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@Lorenzo Candelpergher@Mario Cornejo, @Rawad, @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil, @JeromeFJ, @Chinthaka Ruwan, @Arman, @Ranjan Das, @Russ, @Shaaz Sha, @Thomas Varghese here you go, the drone shot I took.

Dear Prof. @Frederic, SQUELCH (SQL setting) is the White Noise ("ssszzzzz"). Setting SQL to high basically mutes white noise, that may be caused by other radio signals, mobile phones, or even electronics from our cars, BUT high SQL means now your radio will only receive the STRONGEST signals from other radios on the same frequency. If you are in the same building yes, high SQL makes sense, but when we are 10-cars apart, a high SQL can mean you only hear the car in front of you and behind you. Of course this needs testing, but this is the theory anyways 😁 I propose 2 different approach (again needs testing, but we engineers like to test assumptions, right? 😀) 1. Set SQL to be as low as possible instead of high. The default is 5 on Motorola and probably most other radios. We can try 3 and see if white noise is audible or not. The reason is when we set SQL LOW, we allow "weaker signals" to come to us... weaker signals as in the Marshal in front who is 9 cars ahead. This is also called Noise Squelch: muting background noise. 2. Make use of CTCSS code. This is like a "password". So yes we are using license-free Channel #1 446.00625 MHz and there are 2 clubs using this channel. Group #1 uses Channel 1 + CTCSS code 77 while Group #2 uses Channel 1 without any CTCSS. Now comes another Club, Group #3 with Channel 1 again without any CTCSS. Guess who will hear each other voices? Group #2 and Group #3 will hear each other and may cause confusion unless they switch channel. Meanwhile, Group #1 who is a Smart Group like Carnity is not distracted by Group #2 and Group #3, because they have password-protected their free Channel #1 with the CTCSS code 😉 This is also called User Squelch: muting other Non-Carnity Users, which is what we probably want in our convoy... Below visually depicts what I mean:

I presume you are referring to @Alex Raptor 3 ton beast and not yours?

1. The reason i propose increasing SQL is to disable the radio from picking up signals “outside” the convoy. A 5 Watt radio can easily broadcast and receive signals within our convoy range, except inbetween large dunes but that’s unavoidable. 2. CTSS coding is a good feature, but we have struggled massively in the past to get all people to program their own radios (hence the videos and tutorials). Implementing CTSS codes for every channel will complicate the matter as most people are not familiar with those settings and if set incorrectly they won’t be able to broadcast or receive even though they are on the same frequency. In the early days of the club we were spending more time on programming the radios of new members than actually doing a proper briefing and introduction. Hence I’m not a fan of this option (the KISS method works best) 😀. I am sure we can keep static and interference well under control by using a good radio that works for you and your car and a bit of SQL fine tuning. As we mentioned we have seen a definite improvement of a 70dhs radio vs a 300dhs radio (as is to be expected).

I think , if you are going for a lift , then changing the arms are also advised. I didn't change my arms and that's how I ended up in sweihan breaking it

Let's go for the overkill and have a drone tethered to CF with an antenna always above the height of the dunes 😆😂

Mastering the proper recovery techniques in knowledge and practice is definitely a cornerstone in the world of off-roading . It’s important for the “back bone “ as @Fredericsaid. I humbly ask each of you guys to go through if you have time to what we have collected so far in the thread of the greatest of recoveries as well before you hit this session. It’s not perfect but I hope will give you some background to what you will hear from @Gaurav all the best 🙏

Thanks @Kailas for the beautiful drive! And thanks for the opportunity to support. The magnificent dunes of Sweihan never cease to amaze me! It’s always sheer pleasure to drive on this terrain.. Well planned and well executed by the convoy… @Prakash Anoop tremendous improvement in your driving! It’s amazing to see you coming along to land “far far away” and honing your skills.. extremely well driven @Adnan Halepota @Salim Akhtar @Hitham mohamed @Manoj Soman You guys took on the challenges and responded well with good driving! For me newbie drives is all about understanding how your ride responds to your command and learning to control the throttle and steering! You will get to learn the skills as you spend more time on the dunes… it was pleasure to watch you self recover @Salim Akhtar.. well done! Overheating is an issue for pajero especially on stressful self recovery… getting an additional fan for the transmission cooler may help in those times… I too have to struggle keeping it cool! thanks @Nabeel Abdul Rahmanfor the sweep. I am sure you had fun at the back! Thanks @Thomas Varghesefor the valuable suggestions and assistance in recoveries! until next time!!

@Alex Raptor’s is 3.5.. mine is 3 😂

The action plan on Thursday is as follows - we will scale some peaks and swoop our way through the Sweihan ranges of dunes. If you are thinking of bringing passengers, make sure they have strong stomachs, Sweihan can be like a roller coaster ride as the bowls are deep and long. Unusually for me I will be trying to stay clear of the technical dunes because I like the idea of scaling the heights and descending some of the vertignous slip faces that form a part of these ranges. I have learned, however, that planning a drive in Sweihan is often a fool's errand. It seems however well we plan, the plan goes awry. See you Thursday in the sand.

I am practicing my yoga now so I can reach my ankles seeing as team work has its boundaries!! I hope this will not be like fear factor where you bring live scorpions and snakes !!! I may come in full body armor …

Thank you everyone for making this winter welcome drive so successful and beautifully graced with your friends and family. As our families support our passion every week, so we also need to treat them with an outing in nature to meet our extended carnity family. Spending time with loved ones and chill with friends to see each other faces than just names on the convoy list was an amazing feeling. I'm sure many of you must have seen each other for the first time. Thank you all advisors to make this WWD a great success with your brilliant planning, ideas, support, and responsibilities, without each one of your crucial roles this wouldn't have been possible. My wife has uploaded her pictures to the gallery. Looking forward to seeing your clicks soon. https://carnity.com/gallery/category/1013-winter-welcome-drive-qudra-dubai-15-oct-2021 @Usman Basit @Joseph Sebastian @Muhammed Saeed @Super Safari Girl @Zed @Savio Fernandes @Stav @Danish Mohammad @Ahmed Wagdy @Tom V @WaYan @Enrico Biscaro @Paul Zeitoun @Rsjiv Samuel @Joji varghese @topgear @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil @Christopher Assal @Raman_Dbx @Senthil Kumar @Richard Franks @Junaid Iqbal @Adnan Halepota @Hitham mohamed @Premjit Vappala @Jerry Han @Sudhanva Sonawane @Trekado @hasan hamadeh @qaiser ijaz @Ahmed Abdelsalam @Morshedi @jodha singh shekhawat @Lawrence_Chehimi @AlexM @Kishore S @Wrangeld @Srikumar @Chaitanya D @Alex Raptor @Tbone @Lorenzo Candelpergher @GauravSoni @Frederic @Asif Hussain @M.Seidam @Mehmet Volga @Jeepie @Janarthan @Luca Palanca Falsini @Yousef Alimadadi

During the drive you might face static, noise, or interference on your walkie talkie. There are many possible reasons for that. I will list them as per most likely: 1) Our Frequency range is License-Free, hence it can be used by anyone. In busy areas or high altitude this can be an issue. 2) Our radios are not professional grade, and more prone to interference compared to the branded expensive ones (which need a license to buy). We see good results from the Crony/Motorola MT777 and the Kangda branded radios. The Baofengs are ok but seems to be more sensitive. 3) Your vehicle. Yes that's right, we have seen cases in which there is constant interference while sitting inside the vehicle, and this stops when exiting the vehicle. There is lots of electronics in the car which can cause this. To reduce interference, there is a setting called "SQL" on your radio which sets the "sensitivity" to which the radio will open its channel. The higher the setting the less sensitive it becomes, so you can experiment with this. It works a bit like an aperture setting on your camera lens On the Baofeng UV5R, which is a great radio especially for that price, this model is known to be a bit more sensitive, and a hack was created a few years back to change the SQL limit from 9 into a much higher level. This involves using the Baofeng USB cable (which you can find on Amazon) and the free software called "CHIRP". Below a description on how it works: https://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_Squelch.php Baofeng USB Programming Cable for Baofeng UV-5R,BF-F8HP, BF-888S,UV82HP,UV-9S,UV-R3 Handheld ham Radio transceiver Ham Two Way Radio with Driver CD: Buy Online at Best Price in UAE - Amazon.ae Download - CHIRP (danplanet.com)

Getting stuck and unstuck is an integral part of the off-road journey. To get unstuck with minimum efforts, tools, gear and time is an art. With an aim to teach the real art of recoveries we need a stand-alone training session so that you can learn the basics, tricks and techniques with complete peace of mind. Bring your camping chair, shovel, water, hat and a willingness to learn. What you'll learn: Basic self-recovery techniques Self-recovery with steering Crawling out of difficult situations When & where to dig & shovel or not Learn to self-recover by yourself Side slope recovery with a shovel How to self-recover from dune crest Soft sand stuck recovery with steering Tow rope recovery – basics Identify & inspect tow points Secure tow rope & shackles How to give tow rope tug, safely Recover vehicle without tow points Identify alternate points to tug Safely securing with bridle support Executing coordinated tug & recovery How to fix tire pop out / change Safe lifting procedures Clean tire for safe sealing Inflate to use the same tire How to deal with extreme recoveries Vehicle roll-over / flipped sideways Safe jacking points and angles to lift Safe anchoring points for securing How to deal with vehicle overheating How to stop engine overheating How to avoid transmission overheating How to prevent clutch overheating First-Aid response In case of scorpion or snake bites Accident or roll-over first response Coordinate with paramedics or ambulance Firefighting response First emergency response Escaping from a difficult situation Correct use of fire extinguishers Drive Details Level: Selected Support Team only @Mukundan Nair @Veedooshee @Melenany @Dodi Syahdar @Niki @Lawrence_Chehimi @GauravSoni @Rizwanm2 @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ @Alex Raptor @Russ When: 30 Oct 2021, Saturday Meeting time: 3:00 PM, (Sharp, without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/QcWUZQnkeyw6U8QF9 Solar Park Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. Approximate finish time: 08:00 PM Please RSVP on the below calendar:

I am planning to change / upgrading the suspension with 2inch lift.. the current OEM’s :have taken enough beating and started to leak! Some are suggesting to replace the control arms as well… can anyone guide on what things to look out for? @Gaurav @Frederic @Wrangeld @Srikumar

My Pajero is running a 40mm lift and taller tyres with stock arms

Upgrading to an aftermarket UCA is usually required when you install a lift kit that is more than 2" to correct the wheel allignment. The second reason is to allow for more wheel travel. I find it as a good idea to upgrade the UCA when upgrading the suspension. My next upgrade would be upgrading for offroad suspension to take bumps at faster speeds, don't see a real need for a lift yet.

Changing of control arms depends from car to car. In my XJ I am running on stock control arms with a 3 inch lift. @Vanessa8580 has lifted her car with spacers and also widened the stance. I think she is running on stock arms. Tagging @Frederic as well.

Thanks @marks. I was not in the drive. I was there in the 3rd leg of the drive at night. Drove 4 hours to and fro to get @Shaaz Sha's car back in action.

Perfect example to keep Ilya away and safe.....!

Amazing one @Gaurav, preparing future leaders...all the best

Too late now, you could've asked this before you got the support team tatoo....!

@James Thorn congratulations

Amazing curriculum @Gaurav! Long way to go for me🤣 As Filipino's saying "You've got to eat a ton of rice to reach this level" 😄 Probably, @Alex Raptor's car is the ultimate challenge here.✌️

@Lawrence_Chehimi I used CB radio (462 range) and they are pain as they are fixed unit and you cant step out with radio. We are using licensing free frequency (446 range), maybe that's why those CB units doesn't cover that range.

@Gaurav@Frederic thanks! It seems we will have to bear with the static!!! Channel 5 is nothing but Zzzzzzzz for my pajero!!!!!

Not that we know off. Etisalat coverage is more amazing than radio range. Even in liwa crossing (in 2018) we have had etisalat coverage that we never used the Thuraya sat phone that we bought for emergency use. Radio license are for companies who have requirement of 24/7 comms on radio devices like transport, security, aviation, construction, etc. Last we checked, it says each device has to have license with annual subscription of 1800-3000 dhs.

If you are a Ham Radio Amateur you can apply but need to have an Amateur radio license from your home country. As we are off-roaders and not radio amateurs I don’t see the benefit. Will even cost you a bit for yearly license. Security companies will have this for their employees using radio.

Congratulations @JamesThorn

Well done @James Thorn !

Congratulations @James Thorn

I also have 2 inch suspension spacers, with stock arms, the only issue is the wheels alignment that is causing imbalance tire consumption. nothing to the driving experience. Since you are upgrading the shocks, surely you expect to pass the humps with higher speed, then you better change a stronger and longer ones to match the part of shock that the arms will absorb, and fit the alignment requirement.

This comment about antennas leads me to a question: I've noticed that in some cases, when convoy spreads over a long distance, say for example a 10 to 12 cars convoy, the last positions may experience a broken reception of messages transmitted by the leader of the convoy. I suppose this is exceptional and not the norm, so I was wondering if there is any recommendation about antennas or anything else that may help? (😂 mods for 2-way radios! ) Thanks in advance!

Let me share the actual concern for disabling the "side" airbag, while off-roading (of course at the higher level) when you criss-cross dune at a sharp angle and high-speed chances are your side airbag may deploy. This we have seen in many US model 4x4 like Ford Explorer, Expedition, Jeep Cherokee, etc. The science or logic behind the side airbag deployment is that they factor the body roll and when computer sense 45 degrees roll on one side of dune (before crisscrossing)+ 45 degrees on another side (after crisscrossing) = 90 degrees = means the vehicle is either rolled over or have a flip and side curtain airbag will deploy. In one of the cases, I rem Jeep Cherokee covered that in warranty as to its flawed move by vehicle, so it's better to check with your agency on what type of science these vehicles use, currently (as something must have improved over the years). And secondly, if the vehicle deploys a side airbag without having a flip or roll, will it be covered in warranty? As they are quite expensive in the range of 5-10K AED.

Fair enough, Keep It Simple and Noise-Cancelling (more expensive radios) are easier for everyone 😁👍🏻

Kind of you to give some credit to me for the blip blip method, however, this is a technique all the marshals will employ when needed - I am sure that if needed @Srikumar will employ the technique if the situation requires. What is good to see @Thomas Varghese is that you internalised the experience and can use it to the full. While there were drivers on that drive getting impatient for us to use a rope or wished that the process took less time, the best learning that any driver can get is to learn how to drive their car out of trouble (possibly with assistance digging). Driving away from the challenge is what all marshals aim to assist the whole convoy in acheiveing.

@Warren Flay congratulations, well done and absolutely deserving

This is a good radio and definitely a good step up from the Baofeng radios. The short antenna will be more than suitable to transmit within convoy distance (further than that should be avoided anyways).

I recently started using the below unit, i'm also not facing any kind of interference, but seems it doesn't transmit or receive over much distance with the short antenna. It is a bit bulky in hand, the other antenna that came with it is also inconvenient to use in the car.

Thanks @Gaurav will surely try next time we drive!

@GauravSoni when I was hunting for a radio in the beginning I had come across a CB radio unit which looks like the one used by police cars for 600 AED. Don't remember the brand but I remember it was Japanese made. I had to buy a radio antenna also for the CB radio to work for 250 AED. I was too tempted but finally ran away from that place. The shop owner claimed it has a 100 km radius to transmit. After buying my Boafeng and playing with it and watching videos about these radios I came to the conclusion that it was good I ran away without buying that almost useless equipment for our purpose. We cannot transmit on police frequencies or listen to their transmission. In US there are radio stations which use these and you maybe able to relay to the outside world you are in distress and you need help. But over here I don't know anything about these facilities. Even though my Boafeng screams or misses out some parts of transmission its fine for me. In case I miss out any message because of static I can request the message to be relayed again.

My meme for the week

That's OK, we have heard this happening before. I recommend putting on a tin foil hat to guide the electromagnetic interfence away from you and direct it upwards so it can travel back to the nearest Etisalat antenna.

The last Jeep I saw there was being pulled out by a crane as it ended up in the lake. Broke his front axle during the recovery as well.

Congratulations @JamesThorn

Congrats @James Thornwell done. Enjoy the new level. Time to unleash that beast.