[First mobile setup, are these parts good? Are there better parts I should be using?]

24 minutes ago, Lscott said:

Just a general comment. That antenna does need a GOOD ground plane for the stated performance and SWR figures. I just wish there was a ground independent version.

An expanded metal rack makes a pretty good ground plain for the Comet 2x4SR antenna. Here is a photo of the rear rack on my Honda Pioneer 500. I have the antenna set in the center of the rack.

 

Here is a phot of the rack before installing the antenna.

[First mobile setup, are these parts good? Are there better parts I should be using?]

I can't speak about the Melowave antenna, but their NMO magnet mounts are good to go. I use one for my 38" Comet 2x4SR antenna on the back of my SxS. I am currently running a KG-1000G as my base station and a KG-1000G Plus in my car and they are good to go.

[First "Mobile", stuck on what to get.]

On 4/22/2024 at 11:55 PM, warthog74 said:

I love my TYT TH9800. Great radio for the money. However, rumor has it that the 2021 and newer models are locked down and will not TX on GMRS and MURS frequencies among others

The new TYT TH-9800 and TH-7800 can still be unlocked. They are good amateur band radios for the price. The downside is they are susceptible to RFI if ran near HF radios.

The Wouxun KG-1000G on the other hand is does not have the RFI issues. Plus it is a Part 95 certified radio for those that care about that stuff.

I run a TYT TH-7800 and a Wouxun KG-1000G side by side with my Yaesu FTDX10 a few feet away. The TH-7800 picks up interference from the FTDX10 while the KG-1000G does not. I mention this because the KG-1000G will do better in RFI and EMI noisy areas.

[First "Mobile", stuck on what to get.]

42 minutes ago, nokones said:

I would say the Wouxun brand is the better brand of the Cheap Chinese Radio junk.

I have to agree.

[Reception Question]

The wrong type of coax or bad coax will cause even the best antenna to not perform well. RG-213 is good for HF frequencies but not so good for VHF or UHF frequencies.

I suggest getting some good LRM400 or equivalent coax first. And if that doesn't help, look into a better antenna. The Comet CA-712EFC is an excellent antenna and is not much more than that no name antenna from Amazon.

[Looking for advice to get a wire up.]

I currently have a 10m inverted V dipole and a MFJ multi band vertical antenna up. I have a 6 band cobweb that I am getting ready to install. Both antennas have done well for me.

I am just waiting for my 49:1 balun to arrive so I can make an EFHW antenna for 40m and 80m. I have several mature maple trees in my yard to put the EFHW up in. Another guy in town has a crossbow setup for getting wires up into trees that I will try to use. 

[UV-5R radios]

11 hours ago, Lscott said:

And here’s one that isn’t. Look it up.

And that is why one should be careful which radio they buy if one cares about using a Part 95 compliant radio.

I didn't post my earlier reply to argue with anyone, just to point out that there are Part 95 compliant UV-5R radios available.

[UV-5R radios]

Here is a GMRS certified UV-5R 

[WSCL633]

I run a Comet 2x4SR on my SxS and it works well for GMRS right out of the package. I get between 1.6 and 1.8 SWR for 467 MHz and 1.2 SWR for 462 MHz. SWR is also good for 2m and 70cm. And I tested the SWR while the SxS was parked inside my garage so I know it will be better when it is outside and away from the metal garage doors and tracks.

I am going to add the spring kit to it.

[What is going on with the FCC ULS and CORES?]

The FCC website timing out is nothing new. It did that when I applied for my FRN, GMRS license, and amateur license last fall. The FCC site is like radio propagation, sometimes its great and other times its not. 

[I don’t think Midland radios are very good.]

51 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

Shame on you Randy, you got Marc hooked on 4 wheeling.  His kids will starve now. 

Especially if he  offloads in a Jeep.

Just

Empty

Every

Pocket

 

[FCC Improves On-line Interference Reporting]

21 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Sounds like they're working.

She originally put the devices up to keep cats out of her yard. But the feral cats walk right up to them even when they are on full blast.

[FCC Improves On-line Interference Reporting]

The FCC might have made it easier to file a complaint but it sure hasn't sped them up to deal with issues.

My lovely neighbor has installed ultrasonic pest deterrent devices in her yard with several of them pointed directly at my house. They cause me physical pain and are also interfering with my HF radio equipment. I filed a complaint on February 6th and another complaint this morning.

The local police and city prosecutor are no help either. I have filed several peace disturbance complaints since September and nothing has been done.

Yes I really want to walk over and smash them devices to pieces but I am trying my best to stay out of trouble.

[Counterpoise]

Computer monitors definitely can cause interference on certain frequencies. I notice interference from my monitors on hand held radios on certain 2m, 70cm, and GMRS frequencies. And I have clamp on ferrite beads on all the cables.

[Easy use phonetics any suggestion]

@LariatAdvance I am glad that you could help and everything worked out for everyone. I wouldn't worry about what the curmudgeons have to say in situations like that.

[Keeping tones private]

About all you can do is change the tones. But that still won't stop people from scanning for the new tones. As mentioned, you can get a  remote switch to shut the repeater down or use a controller to remotely access the repeater to make changes.

We have tones set for transmit and receive on our GMRS repeater. People can still hear the repeater on the corresponding simplex channel without any tones set. And since they can hear the repeater, they can also scan for the PL tones.

[Building new house, pre-wire it for a repeater?]

Where there is a will, there is a way. I've seen plenty of ideas to hide antennas from overbearing HOA's. 

[HAM repeater bleeding onto GMRS 16?]

I like the HF digital modes such as FT4 and FT8 since I don't have to hear anything like that. Digital modes send signal reports and that is it. I know some old curmudgeons say that digital modes aren't  for real radio operators, but I ignore them.

[Easy use phonetics any suggestion]

I hear people using different words for saying their call sign phonetically all the time. Some will use what ever words they like. It really doesn't matter much when talking to other people who's native language is English. 

Using the NATO phonetic alphabet does help when talking to foreigners who do not speak English very well or have a heavy accent.

In the end use what works best for you and those you are talking to.

[How does Wouxun compare to Motorola, Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, Alinco, or Anytone, Powerwerx and TYT?]

I want to give a little update on my TYT TH-7800 and Wouxun KG-1000G after a couple of months of running my Yaesu FTDX10 HF radio at the same time as using the other radios.

The TYT TH-7800 picks up quite a bit of interference from the FTDX when transmitting on digital modes and talking on the TH-7800 at the same time. Depending on the frequencies/bands, the interference is anything from a slight buzz to sounding like I am doubling with someone.

The Wouxun KG-1000G does not suffer from any of the interference issues caused by my FTDX.

I wanted to mention it for those that have their amateur and GMRS licenses and want to run digital modes on a HF radio while talking on a UHF/VHF radio at the same time.

[Would like to know what radio you are using]

I definitely would not use cable/satellite TV coax for UHF frequencies to include GMRS. Most satellite TV installations use RG6 cable. RG6 will have more loss than RG8. RG8/RG213 is generally used for the HF bands and not suitable for UHF.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/252-cable-types-and-losses/page/5/#comment-69960

[What's with the repeater drama?]

3 hours ago, WRUE951 said:

very busy, people purposely stepping all over everyone, including the repeater channels..  lots (LOTS) of profane language,  Get over the valley and it disappears back to normal life except the two guys on ch 19, i swear, they start yapping at 5:00 a.m. and keep going..  They must have a good repeater site, i can hear them in  L.A. and Barstow.  I'm just spoiled being in the desert.   

And I thought CB was bad back when I was stationed at Fort Irwin. It was a different world once you went through Cajon Pass heading west.

[What do you all use for antennas at home?]

1 hour ago, WRDJ205 said:

I see a lot of positive results with the Comet CA-712EFC for GMRS.  If one were thinking about getting into non-sad HAM in the future is there an antenna that might be “good enough” for both (realizing there will be compromises)?  

The CA-712EFC is definitely a good GMRS antenna. The Comet GP6 and GP9 base antennas are excellent dual band antennas that also work well for GMRS. A good dual band mobile antenna that works well for GMRS is the Comet 2x4SR.

[Building new house, pre-wire it for a repeater?]

I have seen some disguise shorter antennas to look like vent pipes. Just a thought for those dealing with HOA's.

Running large conduit is a good idea. Just make sure there is enough room to pull the cable and also the PL259 connectors through, especially if you ever plan on running more than one cable in conduit. I will also suggest using the grey PVC conduit designed for electrical wiring since the curve fitting are a gentle curve versus sharp curves lie standard water PVC pipe fittings.

[I don’t think Midland radios are very good.]

40 minutes ago, nokones said:

My MXT500 has a capacity of 128 channels and can be custom programmed for repeaters from Ch. 23 all the way to Ch. 128 and with split tones. Also, I can program channels 8-14 with custom repeaters channels.

Did it come like that new out of the box or did you have to do a firmware update?

I had to do the firmware update before my MXT500 would have 128 programmable channels.