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If it’s just a USB cable, there’s nothing to recognize in the cable itself. That doesn’t mean something isn’t working. If the radio is plugged into a regular USB cable and the USB cable is plugged into the computer Windows will attempt to recognize the chip that’s in the radio itself. That can only happen if a driver has already been installed that is appropriate for the radio. Windows has some drivers pre-installed but not always the right ones. If the radio manufacturer recommends a driver, the driver must be installed before plugging in the radio. The cables that work with the K1 connector have a chip built in, called a UART, that converts USB level signal to audio signals that are connected via the earphone and microphone connection. It is that UART chip which requires a driver on the Windows computer.

BORTHER THANK FOR USING BIG LETRS SO THEY READ EASY. MY EYES AINT SO GOOD AND I CANT GET TO A EYE DOC SINCE BARB LEFT AND TOOK THE KEYS GOBBLESS

That would be tough for the Spanish speaking tv stations. I would assume since it's govt it would be a "one size fits all" rule.

Thanks!

Nobody said a constitutional change is necessary. I said that a change would need to be made to the rules we have now in order to require that only English be used to communicate. I also said that legislation could do it (override the rules) assuming that said legislation withstood a constitutional challenge (meaning that legislation requiring all communications to be made in the English language might be challenged in court as being unconstitutional).

Thank you very much!

Those 9 -10 ah UPS batteries work well for 20 watt and QRP radios. Expert Battery/ECI batteries ar good and reasonably priced on eBay. You can get 12v 10ah lead acid battery for $27.49 or a 12v 10 ah lifepo4 battery for $38.99. One guy has been using the ECI lead acid 12v 10 ah batteries for his QRP radios for years. I use the lifepo4 versions for my Xiegu G90, Wouxun KG-XS20G and my WRP radios. ExpertBattery 12V 10AH Battery 2500+ Cycles Rechargeable 12V 10Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery I know buying replacement batteries from the UPS manufacturer are expensive and close to the cost of a new UPS system.

You want hardline, like Heliax (Comscope/Andrews) or whatever RFS calls it. At 50', you are looking for 1/2" or 7/8", unless you can find a deal for larger somewhere.

Tanx! That's what I figured, but you never know.

Thanks, gang. For some reason the USB port isn't being recognized by Windows for the radio but it does for other things I plug in. Weird. I went ahead and order the Kenwood (HA!) cable so perhaps that'll fix my problem. Will let you all know.

Hello everyone. Slowly working to put up my own repeater and currently in the coax stage. I understand LMR400 is not the best for repeaters as the metals don't play well with it. I am running approximately 50ft so nothing crazy. What have y'all been using that works well?

Yup for get all the fancy stuff and just use the map. It’s better this way anyway. You can look around your location as well.

I'll only be using 1/2" Heliax for my transmission line. For me the cost difference for the dB gain isn't worth it on a 80 foot run to upgrade to 7/8" (1.18dB vs 0.65dB 32 vs 36 watts at the antenna in my situation). And there's no way I'd want to take the chance of getting used coax they may or may not be compromised from the weather. This isn't an area repeater, it's for my family for use in town and maybe farther out if the radio Gods permit it. I don't have nearly enough height to get real distance out of it. I don't expect much more than 10-12 miles in my terrain.

"... it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one — and only one — official language. Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society. Accordingly, this order designates English as the official language of the United States." I don't think a constitutional change would be necessary, myself.

And not just any radios nowadays. My Jeep (2015) in dash radio failed on me and I found it too was suffering from the same issue on at least one chip (AM). I used a heat gun to run the solder and all was good... for now!

Here is the link: https://www.arrl.org/contest-glossary

I've been lucky to have a friend in IT that services corporate computer systems. They are always having UPS units dying off, most of the time due to one 12v9ah battery in a bank of four going bad. Most mid-size UPS units have a two (12ah) to four (9ah) battery pack that is replaceable, but often costs almost as much as a new UPS. The corporations typically just want to replace the entire dysfunctional UPS rather than making internal repairs, so my buddy just swaps them out and saves the bad ones for me. I check them out and once in a while can make a repair, but usually just strip the batteries out, test them and dump the bad battery. As a result, I have couple working UPSs laying around, plus about 175ah capacity in small 12v batteries, mostly 9ah I've scavenged, but also a few 18-22ah batteries I've bought. About once a month I'll rotate the individual batteries through a quick charge and top them off by plugging them into my bench power supply as I run radios. Most stay near 12.8v between charges, but as soon as I see one go below 12v, I know it's on it's way out.

You can use the USB cable or K1. If you have a K1 cable, use it, though make sure it is seated fully, the K1 ports on most CCRs are either too loose or too tight. If you don't, go through that drawer you have of USB-C cables and find a good one, ones that come with tablets and\or phones should work. The one with the radio is not a good one. It works for some, not for others, but programming via USB is an option. The data cables for me that consistently work are the ones from my iPad, iPhone, or Samsung tablets.

I'm wondering what coax your using. I'd recommend 7/8 heliax or similar due to the length involved. You can often find some good used cable from radio shops that they have removed from service on a commercial site. Also run a jumper from the main feedline to the antenna to allow for movement between the two in order to take stress off the connectors. A loose connection will cause desense and drive you nuts. I'd also recommend a RX preamp from Advanced Receiver. I have a handful of them and they make a big difference. To your comment about getting above the trees, your right on point there, just getting above the tree line will make a big positive improvement. Also, ground the coax toward the lower end of the tower above where it bends to go into your repeater location and take the ground straight down towards the ground to a proper ground rod. The lightning arrestor should be located just outside the building. Repeater Builder has a section on Motorola site standards that is helpful. Here is a site you can model your coverage on https://www.ve2dbe.com/english1.html

Whoops

The same USBc cable can charge the battery (with the USBc port on the bottom of the radio) AND... you can program the radio with CHIRP or other propitiatory program on the computer by plugging into the SIDE USBc port on the RADIO under the rubber cover .. under the Kenwood Port.

Actually... wrong. The USBc cable that comes with the radio can both charge the battery via the plug on the bottom of the battery... and the radio can be connected for programming with the same cable by plugging into the USBc port on the side of the radio under the Kenwood plug ports.

Yes, just click on the map option and zoom in to where you are.

Kenmore is a washing machine or refrigerator; Kenwood makes radios (and made stereos back in the day).

I think the Kenmore (Kenwood- whoops) plug is easier to use than the USB. There are some USB cables that won't work properly with programming. The cable that comes with the radio works for programming. Cheap cables only designed for power might not work.