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4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:20 pm
by Paul#25
Hi all.
There are now quite a few members that have new radios fitted to their vehicles. As a test to check the range of their radios and what coverage the club now has in the different areas how about we all go on air at 10am tomorrow (Sunday 5 August 2018). We can decide on a channel if there are guys that want to participate.
4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:40 pm
by Mad Manny
I'm keen.
Lets start a list:
Radio Test @ 10:00 Sunday 5 August
1. Paulie
2. Mannie
3. Kurtie
4. Pajero Andriekie
5. Andreasie
6. Chassie
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:41 pm
by KurtG
Kurt: channel 2
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 8:02 pm
by Bugger
Would have Participated but at Cars in the Park Show Pta
And will not be At my bus
Why don’t you post your call Sign as well
Mine J91
Most distance If seen my VHF radio worked was 20 km
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:38 am
by Paul#25
Thanks to the guys who participated. Andreas and I are only 4 km apart and had excellent comms. Once I changed the direct of the Disco to face more East I was able to talk to Andre 16 km away. Eastleigh to Constantine Kloof isn't too shabby. Couldn't hear Kurt or Manny.
4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:41 am
by Mad Manny
OK, we did the test.
Manny in Radiokop (Reasonably high up).
Kurt in 4Ways (@ Molly Malone's - opp Monte Casino) .
Andre on top of Constantia Kloof (high)
Andreas & Paul in Eastleigh/Edenvale area.
Results:
Kurt & I could heare one another clearly - 13km.
Andre could hear me (6km) & Kurt (about 14km).
Andreas & Paul could hear one another (less than 4km)
Andre could hear Andreas & Paul (14km & 16km respectively).
I could not hear the East Randers, but they are nearly 20km away.
Chas was smack bang in the centre of the lopsided pentagon formed by Kurt, Manny, Andre, Paul & Andreas but he couldn't hear any of us.
I put this down to the fact that he was on a different channel... 
Good test - thanks chaps!
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 1:54 pm
by XJ Junkie
Manny you should be getting far more than that. I regularly got 25km. The most I got was about 60km
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 4:57 pm
by Paul#25
XJ Junkie wrote: ↑Sun Aug 05, 2018 1:54 pm
Manny you should be getting far more than that. I regularly got 25km. The most I got was about 60km
The Urban Jungle isn't great for long distances comms with our little radios. The distances we got are more than ample for convoy use that is what most got them for.
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:20 pm
by XJ Junkie
ORRA operates between the 146 - 174MHz frequencies. So there must be an ideal length whip to accommodate.
Does anybody know what that length should be?
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 11:54 am
by Saxj
XJ Junkie wrote: ↑Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:20 pm
ORRA operates between the 146 - 174MHz frequencies. So there must be an ideal length whip to accommodate.
Does anybody know what that length should be?
The best is to have you antenna properly tuned to your setup.
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 2:41 pm
by XJ Junkie
Saxj wrote:
The best is to have you antenna properly tuned to your setup.
Mine is, but I still don’t know what the exact parameters are.
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 2:51 pm
by Saxj
You need an SWR meter to measure correctly, then cut the aerial accordingly. (i.e. take it to a radio dealer)
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 8:12 am
by Michael
Is a VHF antenna longer or shorter than UHF?
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:28 am
by Paul#25
Michael wrote: ↑Thu Feb 21, 2019 8:12 am
Is a VHF antenna longer or shorter than UHF?
It depends on the type or make of antenna but generally UHF antenna are shorter than VHF antenna.
Re: 4X4AG Radio coverage test.
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 1:20 pm
by grips
Michael wrote: ↑Thu Feb 21, 2019 8:12 am
Is a VHF antenna longer or shorter than UHF?
Antennas are cut to the operating wave length of your radio. 1/2 , 1/4 for example. You need to fine trim antenna length with SWR meter as per Saxj.