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Who is Gary? I came here to read about and see pictures of Gary!

I see where you are coming from. You are right on that, I have been stressed these past two months. Grammar, Format, and Spelling were not the top priorities.

The few Tram antennas that I have dealt with all need tuned. And they come with the directions on how much to cut off for the frequencies you want to use. It's pretty simple especially if you have a NanoVNA or antenna analyzer. Though you can use the SW-102 also, it will just take a little longer since you have to test at different frequencies to see where the SWR dip is at. I always cut slightly long and then test the SWR and adjust from there in small increments. The last Tram antenna I cut/tuned was the Tram 1174. I cut it close (long) and then made 1/16" to 1/8" cuts until I got it where I wanted. I tuned mine for 467.600. My SWR is 1.4 at 467.600 and 1.2 at 462.600.

I have two Xiegu G90 radios. The first one I bought directly from Radioddity and I won the second G90 in Radioddity's 12th Anniversary raffle back in September. Both radios work great and shipping was very fast both times. I had a technical question and their customer service was very quick to answer my question. The G90 I purchased was one of their bundle deals that I just could not price match anywhere else. That being said, I will buy from Amazon or other venders that have better customer service and better/easier return policies when possible. And I am will to pay up to $20 more for the peace of mind. Now if the difference is closer to $50 or more is a different story. I have paid 10-20 dollars more for amateur radios by ordering from DX Engineering, Giga Parts, and R&L Electronics over finding the same radios elsewhere. Those three companies have great customer service and easy return policies. I avoid eBay, especially for amateur radios since there is a good chance that you will get a Japanese or European version that doesn't work on US amateur radio bands.

The OP stated that the damage to the previous repeater and antenna was $2000. They’re only seeking $1,000 in their gofundme. The repeater they’re seeking to purchase is currently on sale for less than $600 including a built in duplexer, which seems very reasonable. A decent antenna plus cables and associated components could very quickly consume the remainder of the targeted funding. This seems like a very reasonable request and a reasonable solution. I would urge that we not get distracted by our reactions to the town drunk.

Please tell us where we can find a new, 40W, single-case/chassis, weatherproof Motorola repeater with a warranty, and weighs only 4Lbs, for 1/2 the price.... We're waiting....

I'm just here waiting for our resident rheet-hard to leave his predictable comment that he would never buy a Midland radio and everyone he knows that has bought a Midland threw them directly into the trash..Being absolutely no help at all nor answering the question in any way.

RPT-17 aka Ch-25 is correct. I would recommend following the instructions for channel Wizard, this makes it incredibly easy. Page 90 with step by step instructions beginning on page 92. you can also set up in Chirp. oh yeah socal never has anything nice to say to anyone so feel free to ignore him.

Honestly, just add it as a new channel. Enter the frequency, make the offset "plus", and add the tone to CTCSS TX/RX. I personally like to use T-SQL for the Tone mode so I hear just that repeater on that channel. Program this through the CPS is easiest. Otherwise with the 935G+ you have, you can use the channel wizard. If you don't know how to use that, maybe search youtube for a tutorial. I am pretty sure I saw one at one point in time. And to see frequencies, you need to change the channel mode to CH+Freq in the settings. Again, easily done in the CPS.

Much of this would come down to comfortability with control of the repeater. If you don't own a repeater you don't control it. You don't control up-time, down time, power considerations, back-up power plans, emergency power plans, maintenance, how to deal with interference, when an owner has to pull the plug or the drama that surrounds some repeater users, especially on the big repeaters. Despite some repeater "clubs" and "groups" having rules and expectations, it's the repeater owner who really has the final say on things. As it should be. Bottom line: If you don't own a repeater you don't control it. If you don't have control of your communications you don't have control of your family business. If a family business is fine with taking that risk, and dealing with potential issues on an existing repeater, there are no rules or regulations preventing them from utilizing existing repeaters. The best repeater in our area has a fair amount of traffic. Adding family businesses to the mix would, in my opinion, decrease the whole user experience. But that's just my favorite repeater. And, current traffic on each existing repeater would determine that.

Good morning guys, For all us newbies is it possible to update the coverage link for all 4 repeaters? Thanks Scott 776

No offense intended, but if you had started your first post with this information you probably would have received a different reaction to your first post on this site. I hope your group can get the funds to get you back on the air.

Or…..you could have provided more information in your initial post. If you’re a local group, why not seek donations from the local members and community? Since you run an ARES group, consider asking local government for funding. Random folks on a GMRS forum don’t know you. Heck, you didn’t even provide a location! You didn’t really think this through now did you?

Same here man. Couple times I thought someone was going to break in to my house. They say don’t judge a book by its cover but when a mini van with busted windows, broken headlights, no exhaust shows up with a side sliding door missing and two guys in it….you tend to grab the Glock real quick. But alas just another Amazon delivery

I will slay those windmills! ;)

It requires Professional CPS version R06.12.05_AA, which is the last version that permits wideband usage. It will work on Windows 10 64bit, but will not even install on Windows 11. Cables can be bought from a multitude of places, Bluemax49er hasn't let me down yet.

It is my personal opinion, anyone, especially someone that is unknown and pops up with no previous history on this forum, and there first posting is an "Oh Whoa/poor Me" request for money by using the GoScamMe page is suspect and just doesn't smell right. Donaters be aware!

[Edited March 19th, 2025] Introduction: My name is C. Ryan, (KE0SKN). I am a member of Kasson Skywarn & Dodge County Minnesota ARES group. In April of 2024, Our group repeater was hit by lighting. The total damages were $2,000.00 to the repeater and base antenna system. We are looking for funding to replace the repeater. We are not approved for any local government assistance for replacing the repeater. The main reason is that the repeater is privately owned. The repeater system we are looking at is the Retevis RT97L 25W Repeater Kit with FRP Antenna and Coaxial Cable. This system will get us back on the air for our area, till we can save up for a better system. If you can help, we have a GoFundMe page with the link below. Again Thank You. Group: Kasson Skywarn / Dodge County ARES | Minnesota Website: https://www.kassonskywarn.x10.mx/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dcares/ GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/007b7312 Email: KC0CLC@arrl.net Pres: Marvin - KC0CLC

Thanks Steve.

If you do use one of the under body car plugs to route wiring, silicone the underside at least to seal out water and dust. If access is possible do the inside as well. If water migrates into the vehicle, rust and possibly mold will occur under the carpet.

Not sure if one exists (the 'experts' will educate us both) but for this exact shituation I use a high-quality antenna switch.

Ahh, paintball. Or as I like to call it spray painting ball. I did it in the beginning in the 80's? All guns were single shot. Then we added small magazines above the barrel. Next came the wonders of pump action. I added a buttstock by modifying one from a pellet pistol shaped like a S&W model 41. My lust for getting smacked in the face with paint balls satisfied I retired when the full auto mega magazine rifles arrived. Skill was no longer a requirement.

Congrats!!! I have had mine for a year now. I don't really do HF due to all of the DX'ing/contesting but if it is your thing, you are in the right place. PLENTY of room to play night and day. I built a doublet antenna. 450 ohm feedline with two 60 some odd foot long 18ga wires for radials. Real simple to build and covers the HF bands. When you finally get on the radio, starting in the afternoon, they have something called the HF activity group. Check them out at HFQSO.com Real great bunch of guys and a lot of fun. They cover 4 bands (17,15,12,10).

Nice paint job! After loosing too many camo things in the woods or just around the yard, through my own fault, I came full circle. My newest radio is blaze orange and when needed I can always slip it into a camo pouch. Talk about lazy, lol Keep up the good work.

The forums sees plenty of posts about Chinese radios that don't work properly upon arrival. If it doesn't turn out to be operator error, it seems like a problem with production consistency and the buyer somewhat takes their chances. While not a fan of jumping through hoops, buyers of cheap radios should not be overly surprised when they encounter problem radios out of the box. And, have to go through the replacement dance. Thankfully most companies seem to make good and replace the radio. I think these radios play a good part in allowing people to jump into GMRS at a very reasonable price point. Even I could not resist when Radioditty had a blow out sale on open box models. The radio works great and I got a killer deal. As noted here by others, Amazon is a good way to make sure you can get your money back or an exchange on a clunker. Bottom line.... Buyer beware and understand it might take some extra effort on your part to end up with a workable radio when buying a budget priced radio.

There are variants of the 1486, including the -B variant: https://www.amazon.com/200-Watt-Pretuned-Fiberglass-Antenna-Connector/dp/B092DWP4NG Edited to add: I haven’t found a dual band Tram 1486. All that I have found in a quick google search have been a tunable single band (UHF not VHF) antenna that comes with a tuning guide for whatever frequency you wish to use.

I guess I've been lucky product wise, but both times I've ordered from Radioddity, I've gotten solid gear (a DMR handheld, and an HF transceiver), but shipping was the issue. One order got hung up because they shipped DHL to my PO box, the latter was like $50 cheaper for a bundle with some good extras, and said they had us stock, but it shipped from China anyway and took like 3 weeks to get here. The couple anytone at779uv I've bought (from Amazon, twin to the db20g) have been solid also

Just checked - back online this morning.

While the Comet CA-712EFC is a good antenna, it might be overkill and too big for what the OP needs. Especially since he is using a 30 foot telescoping flag pole. Plus we don't know what the local terrain is like where he lives. He might be better suited with something with a little less gain than the CA-712EFC. And yet again, not everyone lives in a flat and wide open desert where they can tx over 200 miles. That kind of distances is quite rare for most of the country.

I was going to say the same thing but then I got all wrapped up in responding to the rheet-hards post, and forgot all about that.... I agree.. dont give any money to some random dude that shows up and the VERY FIRST thing he does is start asking for money.

I can program it for you providing the freqs are conventional and are not for public safety. All freqs will be programmed with the appropriate emissions and power levels in accordance with the FCC Rules and regs. You just pay for the shipping both ways.

In all my years of hunting I have only worn camo a very few times. On the other hand my kids go full on camo. They figured out that either a good blind or proper stalk and spot techniques far outweighs hiding in plain sight. Both had been to Marine sniper school. So for the most part if they can see it they can shoot it in the areas we hunt. what I get a kick out of is folks who go full on camo, then put on an orange vest. Now you'll hear experts say some critters don't see color. But they sure as heck see shades of grey. And is you grew up watching black & white TV you learned to assign colors to grey scale images. Pretty sure critters can do something similar. Or at least learn that shade of grey is dangerous.

https://youtu.be/AuCT-pSaCuw

Which "retivus" did you buy from, retivus.com or retivussolutions.com? Two different stores both listed as "official" sites. Amazon sucks where I live, they use unvetted "independent" no teeth meth head drivers who show up in 1991 rusted out white Ford vans wearing flips flops and shorts and torn t-shirts with a prime arrow magnet on the drivers door and a freezer in the back where they try to sell you a monthly steak plan. No thanks.

Sometimes paying a few extra dollars is worth the peace of mind.

Can confirm .. This is why i always recommend purchasing via Amazon when possible because Amazon protects against this exact thing - even if you have to pay $6 more, it's worth it.

What is Wrong with YOU ? Why do you have to act like an Ass, every time someone makes a normal statement ? BE NICE, it really Doesn't hurt.

It is in this part of the state. Heavily wooded. Rolling hills.

Ultimately it’s up to the repeater operator but that’s exactly what GMRS is for.

Sounds dangerously close to what the Gay crowd wanted to do to us young boys thumbing a ride home... Yea, I'm a Jeeper and no Subaru recovery line has ever touched my vehicle.... Drinking off road never lead to anything good. Only some littered beer cans and stories that will never be spoken.

Let's beat this dead horse some more. It should have been turned into mush a long time ago. If you want to talk on linked repeaters then get your amateur license. We don't need to have linked repeaters on GMRS. I live in Mid Missouri and I sure don't want to have my local repeater clogged up by people from outside the area. Linked repeaters defeats the purpose of GMRS which is local communications. Stick with amateur radio or use one of them phone apps that gets mentioned if you want to talk to people all over the country/world. Okay back to trying to get the excess blood out of my caffeine system.

already that way in the bigger cities. Some areas like Los Angless, Phoenix, Dallas is nothing but a jungle. Pretty bad..

How about no thank you. The frequencies can get pretty busy in some areas and all you need is one yahoo jabber jawing for hours on end to destroy a whole bandwidth.

Bold statement claiming the use would be legal by FCC. He better go back and read the FCC's latest interpretation of using GMRS over the internet

I agree. Clearly the FCC doesn’t approve of carrying GMRS communications on the telephone network or any other network. Yet that’s exactly what this does. Cogent would need to produce a letter from the fcc saying that it’s okay to connect GMRS repeaters in this manner before I would consider it.

This page in the fcc website explains the rationale they expressed when clarifying their rules: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs Most notably, the language here (any other network) would seem to indicate that the FCC would not approve this scheme either: A GMRS user can expect a communications range of one to twenty-five miles depending on station class, terrain, and repeater use. GMRS stations cannot be interconnected with the public switched telephone network or any other network for the purpose of carrying GMRS communications, but these networks can be used for remote control of repeater stations.

The radiation pattern depends a lot on the height above ground, but even in a bad installation they can be very effective. https://www.qsl.net/kk4obi/EFHW Straight.html

As far as I know, there is no oversight. FCC has a minimum membership number, as I recall, for ham club call signs. But GMRS uses an individual's ID. So, unless someone says otherwise, anyone can start a club just by saying so. Tower owners may have their own requirement, however, and I'm not going to speculate on that. Max probably knows more about that. Another possibility is an existing club centered farther away expanding its coverage into Lexington and surrounding counties. Less administrative overhead that way. As far as not getting a reply on the Gilbert repeater, that's probably due to reduced activity without the links. I can listen if you let me know when you're testing it. I can't transmit back though so I would have to post here or something. I could reply on one of the ham repeaters though - you can listen without a license. Or just wait for Max to help you test.