Newbie and first small VHF and Feeder Station Setup

[elysium]

Hi all and greetings from the sunny Maldives. Sorry if this is posted in the wrong sub-forum.

1. I would like to get started with a small setup, preferably portable.
My first initial goal is to get an ATC feeder rx portable base station, which I in a later stage with matching license, can be operated on the respective band 6M/2M/70cm. I already have an ADS-B Feeder station setup with matching antennae and AirNav radar box, now its time to get into VHF and AM...

I have read through websites and topics in the past few weeks and here is what i have so far put together in an online shop, would be great if someone could point me out on recommendations or help. Other useful links to learn the basics would be appreciated
Ideally I would like to place just one order as it has to be shipped from the US and will take 1-2 months to arrive here.

- 1x FT-7900R (covers the air band but not 6M), 1x MLS-100 (though audio will be plugged in the PC sound card later)
- 1x MFJ-4245MV (the 25Amp version is also ok?)
- 1X MFJ-1622 & MFJ-1954 to increase range
- Thinking of LMR400 flex, quality coax instead of the provided RG-58 choke of the antennae if that is possible to mod (the MFJ-1622 seems to provide only )

I was looking also at an antennae tuner and a SWR meter but I don't have the knowledge and budget to acquire this as of yet but for sure on a later stage.
Of course I could probably save all of the above if I only like to have a receiver but I really like to work the freq in the future and build something
I know the balcony antennae will be a compromise but I hope for RX, as a start, it may suffice...

2. There is no local amateur radio club in this country , thus is it somehow possible to acquire an international technician license, or must it be obtained in a club?

thanks much and in advance
Stephan

 

[elysium]

Optionally I am looking at a receiver-only station with the GRE-600 Base Station and either a Diamond D130J Discone, a DPD OmniX Multi Band Scanner Model Antenna or a WBD-40 Discone Base Antenna.
LMR-400UF, N Connections and Air-Band Filter too...

Any recommendations?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Perhaps if you told us a little about what it is you actually want to do we could help a bit more. The ADS-B is for aircraft position reporting and has nothing to do with amateur radio so not sure what the significance is of having that. The only VHF service using AM mode is aeronautical so having AM for amateur radio VHF service is really hard to come by unless you have a really OLD radio or a complete HF/6m/VHF all mode radio. For VHF you should not need an antenna tuner at all unless you are trying to use an antenna on a different band than it was intended for which is not a good idea. VHF antenna tuners are hard to come by as well as the demand is very low.

As for obtaining an amateur radio license I suggest you contact the [SIZE=-1]Telecommunications Department, Pastel Building, Male, Maldives as they seem to be the licensing authority in your country[SIZE=-1] and they can provide details on what i[SIZE=-1]s required. If you have a license issued in another country you MAY be able to operate in the Maldives but [SIZE=-1]it is limited to only three months.

[SIZE=-1]BTW [SIZE=-1]one of my cousins boys[/SIZE] worked in the Maldives. He flew a [/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1] DHC-6 Twin Otter for Maldivian Air Taxi Service. The pic[SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]t[SIZE=-1]ures[/SIZE][/SIZE] and videos he sent home were fantastic.You have a really [SIZE=-1]beautiful[/SIZE] country.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]

 

[elysium]

Thank you Captain

I have check with the local authorities and there is no amateur license possible which leaves me to the scanner option only, I don't have a license so to have a radio will be very tempting.

I think I will opt for the GRE PSR-600 with a DPD OmniX Antennae, and I believe I don't need a filter but could use a polyphaser for lighting protection, apparently the antennae does not need a grounding plate.

I have just listed the ADS-B station since I already have one up and running.

I only live here for 2 years and will move on hopefully soon and to another country where I will be able to join a club to study and get a first license. then I can acquire a 6m/2m/440 rig and gear.

Maldives operates the largest twin otter floater fleet in the world by two companies that's why I am primarily interested to screen ATC radio calls and ADS-B signals, that's my primary aim. Yes its a beautiful country with all its pros and cons...

Any scanner recommendations welcome, thanks Captain
Stephan

 

[Moleculo]

BTW, those MFJ antennas you listed are really for HF, not VHF/UHF. You should look at base VHF/UHF antennas or even one that will cover 6m/2m/440 for your described use case.

 

[elysium]

Thank you Moleculo and will take that into consideration, appreciated.
Cheers