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It would be good to know how to wideband it. I bought this radio about a week ago and have had a good few contacts. I bought the telescopic antenna for it and was up the Pentland Hills (two miles west of Edinburgh) at about 900 feet and reached a guy I know who was 42 miles away. Mind you he was static mobile in the hills above Perth and was also at around 1,000 feet. I've also been down by the sea and made an 8 mile contact across Edinburgh and a few others across into Fife that is 7 or 8 miles away. If you're willing to get out and about with this radio its well worth the money.
Delboy and Surfin' Bird like this post
Delboy Senior contributor
Posts : 103 Times Thanked : 5 Join date : 2019-06-27
Well, got it today, unboxed it and had a little play around(Even managed to get the wide bands on it, thanks Delboy.), very quiet here but will persevere. I will use it mainly on travels about the country. Lovely wee radio, lets see how it performs.
Sydthecat and Delboy like this post
Delboy Senior contributor
Posts : 103 Times Thanked : 5 Join date : 2019-06-27
Call Sign : 26-CT-4813 Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-04-13 QTH or Location : MANCHESTER UK Equipment Used : President Grant II
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:49 am
Hi, maybe a bit of a daft question but I am on my second T-X direct from Thunderpole with the same issue: When I use another radio (President Randy 3, Uniden Uniace 200 etc) within my house - I get random signals RX on the Thunderpole signal meter when I key up other radios (testing) e.g. - +30 the next time I key up 3, then 5,7 etc. I sent it back but either they didnt check it properly and sent me the same one back or these radios tend to be over sensitive on RX. Any one else seen this or is this normal as none of my other radio's have done this? I have now read that Receiver overload could be the issue or AGC (Automatic Gain Control) and at the low price point, should this be expected? The signals are constant if I leave my house (testing) and as they should be, just seems to be strong (immediate area) signals. Not sure if I should again request another radio or not? any help will be much appreciated
Sharpshooter Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-329 Posts : 487 Times Thanked : 13 Join date : 2022-04-05 QTH or Location : Deeside, Flintshire Equipment Used : A growing list
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:00 pm
Turn the RF gain right down or disconnect the antenna.
KaylemAcer likes this post
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2618 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:10 pm
Are you saying that you transmit on your other radio and the T-X gets a signal on just any other channel. If that is what you are saying it's rf from the other radio and can/will damage your T.-X.
KaylemAcer likes this post
KaylemAcer New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4813 Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-04-13 QTH or Location : MANCHESTER UK Equipment Used : President Grant II
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:49 pm
It doesnt have RF gain and it does not seem to do it with no antenna
KaylemAcer New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4813 Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-04-13 QTH or Location : MANCHESTER UK Equipment Used : President Grant II
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:53 pm
Hey Alan, NO, it has different signal meter readings on the same channel when Im holding the Thunderpole radio in one hand and (for example) the President Randy in the other. If I press the Randy mic 5 times, the Thunderpole radio shows 5 different signal readings e.g. 5db, 9db, 3db, +30db random.
Sharpshooter Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-329 Posts : 487 Times Thanked : 13 Join date : 2022-04-05 QTH or Location : Deeside, Flintshire Equipment Used : A growing list
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:46 pm
Just checked my thunderpole tx and I can't find RF gain either. Just take the antenna off the recieving radio as your too close.
Not sure if 4w will do any damage, I wouldn't chance it as Alan mentioned though. Good job you weren't running a burner .
KaylemAcer likes this post
KaylemAcer New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4813 Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-04-13 QTH or Location : MANCHESTER UK Equipment Used : President Grant II
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:52 pm
Yes np, seems great with other folks. not a regular user of these radios so not too sure but that makes sense, thanks for the info and feedback guys. Much appreciated.
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2618 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:14 pm
If you keep it turned on while transmitting with another radio you will blow the front end out of it. Only ever have one radio turned on when you are likely to be transmitting. Doesn't matter if one is on channel 1 and the other on 40 it will damage the radio.
KaylemAcer New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4813 Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-04-13 QTH or Location : MANCHESTER UK Equipment Used : President Grant II
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:30 pm
info now in memory bank - seem to have gotten away with it then luckily, thanks Alan
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2618 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:34 pm
I used to do radio repairs back in the 80s/90s. Can't remember how many i did for truck drivers all with the front end gone. They would park up at night in the truck stop and sit talking to each other and that was too close and did the damage in the end.
KaylemAcer New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4813 Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-04-13 QTH or Location : MANCHESTER UK Equipment Used : President Grant II
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:41 pm
What exactly is "the front end", apologies for my small brain and major ignorance?
Sharpshooter Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-329 Posts : 487 Times Thanked : 13 Join date : 2022-04-05 QTH or Location : Deeside, Flintshire Equipment Used : A growing list
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:47 pm
The receive components. Nothing wrong with asking questions kaylem
Most know much more on here than me. Which comes in handy for info
Last edited by Sharpshooter on Sun Oct 01, 2023 4:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
KaylemAcer New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4813 Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-04-13 QTH or Location : MANCHESTER UK Equipment Used : President Grant II
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Sun Oct 01, 2023 4:02 pm
Ok, well all still receiving. thanks
johnlovesvegas95695 New Member
Posts : 4 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-11-27 QTH or Location : California Equipment Used : Handheld tx
Subject: Thunderpole t-x Mon Nov 27, 2023 7:50 am
If I buy one of these I'm in California will the FM and AM work no problem are they the same megahertz or whatever
Razz229 Major contributor
Call Sign : 26 CT 2290 & 26 CI 2290 Posts : 827 Times Thanked : 30 Join date : 2019-07-01 QTH or Location : Kent Equipment Used : On 11m a Anytone 6666, Solarcon A99 vertical antenna or a Sirio 4000. On PMR a CRT Space U, a 1/4 wave GPA, homemade mag mount & sometimes a 8 element beam. Age : 57
Subject: Re: Thunderpole T-X Handheld Wideband/Export Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:21 am
johnlovesvegas95695 wrote:
If I buy one of these I'm in California will the FM and AM work no problem are they the same megahertz or whatever
Yes this would work, as it does cover the American (FCC) 40 channel FM/AM allocation. As a bonus you would also get the 40 UKFM channels and some extra European channels as well.
BUT. . . . . . This radio is not type approved for use in the America market and would be deemed illegal.
If you want to stay legal, then I would suggest the President Randy 2 FCC handy walkie talkie.
73
Ray 2290
Delboy Senior contributor
Posts : 103 Times Thanked : 5 Join date : 2019-06-27