Old dogs and new tricks (Pt2)

It always helps when you read the instructions….

However at the end of today after a bunch of failures I managed to create my first “Code Plug” for my new RETEVIS RT3S. To those of you who (like myself) who are thinking of trying this without the aid of instructions… GOOD LUCK! As it turned out I had 99% of correct from the start but… the thing is that after you enter the frequencies into their memory slot you must assign each memory slot into a “Zone” or nothing works.

In my case for starters… I entered 24 ham frequencies into to Zone 1 and the 7 weather channels (receive only) into Zone 2 and that works great. Now for the next codeplug I create I will use the Zones for a specific area… Zone 1 being Kingston, Zone 2 being Ottawa, Zone 3 being Receive Only and you get the idea from there on…

73bob

What 3 words ….working

  A hiker in Frontenac Provincial Park sustained a serious leg injury, requiring evacuation by helicopter.Injured hiker airlifted from Frontenac Provincial Park An individual hiking in Frontenac Provincial Park sustained a serious leg injury, requiring medical assistance and evacuation by helicopter, OPP said in a news release. Around 3 p.m. on Dec. 8, Kingston Fire & Rescue dispatch was called to locate and assist an injured hiker in Frontenac Provincial Park. The hiker had sustained a serious leg injury and required medical assistance. South Frontenac Fire & Rescue responded and used the ‘What 3 Words’ phone application to pinpoint a location in the park on the Slide Lake loop, the release said.

The above content comes from the Kingston Whig Standard. Our local newspaper. I receive the local headlines via email.

The part of the story mentioning the “What 3 Words” phone app is what caught my attention.

I first was introduced to this during the 2024 Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour when we had to assist a lost rider who was also having mechanical issues.

She had the app on her phone and had called into our Comm Ctr and gave us the info. I was then able to pass that on to a mobile unit who also had the app on his phone and she was found with no issues and brought to a checkpoint for repairs.

Click here for a bit more information

I suggest you do a bit of research and then install the app on your phone just incase… If you sitting in the comfort of your shack and someone calls for assistance (it could happen) and when they give you the 3 words at least you will understand what you are relaying to the first responders.

73bob

For the record I have no monetary interest in the app. First hand I know if used correctly it will work.

Old dogs and new tricks (Pt1)

I guess the question of the day would be “Can an old dog learn new tricks?”

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Myself being the “old dog” decided in trying to enter the DMR part of our hobby by purchasing a RETEVIS RT3S which is a dual band (2m/70cm) dual mode (FM/DMR) handheld radio.

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I purchased the equipment from Fleetwood Digital Products in Surrey BC and used their shipping option of Purolator Express service. I also ordered the optional RETEVIS Speaker Microphone at the same time. My total costs were just under $260.00 all in (unit/mic/taxes/shipping).

This was the second time I have purchased gear from Fleetwood and can say nothing but good things about their customer service.

I would order from them again in an instant. The communication lines were open all through the process and even suggesting so tips for when I try to program the unit. More on this later.

Consider this an unsolicited endorsement of their business.

Anyone can leave good Google Reviews. If I’m going to endorse something its not because they asked me to… It’s because I want to.

There was some issues getting the gear delivered here in Kingston and Fleetwood worked with me arguing with Purolator and the kit showed up at my door on Saturday morning rather than the Tuesday afternoon that was expected. We did have a weather event on the Wednesday that caused most of the delay but if it had showed up on time then the weather would not of been an issue.

Here’s where the old dog (I just turned 70) starts getting confused….

This is a rig (like most of the new rigs) that you really gotta read and understand the book of words before you try to turn it on. I now suggest putting the battery on charge when you get it and spending the hour or so it takes to charge up on reading the instructions….

The above suggestions comes from the fact that I did not… After all after being a ham for 30 years I don’t need to read the instructions. I’ve been programming Yaesu Radios for 30 years this will be a breeze… Trust me read the book… Watch a few YouTube videos first.

Your sanity and blood pressure will thank you for it later.

As you might guess from the above graphics…. I’ve still got a bit of reading and watching to do before I can start the programming. So far the radio is not talking to the computer… I’m using Win 11 so….Driver issues are my best guess so….

Will be back with part 2 once I get to the actual programming stage

73bob

ATAS 120 Update(d)

UPDATED POST AS OF DECEMBER 3rd:

Digging thru my garage I managed to find a whip of the right diameter. I trimmed it back to the 36 inches needed and all seems ok.

I have sent an email to Yaesu Parts asking about the “Waterproof Cap” and followed it up with a phone call (went to voicemail) and awaiting a reply to either.

However as I don’t plan to operate in the rain…. I can be patient…

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And it works….

It was missing a couple of parts but the McGyver in me allowed the test operation.

Before it spends more time in the Great Outdoors it needs:

Yaesu atas120 “replacement rubber weatherproof waterproof cap” ra0698300

This part protects the top of the antenna by keeping out moisture from entering the antenna….

I also need the Replacement whip for Yaesu ATAS-120, part number RA0084400.

The whip I got with it is too thick (just) so unless I drill it out at the screwdriver end I have to find one with the right diameter before I start to use it past testing. I’ve decided on waiting till I can find a whip that matches the specs rather than try to modify the antenna itself.

The parts are available at Yaesu US and sooner or later I will get around to ordering them.

The weather cap is not needed immediately… and I will be trying to find a suitable (36 inch or so that has a 2mm dia) whip locally along with something that might work for the weather cap.

For the test I used a magmount on the BBQ in my back yard with no radials…. Using the metal lid of the BBQ for the ground. In place of the whip I used 54 inches of insulated wire held vertically by a fishing rod, and I was heard in Sudbury Ontario (just under 270mi) on 40m ssb. The antenna had no issues tuning up between 6m and 40m.

I’m a happy camper and now its just taking my time finding a stronger magmount along with a suitable whip….

This will be the end of this until I can get the required parts here. Hopefully that will happen before my trip to my daughters to look after my “Grandkits” when my daughter and her hubby head south some time in January.

Now on to the next project

73bob

A “new to me” antenna

Yesterday on a local (Ontario) ham swap site I noticed a Kingston area Amateur selling a “Curious” ham mobile antenna.

He was selling an “Untested” Yaesu ATAS- 120 mobile antenna. It was part of an Estate Sale he picked up and untested because he did not have a Yaesu HF Radio that he could test it with. It was being sold “as-is” as it was untested for best offer…

It checks off a couple of boxes for me as it can be used mobile (in my daughters car or in a rental car, truck or van) and it could also be used in a portable situation if the trees were not co operating when I take my FT891 out to the park. It is also compatible with my Yaesu FT991a that I use at home.

Above pics taken from the DX Engineering Website

I sent him an email to find out what he considered an offer that he might look at and he got back to me about a half hour later. It seems that we were on the same idea with it because I quickly said “I’ll take it” in a return email.

The details were worked out and payment sent via E Transfer and he will be dropping it off at my place next time he is coming this way.

If you are not exactly what a Yaesu ATAS-120 is check out the above YouTube video by K8MRD. Mike creates pretty darn good content in my opinion.

All I gotta do now is find me a couple of antenna mounts for it and all will be good.

I will give you an update on this project once the antenna mounts arrive and I get everything working.

73bob

Scanning in YGK Pt1

For those of you not really interested in Scanning…. Sorry…. If this new obsession I have continues after this I will take it over to a new site…

CYGK is the airport code for the Kingston Airport. The term “YGK” normally applies to the Kingston Area.

A few days ago I mentioned that I had been “gifted” a Realistic PRO-2050 scanner. Well although I have had to read (and understand) the “Book of Words” for the more technical (Trunking) stuff… The non-trunking part of things is working quite well.

For those of you were wondering… I am using an Arrow dual band (2m/70cm) GP antenna attached to some of those Green Fiberglass Military poles that every ham has sitting in the garage. The antenna is at 10 feet above the deck counting in the Tripod that everything fits in.

I am using RG58 coax because that’s all I had and I am using a choke balun at the feedpoint of the antenna to catch some stray RF due to proximity to my 2 other transmitting antennas.

I have had success in setting it up and receiving VHF/UHF signals. Nothing earth shattering … but the Air Band is interesting and I am hearing some traffic on the Marine Band along with the VIA Rail and CN Railway VHF comms.

The map shows the Train Station on the left and I live in the Strathcona Park neighborhood

The railway traffic is easy as I live really close to the Train Station in Kingston.

As a side note when monitoring the air band in conjunction with having a flight tracking app on the computer lets you see where the flight is that you are listening to.

I find that Flightradar 24(above screen grab) works quite well for my needs buts that’s just my opinion.

I do have one bank of memories scanning the 6m FM band and the 10m FM band but so far no luck. Its going to be a long shot though especially as my scanner antenna was not designed with 6m and 10m in mind.

The smaller Township Fire Departments are scannable and it can make for interesting listening. I can also receive the Local FD from the surrounding townships.

Still working on getting the “Trunking” side of the scanner working for me tho…

The setup had its first draw back (an aw $h!t moment) It seems where I had my scanner antenna located was causing HF RF to come back into the shack on my FT 991a when transmitting on 40m. On Sunday I only operated on 10-15-20 m and no one said my audio was hot. Come Monday morning on 40m and I have a problem. Quickly disconnected and lowered the scanner antenna and the problem has gone away. I guess it was just the proximity of the HF and Scanner antenna. Oh Well!!! UPDATE–> I lowered the antenna 4 ft, added an RF Choke and moved it about 15 feet away from the HF antenna and all seems well (till the next time at least)

Its not going to replace Amateur Radio but it is interesting to listen in when the Amateur Repeaters are quiet and the HF bands are dead.

73bob

Shipping Options during the strike

As mentioned in an earlier Blog post… Canada Post is on strike which if you like selling and buying Amateur Gear is not a good thing.

Last night I was on the website of a Canadian Vendor in VE7Land who had a new handheld for sale. Its the one I am considering and its selling at the average price for the unit.

Not this one but it looks a lot like it.

At the check out I am offered shipping options. Canada Post was $20.00 (price rounded up to nearest dollar)with a 5 business day delivery guestimate. The vendor also offered Purolator Express service for $29.00 (price rounded up to nearest dollar) with a 1 day delivery estimate.

To me at least this is a no brainer… For the sake of 9 dollars I can have it here with 1 day service. I always thought the Courier Companies were much more expensive… Seems I was wrong….

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For those of you wondering its not on the way yet….

But there is a very good chance that Santa might be putting it under the tree…

Especially if Mrs Claus leaves room on Santa’s Credit cards..

73bob

ps…. more on the Scanner Stuff coming soon

An addition to the shack

Recently I was “gifted” a scanner from a fellow amateur who no longer had need for it.

Please welcome to my shack the Realistic PRO-2050 scanner.

I hate (ashamed) to admit it but I going to have to read the “book of words” on this one… I do have a spare coax run already outside to use and a 1/4 w dual band GP antenna to hook up to it.

Once I get the instructions figured out and the unit programmed I’ll let you know how the “scanner life” is in the Kingston Ontario area.

73bob

In case you missed it!

CANADA POST IS NOW ON STRIKE!

Keep this in mind when you buy/sell something related to our hobby and planned to ship via USPS to Canada, via Canada Post across Canada or via Canada Post to USPS or anywhere else in the world.

If its already in the system then delays should be expected.

Not something anyone who buys and sells stuff wanted to happen before Christmas…

Not going to comment on who’s wrong or right in this dispute but it will have a negative effect on our hobby.

73bob

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