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Showing content with the highest reputation on 09/22/20 in all areas

  1. Look at the data sheet on the Meanwell. It specifically states radio as a use so it has all the filtering needed. Pay attention to the maximum ripple and the stated output over temperature and input power range. You won't find a better one anywhere near that price range. (If some other supply has specs that match or come close, you can bet its a repackaged one.)
    2 points
  2. Neither one. I would put that into this: https://www.trcelectronics.com/View/Mean-Well/ENP-180-12.shtml It's a true commercial power supply that should handle a 50W radio without straining,
    2 points
  3. Just buy a decent power supply for a base station. Probably won't be your last base station radio and you can never have too much excess available amperage. But not having enough is common. Just buy a used switching ham one (ashtron are cheap used) or just wire it to a old car battery you can charge back up (venting needs to be resolved with this method, you don't want hydrogen gas buildup in your shack). For the car simplest is just to wire it to the battery with some type of quick disconnect around the radio. Think deans or power poles. Then you can disconnect everything and take it inside. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
    2 points
  4. kidphc

    2 Meter PL Tone?

    Even worse in spring and fall. When you get tropo, you can get inter mod with repeaters a couple hundred miles away. There is a reason why they want to have a discussion. Might as well, they haven't said no at least.
    2 points
  5. The Retevis RT76 is everything I hoped it would be, and no more. This pleases me greatly. What I wanted was a dumb-as-bricks radio I could hand to "limited users" (hereafter, "lusers") with little they could screw up but changing the channel unintentionally and turning the volume too low. As a result, I am very fond of this radio. It is … nearly perfect. Side-button 1 is limited to "alarm" and there's no scan mode I can bind instead; disabling the ability to start transmitting an alarm tone (AKA "jamming signal") with an unintended button press is possible, but it doesn't let you bind a function you want in its place -- and indeed, there is no scan function. This is the only thing separating this thing from perfection. The Retevis RT76P is… Not so pleasing. The menu doesn't function as the manual describes, the menu won't let you change wide-narrow in spite of letting you select it; hitting the "confirm" button causes the radio to say "Canceled". It has a scan function! But you still can't reprogram SK1 to scan. Until this thing gets a firmware update, it's hot garbage. Feels like a Baofeng missing a few buttons, and with worse translation in the menus. It looks like it had potential, but the potential was squandered. Still don't regret purchasing it, though; I have a spare charger and battery for my RT76 which I love. This one… I don't. Avoid. Edit: Just tried the programming software. Instead of flashing the codeplug I just created (not compatible with RT76 codeplugs, natch; this thing has nothing internally in common with the RT76, I'm sure) it unlocked the 2M amateur band and changed the CTCSS on channel 1 to 2100 Hz. This thing is in dire need of some day-1 DLC. Edit: As of February 2024, the most recent firmware for the RT76P (released quite a while ago, actually) is genuinely functional. It works with the CPS, it works with CHIRP, and the menu on the front panel works as intended. This has gone from a hard pass to a recommend for me. The one remaining pain point is that the top side-key is not programmable, and is hard locked to setting the S-code and sending an alarm tone. If anyone needs a cheap GMRS jammer, this thing here will do the deed… S-code is like some kind of poor man's trunking system. It'd be suitable for large worksites with a limited number of frequencies, but GMRS licensing is incompatible with those use-cases, so … this "feature" is still essentially useless. What I'd like to see in the next firmware revision is the option to drop both functions from SK1. This will open up SK2 for a monitor function, while still allowing you to activate both broadcast FM and weather radio modes, which are far more useful than the proprietary PTTID function. In addition, if you want a PTTID function, Retevis, may I suggest something that uses either audible or modulated-CTCSS tones to broadcast the user's callsign in fast Morse?
    1 point
  6. BoxCar

    IC-F621-2

    It compresses and expands the audio allowing a wider frequency range to be sent/received. Think of it as something as Dolby for radio.
    1 point
  7. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EWG6YT8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    1 point
  8. Overthere, I can't prove they were the ones doing it, just coincidence for the most part, though I would say I am 99% sure. Most times the FCC wont get involved anyways.
    1 point
  9. It's a screw terminal on the back, so you just stick the stripped ends of your radio power cord in and tighten the screw.
    1 point
  10. Good find on midland's page, that gives a better number on current requirements. The transformer you linked may be sufficient current, but the other problem that can come into play is noise. I have something similar to that transformer that came with a mini cooler, and it definitely adds a "buzz" that isn't there when hooked up in the car The car battery was my first route as well, when the weather was nicer and it was tolerable in the garage. The harness I used to build my 12v receptacle would be perfect to use the 115 direct on a battery, would just need clamps. (It was a noco, via Amazon). That said, good power supplies last, and if you're thinking on more radios/more power in the future, having that headroom is helpful down the road, if finances permit (a "buy once, cry once" kind of thing).
    1 point
  11. Semantics, of course.... but FCC separates Private Land Mobile Service (than includes "Fixed Relay Station", Part 90.7 Definitions) and Personal Radio Services (that also include "Fixed Station", Part 95.303 Definitions) in it's all-famous CFR 47. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title47/47cfrv5_02.tpl However, I'm not a lawyer, and I do not even sleep with one on a regular basis.
    1 point
  12. I sell them on the store but I don't have any in-hand. I'm testing the waters and shipping them from Retevis directly but was just about to place an order for some stock. Sounds like I should play around with one and provide feedback to them before placing the order!
    1 point
  13. If you are referring to WRFS771's posts, and I assume you are, note he has not logged in since his 09/16 post in this thread. I personally hope he comes back to perhaps explain the basis for his posts. But, I am guessing that won't happen.
    1 point
  14. Good point. Although, in some cases that may be a feature. One specific case is users who want to program more than 8 logical repeaters*. Many of the certified GMRS radios limit the number of logical repeater channels and also restrict them to specific memory locations (aka radio dial channels). Also, given the apparently complicated front panel programming procedures, I am not sure an application based configuration system might not be better for many users. Still, as you note, one more important thing to consider when selecting a radio. * A logical repeater is a unique combination of frequency (GMRS Channel), CTCSS/DCS, and other access setting(s), bandwidth (wide or narrow), and power.
    1 point
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