Leaderboard

I was able to figure out the input tone. I can hit this repeater! Barely. They say I sound like dog doo-doo. One guy told me where it is, not surprising it and me sound like crap, it's 20mi away. And I'm in heavy woods. And this is all flat land. I guess it was stood up just yesterday. HT to HT simplex all I can get is about 1.25mi in these woods. Anyway, mystery solved!

Sounds like WRHW499, a GMRS call from Michigan.

I agree with that. Myself and others have occasionally gave the wrong call signs while on our GMRS repeater and while on our 2m and 70cm repeaters. It's going to happen now and then. Now if it is constant then there is an issue.

Yes, feedback from the speaker to the microphone. The cure is don't try to listen to your transmission while talking. That's the reason for the feedback.

Quite a few of us in my local club have both licenses. And whenever any of us give the wrong call sign, the rest will give the guy trouble (in fun).

I'm going over to my mom's I think for that. Where I am is not quite in the path of totality, but her house will be for sure.

I've seen people do close to 200 Miles but its peak to valley desert and it's usually not consistent. Ive gotten 400 miles on VHF ham before Mountain peak to valley but VHF pushes a little father. GMRS Suburban Typicals: HT to HT 2 miles or so max Base to Base 10 miles or more if good antennas and good area. I routinely talk ~25 miles on my HT to another HT but we live across a lake from each other. With UHF/GMRS the antenna matters 10x more than wattage basically so if both users have a directional and are line of sight they can go pretty dang far. And even just putting a higher antenna makes it that much easier to have line of sight.

My cousin has a nanoVNA. I might see if he can help me - looks beyond my skills

We had a GMRS guy on my 2m repeater last week so I diplomatically helped him realize he was on a ham repeater. He apologized and left. It happens, but if it's intentional and repeated, then it's an issue.

I was thinking that is was a GMRS repeater since there is enough space between 70cm frequencies and GMRS channels. As far as conversations, I hear all kinds of topics on 2m, 70cm and GMRS. If I don't want to listen, I turn the dial to a different channel/frequency.

Hams do talk about other things but yes, ham equipment is a big topic. Ham has a lot of bands and modes and therefore there is a lot to talk about when it comes to equipment.

And yes the Moni button is monitor. It turns the squelch off so you can hear everything even very weak signals that will not open squelch even on the lowest setting.

Figured I'd give an update in case someone is interested. Ended up with this one off Amazon and so far seems to work decent. Paired up with my Bose earbuds no problem and the included push button worked out of the box. Need to get a little more time with it to see if the mic is consistently good in various environments. Also need to pair it to the truck built in handsfree to see how that works. Amazon.com: BAOFENG Walkie Talkie Wireless Headset, Hands-Free K1 Plug PTT Earphone with Noise Cancelling Mic UV-82 UV-5R Walkie Talkie(K Plug, K Connector) : Electronics

I would agree that it sounds like it’s something to do with either the feed line or the antenna. It could be that the antenna has a high SWR on the repeater frequency but it could also be that the cable or the mount are damaged or that the antenna itself is broken. I had a capacitor fail in an antenna once and it made the antenna go high SWR. Do you have access to a different roof mount antenna you can try? I use an MXTA26 antenna on a Midland NMO mount. My roof rack doesn’t seem to bother it in any detectable way. A few other random thoughts. An SWR meter shows the SWR of the antenna and feedline combination. It doesn’t show where the antenna is resonant. It’s very commonly thought that resonance is where the SWR is lowest, but it’s not true. A reasonably low SWR (usually described as 2.0:1 or better) is helpful. Cell phone antennas frequently have SWRs around the 4 or 5 to 1 and they do fine, but I have tried to use a GMRS antenna (the MXTA26) on 2 meters, a frequency that wasn’t even considered when designing the antenna and couldn’t be heard 6 blocks away with 20 watts.

Call or e-mail Remtronix & ask them to e-mail the software to you I have a loaner unit to test & they e-mailed me a copy of the software You'll need an Alinco ERW-15 USB cable, or, the RT Systems USB-29A cable also works, that's what I used, the cable terminates in a 1/8" stereo/two-band plug I used it today in the car with a 1/4 wave NMO mag mount, it sounds great on receive, it has a clear speaker, I was told the transmit audio is good I'm going to give it more of a workout this week, both in the mobile & portable with different h-t antennas

That’s correct. Not only that, but you are expected to control their operations.

OK first impressions. A real review will have to wait until I can actually use the thing. I was planning to take it with me when I went out of town this weekend and test a new GMRS repeater but it was delivered on Saturday instead of the expected Friday. I'd say it's definitely based on the DJ-A446. Actually I would bet it's the same radio with different firmware. The inclusion of the "Emergency Alarm" and "Jacklight" (Alinco's words, not mine) nails that for me. Seems like typical good Alinco build quality. I found it interesting that it came with the antenna attached (making for a long skinny box) but it IS removable. The manual talks about programming software being used to change various settings, but so far my quest to find it has been in vain. More to come ...

Glad to see that “Advertising Law School“ is making a difference.

Usually, in most cases, generally speaking, most of the time, for most people, on average, and assuming there are no issues with your cabling or connectors, you will get better send and receive performance using an external antenna vs using the HT antenna INSIDE the car. I would expect the external antenna to work a little better than the stock antenna outside the car, but not hugely. Dont forget that you are losing some power through the coax, connectors and patch-cord, so that could negatively impact the performance.

I keep my Roger Beep on - when someone complains about it, I remind them that its my radio and nobody is forcing them to listen to me.

I'm really trying to figure out how to articulate this in a way so as not to come across as a jackass. Let me preface this by saying that I appreciate what the custodians of some of these high mounted and well maintained repeaters do. I'm fortunate to live in an area that is well covered by such repeaters. But,.. It's getting a bit tired when I tune into 3 different repeater frequencies and am hearing the same conversation being had by a handful of guys in metro Indy. Nothing against them. They sound like swell guys. I'm personally not super interested in "making contacts" on ham radio, and to extrapolate that sentiment, I'm especially not interested in "making contacts" over VOIP. It's already a bit of a concession from my sort of "radio hobby mission statement" that I'm using a local repeater to begin with. But,.. They're there and they boom the signal out nicely across the Chicago metro area. But that's KINDA where I wish it would end. If we're going as far as to route radio voice comms through the internet, my GMRS radio just became a cordless phone handset. To me that's just sort of antithetical to the entire thing that interests me in this realm. Having a resilient mode of comms that's peer to peer, achieved by my equipment to yours, with radio,.. Now I already know that some will be quick to point out that the repeater in and of itself is already a 3rd party backbone that I can't have control over. I recognize the slight degree of hypocrisy. But it's a tolerable concession to make knowing that these systems are often on managed towers with backup power and often times set along side public safety radio systems and would likely enjoy the same resilience and backup measures that are likely in place to keep those systems online on a bad day. I think like, perhaps there could be chunks of hours during the day that these links go active? But then the remaining time we're working within standalone repeater range only...? I dunno.. Where do you guys stand with this? I just kind of think it only serves to "clog up" the repeaters.

If you have both licenses it’s easy enough to accidentally use the wrong call sign. I also have made this mistake before especially talking with a friend who has both licenses also and both a ham repeater and a GMRS repeater in between us. This usually is followed by razing the other for the faux pas.

I slowed the playback on your recording enough so I could write down the dits and dahs then translated it. Don't be fooled into thinking I know Morse code.

What would you like us to talk about? Is there an approved topics list? Additionally, it isn't all we talk about. This morning, on the way to work, on my repeater, we talked about yesterday's football game, breadmaking, bathroom remodels, cargo ships, appliance repair, and automotive repair, all within a 40-minute span. Not once did the subject of ham radio equipment come up.

Record the Morse code ID and post it here. Someone will decode it.

Dude.. The chicks must be flocking to you! I need to make a leather holster for my Kenwood TH-75A. Not for the chicks, just because I want to. @scott418 Sorry, haven't used Windows 7 in several years. Hope you get it figured out.

When: 2/24/24 @4:30 PM Where: Five Guys, 7321 Atlas Walk Way, Gainesville, VA Who: Anyone interested in radio https://fb.me/e/6le81jZPo

Since they are using your callsign you will be responsible for their action on the airwaves. If they violate the rule, you're the one the FCC comes after since it's your callsign their using. (Just as a reminder)

I have to agree with @Sshannon. Definitely try an external antenna first. Even a mobile mag mount antenna on a cookie sheet outside is better than an antenna inside the house. If you can afford it and have a place to mount it, I will recommend the Comet CA-712EFC antenna. And getting a 200 mile range is definitely not the norm with GMRS. Most guys in the wide open desert are getting 75 - 100 miles tops. Terrain, foliage, buildings and other obstacles will affect and limit your range. GMRS is line of sight. So the higher your antenna is and that of the person you are trying to talk to is, the better.

Having the antenna right next to that roof rack is not ideal but should still work. Try moving the antenna onto the middle of the rack and see if that makes any difference. PS: those Baofeng hand mic's aren't the best. One trick to help is to take them apart and open up the microphone hole.

Jeezus...

Try tapping the '6' button.

I'm just being careful to not answer like "some people" that come in and decree something as if it is set in stone and has no variables and could never be anything different from what they once experienced or read in a book.. Those guys make themselves look like R-tards, and they're all over this forum. I crave to be different!

Amateur radio licenses and HF radios on 40 meters with a wire antenna is your best option. I use it every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning to very reliably chat with folks from Canada to western Washington, distances up to 450 miles.

I can’t wait to see one AI arguing with another about Roger beeps!!

Don't get too excited Steve, A.I. will soon replace most such jobs. It's already replacing Randy.

I got a promotion!! Woo hoo!

That's why I didn't respond. Didn't want to impose.

I’m not on a crusade to garner support for a stance. I only asked who already shared the same point of view, and I’m not sure if you’re keeping score but so far it’s looking like I’m not in a small boat all by myself over here. Thanks for clarifying the whole “which things I own and which things I don’t” thing. That really needed to be laid out plainly.. But thanks for sharing. I’ve got you down for 1 “I disagree”.

Linking may have its place but I dont believe GMRS is it. I'm in the same boat of listening to long drawn out ragchewing from guys states away. Ive heard the same on ham. Heck there are times I hear thesame conversation 2 hour apart on ahn or GMRS. I never got into GMRS for contacts or to make a statewide system. I prefer my small repeaters, and use them for a purpose. With a good repeater setup there is no reason a town, county can't have good coverage. As of late I use my Part 90 stuff more and more. GMRS was once a great family/friend service. Linking, nets and all the ham radio stuff is not what GMRS started as. I know things change but you asked for opinions.

You might as well have.

No no no.. You've got it all wrong! Its just that "some people" know everything and love to show everyone how smart they think they are.

The more succinct answer is that repeater antennas are up high. If your friend with his handheld was dangling from the same tower, he'd hear you fine on his Baofeng too. It's about line of sight. But at that same distance if he were standing down on the ground, probably not.. So yes, they increase YOUR capability of reaching them because they're up high and listening with relatively clear line of sight.. It's why we all try to put our VHF/UHF antennas up as high as we can. When you get up on your roof, how far can you see on a clear day? And how far can you see from the sidewalk? It's basically that simple.

Just had someone testing my repeater with his Baofeng and stock antenna and he was hitting it from 45 miles away. But that was with decent line of sight, your fars will vary.

Your Baofeng and the hypothetical baofeng standing next to the repeater have 6 inch antennas, low quality components, and output only a couple of watts.. The repeater has (probably) a perfectly tuned 10-foot or larger antenna, (probably) very high-end expensive and very sensitive components, and is outputting (probably) upwards of 50 watts.. So not only can the repeater hear everything much better than your $19 Baofeng, but it can squirt it's RF electricities many more fars as well.

Hello Max. Here is a good article for you. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2024/01/how-to-buy-your-first-gmrs-radio.html Good place to start.

I use mine for off-roading.. any time I want to "make contacts" and find anonymous men to talk with, I use the Grindr app.

It is interesting how people grow accustomed to full duplex conversations. I'm kind of the opposite since I talk on two-ways as much as anything. I find I don't say much in Zoom meetings. My habit is to hesitate a couple of seconds to make sure the speaker is complete (e.g. subconsciously i'm waiting for the repeater tail or squelch drop). During which time someone invariably jumps in and starts speaking!

LOL no kiddin huh....

GMRS travel is 141.3 and is one of the various PL tones available. the travel tone allows for easier travel from repeater to repeater and could work well with the ORI= Open repeater initiative. Our local repeaters use travel tones and ORI with advance permission, but were all open to formal "open air request as well. My repeater operates in mixed tone mode. PL tone to open the repeater and DPL on the output. hope this helps.