WRYZ926

I bet that will depend on if they are wet or dry on how much attenuation they cause.

I went with the 1 5/8" fence post for that reason. Plus it's easier to transport 8 foot sections versus longer sections. For those interested, here are the 1 5/8" fence post couplers I use. 4 Pieces 1-5/8" X 6" Chain Link Fence Top Rail Sleeve

Not handy. I used zip screws at each joint. I put a total of 16 zip screws into each coupler. I have 8 zip screws going through the coupler into the j-mount and 8 more into the 1 5/8" fence post Here is a photo showing a coupler on one pipe that I have ready to go for my weather station. I will repeat with 8 more zip screws when I add another pipe to the coupler.

Fence post can be used safely. You have to be smart about it and make sure each joint is mechanically attached using screws/bolts. And you also need to use proper wall anchors along with guying the mast. There are plenty of old VHF/UHF TV antennas that were installed using fence posts/top rails 30-40 years ago (if not longer) that are still standing. And VHF/UHF TV antennas are heavier and have a higher wind load than any vertical antenna. Again, proper installation is important. And not everyone can afford a tower nor is a satellite j-mount always tall enough. Be smart with your installation and your ill be just fine. PS: You can extend the height of satellite j-mounts using 1 5/8" fence posts and couplers. You will want to use guy ropes/wires when doing so. Here is my 6 band 6m - 20m cobweb antenna on a j-mount that was extended up with a 8 foot 1 /58" fence post. The coupler is properly attached to the j-mount and fence post along with everything being guyed. The cobweb has a lot more wind load than a vertical and it has withstood 50-60 mph winds just fine.

I use several zip screws at each joint. I use 1 5/8' fence post couplers. I went overboard and have three wall brackets along with the guy ring at the top. While fence posts and fence top rails aren't ideal, they do work. Just make sure to properly secure them to your structure and at each joint along with some guy ropes/wires. And keep the weight and wind load down with the antennas. I normally only put 1 antenna on each fence post mast.

I suggest using something like this EZ 43-A Adjustable 3 Way Down Guy Ring for up to 2-1/4" Mast - Heavy Duty placed right below the antenna. You can use some good Dakron rope such as 1/8 inch Black Dacron Polyester Cord for your guy rope. I like using Nite Ize CamJam Cord Tightener - Tie Down Rope Tightener with Carabiner Clip to tension the guy ropes. I use 1 5/8" fence posts for my antenna masts along with satellite dish j-mounts and guy each one with all of the above going to eye bolts or other tie off points. The biggest antenna is a 6 HF cobweb antenna that is a 8 foot square antenna. The antennas will still sway in high winds but I haven't had any issues even with 50-60 mph winds.

Let me get my tinfoil and popcorn for this one.

That would be fine if you use a coax switch and just switch between the two. I have been thinking about putting up yagi antennas for 2m, 70cm and GMRS along with keeping my vertical omni antennas. But that means even more coax cable runs into the house or to an outside remote switch. But yes it would be more headaches that it would be worth trying to connect both antennas to one coax cable.

Echolink, Allstar, DMR, etc along with Winlink for VHF are well within the privileges of a technician license since they use the 2m and/or 70cm bands. Winlink on HF is outside of the privileges granted to technicians with exception of 10m. The 10m band is the only HF band where technicians have privileges in the RTTY/Data portions of the band. Most of the Winlink HF gateways are on 40m and 80m bands. While technicians do have CW privileges on 15m and 40m, they do not have RTTY/Data privileges on any HF band beyond 10m.

Most people that I talk to that have used both seem to prefer Allstar. I have a TYT TH-7800 dual band radio with a Digirig mobile for Winlink and Vara FM. The Digirig is easy to setup and all you need is the correct cables to connect it to your radio. I'm going to use my Xiegu G90 for Winlink and Vara HF. I'm waiting for the local HF Winlink repeater/server to be fully setup. I will eventually put both radios and my laptop into a go box for portable use.

You can use phone apps for Allstar too. We have several guys in the local club that use the Allstar apps on their phones all the time. Both systems require a repeater to have a node connected if you want to access the repeater through your phone. Here is a good place to start reading about Allstar https://www.allstarlink.org

We had Echolink setup and switched them all out for Allstar. Allstar just works better.

Same here. Either that or he took is toys and went home.

Well if you phased them together then you would have a directional antenna instead of an omnidirectional antenna. And using a duplexer/diplexer will actually cause you to loose output power. You are better off just using the better of the two antennas by itself. Also make sure to use quality coax designed for VHF/UHF frequencies.

And that is why I stated to test it with an analyzer. Myself and a few others use the GP9 and they all have good SWR on 2m, 70cm, and GMRS.

The only way to know for sure is to test them with an antenna analyzer. That being said. Yes the GP9 does work just fine on GMRS. You will generally see a SWR of 1.8 or less on 467 MHz.

About the only time we would be stern with anyone is if they only are licensed for one service and use the other. We just laugh and give people trouble for doing it when they have both licenses.

There are several different versions of the Comet GP9 antenna. The GP-9NC and GP-9NCA are both for GMRS and MURS. The GP-9 and GP-9N are for amateur bands. The MURS and GMRS versions have the C and/or A in the model number. @WSEW367 stated that he is using the GP-9NCA which would be correct for GMRS use. Here are the numbers for coax loss using 467.600 (repeater channel)

@Lscott I use cross band repeat all the time around the yard with my HT. It is easier to get into the repeater that way. Yes I can get into the 2m repeater with an HT but my signal is not as clear. I do make sure that I am on a 70cm frequency after my mistake. @SteveShannon I have learned to double check my radios before transmitting for that reason. And it is still pretty easy to grab the wrong hand mic when you have two radios at your desk. I haven't done that in the car since I leave the mic that I am using across my lap while the other one is in its hanger. There are still a few instances where one needs to use split mode when talking to other countries. This is more for the HF bands though.

The simplified explanation is that the FCC considers this as "broadcasting" which is not allowed on amateur or GMRS bands. Life and death emergencies are the exception. @Lscott thank you for your explanation. I found out about cross band repeat from GMRS to 2m by total accident when messing with an unlocked radio. I realized what I did as soon as I keyed up the mic. I was on a GMRS simplex channel and heard myself on the 2m repeater. This was one instance where I just kekrchunked because I would have been in the wrong no matter which call sign I used. Again accidental mistake on my part. But to do that on purpose is against regulations. Here is a scenario that I see quite often when people have both licenses. One grabs the wrong hand mic and gives the wrong call sign. This is an innocent mistake that is easy to make. We chuckle and then get on the band that the other person just transmitted on to let them know they grabbed the wrong mic. I think that everyone that has both licensed has done this a time or three.

Now why would I have to go outside to use my GMRS radio? There is nothing stating that I can't have a Amateur radio sitting next to my GMRS radio in my shack as long as I am properly licensed for both and follow all rules for both services. Using that logic, no one can have both a amateur radio and GMRS radio in their vehicles at the same time.

Old news since both services require separate licenses. And yes you can use cross band repeat on an unlocked amateur dual band radio to transmit on GMRS to 2m. Though I do not suggest doing that since it is against FCC regulations. Plus you will have a bunch of people get on you if you give your GMRS call sign on 2m. I only mention this as it can be legally done only in case of an actual emergency.

I think it is the latter of the two. He has some very serious Negative Nancy vibes going on.

I'm sure it was since those were the cheap Tasco telescopes meant for kids back in the late 70's early 80's. I'll have to dig through boxes to see if I still have one of the old telescopes. I know I still have an old set of Tasco binoculars from when I was a kid. I was one of the cool kids with my binoculars and my Sears Walkie Talkies.

I'm curious how the digital telescopes are too. I know the digital night vision and digital thermal sights have come a long way. I haven't even owned or used a telescope for a long time. The memories of trying to get things in focus with the old Tasco telescopes we had. Closest I have now days is my 20-60 spotting scope.