berkinet

Never hurts to throw in an extra plug, especially for people new to GMRS, or radio in general. And, they have been frequently recommended over the past several years.

Security through obscurity is no security at all. Just sayin'.

Thanks for the information. But, just to be sure I understand. Are you saying the rhombic typically has 14dBd more gain than a loop antenna? But, the loop may still be better suited for DFing because of the nulls on each side?

Good question. Hopefully someone will answer. Otherwise I will dig around the Internet this evening.

Yagis are excellent antennas, very useful for many permanent station locations, and, sturdy and easy to build. However, for DFing (Direction Finding) their reception pattern is broader with less of a null just off the center than a rhombic. Another antenna design that does quite well for DFing is the Loop Antenna.

That saying is attributed to Einstein by author Frederick Perls. But, AFAIK there is no quote or written reference directly from Einstein. Also, it appears that while Einstein may well have uttered those words, he was certainly not the first person to have made the observation. See: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/18140/did-einstein-say-two-things-are-infinite-the-universe-and-human-stupidity-and

Not at all a stupid question. First, VHF is still very much in use. I suspect you may be thinking of the switch from simple VHF analog systems to trunked and digital systems. VHF just refers to the band of frequencies. VHF is broadly considered to be from 30 to 300mHz, with a lot of mobile activity in the middle of the band. Then, PL/DCS/etc. work the same regardless of frequency or band. For listening purposes (I.e. stations you receive and listen to) the PL/DCS/etc. setting acts as a filter, preventing you from hearing signals that do not contain the specified code. Conversely, turning off PL, etc. on that frequency allows you to hear everything being transmitted, regardless of the presence or absence of PL, etc. So, for simple listening purposes you probably do not want to set PL on receive. However, for an example of where you might use PL consider a situation where there are two repeaters on the same frequency, and you only wish to listen to one of them. In this case you would set the receive PL for the frequency to the PL being transmitted by the desired repeater. Note also that on many radios you can program the same frequency into different memory locations (often improperly called channels). So Memory location 1 could be 462.550 with a PL of 69.5 and location 2 could be 462.550 with a PL of 131.8. Now, you didn't't ask yet, but you probably will soon, about transmitting PL. In this case, it is the receiving station, usually, but not always, a repeater, that has set its receiver to require a PL tone (I.e. filter out any signals without that PL). It is just the reverse of what you have done on your receive settings. So, in order to be "heard" by the remote repeater, you need to include the proper PL/CDS/etc. tone in your transmitted signal. That's it.

Not assuming? Yes you are. You even boldly state so. You clearly assume I, as the owner of a repeater want to be contacted. For thousands of repeater owners that is not even remotely true. In fact, it is the exact opposite. They do not want to be contacted. That is why their repeaters are not listed. Please, have your own opinions on all kinds of topics. But, when you start speculating about the values and motives of people you have never met and then lump then into one great group, that is when you really should start keeping your opinion to yourself.

You seem to assume that repeaters were created in the first place for use by the general public. That is a fundamentally incorrect assumption. Yes, some people may create a repeater for public use, and plenty, maybe the majority, do not. It is impossible to really measure since we are unlikely to ever know about private repeaters that choose not to be listed somewhere. There are many. many GMRS repeaters with just a small handful of users, and that is the way those users want it. And that is their right according to the FCC regulations, which, other than power and certain technical aspects, place no limitations on repeater deployment. On the other hand, if you don't want to ask for permission to use some repeater, there is nothing to stop you from putting up your own repeater on the same channel pair. Of course, you'd have to use a different PL to avoid interfering, but that's it.

They deserve to lose their license for simply violating the regulations for simply interfering with another communication. § 95.333 Prohibited uses. No person shall use a Personal Radio Service station: ... (d) To intentionally interfere with the communications of another station; (e) To transmit obscene, profane or indecent words, language or meaning; or ... § 95.1733 Prohibited GMRS uses. (a) In addition to the prohibited uses outlined in § 95.333 of this chapter, GMRS stations must not communicate: ... (4) Music, whistling, sound effects or material to amuse or entertain; ... (10) Continuous or uninterrupted transmissions, except for communications involving the immediate safety of life or property; and ...

A grounding rod is solid copper, probably 3/8 or 1/2 inch diameter. I would not use h=just any copper pipe. You have no idea how well grounded it is and what you might do to equipment at the other end if you do have a lightning strike. That is why the cold water service entrance is often used... it goes back to the main. A grounding rod would usually poe located directly adjacent to the house and the shortest practical wire run from there antenna. You might also wish to take a look at the electrical service entrance to your house, where the meter is located. There is almost certainly a ground there. It should be bonded to the electrical ground wiring in your house. It will also be bonded to the neutral wire in the breaker panel or fuse box. But, don't get involved with that. If there isn't a ground, either you missed it, or you need to call an electrician.

It would most likely have been a cold water pipe, probably the entry to the house, or a copper rod driven into the ground. 8 feet is a common length for a grounding rod, but some are longer. If there was a rod, you'd probably remember trying to get it out. It would not have been easy.

You all do realize, if the jammer(s) did get the PL times from MyGMRS, they are probably reading this thread and likely enjoying the attention.

Not that it will not matter much in your case with an attic location, but, stucco is usually applied over a chickenwire or other metal mesh base. So, while the thin layer of stucco will have minimal effect of RF transmission/reception, the chickenwire might.

For now, I’d suggest you do as tweiss3 noted. But, at some point you should look into Anderson PowerPole connectors. Available from Powerwerx (https://powerwerx.com/anderson-power-powerpole-sb-connectors) and other online retailers.

Here ya go...CCR = Cheap Chinese Radio. A low cost product built around a “radio on a chip.” SAR = Search and Rescue LMR = Land Mobile Radio. Also known as business radio. Commercial two way business radio systems. APX = A line of Motorola two way radios. High end commercial equipment for LMR. And, could you post a link to the youtube video you found. I am sure others here will find it helpful.

If you are referring to WRFS771's posts, and I assume you are, note he has not logged in since his 09/16 post in this thread. I personally hope he comes back to perhaps explain the basis for his posts. But, I am guessing that won't happen.

Good point. Although, in some cases that may be a feature. One specific case is users who want to program more than 8 logical repeaters*. Many of the certified GMRS radios limit the number of logical repeater channels and also restrict them to specific memory locations (aka radio dial channels). Also, given the apparently complicated front panel programming procedures, I am not sure an application based configuration system might not be better for many users. Still, as you note, one more important thing to consider when selecting a radio. * A logical repeater is a unique combination of frequency (GMRS Channel), CTCSS/DCS, and other access setting(s), bandwidth (wide or narrow), and power.

If that is what Ian is referring to, it does not say what he thinks it says... see: https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1990-gmrs-on-a-road-trip/?p=18064

Link?

Be careful. Last time I looked, Amazon only had the VHF version. But, Retevis has the radio for $139 on their own web site.

There is one other consideration regarding the Midland MXT400: the cost:benefit ratio. The Midland is the exact same radio hardware as the Luiton LT-590, TYT TH-9000d, Retevis RT-9000D, and probably a few others. However, while the Midland costs ~$300, the Retevis RT-9000D is ~$140). Of course, the radios are not identical. Midland has received FCC certification by modifying the firmware to meet GMRS requirements, mostly regarding operating on non-GMRS channels and power levels on some frequencies. Unfortunately, one of the changes Midland made, limiting the radio to narrowband operation, was included in the FCC certification filing and although the programming software will let the bandwidth be defined on a per-channel basis, this cannot be changed without voiding the certification. So, if you buy the MXT400 because it is a GMRS certified radio, and then alter the configuration to use wideband operation, you have ended up paying twice the price of a virtually identical non-certified Part-90 radio. Except, the RT-9000D will transmit from 400mHz to 490 mHz, so you get the ham UHF band as well.

A “fixed station” means dedicated for communications between fixed points and is usually for purposes of telemetry, linking, or control. In the situation you describe, since both stations could be used to communicate with any other GMRS stations for general traffic, both would be base stations, not fixed, and would have no special power limitations other than those that might be specified for the frequency in use.

I love a logical, lexical, challenge. To start... hob·by an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. "her hobbies are reading and gardening" And, hunting, off-roading, kayaking are all good candidates for hobbies (unless, of course, you do them professionally). But, use of something in support of a hobby does not ipso-facto make that thing into a hobby. So, maintaining a trailer for a kayak is not, in and of itself, a hobby. It is quite probable that no pleasure is derived from that activity. And, maintaining an off-road vehicle is very likely a big part of an off-roading hobby. While buying buying a tank of gas is probably not. The question is: Does the supporting activity on its own, bring pleasure. Of course people and their interests differ. So, while buying gas is a chore to me, best pawned off on another family member, Marc may find it brings extreme pleasure invoking thoughts of flying up (and down) muddy slopes. Which brings us to GMRS and @O-B-1. If he just puts a GMRS radio in his kayak so he will feel safe, I would argue that the radio on its own brings no pleasure and is, therefore, not part of the kayaking hobby, nor a hobby on its own. However, if talking to others as they navigate the jeep trails enhances Marc's enjoyment of off-roading, GMRS might well be an integral part of his hobby. Whether GMRS is also a hobby on its own for Marc depends on the pleasure he derives from it when done in absence of other activities. QED, YMMV

Just for completeness... This short period of signal, sometimes followed by a beep, is commonly known as a Squelch Tail.