WRYZ926

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.

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.

That would be a lot of hugs. I'm 1 of five boys and all of us are married, plus five grandkids.

My Mom is 75 years young today.

I know what today is. It's my mom's birthday. It just happens to fall on Friday this year.

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.

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.

I still have a ways to go before I reach @SteveShannon status

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

Only if you remove the battery.

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.

I will have to find the other thread where I posted the output power levels on all band with my unlocked Q10H. From what I remember, they are similar to what @WRUU653 posted.

Yes it can be confusing. At least Midland puts a chart in their manuals, that does help until you learn the codes.

I have several LifePo4 batteries. I have a 100 AH and a 50 AH that I keep in the shack for when I need them. I have a go box setup for portable radio with two 50 AH batteries and an ammo can style battery box with four 10 AH batteries hooked up in series. My next project is going to get some solar panels for my portable setups.

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.

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.

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

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. 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.

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.

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.

Meshtastic is basically off grid texting and is limited to the size of messages that can be sent.

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.

Pretty much every single 50 watt GMRS or amateur radio is going to pull between 10 and 15 amps on transmit when set to high power. Read the specifications in the manual that came with your radio to be sure. I personally would not want to be pulling a 10 amp draw all of the time on a 10 amp fuse/circuit.

Imagine the chaos if a certain person knew who keeps down voting all of his posts As of now he can only point his finger at everyone on the forum.

A 10 amp cigarette lighter/accessory port definitely will not be enough to power a 50 watt radio when transmitting on high power. I would not try to use the accessory port on any type of portable power station. Like a few of us have already stated, get a LIFEPo4 battery and wire the radio to it.