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WRYZ926

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Posts posted by WRYZ926

  1. I would buy a pre tuned antenna if just starting out in radio. It will be much simpler and easier for you.

    A good antenna analyzer or NanoVNA is a must if you are going to properly tune any antenna. 

    There are plenty of free online calculators and phone apps for figuring out the lengths of different types of antennas.

    A friend has a big roll of solid core 75 ohm cable that he uses for making 2m, 70cm, and GMRS j pole antennas. It's not difficult with knowledge and the proper tools to include analyzers/NanoVNAs. I will say that there is a bit of a learning curve with a NanoVNA. A good antenna analyzer won't be cheap.

    I have made a few wire antennas for the HF amateur bands but I could not have done it without an analyzer or NanaVNA.

  2. Microwave ovens are faraday cages. You can always put your phone into a faraday bag and then into a microwave. I don't suggest turning the microwave on while the phone or bag are inside. 😆

    Faraday clothe, just like any other type of clothe, will have holes in the weave which will let some RF pass through. Ideally one would want to use the tightest weave faraday clothe and place that inside a metal container.

    Ideally one would remove the battery also. But most modern smart phones do not have removable batteries without having to disassemble the phone.

  3. 17 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

    our stick your phone in a Faraday Bag

    Not all faraday bags are created equal. Better double up on them if using cheap bags from Amazon or eBay. Or stick them in a faraday bag and then into an all metal container.

  4. 1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

    I hadn't thought about loss in the cable causing an artificially high power reading, but now that you mention it...I guess it could.

    Seeing  higher return power would be due to the antenna having a high SWR as it is reflecting power back down the coax.

    That's why a dummy load should be used to test power output as the dummy load is a perfect 50 ohm match and should show a 1:1 SWR. That takes out coax loss and reflected power returning down the cable.

  5. 3 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

    I'm puzzled about why I get different power readings with different antennas, though. If someone can explain it, please do. I'm still learning.

    You are seeing loss from the coax and/or the antenna. Using quality coax and a good antenna with some gain will help overcome any loss. A dummy load will show a perfect match of 50 ohms, there won't be any loss with the dummy load.

    @OffRoaderX was that a simple response? I know I have a ways to go to catch up to @SteveShannon 😅

  6. I found the thread where I posted my power output results with the Q10H. It is in this thread. about the 935G https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/9435-kg-935h-power-results/#comment-98687 

     

    I tested mine on high power and not ultra high. I always forget that the Q10H has the ultra high setting.

    2m - 4.43 watts

    1.25m - 2 watts

    70cm -  5.9 watts

    6m - 1.5 watts

    GMRS - 3.5 watts

    MURS - 1.5 watts

    I have never used or tested the ultra high setting on my radio.

    As Steve mentioned, 1-1.5 watts is not going to make a difference.

  7. 59 minutes ago, Lscott said:

    Using two-way radios may not be of a benefit when sophisticated DF gear is used. The local PD likely won't ave this kind of gear, but the US military, including the National Guard, might. Things get really crazy they will start looking for people.

    Every branch of the military definitely has DF capabilities. What capabilities they have will depend on the type of unit it is. But even combat units such as infantry and armor units have at least basic DF equipment. Now once you get to intel units, they will have all the good stuff that will find someone in a matter of seconds.

    I don't see most state and local law enforcement having the equipment for DF since it can be expensive. Federal agencies will more than likely have DF equipment. It will depend on the agency on what capabilities they have.

  8. 2 hours ago, LeoG said:

    Off is not off with a cell phone.  It's still pinging unless the battery is removed.

    This is correct. A phone that has been turned off but still has its battery in can be traced through the built in GPS chip. And most new phones don't have an easy way to remove the battery.

    As far as the rioters using GMRS or amateur radios without licenses, I don't they even care.

  9. 1 minute ago, OffRoaderX said:

    A friend of mine tried using his KG-1000G plugged into the lighter-hole in his care and the plug melted and caught on fire.. Not sure why a fuse didnt blow first... Melted plastic napalm got on his had and gave him a severe burn when he yanked-it out in a panic, but the radio was fine...   

    And that right there is the reason I will never suggest using a cigarette lighter/accessory port to power a 50 watt radio. 

  10. 20 minutes ago, Blaise said:

    Well, as long as we keep in mind that Meshtastic is a mesh technology, not a network technology, I'm sure it will be fine...

    You might get away with it is you do not connect the Meshtastic nodes to the internet. I would double check on the legality of this before proceeding if it was me.

     

    11 minutes ago, Blaise said:

    If you use the libraries, you can get it to do a whole lot more, I'm told.  I'm not afraid of a compiler!

    This is true. But how many "non radio dorks" are willing to compile source code. If this were to be feasible and legal, then it would have to be made easy for all users to deploy. Not everyone is willing to even learn Linux let alone compile code.

  11. 4 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

    Look, connecting your radio to any 12 volt source is unlikely to damage the radio, but connecting a 50 watt radio to a source that can is fused for 10 amps might fry the fuse.  Not all 50 watt radios require more than 10 amps.  Some are more efficient than others and get by with about 9 amps, others use as much as 11 amps. 
    As far as that “jump pack” I don’t know anything about it.   

    Most 50 watt radios state a 10-15 amp draw on high power per manufacturer specifications. Even if the radio only draws 9 or 10 amps on high power, why take the chance with running it on a 10 amp circuit. 

    One of two things can go wrong in that scenario. Either the fuses will blow all of the time or they might now blow in time to save the wires from melting. Why take the chance. Plus cigarette lighter/accessory ports are not the most reliable power source compared to using a more secure wire connection.

    I won't even run a 20 watt radio on a cigarette lighter/accessory port. I've had the radios temporarily loose power when I hit a bump while driving. Yes we have a lot of poorly paved roads and lots of gravel roads in my area.

  12. 34 minutes ago, bkmorse said:

    My apologies, I saw the "usb-c charging" and assumed it was for charging the unit itself, but now I think it means you can use it to charge your phone, etc.

     

    https://midlandusa.com/products/mxt500-micromobile®two-way-radio

    Yes Midland mobile radios do have the capability of charging other devices such as phones and tablets through the USB C port built into the radio. I don't recall if all Midland mobile radios have this or if it is only certain models.

  13. 1 hour ago, UncleYoda said:

    Isn't it chaos already when people's posts are being downvoted just because of who they are?  IMO, that violates the rules anyway.

    I won't argue that point. But when someone is always negative and/or hateful with every single reply then they are going to get down voted.

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