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We were out in the wilds of the Alabama Hills, on foot, last week climbing around large boulders and the 935G+ that my wife had clipped to her jacket fell and bounced down the rocks about 35 feet. The only damage was to one corner on the bottom of the radio and that was just a scuff. The radio still works perfectly. The day before we had been exploring an old mining ghost town. I had a radio and our friends had a radio. My friend's wife got separated form the rest of us and it took us a while to find her. From that point on everybody carried a radio. My wife didn't even smirk when I pulled out the extra radios. We spent three days with very little to no cell service so the radios came in handy.

I've picked up on the sarcasm towards the Roger beep (I had to Google it though to be certain), so I had a rare moment of clarity and knew not to ask about it haha

NOVA GMRS and OCD Offroad are inviting everyone to join us for an "Intro to GMRS" presentation at OCD Offroad's service location in Stafford Virginia on Saturday, November 4, 2023. This presentation is prepared for people who have little or no radio experience, are looking to learn some very basic information to understand radio principles, radio performance and purchasing options. We will cover the following: What is GMRS? Why Select GMRS over CB, FRS or MURS. GMRS Compared To FRS. Range. What is a Repeater? Radio Technology and Programing Overview. Radio Types and Licensing. This session will be video recorded and published for public viewing at a later time. Please be aware that if you attend, your image may be published publicly, electronically (online) and via other means. Seating is limited. You must RSVP below to attend. If RSVP within 24 hours of the event, message MarcSpaz to confirm seating availability. If you can't attend, don't worry. We will be sharing a video of the presentation after the event.

Not all repeaters will continue to transmit after you briefly press the PTT button. It’s better to get on and ask someone for a radio check.

I keep retractable lanyards on my personal and "loaner" radios. The cheap chicom lanyards have enough tension that most handhelds won't even hit the ground if dropped but will massively slow the decent of heavier radios like an ht1000. Plenty of length to clip in on your belt and still bring the radio to your face to talk.

Reminds me... I was in a facility that was under construction. I can't go into where it was due to it being a very recognizable company, and part of it was literally a government black site. But there was discussion of what was going on in that part of the building. All BS and conjecture. So I announced it was where they killed the puppies. I ended up needing to buy three guys new coffee's because they spit theirs out laughing. Got questioned about what I meant. I ask them if they told their young sons that when they caught them touching themselves if told them that every time they do that, someone kills a puppy. And that this is where they do it. Mind you these were all construction workers. I heard that story being told from trade to trade for the rest of the day.

yes

So...I still stand by the statement that RIch can best say what that section of the site will and will not accept in that box. That said, I created a "Test" repeater listing to be able to poke at the settings (marked it offline, etc). Still not sure what kind of code it's using, but I did successfully create a link with the little "chain" icon (4th from the top right, in blue in the screenshot). typed in the text I wanted, highlighted it, hit the link button, and pasted in the url I wanted it to point to. Seems to have worked: Hope it's at least a little bit of help.

If you have some roof rack bars/rails, those may help with keeping the cable off the roof between the mount and tucking into the hatch. That may bring it back to a lip mount being the best option. This comet has a short section of thin cable to help with squeezing past the seal, and limits the amount of cable available outside to rub. Closer to the hinge also limits how much you need loose to allow range of movement with the hatch, but may complicate routing while leaving a drip loop. (I know...Always compromises somewhere) Back to mag mounts, though, I've largely used Midland mag mounts, have to check the brand on one other (edit: it's a Browning), along with a late 90's radio shack mag mount and cb antenna. Even with antennas up to 3 ft, comet 2x4sr or double 5/8 Browning, the only time I've had one come loose was when the whip directly and solidly hit something, like a good sized branch. Lots of light hits with no movement. I can't see something like a "hatpin" 1/4 wave having enough leverage to knock the mount loose, and is only 6" tall. On the hatch, you can likely get by with a 1/2 wave (which tend to be around 12-15" for 450-470 mhz) and still clear the garage.

I figured it out when I had to reinstall the OS... Before running number "8. Run the script with the following command: sudo ~/repeaterfinder.sh" from the section "Configure Your Node Manually" on the page How Do I Join The myGMRS Network I had to change "deb http://mirrordirector.raspbian.org/raspbian/" to "deb http://legacy.raspbian.org/raspbian" in the file "/etc/apt/sources.list" I had to change this because it was causing an error while trying to run the script, as the old website link is no longer in existence! Once I changed it, I then ran the script from number 8, and it downloaded everything correctly. It then rebooted, and I changed my password... I checked the "manage nodes" page, and the node came up correctly. I was able to manage it then, as well as connect my node to a regional node.

@WRZB493 Yes. Repeater tones are almost never used in GMRS. Ignore them for now. Try different levels; see what works for you. Correct, VOX is usually left off. TOT - leave it at the factory setting, whatever it is. CTCSS/DCS questions - read the forums and make up your own opinion. But anyone can hear you. ANI - play with them and let us know. DTMF is commonly used for repeater control. Some people scan the channels listening for other people. I don’t. Suit yourself. Very few people (I’ve never met anyone who does) use PTT ID in GMRS. Busy Channel - your choice. Auto keypad lock would drive me nuts. Make up your own mind on this one. Like most of your questions, try things. For GMRS the offset is always 5 MHz positive. You transmit to repeaters in the 467 MHz range and listen at 462 MHz range. Try it. Try it. Try it. Whew.

I was going to start answering the questions, but jeezus.. I have to be in bed in 3 hours. Good luck.

Regarding pinch points, I have found that taping two short cut pieces of coax on each side. They will take the brunt of a pinch instead of your active coax. Metal ducting tape works well to keep it in place. Add some slack where the bends are so the bend diameter is larger. I think the articulating lip mount will be your best option. Some helpful images for mobile antenna mounting considerations. Good luck on your install and happy mobiling! Sent using Tapatalk

Something that a lot of newbies miss is the need to experiment when new to two way radio communications. You must try things to learn what works and what doesn't. Start with the most basic and work up from there. In your case set up a base station with one HT at home and send someone out in the local area with the other one and map out the area to learn where you can and can't talk. Keep trying things to see if you can extend the range. Like getting up on the roof of the house to get some elevation. Also if mapping from a car stop and get out of the car when testing each location or use the mag mount antenna on the car. You want the antenna outside the car for best results. It may still work from inside the car but you will only know by trying it. Looking for elevated locations around the area will make a big difference. Once you get a handle on what you can do simplex (radio to radio) then you can try using repeaters. Again more experimenting is helpful. But in a real emergency repeaters may not be working (if the power is out for example) so you should not rely on them for your emergency planning. Good luck and have fun!

Eventually it will be older and then you’ll drill the hole. Then you’ll realize how well it works and you’ll wish you had just drilled it earlier and gotten the enjoyment out of it. It’s just like houses. I see so many people who wait until they’re selling their houses to fix them up. All they’re doing is depriving themselves.

Return it.

The 935G is a tough one!

Too mean for them?

CHIRP runs on MacoOS and I believe you can use CHIRP with the UV-9G, but not with the Midland. You can download CHIRP here: https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Download Search Youtube for videos on how to program the UV-9G - if they exist, they will be there, but once you get CHIRP running, its much easier to do it that way.

They gave her back.

That is a really good idea.

I made many AMSAT contacts with this antenna and a UV5R. It cost me about nothing to build. I used scrap house wiring.

It can do lookups by zip code, city, state, FRN, name, and a lot of other criteria.

Lower profile than a tape measure yagi. http://wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf

Welcome to the exciting and dynamic GMRS lifestyle! The GM-15 Pro is a decent, low-cost radio. It has just as many farz as any other 5W handheld radio and dollar for dollar it's not a bad choice for a beginner The antenna that comes with it is fine, and based on the (much) testing I have done, it is doubtful that replacing it would make any difference that you would ever be able to notice, but definitely get the programming cable in you plan to program in a lot of repeaters or frequencies for monitoring.

Instigator...

IF there were a complete, codified, sanctified, canonized list of GMRS air wave rules AND you followed them all of the time AND you never made a mistake, you would still piss people off. A number of radio operators and keyboard warriors are cut from the same fabric. They will get butt hurt and will scream and whine but at the end of the day they are just lonely, sad people seeking attention. Try stuff, make mistakes, try to have fun doing what it is you want to do with your radios. If you do it enough you may even learn to enjoy the cries of the metaphorical basement dwellers.

Repeater Tones = These tone freqs are in Hertz. A repeater tone is never used in the GMRS world. Some legacy public safety radio systems use repeater tones to select certain repeaters from a mobile or portable, and/or a dispatch control point. The user would select the appropriate repeater tone depending on his/her location based on what repeater provides the best coverage. This repeater tone is in addition to the channel protection CTCSS tone. These tones are also known as "Single Tones" "Signal Tones", or Burst Tones" usually for one-second in duration on each transmitter key up. Public Safety Agencies used this type of signaling because of the expense and/or the lack of the means for a remote control system (Microwave or Telco) between the remote repeater station(s) and the dispatch control point. This method of signaling is normally used in a multiple remote site system in a very large rural area. In some cases, these tones (Usually 1450, 1750, and 2100 Hz) can be constant for use as a function or system status purposes on a remote control system (microwave or telco RTO/Pieceout circuit), behind the scenes to the radio user, and will not be heard, normally if the control circuit doesn't malfunction. The 1000 Hz tone is normally used as a "Test Tone" for equipment repair and tuning/Alignments. PT-T ID = Is a signalling method to identify the radio user that is transmitting at that specific time. For the Dispatcher the code would translate to the Unit's radio call sign on a display in front of the dispatcher. A specific code is programed in each radio to identify the specific user. This specific code is audible to all users monitoring the channel. In the old days analog radios like the Saber Radios used by L.AP.D., it was a series of tone beeps heard upon each key up a.k.a. MDC signalling. In the Astro Digital days it became a squawk on each key up now known as PTT ID.

Thank you for the information @wayoverthere. And yes most things will be a compromise, especially since I do not want to drill any holes. The mount you linked looks like the best option as far as mounting on the lift gate. My Escape does have the factory roof rails but no cross bars.

You may also want to download the manual of a Wouxun or some other handheld, the procedures/steps in there may be somewhat similar.

Those are all different repeaters. You will put each one on a different line/channel. You can give a different name to each to keep it strait. I use the repeater name listed on the website. For instance, I mostly use the Channelview and Memorial Park repeaters. So I have them named as CH VIEW and MEM PRK. Apparently all your repeaters use the same tone. Remember, only put the tone on the Tx (467) for now until you have everything else working.

Turn your power to its lowest setting and get a dummy load. You’ll still be able to hear these features, many of which almost nobody use for GMRS, such as PTT ID, repeater tones (not to be confused with access tones like CTCSS/DCS which almost every repeater uses). Some of those features are there because business radios use them. They’re baked into the firmware and SDR and it would take more work to hide them. To most GMRS users they have no usefulness. But the Roger beep, is an extremely important feature that never bothers anyone and which you didn’t ask about.

I'll also suggest protecting the point where the cable turns the corner into the hatch. Been running mag mounts (1, 2 or 3) on my truck for the past 3 years or so, and you can see the "rub" where it turns to tuck in behind the door seal

Could you take the factory shark fin antenna base off and add an NMO or other small base to it, then remount it. That might allow you to run the cable inside also without worrying about pinch points.

My $70,000 F250 has 18 miles on it when I blew in 2 mounts. My F1150 had 100 miles on it when I dropped 6 mounts in it. If done right its worth doing and in the end will get done anyway. Enjoy the proper install and dont worry about it.

Better to get a 3”x3” square of helicopter tape and put that down on the roof first. It won’t let the mag mount scratch the paint and is easily removed when desired.

I don’t see this happening if for no other reason it takes an act of congress to get the FCC to do something.

Unless the guys discussing it were actually from the FCC, it’s probably speculation. Regardless, I would be against it. There are a whole bunch of unlicensed people out there who enjoy those frequencies for FRS..Taking nearly a third of the available frequencies for digital service would be bad enough; taking nearly two thirds for digital repeater use only leaves the eight channels that are available for analog repeaters now, effectively ruining the entire service for analog users when all those people are displaced from the first 14 channels to the upper 8 (15-23)

oh I’m sorry, I thought it was time to Get Smart… missed it by that much.

Define "serious". I don't want to make the mistake of having the wrong conversation on my repeater on my commute, which by the way starts in 7 minutes.

Contact the seller/manufacturer and tell them to send you one that works as advertised or give you back your monies.