Radio Quick Start Gear Guide

When people think of radio communications, they want a replacement for a cell phone. You’re not getting a replacement for a cell phone.

Alright, with that out of the way, I’ve been getting a ton of emails asking about jump-starting communications capabilities for an area. Since that’s something I’ve written a lot about over the years and teach two classes for building that capability, I’m going to cover the bare-bones basics to getting a local network squared up and running.

QYT KT-8900. Small, light, versatile and effective.

For local work, you’re going to want this:

– QYT KT-8900D

It’s a 25 watt tiny little mobile radio that plugs into a 12v outlet. You can run it in your truck very easily. I have one mounted under my dash and another in my shop for making local contacts. Mine is programmed with all of the local repeaters and it’ll also do all of the license free bands (FRS/GMRS walkie-talkies, MURS and marine band).

To get it rigged up, you’ll need a run of 50 ohm coax that you can get in any truck stop. I just call it CB coax. Next you’re going to need an antenna. I run an aluminum J Pole as my fixed base station antenna and I have it just drilled into the eve of the roof of the shop. On my truck I run a 2m firestick which is pretty much the same as my CB antenna and its mounted to my toolbox.

The nice thing about this setup is its portable to nearly anywhere and works really well. With a couple of deep cycle batteries you can run this little rig for a LONG time. I have.

Onto HF.

Icom 7200 with LDG auto tuner. Rugged and simple.

This one is going to be a lot more expensive for a basic setup. Here’s a post from a couple of weeks ago on rigging your own simple antenna. The easiest HF radio to use out of the box is the Icom 718. It’s got a huge display, a really good receiver for listening to shortwave and HF transmissions and is very simple to use. I run the 7200, which isn’t too much different. But the other cool thing is that rigging it up for digital use is very simple. Here’s two links on the setup:

MFJ 28 amp power supply.

You’re also going to need a tuner for your HF radio. I use a short run of coax (8 inches) between the back of my radio to the tuner then run the antenna coax into the tuner. What this does it use two matching relays to create an electrical match for the antenna length to the frequency you’re using. Think of it as an insurance policy for your radio, since there’s too many variables with an HF antenna to make a perfect 1:1 SWR match every time. The tuner takes up the slack and protects your rig. It protects in other ways as well. I had mine take a lightning strike three years ago. Sent it into LDG and they sent me a new tuner, no questions asked. You’re also going to need a 120v power supply since all amateur radio gear runs off 12v. The one I use is an MFJ 28 amp switching power supply. Its got a 12v power plug to run that QYT mobile radio as well as your Icom.

This is an expensive list- but its one I’ve recommended to a lot of other people starting out and my own home station is not too much different. Everything I’ve got is kept pretty simple. But that said, having the gear is one thing, having the skill is a whole other animal.

Need help getting it all together? Want to know how to implement it into a tactical setting? I’ve got a course for that.

By NC ScoutPublished On: April 2, 2020Categories: Comms, NC Scout16 Comments

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at brushbeater@tutanota.com or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

16 Comments

johnyMac April 2, 2020 at 06:54

Great article NC Scout!

That QYT radio at under $100- is a great little radio. I have bought four over the years. When I read you had two Scout, I just had to jump in and say, “right on.”

One I installed in a member of my small groups house using your Jungle Antenna. Installed the antenna in her attic and ran the coax down to her pantry next to her kitchen. Power source is a deep cycle Grp-27 battery. We keep the batter charged using a modern trickle charger. She is good to go if the electricity goes out.

I gave one to my 16-year-old neighbor when he received his Technical license three years ago. He uses a J-Pole antenna he bought at a ham fest for $10-.

I have one in my truck which works flawlessly. My last one is installed in my shack because it works on ALL 2-meter frequency’s, 136 to 174-Mhz not just 144 to 148-Mhz which you need a license to work. Of course it works on 400 to 480-Mhz too however, we do not use UHF much up here in the mountains.

Thanks for taking the time to write up this quick start guide. Good stuff.
MechMedic April 2, 2020 at 09:10

Just finally got off my ass and got one of those QYT’s for use a base station thanks to this article.
- NC Scout April 2, 2020 at 09:15
  
  Come up one day soon. I’ll get you squared away on it.
Ersatz Naugahyde April 2, 2020 at 11:42

+1 on the 8900D.. Solid dual band for the price.
- NC Scout April 2, 2020 at 11:47
  
  Yeah man. I should do a more detailed end-user report on it. But long story short, mine have survived heat, humidity, cold, and neglect for several years now and still work just fine. Good little radio.
Romeo Foxtrot April 2, 2020 at 12:08

Timely post as alternate rx/tx, especially for local/regional issues are going to be critical. For those of you who are late to the party, I’d get chirp installed, allowing you to program rigs via a programming cable and pc. https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home make sure to obtain appropriate cable for radio. This will let you easily program all of the frs/gmrs/murs and marine and other bands too. You can even program in 2m/70cm repeater stations to listen as well.

here’s a good link to misc freqs, kinda dated but still a good resource to save and print
http://zetatalk11.com/docs/Radio/Frequencies/index.htm

The time is now, as we’ve said all along, this will not automagically become easier to do unless it’s being down now….
Anonymous April 2, 2020 at 18:55

5
Mountain Goat April 2, 2020 at 19:37

Great write up Scout.
I have my Technician license and connect to the local repeaters via a Yeasu FT 70D. I have learned a lot listening to local users and the Thursday net. I am ready to move up to the next level and wonder What are your thoughts regarding Yeasu FT 991A which combines HF/UHF/VHF versus separate HF and UHF/vHF units?
Also. I’m planning on taking your RTO course in August, What would suggest I invest in prior to the class?
- NC Scout April 2, 2020 at 19:44
  
  The 991 is a good rig. It’s not the most user friendly (none of the yaesu rigs are) but it’s a good rig.
  
  You don’t need ANY equipment for class.
brentg April 3, 2020 at 15:40

What would your recommendation be if you could get either: QYT KT-8900D for $85 or Yaesu FT-2980R for $155?
- NC Scout April 3, 2020 at 19:22
  
  QYT, hands down.
Matt April 3, 2020 at 18:09

Do you have a recommendation for a stubby antenna for Quansheng / Baofeng handhelds? Thanks,

Matt
Patriotman April 3, 2020 at 18:49

@Matt Look at Smiley antennas. Have used them in Scouts classes to great effect!
Matt April 3, 2020 at 20:05

@Patriotman, just what I was looking for. Thank you very much.

Matt
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