A small spectrum analyzer in your tool box could be a game changer.

[Gunfighter14e2]

These have been out a while now and seem to work as advertised. If your rig does not have a cheap S/A (water fall) built in, or you don't have a full on 60 gig RS/A this will allow some snooping & scanning. Depending your ability's there are many other, down range usages. As always with anything Rx or Tx a good antenna is helpful. The supplied antenna will snatch the stronger RF but she comes alive when you hook to quality.

The link is to many Youtube videos
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tinysa+ultra+spectrum+analyzer

 

[John?]

@Gunfighter14e2

These TinySA are very useful tools. I recently borrowed one to track down RFI troubles. After using it for a while I am convinced that I need one in the toolbox alongside a NVA.

Radio is a very deep rabbit hole. We are fortunate to have many good enough tools that were beyond affordable just a few years ago. Spoiled for choice doesn’t begin to describe the options available.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Radio is a very deep rabbit hole.

That is huge a understatement,... the deeper I go the more I find out what I don't know, or even suspect most of the time.
RF tools keep getting faster, cheaper & as time goes on more compact. This thing beats carrying a full on 60 Gig or better RS/A everywhere for most stuff. The amount of RFI is getting more & more pronounced everyday it seems.

NVA? did you mean VNA?

 

[John?]

Yep. I meant VNA. Between fat busted fingers and autocorrect it’s a miracle i can communicate at all.

My 14 year old is trying to sort out digital HF right now. He is struggling to configure FLDIGI and FLMSG for our Icom rig. I am letting him struggle a while. He’ll learn more that way. If he asks for help then I’ll jump in.

All my kids like radio. 3 are licensed and the last will test next month. All will participate in winter field day next weekend. They’re running the CW station for our club.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Yep. I meant VNA. Between fat busted fingers and autocorrect it’s a miracle i can communicate at all.

My 14 year old is trying to sort out digital HF right now. He is struggling to configure FLDIGI and FLMSG for our Icom rig. I am letting him struggle a while. He’ll learn more that way. If he asks for help then I’ll jump in.

All my kids like radio. 3 are licensed and the last will test next month. All will participate in winter field day next weekend. They’re running the CW station for our club.

Great to hear they are into radio & more so that they hob-la CW.
FLDIGI is a great tool, but it stumps many when first trying to set up the sound card. I have to use external sound cards as Kenwoods, unlike most Icons don't have one built in. Once they get it all up and running they will have some fun.
The Armed Forces Day Cross band test, is also a great training exc as well. Hoping they (MARS) will move into band & emission mode splits at some point, but understand many still need training on simple freq splits. A few of their own operators proved that point every year, LOL.

 

[MadDuner]

I am one of the “poors”.

I can only afford a single hobby at a time.
Dammit!

 

[John?]

@MadDuner

I am a poor too. That’s why we run old gear. Stuff that most folks snicker about. Our ancient HF rig is a hardware radio, no fancy waterfall display or SDR software. We use a cheap walmart android tablet as a spectrum scope. Antenna is a homebrew endfed made of 14ga THHN and a home wound unun transformer. That’s why I had to borrow a tinySA.

Eventually we’ll purchase a TinySA and then a VNA. For now we rely on the forbearance of other operators in our local radio club.

Radio is like racing or shooting. How fast do you want to spend is the main thing. Basic gear lets us build skill when you’re a poor like me.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I am one of the “poors”.

I can only afford a single hobby at a time.
Dammit!

I have sold off many NFA toys to fund RF toys, then once I realized the RF world could be made to trump any gun or shooter, I went in with both feet. Most all of my first gear was, "it can't be fixed stuff" most were throwing away. Then I found old dead TV's & AM/FM radios microwaves ect people were throwing away were a great source of free parts. Have traded many a weapon system for RF gear these last 10-12 years, latest was a 300wm for some high end Textronic & Fluke gear. Never could afford both venues, however moving out of one allows moving into the other easily depending who you are trading with.

 

[MadDuner]

I have sold off many NFA toys to fund RF toys, then once I realized the RF world could be made to trump any gun or shooter, I went in with both feet. Most all of my first gear was, "it can't be fixed stuff" most were throwing away. Then I found old dead TV's & AM/FM radios microwaves ect people were throwing away were a great source of free parts. Have traded many a weapon system for RF gear these last 10-12 years, latest was a 300wm for some high end Textronic & Fluke gear. Never could afford both venues, however moving out of one allows moving into the other easily depending who you are trading with.

I took the first steps to the “next” addiction with GMRS and Technician licenses.

When I die… my poor kids will be selling race cars, parts, guns, reloading equipment, and radio equipment to receive their inheritances. LOL

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

When I die… my poor kids will be selling race cars, parts, guns, reloading equipment, and radio equipment to receive their inheritances. LOL

When my dad ask me what I wanted, I told him being over drawn at the bank when he checked out would put a smile on my face bigger than anything he could give me, as I wanted,... Nothing. Told him to give what he left behind to my sisters, which he did. If I didn't/don't earn it, I don't want it. I've seen/known many a family torn apart over greed, don't what anything to do with that.
I plan on funding many a hooker,... in my last days.

 

[Franko]

I wish I had the time to experiment with the practical application of wireless communications, drones, and other related goodies. It's not only really interesting, but if things go south those skills and tools are going to be far more valuable than a few guns and some ammo. Then again if I had the time and the money I might just be retired on a beach somewhere chasing women that weren't trying too hard to get away...

 

[MO Fugga]

I've got one of those little SDR dongles, it's cool for listening to airband, need to rig it to a tablet. Meshtastic is fun to get into, and isn't very expensive. AES256 encryption built in is useful.

 

[Matches Malone]

I have sold off many NFA toys to fund RF toys, then once I realized the RF world could be made to trump any gun or shooter, I went in with both feet. Most all of my first gear was, "it can't be fixed stuff" most were throwing away. Then I found old dead TV's & AM/FM radios microwaves ect people were throwing away were a great source of free parts. Have traded many a weapon system for RF gear these last 10-12 years, latest was a 300wm for some high end Textronic & Fluke gear. Never could afford both venues, however moving out of one allows moving into the other easily depending who you are trading with.

It depends how the radio is used. We the people probably won’t have access to fast movers and fires.

The only other thing is communicating with a team of ride or dies.

That said, I’m waiting to find out if there’s a way to have an encrypted channel (not applying through FCC for buisness) or run digital off satellite…something like that before taking a hard plunge into comms.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

That said, I’m waiting to find out if there’s a way to have an encrypted channel (not applying through FCC for buisness) or run digital off satellite…something like that before taking a hard plunge into comms.

The problem with most anything encrypted, is it draws unwanted attention of top tier types and usage of all the tools at their disposable. Most things the masses think is safe from prying ears/eyes is, in fact not. What is safe is your standard everyday conversations using you own codes/OTP's or photo/videos sent, that can mean nothing, or mean everything.

The higher the tech you use, the higher on the "lets look at these folks" list you clime. Out of the box thinking using the KISS concept works much better than using a unknown to you created system, someone hawks as unbreakable that always has back doors installed. Unless you help create the system & fully know/understand it, why trust advertising word salad from people you don't know? What is their vested interest, or motivation? My guess would be for you to,... pay them,... for the privilege of knowing everything your doing, much like smart phones were designed & implemented to do.

 

[John?]

The problem with most anything encrypted, is it draws unwanted attention of top tier types and usage of all the tools at their disposable. Most things the masses think is safe from prying ears/eyes is, in fact not …

Metadata and externals are indeed useful indicators. Radio is not the right tool to whisper sweet nothings to your wife, even if it is AES256 encrypted.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Radio is not the right tool to whisper sweet nothings to your wife, even if it is AES256 encrypted.

Encrypted anything is a flag saying I have something to hide,... and the encrypted message is mostly only hid from those not interested in the first place. You are far better off using a event, place, or time as a precursor, that changes everyday word usage, meanings.