a group could concievably set up a code system. But a series of codes would be needed. What with computers and AI code breaking isn’t as difficult as it was in WWII when code breaking evolved to an art form. The boys and girls st Bletchley Park were some of the best. Even Hilters vaunted Enigma fell victim to their expertise.
The best thing to remember. If something is feared by the government. Sooner or later they will find a way to eradicate, suppress, or sieze the mechanism in question.
Anything that makes life or in the case of patriots easier will be a target of the government.
About a month ago I read about the Bidenites wanting to monitor all forms of Socialist media. In China they have monitors in chat rooms and the media in general. Because most of the monitors are women they are referred to as ” Big Momma”. Now the regime is wanting to impose this on America. Big Brother is here. Has been here. And unless the courts( controlled by Big G) start cracking down every aspect of our daily lives will be examined by and judged by government monitors. So if it’s something that can make things easier for anyone the Regime views as an adversary it will damn sure be targeted as contraband and seized.
If you operate mobile – setting up the equipment, making contact quickly, and moving on, a ham can be hard to catch.
The range of HTs (handhelds operating on the VHF/UHF bands) and GMRS (similar in range to HTs) is short enough to make it unlikely that you will be caught operating illicitly. I say illicitly, as, according to FCC regulations, the US government, in the absence of a declared crisis, has no right to keep you off the air.
Good luck with that shutdown. Police and other emergencies operate in nearby frequencies, and would suffer from an attempt to block hams.
BTW, GMRS can be set up easily with an access code to listen in.
When not in use, keep the radio unplugged from power and antennae and also in a shielded ESD type bag or two. Keep a cheaper backup inside of a Faraday Cage (popcorn tin). Commenter “Tunnel Rabbit” is a wealth of knowledge regarding comms and hopefully will chime in.
CZ, I am very interested in this thread as I had a similar plan to do the same. I am already a technician operator and have multiple shortwaves but feel a transmitter would be beneficial in the long run. I also agree with Michigan Prepper and followed that state mandate to clear the airwaves very closely. I do not trust these btards in any way at all. Keep your friend close……
Don’t recall if you’ve said whether you’ve taken first aid, CPR, AED, first responder or GSW treatment classes. If not, I’d also advise those.
Although the number of people I would work on has decreased over time. You have to fork your own broncs.
Any time a place where you work offers CPR, basic first aid, rescue breathing sign up. It’s free education. I was a first responder during the years I worked. Shortly after renewing my card I was at a Civil War reenactment in Spring Hill Tennessee. Our artillery unit had to cease firing because of all the “dead and wounded” having to be moved. Suddenly a couple on my crewman started yelling. I went over and they told me one off the Rebs was having a medical problem. I examined him, questioned him as to medical problems. I learned he had partially blocked coratid arteries on both sides of his neck. He was a big fella. Going well over 250lbs. He had just traveled a mile and a half across somewhat hilly ground sometimes at the double quick. I sent one of my people back to the aide station for the ambulance and EMTs. Twice when I was relaying the information to the EMTs this guy passed out. At first we thought he had gone into cardiac arrest. He was loaded up and taken to the hospital. One of my friends told me a week later he found a bit of information on a chat room that the guy made a full recovery and had been released. Free first aid training is great training to have. We can never have enough first responders in an area. Basic first aid can be taken in about 4-6 hours. Advanced training a bit more. Today most of the Jr College’s offer EMT and Paramedic training. Even though I’m out of the game. I thought recently with all the improvement in treatment and techniques I might want to take the course. It can’t hurt and it just might save someone’s life. With the situation in the country you can never have enough trained first responders.
@michiganprepper, can you provide some links, or appropriate search terms for the MI shutdown of ham radio? First I’m hearing of it, and I try to pay attention. Can’t find anything with a basic search.
I’m especially wondering how the state gov has legal authority to interfere with my FEDERAL license. Links to EO or legislation would be great.
There isn’t much I’d put past gretchen but this is news to me. I’d have thought to see something in QST or one of the other ARRL pubs or enewsletters.
Thanks,
nick
It wasn’t here In the formerly free state of Michigan. I was tryung to see if it among my saved articles. So far I haven’t located it. I read a ton of articles every day. If I can locate it I’ll send it. It seems it was either in Washington State or Oregon.
The Obama Regime was very engaged in coming up with an off switch for the internet in the US.
Thanks, that would be a major escalation. All the more reason to have the gear. And some very narrow antennas set up as point to point links, with cross band repeaters, remote antennas, and remotely operated TXR and other measures to try to keep the anti-radiation homers from dropping on your shack….
n
I checked my saved articles and didn’t find it. Then did a web search. Didn’t find it. But one interesting thing I did find. California recently redesigned there emergency response group. They informed the Ham operators and radio clubs thst they would no longer be part of the emergency response structure in the state. It’s all being taken care of by state employees. Read thst trusted to be quiet types. One place that the HAM operators really became the only means of getting information in and out was during the Alaska earthquake in 1968 I believe it was. The state people later said that thry were indispensable to the relief efforts. I’ll continue to see if I can fund that piece.
Commander,
I forgot to suggest a Nifty manual:
https://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/instruction-manuals?fr=part-type&SortBy=BestKeywordMatch&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=nifty%20manual%20IC%207300
I bought a Yaesu 857D after reading one of TiCom’s long gone blogposts, and found myself in a similar position you’re in today – way more radio than I could make use of.
The Nifty manual was a game changer. All the menu options are laid out in an easy to comprehend booklet that ISN’T 180 pages long. In the amateur radio space, we’re fond of telling new radio operators to “read the manual/ARRL Antenna Book”/ et.al., but not everyone learns best that way. I buy Nifty manuals for everything now, even if I’m buying it to pass on.
Second the Nifty manual for any ham rig, if available.
I’ve had a 7300 for a while, as has my next-door neighbor. We found that the front end is wide open from the factory. If you have anything radiating strong signals near you, your radio will get overwhelmed and you’ll have a hard time hearing the signals you want to hear. (You can guess how we figured that out.) There is a menu setting you can use to narrow your receive range. Of course, that tends to negate one of the great things about owning an SDR.
I’m selling my 7300. Too many strong signals around here. The money will help refill my radio kitty. It and a Yaesu FT-450D have been replaced by a gently used Elecraft K3. I’m keeping my old primary rig, a Kenwood TS-590S, for a spare, portable ops and for Field Day use.
If you need help with antennas, hit me up.