nokones

There are more repeaters in Texas than mygmrs.com depicts on the map. If you become a member of the Texas GMRS Repeater Club you would have access to a bunch more repeaters throughout the State.

Gregory: You've only had your license for 12 days and already you're a radio einstein. Where is your computer system protection? You probably either don't have any protection or you're using one of those cheap protection systems that came from a far-away land that don't speak english. It appears that the Radio Reference Forum would be more suited for you. You'll more than likely will fit in a lot better with all the Old Duffers" and "Sad Hams" that think they know everything and don't have a clue on knowing the difference between a burnt biscuit and their dark spot orfice. You have a lot in common with them. There is no doubt that there are more than 30 of those radio einsteins that fit the bill. It's a real peach of a group for you. So, go enjoy.

Maybe that guy with the so-so You Tube channel can do a video on suggested ways to set up channel configurations in a GMRS radio.

I set up my channels in separate radio zones by creating Regions i.e. Arizona East, Arizona South, Arizona West, Arizona Phoenix and I do the same thing for California, Nevada, New Mexico Texas, and Utah. The regions will be grouped together within a State group. When I am traveling in that particular region, I switch my radio to that Region zone for the channels in that Region. If I am traveling to or in other states that I didn't list, I will create a different codeplug file for those States accordingly. My radios are programmed with almost 40 separate zones. Some Regions will have anywhere from about 20 to almost 40 channels programmed for the respective Region.

There is no doubt that a known brand helix is the best way to go. For my GMRS repeater, my LMR400 coax run is just shy of 50 feet, with an arrestor, but it is a known quality brand coax used by commercial radio shops. Also, I am using a Laird FG4605 Omni 5 dB antenna with the tip at 30'. On relative flat terrain, I am able to hit the repeater with a portable approx 15-17 miles away.

Many many years ago, English was the only language allowed by the FCC and that requirement went away either in the 80s or the 90s.

Are you sure that you have the appropriate driver for the type of cable you are using? It appears that the radio is not communicating with the computer. You need to check the device manager and see if you have the correct port setting selected in the CPS and match the port selection that the computer is trying to assign.

I have to agree. Although, the TK880 is only a 25 watt radio, the MXT500 and the TK880 are essentially the same size radio. The TK880H, I think is 45-watts and is only a tad longer than the MXT500. The Kenwood radio is a great radio and is loaded with more features than the MXT500 and the channel capacity is 250 channels. The most I have ever paid for these radios is $125 for a radio in like new condition with power cable and a DTMF Microphone. I have both VHF and UHF models and I usually find them in very good condition for $75.

This is what I used for my two remote controlheads. It is a Ram Mount setup and since the MXT500s are on the small side, you could do the same thing. I used a similar setup temporarily in my Pickup for a Kenwood radio.

There are three good places to hard mount an under dashmount radio in a Wrangler, especially a MXT500. Hell, I even have 4 radios in my Wrangler, two under dashmount type, and two with remote controlheads with the radio units mounted behind the two front seats on the floor, and I have the 4 radios powered by the Aux 1 circuit. Here two of the locations I used. Be patient,so I can get to my PC to edit and rotate the one picture.

The MXT575 is limited on channel capacity, only 30 (which includes the 8 repeater channels). The MXT500 has 99 channel thus, means more custom channels with display names.

The noise factor is an easy fix, high noise environment external speaker or a high noise with noise canceling boom mic headset.

I would try mounting a quarterwave antenna inside the Skidsteer cabin in order to protect the antenna from being damaged. Just make sure that the antenna is mounted vertically.

My repeater's station ID has a polite mode whereas, the ID will stop when there is traffic and resume from the start.

About 3 years ago, I bought a brand new rack mount Motorola Repeater still in the box for $700, not including the duplexer. The brand new EMR Corp duplexer ran me about $450.

Most repeater stations do not transmit the tone/code with the Station ID. The station ID is not for you, it is for the FCC.

If the magmount sticks to something metal you should be ok. But, you do need to check the antenna VSWRs along with the forward and reflected.

What antenna are you using and how is it mounted and what is it mounted on? Definitely need the VSWR readings with the forward and reflected readings. Pictures would help? Have you verified that the antenna mount has factory chassis ground continuity without the coax plugged into the radio? Do you have the radio battery plus wire lead connected directly to the battery and the radio ground lead connected to a factory chassis grounding point?

What about a Midland MXTA 25 Phantom antenna?

Why is he being an ass again? He may always be one of those "Some People" who is not every ones favorite person, but was his post asinine because the context of the post does not have merit or is inappropriate, or just because of who he is on the forum? His post is a valid question and it amazes me why people with limited funds continue to waste their money on cheap inferior products that have a high risk of failing and if they would have spent their limited monies on a product that is of a lower risk of failing would be further ahead in not wasting their monies and their valuable time. If the said repeater is for a community to have some type of an emergency communications net it should be with a known reliable product and not be a high risk with the possibility of the system failing and being unreliable. Cheap Pandaland products have no place of being used in any important system that need to be reliable and robust for any emergency type of communications involving the preservation of human life or property.

It's Title 47, not Chapter 47. In otherwords, the GMRS Rules & Regulations fall under Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 95, Subpart E.

Oops, on my part. I misread the subject paragraph and mistaken it as being related to GMRS. However, I do have a valid excuse, Android Cellphone Display Screens are way too small, and I have another excuse ready in my pocket just in case I need to whip out.

That would be a direct violation of the rules and regulations.

Webster defines Hobby as an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. Now, the Amateur Radio Service Operators (a.k.a. Ham Radio) was considered as hobby way before the evolution of GMRS. A majority of the HAM Radio Operators prefer to not associate themselves with GMRS users so there is a good reason for not calling GMRS a hobby since the Hams do not want recognize and/or want to associate with the GMRS users. So, let's not call GMRS a hobby since the Hams hobbyist already call their hobby a hobby. Ham radio hobbyist essentially don't get in involved in or support other hobby activities like GMRS users and groups do. GMRS Users and Gtoups are active people and always on the move and don't sit around. All Ham hobbyists prefer to do is sit around and talk on the radio during POTAs, Nets, and go to Hamfests, so those activities really can't be called a hobby. GMRS people use radios for their selected hobbys, such as hiking, trail riding, and other outdoor hobbies, Ham radio hobbyist don't do that. GMRS radio people are users and/or groups and proud to be a GMRS User..

I believe the new encryption and radio inoperability requirements for Federally and some States funded systems may be the reason why most agencies are migrating to P25 Phase 2 Sysitems