WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

Technology sure has come a long way!!

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/09/ ... -the-back/

HAHAHAHA that's gold! Glad our radio isn't that big! Thanks for posting that though.

Nice find. Hey Tyranus.. do a search on ham backpack. There's quite a bit of stuff on DYI setups.. batteries, portable antennae etc. Interesting stuff if you camp or hike.

I believe ICOM still have a model available that is able to be carried around on your back (over your shoulders) but can't seem to recall what the model number is. Once upon a time I had a 27MHz portable handheld with a 2 meter telescopic antenna, as Bob Dylan once sung - times are a changin'

Yaesu have one here but unless you're heavily into HF I don't see the point in paying $900 to get something that can transmit the same power as my handheld can. I think I'll just get a SMA to something adaptor and then put an antenna on the end of that.

Tyranus wrote:Yaesu have one here but unless you're heavily into HF I don't see the point in paying $900 to get something that can transmit the same power as my handheld can. I think I'll just get a SMA to something adaptor and then put an antenna on the end of that.

There are a couple of guys on air using the 817 including an F-trooper. How he gets out I'll never know... his description of the antenna and transmission line was scary (TV coax..) Yeah, shame about the power but I bet your handheld doesn't do all the freqs I can envision an IC-706 in a backpack with the head mounted on a harmonica support so it sits in front of your face while you're trekking down the Bibbulmun track.

robbage wrote:

Tyranus wrote:Yaesu have one here but unless you're heavily into HF I don't see the point in paying $900 to get something that can transmit the same power as my handheld can. I think I'll just get a SMA to something adaptor and then put an antenna on the end of that.

There are a couple of guys on air using the 817 including an F-trooper. How he gets out I'll never know... his description of the antenna and transmission line was scary (TV coax..) Yeah, shame about the power but I bet your handheld doesn't do all the freqs I can envision an IC-706 in a backpack with the head mounted on a harmonica support so it sits in front of your face while you're trekking down the Bibbulmun track.

No it doesn't, but how long would the battery last for? nothing about battery life on the page ...you have too much of an imagination I think when I do the bibbulmun I'd take my handheld and that's about it...if I take my handheld.

robbage wrote: I can envision an IC-706 in a backpack with the head mounted on a harmonica support so it sits in front of your face while you're trekking down the Bibbulmun track.

Its called a IC-703, looks like a IC-706, battery operated from internal battery, obviously low power and not available in Australia. It was once available but no longer.

Check out the link below.
http://www.strictlyham.com.au/Icom/Mobile/IC-703.htm

I am curious to actually know how the firies do communicate with each other these days, do they use handhelds like that of UHF cb's or headsets?

Robb wrote:I am curious to actually know how the firies do communicate with each other these days, do they use handhelds like that of UHF cb's or headsets?

Handhelds. Either UHF (at around 519MHz) or mid-band VHF (78MHz).

Cool, not sure about rhe 519mhz ones, maybe in WA they do, we only use 78Mhz in TAS.

I have pictures of the Wagner HF manpack we used to carry in the bush with the SES complete with 6ft solid whip and sealed lead acid batteries. These were still in use until the early 90's. After that we got portable repeaters and could set up proper communications with handhelds. I can email them to someone so they can place on the forum if you wish.
Nick

Pics of the PRC-47 backpack I serviced for a while in the military

http://www.effectnet.com/mjnpa/prc-47.html

They had the "tape measure" style antennae though

robbage wrote:Pics of the PRC-47 backpack I serviced for a while in the military

http://www.effectnet.com/mjnpa/prc-47.html

They had the "tape measure" style antennae though

Battle whips I think they called them?

Trying to find the radio we used in Army Cadets in the mid 90's.
Was about the size of a backpack.

Nick wrote:I have pictures of the Wagner HF manpack we used to carry in the bush with the SES complete with 6ft solid whip and sealed lead acid batteries. These were still in use until the early 90's. After that we got portable repeaters and could set up proper communications with handhelds. I can email them to someone so they can place on the forum if you wish.
Nick

Hi Nick,
If you're happy to, you can email the photo's to my email listed on the board and I'll try and upload them tonight when I get home.

Cheers,