WRXB215

I was in the process of my routine quarterly updating the radio codeplugs in all my mobiles and portables the last few days, and this morning, I had four Astro Sabers, model I. II, and IIIs, to finish up and I discovered that they were not transmitting the Inverted DPL Codes. I spent about an hour trying to figure out if it was a setting in the CPS, or the radios were way too old to transmit inverted DPLs. The radios did fine with the normal DPLs.

I did have the Inverted Box Checked in both the conventional personality transmit and receive menus. The Astro Saber Radios would decode the Inverted DPL from a couple of my XTS5000 radios, but the XTS5000 Radios would not decode from the Astro Sabers when the XTS5000 decode feature was enabled. However, the XTS5000 radios would receive the transmission from the Astro Sabers Radio if the Decode feature was disabled and set for CSQ.

I went over and over the CPS Conventional Personality and Zone Assignment settings in both the Astro 25 Portable CPS and the Astro Saber & XTS3000 CPS and everything was set correctly, at least I thought it was, and then a thought came to mind what may be contributing to the cause of the problem. As I was staring at the displays of both the XTS5000 and the Astro Saber Radios, I noticed that the "Talkaround/Direct" symbol in both displays was indicated on both radios, which they should be.

Although, I do know for a fact that with the XTS1500, 2500, and 5000 series portable radios if you have a simplex channel selected, the Talkaround/Direct symbol (→) will automatically be displayed. After, I went back to a repeated channel with the Astro Saber radio and then back to a simplex channel, I noticed that the (→) symbol was not being displayed. Ah Ha!

What I didn't realize is that with the Astro Saber and of course the XTS3000 Series Radios that is not the case now. So, with the (→) not being displayed maybe that has something to do with the "Talkaround/Direct Menu in the Astro Saber & XTS3000 CPS, I went into the CPS and sure enough the menu was not properly setup for the Inverted DPL codes for transmitting if the TalkAround/Direct Feature was enabled.

With the Astro 25 Portable CPS when you have a simplex personality programmed, in the Zone Assignment Menu the T/A Direct column is grayed-out and you are restricted to making any entries, but that is not the case in the Astro Saber & XTS3000 Portable CPS and is not restricted, if the "TalkAround" Box is checked in the Talkaround Menu and the portable radio talkaround/Direct Feature is enabled, the radio will functioned as set. When I disabled the Talkaround/Direct Feature on the Astro Saber, the XTS5000 Radio was able to receive the Astro Sabers' Inverted DPL transmission when the decode feature was enabled. Problem solved.

This will be the case if you reprogram a previously programmed Conventional Personality from a semi/duplex configuration to a simplex configuration which was in my case. If you add a new Conventional Personality, the box in the Talkaround Menu will not be checked.

Over time and after programming a gazillion XTS and XTL radios with both the Astro 25 Mobile and Portable CPS', who would have thought that going back and checking the Talkaround/Direct Menu to disable that feature in any of the early CPS'. Well now, that will be something that I will be doing from now-on.

What I did was I created my own problem. As I was going through checking my programming on the various channels, I activated the Talkaround Feature on the Astro Saber Radio so I wouldn't activate a repeater nearby on one of the channels, because I didn't want to take the time to connect the radio to a dummy load, and then I went to a Zone with all simplex channels and some of them with Inverted DPLs. The end result of this was the fact that the radio worked as designed and all I had to do is go back in uncheck a few boxes. Lesson learned. At least, I figured it out on my own.

Find the repeater channel that coresponds to the repeater frequency. Enter the repeater input tone into your radios TX. You can leave the RX blank for now, it just filters out the signals you don't want to hear.

That's why I prefer something like this over a UV-5r (which right now is cheaper than the 27V) for events or groups. Pick it up, turn the knob, and you're up and running. You can't accidentally lock/unlock the keypad, enter the menu, enter VFO mode, etc. Most people don't care about all the whiz-bang features of the radio, and if you give them something complicated, it'll just confuse them.

One differance other than being MURS that I see is IP67 VS IP54.
 
That's reason enough to get them.

Looks exactly like the Baofeng MP31. Apparently the same thing just different service. I have enjoyed my MP31s. They have better sound quality that my UV-5Rs. Not as much power but enough for what I use them for.

My wife actually enjoys using the MP31 vs any of the other GMRS HT's I've given her to use about the spread. No screens or buttons to worry about, just grab and go. The Queen's recommendation was what got me to buy them. 22 bucks delivered and  for sure gives us enough Fars to reach anywhere on our larger city lot.  Haven't tried them up north as yet, but as the cabin is on a hill overlooking the lake, should have good LOS anywhere the pontoon can get to!.

@WRKY933 good tip. I haven't had that exact problem but I have had a similar problem. When I'm at the park throwing the Frisbee for the dog, I keep the radio on my belt just over my back right pocket. Sometimes as I walk, the volume gets turned down so I can't hear anything. The O-ring should help with that as well.
PS I think Harbor Freight is where I got my box of O-rings.

That's an old "504 set", one of the first "combined" set. No separate ringer box. (Those things were loud!)
(I was one of "Ma Bell's kids)
 
As stated before, practice sending too.......a 'dash' (dah) is 3 times longer than a 'dot' (dit)
and a bit longer between words.......don't worry about speed - it just comes with practice - don't give up
 

I think Carr may resolve things going forward.  But the shear mass of regulations already in place would be difficult to escape or change in any short period of time.  Especially if there are resistant people in the chain.  Many would feel that changes like that would be going backwards and feel a loss of power.
But govt entities making regulation that have the effect of law shouldn't be able to happen.  Law is made by congress and the president.  Not sure how this can go forward because of the shear amount of time that would be sucked up by congress and they will claim they don't have the time for.
There was never suppose to be a full time congress/senate in the first place.

Here is a good explanation on why to use a chassis ground.
https://www.autometer.com/blog/the-best-place-to-ground-accessories/?srsltid=AfmBOopjS7br8Iaan-eUs32NxG9VbdQ7RRJYDiK2gBP3M-DaHN-Z59tD
And some more reading for those interested.
https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/329559/when-do-i-connect-to-negative-terminal-or-ground

That is not advisable nor correct with newer vehicles equipped with the battery management system. You can actually cause problems by attaching accessory ground wires and chargers directly to the negative battery terminal. Always use a good chassis ground no matter if you are wiring up a radio or other stuff and also when connecting a battery charger.
Pretty much all newer vehicles made in the last 5-8 years all have the BMS module on the battery negative terminal. This is what controls how much voltage goes from the alternator to the battery. And you can really mess things up if your vehicle is equipped with the auto start/stop system.
And the 2020 GMC Sierra does have the BMS.

The best deal on O-Rings is Harbor Freight. You can get a box of several hundred or so of different sizes for about $7 or $8 bucks. There will be one that will fit the bottom of the antenna. Also equally important is this nifty little trick. The Power/Volume knob is real easy to turn on. It could happen inadvertently while bouncing around in a back pack or go bag and you'll have a dead battery when you need your radio the most. Solution: Pull the Power/Volume knob off. You won't hurt it. It comes straight off. There is a flat index spot for reattaching it. Slip an O-Ring over the collar of the knob and push it back down on the stem so it fits snuggly. It will create a little bit of friction so when you turn the power knob on so it doesn't turn on too easily and preventing your battery to wear down while your radio is in a back pack or go bag.

One of the neatest ways to practice cw appears to be by using VBAND. This video discusses it. It appears that you can practice QSOs against a bot or against other people who use the same program:
They have a pretty simple key to USB interface that makes your keyer appear to be a key on a USB keyboard.
It’s sold here:
https://hamradio.solutions/vband/ and then click on the STORE button.

 
They also have a wifi interface to a key for use with VBAND. It’s available as a kit or in different states of assembly. It’s called CW Hotline. 
 
I have no experience with these, but I am interested in VBAND and the USB interface. 

He briefly discussed connecting to serial port pins, which he does using a USB to serial adapter, beginning at 11:21 in the video. 
The same guy has a video on hardware interfacing but it’s specifically for as ASIO sound card. Here’s that video, but I’m not sure that I would recommend it. 
I’ll keep looking for something easier. 

This is another thread that refuses to die. 
 
would be nice to be able to mark some threads as “closed permanently” (for your own account) so old ones don’t reappear in your unread posts ever again. (Asking for this feature as a Christmas gift)

The Arizona GMRS Repeater Club in the Phoenix Sun of the Valley, as a service to the GMRS community, provides traffic and weather information every weekday morning and afternoon commutes on the 462.550 repeater channel every 15 minutes between 0630-0900 & 1630-1830 hours.
More information is available at www.azgmrs.org

You may just have a bad one. 

It's worth a try!
https://powerwerx.com/dc-line-noise-filter-powerpole-connectors

I was thinking very favorably about getting one of these recently. I mean, they seem super easy to program and fairly easy to use. GMRS and ham compatible… but something kept me reserved. I’m glad you told us this. 

I purchased my first Tidradio TD-H8 nearly a year ago and have loved it for a GMRS radio. Set it to unlocked, and ran the power tune tool with 255’s in the high power setting. It would produce 8-10 watts on GMRS frequencies.
 
Well I bought a brand new one and it arrived today. Same firmware. Uploaded the identical power tune file as the first, and same Chirp memory file. It should perform exactly like the first one. But,.. it doesn’t. Something is different about this example of the radio. GMRS peaks at 4 watts when set up precisely the same as the first.. Disappointed..
So just a warning to anyone who liked this radio for the same reasons I did. It may no longer be the same radio… 

How do you know, you don't have any cheap radios. 😆

I have helped a lot of people with their radio programming needs as an Ambassador for one of my radio clubs and I am the radio go-to guy for one of my Jeep clubs and they all bring me their Cheap Chinese Radios or their Midlands to program and/or for mobile installations. Occasionally, I do get real radios such as the Motorola and Kenwoods, but lately there have been a lot of vintage Motorolas like the HT1000, MT2000, and Visars that require RSS with a slow DOS computer, and early CPS version programming such as the MTS2000, MCS2000, HT1250, HT1550, and the CDM mobiles and Astro Sabers. It seems nobody has the ability to program the radios that require a RSS programming application. I have the computer, programs, and cables to get them programmed.
Just in the last couple or three weeks, I must have programmed at least a dozen VHF HT1000 radios for a few people and a MCS2000 for a guy in addition to a couple of Midland installs in Jeeps and one Retevis install, one KG1000G Plus, and several portable CCRs. 
Seems like there must have been a recent Firesale on the HT1000s and the new owners can't find anyone with the ability to program them.
You are absolutely right, I don't have any cheap radios and I never will, but I do know how to program them and I have the software and the cables to do the programming.  So, with that being said, I guess I sorta know.
 

FRS radios on channels 8 through 14 are limited to 0.5 Watts, and all other channels are limited to 2.0 Watts.  There are some higher powered GMRS handheld radios, but even GMRS radios are restricted to 0.5w on 8 through 14.

How do you know, you don't have any cheap radios. 😆

No, the Fox is sending a one way transmission, which is only allowed for certain reasons. Foxhunting isn’t one of them. Here is the list of approved one-way communications:

b) One-way communications. The operator of a GMRS station may use that station to transmit one-way communications:
(1) To call for help or transmit other emergency communications;
(2) To provide warnings of hazardous road conditions to travelers; or,
(3) To make brief test transmissions.