WRYZ926

I agree that it isn't worth chasing after a 10 watt hand held, the extra 5 watts won't make a difference. Now you can get the Wouxun KG-10H amateur band HT that covers 1.25m, 2m, 6m, and 70cm right out of the box and it can be unlocked for GMRS. It will also receive air band frequencies. But it is out of your price range if your cap is $140. The KG-10H is $220.

It could be that there was structures, trees, or terrain blocking you two. The antenna that comes with the KG-935G is actually a good antenna. I can sometimes get into the repeater that is 21 miles away with mine. Granted the repeater antenna is at 400 feet above ground.

More information about your buddy's setup would be helpful. You might be hard pressed to reach each other if you are both using hand held radios. Your buddy having a base station with a good antenna as high as he could get it would definitely help. You can also try a longer antenna on your 935G too.

There are a few restrictions when one instals Windows 10 or 11. As mentioned, there will be no tech support. Another thing is that you won't be able to change some of the customizable features either. But Windows 10 and 11 will still work without activation.

Yes I have but it's been a few years since I've messed with Linux. Maybe it's something with how the CHIRP program is written.

I'm still surprised that you have to run the windows version of CHIRP in WINE instead of the native Linux version.

I've seen plenty of people use gutters for their ground plane and it works fine for them. I've also seen some use the gutters as an antenna with good results. On of the weirdest I've heard was a guy hooking a ground from his antenna to a fire hydrant in his yard where the water lines are all steel. Supposedly he gets great results with it. If it works well for you, then stick with it.

Or it could be that they hear you but not well enough to make out what you are saying. We have a new person that keeps calling on our repeater. His signal is strong enough to get into the repeater but all we hear is static when he transmits.

You are correct on that one. Glad that the Slim Jim's working for you.

Yeah it will surprise you when testing a HT antenna's SWR with something like the Surecom-102. The SWR can be all over the place since there is not a good enough ground plane. I've seen big differences when checking the same antenna with my Surecom-102 and my Comet CA-500 analyzer.

Your antenna must be extremely narrow banded or something is wrong for you to get those kind of SWR readings. Normally you will find SWR around 1.0 - 1.2 on 462 and up to 1.8 on 467. Or you will get 1.0 - 1.2 on 467 and up to 1.8 on 462 with most antennas.

What you can do is use one of the many empty memory slot to program other repeaters into the radio. You can program as many repeaters into empty memory slots as you want. You can even have repeaters with teh same frequency/channel but different PL tones programmed into memory.

My condolences to the family. He was at the Collinsville, Il ham fest last month and his grandson tested that day. A couple of guys from my club got to talk to him that day. He will be missed. Maybe his grandson will get his call sign.

You won't be able to use multiple repeaters unless they are linked together.

Yes Part 95 certified GMRS Radios have the 5.0 MHz offset pretty much pre programmed for you. I would still double check though. Now 2m/70cm radios that have been unlocked will normally require you to manually input the offset.

I've never gotten a really good SWR reading on my HT antennas when using the Surecom SW-102 for the reasons already mentioned. I do get good SWR reading when I use my Comet CA-500 antenna analyzer though. The Comet is bigger than HT's with a nice flat surface where the antennas mount. But I still get higher SWR readings on some HT antennas with the Comet analyzer yet they work just fine when attached to the radios. As others have said, don't rely on testing HT antennas for SWR, you can get misleading results.

Welcome to the forum. I can definitely recommend the Wouxun KG-XS20G, especially if you plan on having a radio in a SxS. I use the XS20G with a Comet 2x4SR antenna in my SxS and have no issues reaching the local repeater. I also always get good signal reports and am told that my transmissions are always clear.

I use a 9dB gain antenna for 2m and 70cm for the range. While there are a few hills and valleys around me, there is also a lot of fairly flat open farm ground too. A 5 or 6 dB antenna normally is better for areas with lots of hills/mountains and forests.

And that is why I said "up to". And when it happened to me, the other guys were using 50 watt mobile radios on high power at the time. I did not get that overload talking HT to HT.

The Baofeng/B-Tech radios are fine and they do work well enough. One of the issues with them is the sensitivity of their receivers, they will pick up all kinds of signals and noise. They are also easily overloaded by other radios in close proximity (1/2 mile or less). I own Baofeng and Wouxun HT's. The Wouxun radios are better in the following things: less susceptible to overload and noise clearer audio on transmit and receive better reception with the stock antenna Both brands will reach out the same distances. Generally superheterodyne receivers are better than system on a chip receivers. But this is not always the case. My Icom IC-T10 HT is SOC and is just as good if not better than my Wouxun HT's. The Quality of components matters too.

Glad to hear that you finally got CHIRP Next up and running.

The local GMRS repeater is 21.5 miles away. And it is hit or miss if I can be heard on the repeater with my HT. It depends on the atmospheric conditions. The same goes for the 70cm band too. That distance is easy for my HT on the 2m band.

Atmospheric conditions is one thing that affects radio waves. I made quite a few contacts last night on 40m when the storm came in. The storm went just north of me last night.

No need to re examine my reply. If phone service is down in one area but working in other areas then radio operators operating with in their license privileges can relay as needed in an emergency.

If I buy a new HT anytime soon it will most likely be the Wouxun KG-10H since it works on 4 bands out of the box and can be opened up too.