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Umm my mother taught me to look stuff up first then ask intelligent questions. My mother told me to help my self first before asking the most basic questions. I’d have to actually get out books, look over manuals, might even have to go to the library. THEN and only then could I go down to the local shop and ask questions. Some times I was told by the old guys to go back home and read some more. Id have to try things out first myself. Many failures later and I’d have it down pat. Now we have the interwebby thingy and we have the most uneducated lazy generation ever in history. Imagine how good it would feel to use the internet information available to one’s self to gain knowledge your self before asking questions.

Unfortunately just about everyone uses some form of a digital voice encoder. The leading favorite is the AMBE, previously IMBE, by DVSI. Their proprietary codec is based on early work done at MIT. The link below is a short description from DVSI, which doesn't really revel much. https://www.dvsinc.com/papers/iambe.html A much more in-depth description can be found here from a report published by MIT for the US Air Force in 1987. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA181146.pdf My understanding is when the FCC forced the commercial radio services to move to narrow band FM, which was done by reducing the FM deviation, also resulted in a reduction in the signal to noise ratio I believe. At a 12.5KHz bandwidth it's not severe, however at narrower bandwidths it is. The FCC stated at one point they intend to move to a true 6.25 KHz per voice channel width. That's why the major radio manufactures introduced various digital voice technologies. For the moment the FCC seems to be OK with various digital voice technologies that can achieve an "equivalent" voice channel width of 6.25 KHz, example DMR 2 slots in a 12.5 KHz channel. However at some point they may force a move to a true 6.25 KHz channel width, but no official date has been given. This is stated in chapter 1 of the FCC's narrow banding guide. https://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/docs/clearinghouse/guidelines/Narrowbanding_Booklet.pdf In the mean time there are ways to license a true 6.25 KHz channel per the FCC. See attached paper. Splitting 6.25KHz Channels.pdf

I've only tested the Midland Ghost, but it did provide at least as much range as the UT-72G with a clearer signal. I know you aren't a fan of the UT-72 series, but IME, if you don't need a lot of range, they work just fine. However, I'd still be running the Ghost if I didn't need an antenna that will also be resonant on 70cm and 2m. There are some similar antennas which purportedly are dual-band in a similar form factor to the Midland Ghost, but I'm highly skeptical that a $15 Bingfu or Anina will do the job. My experiences with their antennas haven't been positive, for the most part. However, I've spent more than $15 on dinner, so maybe I will get one and test it.

Welcome to myGMRS! Just ignore the “Bullies!” Many of us here actually enjoy answering questions, and took heed when our Mothers taught us: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say it!”

Be polite. Don't curse or engage in rancor. If someone says something that makes your blood boil, push the "up" or "down" button and change to another channel. Be considerate. Listen for a minute or so to be sure nobody else is using the frequency. This is especially important on a repeater. If your radio is capable of varying power levels, dial it down to the FCC-approved level. Those levels aren't arbitrary -- they were selected to limit the degree to which your transmission will interfere with someone else's signal. Unless your radio can limit transmit power to 0.5 watt (most GMRS-capable radios can't), just stay off channels 8-14 and let the kids with the "bubble pack" radios use them. It's pointless and inconsiderate to step on other people when you could simply change the channel. I program my radio to listen but not transmit on those channels. With most HTs you can quickly enable the transmit function if you hear someone screaming for help; mobiles are more variable. Yes, the FCC does require you to ID yourself by callsign every 15 minutes and at the end of every conversation. There's nobody actually timing you and most people don't consider it a big deal, but it is the rule. I usually ID at the beginning and end of a conversation "just because". It's like introducing myself by name, kind of like what we used to do when we phoned someone and they didn't know who was calling. A lot of people don't, especially when conversing within a group, and I don't consider myself the callsign police. I don't think I've ever had a conversation on GMRS that lasted longer than 15 minutes, but that's probably because I don't have friends. Some repeater owners may be particular about it, so follow their rules. I use phonetic spelling sometimes, typically when someone is having trouble understanding me. I have an unusual name and it's common for someone to be unable to understand me unless I spell it. Otherwise, I sometimes do it anyway just out of habit. Probably nobody will say much if you occasionally tell them to "take exit 14 bravo" or something like that. Just don't get butthurt if someone ribs you about it. Remember that "privacy codes" don't make your conversation private. All they do is keep you from hearing anyone who doesn't have the same tone. Don't say anything with the PL engaged that you wouldn't say on a completely open channel. Conversely, don't automatically engage tones unless you need to. I sometimes hear people traveling in groups on the highway talking to one another about road conditions/hazards and I'm unable to add something useful to the conversation because they have the PL engaged, so consider the situation before you use it. If your radio will allow it, you can have one set of channels with no tones and another with tones. If you want to hear other people, use group A, if you don't want to hear other people, use group B. In general, just don't be a jackwagon. Treat other people as you want them to treat you, and you'll be fine.

The software is compressed with RAR, kinda like a zip file but different format. You can download WINRAR (if running windows) for free and it will extract files. Also, download in install the driver FIRST before installing the software or plugging the repeater into the computer. BTW, stopped at Beef's in Bushnell yesterday coming back from Savannah to Tampa for dinner. It will be nice to have a repeater in the area.

Two cans connected by a string still works.

How do I open the Retevis RT97L Repeater Software that I just downloaded? My computer ask what to open it with.. Help.

First, Thank you for your service. My Brother-In-Law was a CWO4 and I didn't hold it against him.... Just find a long pause in a conversation and ask your question or make a statement, as if you're in the barracks talking to ole buddies. When you're done and the conversation, be sure to ID yourself as you wrap it up. Welcome to the forum.

After 22yrs of Army commo this might be a fun challenge for me.

Doing a factory reset was going to be my next suggestion also.

Same here.. that should never been enabled.. I guess now we know why.. although my NEXT suggestion would have been to do a factory-reset, which would have set that setting back to off, thereby fixing the issue, so technically, given a long-enough timeline, I was right.

Sometimes breaking old habits of using military/police protocols is hard to do. Though I do say "read you Lima Charlie" to mess with people more than out of habit now days.

GMRS is very very informal. If you expect find users talking like you are used to in the military and the associated protocols you will be disappointed and a bit surprised. Like others said. Do some monitoring on the repeaters to get a feel for the usual flow of communications on that repeater. Familiarize yourself with the requirements to self id and your responsibility if immediately family members are operating on your license and you will do fine. I would avoid being too military on the radio, or you will just be made fun of. I am retired military and LE, and really had to commit to just using plain language and continually remind myself not to sound like some overly tacticool individual. Now I can sound like some rag chewing old man like the best of them if I want to. LOL

Glad I was able to help you. I didn't even think about repeater mode since I have never messed with that setting. The radio is set to receive or transmit mode when in repeater mode.

Thanks. You helped me. By asking about the other MENU settings related to TDR I went through the others and saw that somehow I had enabled the REPEATER-MODE.

Glad that you figured it out.

FIXED!!! I had MENU #54: RPT-MODE enabled to RPT-TX. I must have done that by accident as I was walking through all the menu options. I turned that to OFF and now everything is working properly. My mistake!!

So the mic button #6 and/or menu #7 work mode aren't working either?

AUTOLOCK is OFF (Menu #47). I also cannot change between channel and frequency mode

TDR should work as intended in channel mode. Getting the double beep sure sounds like the radio is locked. I tested the TDR on my KG-100G Plus and the only time I get the double beep is when the radio is locked. Double check menu #47 AUTOLOCK and make sure it is set to off. Other than that, I really don't know what to tell you. I tried duplicating your problem and the only way I get a double beep is when the radio is locked.

Well Negative Nancy, I will correct myself as far as needing to ID at the beginning of your transmission, That is not required. Everything else I stated IS correct. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E That is directly from the FCC. As you can clearly see I have absolutely no issues admitting to my mistakes and did post the correct information. Now stop being such a negative asshat to everyone.

Radio is NOT locked. I can lock or unlock it with the D button as you said. All other Hot Buttons (A, B, C) give me a double beep. And the #8 on the mic for TDR also give me a double beep. I am in channel mode on the radio. Does that matter?

Might want to read the regs before making a statement that isn’t true. Look it up and tell everyone why you’re wrong.

Is the radio unlocked? Pushing the D button on the radio will also lock and unlock the radio. You will see a key sample on the screen if it is locked. Otherwise TDR should work when you push the #8 button on the mic as long as the radio is not locked.