WRNU354

Good work! I'm old enough to remember when making fire was enough to impress the spouse.

No doubt, the HLN9073 is the more elegant of the two designs. JJHXSM-like mic holders came with my Wouxuns mobiles. They are a little bendy, but useable. However, to use one in my particular car, it would require me to screw it to the dash or center console and suffer an awkward reach or create interference with other stuff. None of which are acceptable to me. The magnet solution, while imperfect, allows me to secure the mic to the radio's mounting bracket without effort or precision. Thanks for the information!

I keep an e-copy in cloud storage.

I bought the Wouxun Mobile Magnet Mic Hanger for my KG-XS20G+ radios thinking it was a good alternative to the included mic hangers. The problem, after installing the Magnet Mic Hanger, its magnet seemed too weak to hold mic securely to a metal surface. In fact, going back to look at the product reviews I found this was the common complaint! However, the problem is not the magnet, but the supplied round head mounting screw. The round head screw doesn't seat deep enough in the magnet's bevelled mounting hole. This prevents the magnet from making full contact with a metal surface. (See first pic) The fix is to either replace the mounting screw with the proper flat head version or bevel the under side of the supplied round head screw so it will seat properly. I chose the latter because its a quick fix using a drill press and jeweler's flat file. (See second pic) Lastly, the before and after vid. PXL_20250429_195511411~3.mp4

I'm thinking the radio manual should describe Busy Channel Lock Out as: Busy Channel Lockout - You may think this feature might be useful, but except for a few special cases, you will be wrong.

Based on your input and input so far there is little use, outside of very special cases, for BCL and, in fact, can impede comms on repeaters. Also based on input so far, good practice is to manage the talk out timer by letting the repeater's squelch tail to drop. Lastly, if the channel is noisy or congested select a channel less so and switch to it. Thanks!

Thanks! Good point on not waiting for the squelch tail drop and its effect. That's something I didn't consider. My favorite repeater's squelch tail seems to be about 2 seconds and the talk out timer is about a minute. Considering your points, the weekly repeater event check-in probably incentivizes people to break with the good practices. I'll listen to see if they fall back into good practice of letting the squelch tail drop after that. Thanks again.

Thanks! That is a special case, indeed. To your point and more generalized, BUSYLOCK is useful with simplex comms in noisy environments?

My enabling Busy Channel Lock (BUSYLOCK) on my radios seemed like a simple courtesy to reduce the chance of accidentally stepping on others. Before enabling it I did receive good advice that BUSYLOCK can disable a radio's ability to transmit in noisy or congested environments. I thought this risk acceptable risk since BUSYLOCK is easily disabled. What I didn't anticipate was the effect of BUSYLOCK had on my participation in repeater based events. The owner of my favorite repeater hosts a weekly event were participants start by checking-in. With a list of participates complete, he calls upon each to respond to the week's topic. It provides lighthearted discussion and opportunity to check out equipment. After enabling BUSYLOCK I found my attempts to check-in resulted in the BUSYLOCK error tone, even when I was sure the previous participant was done and no one else was attempting to talk in that moment. In my ignorance I did not consider the repeater's use of carrier delay (hang-in timer) on BUSYLOCK. With the repeater's carrier delay longer than it takes for participants, including the host, to realize the current speaker is done and there is an opportunity to talk I was effectively blocked. Now slightly less ignorant, I have disabled BUSYLOCK on my radios unless I find some future special case use. Does anyone have use for BUSYLOCK?

Everyone knows laser / cat physics with K-9 oversight is the key to any good security system!

I just visited the Flat Earth Society Discussion Board to see how they explain limits on radio propagation and me now stupider cuz it.

Yes, I have Plasti-Dip sprayed the pluck-a-fit foam in five cases with good results. Some years back I came across the tip on making foam, especially pluck-a-fit foam, more durable and tear resistant. It's simple enough to do, but there are a few tricks to making it work: 1) Do it in WELL ventilated area where over spray will not be problem. Use personal protection as needed. 2) Put the foam on a very large piece of cardboard and align it like it is in the case. 3) The solvent used in Plasti Dip can melt the foam, so the first several coats must be very light to create protective layer. 4) Make sure you spray inside the cut-outs and on the ends. Spraying the underside of the foam is not necessary. 4) Take your time and let each coat dry completely. 5) Add coats until the Plasti-Dip is thick enough to provide the desired protection. 6) Don't use the Plasti-Dip coated foam until the solvent smell is gone.

You ever treat the pluck-a-fit foam inserts with several light coats of Plasti Dip Spray to increase durability and tear resistance?