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JLeikhim

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Posts posted by JLeikhim

  1. I would rather be obsessive about maximizing reject notch as T-R isolation is the main goal of a duplexer. If you can keep the insertion loss in spec and not excessive, fine, but insertion loss is an expected feature of a duplexer. There is no free lunch.

  2. 17 hours ago, chrissondra13 said:

    Thanks Michael,

    So are there no options for boosting the signal with the Garmins? 

    Chris; There IS one option. Set up a simplex repeater using an Argent Data Systems ADS-SR1 connected to a third radio installed at a high location on your property. It will "Parrot" the messages which might be annoying, but can improve coverage. I suggest an FRS radio equipped with solar power to supply both the radio and the ADS-SR1.  You want as much height as possible.

  3. We actually discussed this here on this forum exactly a year ago, and I promised to find the wording. I still owe this to the community. One day (or night) when all booze is gone I'll do it. What I remember, is a specific prohibition or repeaters (with the word "repeater" explicitly used) for FRS, CB and MURS. But I also remember about store-and-forward not allowed either for 95E or for all of 95.

    Since you brought up the prohibition, it is now incumbent on you to back it up.

     

    Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  4. Are we sure it isn't  a third harmonic problem with the Sheriffs transmitter?

     

    Well looky here:

     

    FRS Channel 11 : 467.6375 / 3 = 155.879 MHz

     

    155.880000  (output)

      158.95500 (Input) KNEP918 Sheriff Dispatch   Custer County   Law Dispatch  

     

    Looks like either the Sheriff is the violation or the BaoFengShui GMRS V1 cannot tolerate all those powerful signals getting into it from the new base antenna. My money is on the BF GMRS V1 crapping itself.

  5. WPXM352, The very basic violation is they are "broadcasting". This is not a communication between stations. This is an automated broadcast.

    As for the subject matter I am unsure of the violation there.

    Also I believe the station is exceeding the power limit for FRS.

    Thanks

    WRCW870

    In reading the rules, broadcasting is indeed prohibited, as is using radios while committing a violation of state and local laws. Whether there is a local violation here is a question.

     

    Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  6. Hi All. First post, here. I'm an RF engineer in the cellular space and have been dipping my toes into some use cases for GMRS for some local relay trail runs as a hobby. I am specifically looking for information on the receiver RSL range for some of the more common H/Ts like the KG-805G or the KG-UV6D. Since any link that has an HT in it will always be reverse link limited, I am surprised by the lack of published information on this.

     

    For cellphones as an example, most are capable of an RSSI range of -30 dBm to -110 dBm depending on the SINR. What I cannot find is: a) general guidance on that for GMRS (or even something close in the HAM bands) or B) any specific information from the Wouxun page on the actual range for the 805G or the UV6D. I need this to determine my coverage levels in my propagation tool, Atoll. I've built the sites in the software and have run the predictions for my locations, but without understanding the minimums and related SNR, I can't set my thematic maps precisely enough for a good idea of where my limits will be. I'm currently set up with -95 dBm as that seems to be fairly reasonable, but my OCD doesn't like assumptions. :)

     

    Thanks for any help!

    GMRS is part of the LMR world so the propogation document I would refer you to is EIA/TIA TSB88C or D.

     

    Radios in LMR typically comply with TIA603D as far as SINAD sensitivity, IM , spurious, and adjacent channel rejection . That document stipulates how LMR radios are tested and provides minimum standards.

     

    The "Common" Chinese brand radios do not comply with any industry standards thus a receiver spec of "-122 dBm " is meaningless in the real world where stronger out of band signals will swamp the receivers of cheap radios that lack adequate front end filtering.

     

     

    Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  7. Have you tried talking to and from a company issue radio? Is there any delay in that mode?

     

    This is a common problem with cheap Chinese radios. Users cannot get them to work reliably with other radios or repeaters. They may be totally out of tune or have a defect because they are not engineered to the standards that more expensive radios are.

     

    Then we have the programming using "Chirp" software which is intended for ham radio operators, who may or may not have technical savvy to sort out the potential problems. If they cannot, its not a problem because they are playing in the ham radio "sand box" not a business or public safety environment (hopefully).

     

    Frankly I am surprised your employer is letting you use your own radio on the job. Your company selected a vendor, that admittedly is offering some pretty low end stuff, but it is perhaps well sorted out by their technicians before putting into service.

     

    How did you get the frequencies and DPL? Did your employer hand you the information or did you monitor it off the air? If off the air you may have frequencies transposed or erroneous, the DPL may be the wrong one because cheap radios respond with multiple solutions, two or three of which are probably wrong.

  8. This is true for the MXT275. The MXT400 seems to be both narrow and wide.  The designator code for the MXT400 is narrowband just like the MXT275 but, whereas the MXT275 is only authorized as a narrowband radio the MXT400 is authorized as a wideband one (20Mhz).

     

    I've attached links to scanned images of the test summary Emissions and Frequencies page for both radios below. Have a look at the designator code for each radio and then look at the bandwidth authorization at the bottom of the scans.   This leads me to believe that the designator code just says that the radio is "capable" of using whichever bandwidth is the lowest in the case of a radio with multiple bandwidth capabilities, and it is not necessarily what the radio is authorized or fully capable for FCC authorization. Kind of confusing but it makes some sense if the designator code does not have the space for specifying a bandwidth "range".

     

    Link to the MXT275 - both designator and authorization are narrowband:

     

    MXT275-S.jpg

     

    Link to the MXT400 - designator is narroband, authorization is not...

     

    MXT400-S.jpg

     

    Best,

     

    JAS

    WRKP245

     

     

    100% WRONG. YOU NEED TO READ THE FCC grant I posted up above which is the actual certification.

     

     

    You are misreading the test report. It clearly says 10K2F3E. The GMRS authorized bandwidth is 20.0 KHz but the radio is not certified anywhere close to that emission, likely because the hardware (minimum parts count radio) won't get you to 20 KHz bandwidth. "Authorized" in the test report simply means what the rules cited will authorize, not what the radio can attain.

     

    Your contention is like saying the road has an 80 MPH speed limit and then saying that an 8 horsepower Chinese Changli electric vehicle meets the speed limit because it can cruise at 25 MPH. It may be legal, but you would be dumb to buy it.

     

    Look at the math for the MXT400

     

    2 x modulation + 2 x Deviation

     

    (2 x 3000 Hz) = (2 x 2.1 KHz) = 10.2 KHz bandwidth. The radio can deviate only +/- 2.1 KHz

     

    A proper wide band radio can deviate +/- 5.0 KHz.

     

     

    MXT400 FCC Grant linked at post #8 See a "generous" 10K5F3E listed for that radio.

     

     

     

    https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/2383-midland-mxt500/page-2

     

     

    I have been doing this for 45 years so I can read and understand FCC equipment certifications.

  9. Maybe that's why they don't mention the software on their site, and will only provide a temporary drop box link for customers to download the software.

    They could simply apply for a change to the FCC certification. Why haven't they? This covert software is probably just a placebo.

     

    Someone needs to actually put a radio on a HP8920B analyser and test the deviation and show results on youtube. Otherwise it has as much credibility as their stated mileage claims for their bubble pack walkie talkies .

     

    If someone wants to ship a radio so modified my way, I will test it and eat crow.

     

    Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  10. If it can't hear that good with a high gain antenna, it would seem like the 1000G lacks filtering and uses a direct conversion receiver, and its desensing.

     

    Just perform an ISO-tee on the radio.

    This is a good point. A lot of these cheap radios lack proper bandpass filtering for the receiver and when connected to a decent antenna all manner of out of band signals from broadcasters to NOAA ( notoriously excessive power transmitters) will sap the gain of the receiver RF gain stages and block the receiver from picking up weaker desired signals.

     

    The ISO-tee is a method of injecting a desired signal into the receiver from an RF signal generator and comparing its reception when the ISO-tee is terminated with an antenna versus a 50 ohm resistor load.

     

    Ideally there should be little change. If there is, you have interference due to either on channel noise or out of band signals getting past the receivers filtering, if any.

     

    Unfortunately much of the cheap radio equipment leave out the proper filtering relying on the user either having an inferior antenna, ignorance of the problem, or both.

     

    Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  11. The MXT275 and MXT400 are both narrow band radios. The cert Grant for the MXF275 is at this link.

     

    https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/tcb/reports/Tcb731GrantForm.cfm?mode=COPY&RequestTimeout=500&tcb_code=&application_id=vztA7%2FjO6CQIj5FkpBy3lQ%3D%3D&fcc_id=MMAMXT275

     

     

    A proper GMRS wide band radio will have 16K0F3E or 20K0F3E emission designator, nothing smaller.

     

    Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  12. It should.... And will have NOAA channels as I understand.

     

    My MXT400 came from the factory with the repeater channels set to 25kHz (wideband), contrary to the rumors circulated by those with a bias against Midland radios that it does not support wideband. It is simply amazing that those who do not own one make all these claims as though they are the "gurus" chanting the mantra from the mountain top upon which they seated themselves. It will also do 20kHz if you like.

     

    It can also be software programmed to do split tones, CTSS and DCS even, on same channel.

     

    You must buy the DBR1 cable from Midland and they give you a limited-life link to the software download when you call them.

     

    I programmed mine to display my call sign on startup

     

    All my simplex channels are programmed as wideband (25kHz).

    .

    I programmed the four local repeaters into the empty channel slots that were empty for the 0.5W FRS channels, displaying the repeater names OR CITY, TABOR, OVRLOOK and GRESHAM when they are chosen.

     

    Someone also said programming the radio invalidates the certification. Midland denies this. The radio was certified under Part 95A and as such, is grandfathered under the new parameters specified under Part 95E. As long as the radio is still operating within the Part 95E specifications when programmed, you are fine.

     

    It does what I want., and I am satisfied with my purchase. It doesn't have 10 billion "bells and whistles" to clutter up the menus and programming like some other radios. It doesn't have FM, but my car and my Sangean WR-11 and ATS-909 take care of that.

    I guess that comment is directed to me since I seem to be the one most vocal about Midland's apparent refusal to be honest about this subject.

     

    Below is the FCC Grant (click thumbnail) for the MXT400. It is easily found on the FCC OET Equipment Certification database. The FCC grant is what matters. Regardless of what someone in Midland marketing has said, the MXT400 is certified as a narrow band radio. 10K5F3E is what the grant has as the modulation. That is somewhat worse than 11K3F3E which is what a narrow band is these days. A proper "wide band" radio complying fully with GMRS specs will have an emission designator of 16K0F3E or 20K0F3E. The rule sections 95.1771, 95.1773 and 95.1775 stipulate a 20 KHz BW and +/- 5.0 KHz deviation for the main (not interstitial) channels.

     

    If in fact the software distributed by Midland invokes a wide band emission from the MXT400 then it is doing so in conflict with the radios type certification. Something Midland could fix by having the lab Timco test the radio under that configuration, and if it passes, then apply for a permissive change. So far no one has produced any evidence that by setting the 25 KHz or 20 KHz bits in the software actually increases the modulation. If someone does this live on youtube with proper test equipment so no sleight of hand, then I will retract the part of my assertion that the radio does not do wide band. But it will remain un-certified.

     

    In the meantime the fact remains that folks buying a 40 or 50 watt Midland radio that delivers only 50% of the deviation permitted by GMRS rules, are getting an inferior product that has weak deviation and poor repeater CTCSS access. They might as well buy a cheaper, used, 25 watt Kenwood TK-840-1 which is certified for part 95, has wide band deviation and sounds better.

     

    I urge anyone shopping for a GMRS radio to look up the certification and grant on the FCC OET database for radios being considered. Most cheap Chinese radios also fail to deliver the modulation bandwidth permitted by FCC. Some have barely a 5 KHz BW.

     

    The FCC grant shows the power level as well as the emission bandwidth.

     

    I have no axe to grind with Midland other than this low deviation issue. I would love to buy their MXT275 micromobile remote radio for my wife's car. But instead she has a Kenwood.

    post-144-0-83521700-1616619954_thumb.jpg

  13. From my ham license:

     

    Conditions:
    Pursuant to §309(h) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47
    U.S.C. §309(h), this license is subject to the following conditions: This
    license shall not vest in the licensee any right to operate the station nor any
    right in the use of the frequencies designated in the license beyond the
    term thereof nor in any other manner than authorized herein. Neither the
    license nor the right granted thereunder shall be assigned or otherwise
    transferred in violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    See 47 U.S.C. § 310(d). This license is subject in terms to the right of use
    or control conferred by §706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as
    amended. See 47 U.S.C. §606.

     

     

    That's just how licenses work.

     

    I have a "Virage" Go Kart license. It does not extend or allow me any rights beyond their track. It is no good for Formula 1 or to drive on public streets. Louis Hamilton has a Formula 1 license. He still needs a UK drivers license to drive to the supermarket. He can get a Virage go kart license for $3 like I did and zoom around a track for 5 minutes.

  14. Modulation or how you use that power does too - narrow-band FM (11.5khz width) vs wideband FM (16Khz width) has by the equivalent of about 6db penalty on SNR when looking at highest modulating freq (2.75khz vs 3.00khz) & peak deviation (3khz vs 5khz) per Carson's rule.

     

    https://urgentcomm.com/2010/04/01/cut-your-losses/

     

    edit: I see this topic was already heavily discussed in this thread; carry on!

    Not to mention that a lot of the cheap consumer radios don't fully utilize even the narrow band 11.5 KHz bandwidth. If you look closely at the FCC Certification Grants, you will see 10Kx or even lower emissions. Why? Because the radios are based on a simple chip and have few added parts to shape the modulation properly.

  15. 47 CFR 95.389 -> 47 CFR 2.1093.....calling out both IEEE and ANSI standards.

     

    Last I checked, both the IEEE and ANSI are still industrial standards organizations.

     

    ---

    §95.385   RF exposure evaluation.

    (a) Personal Radio Services devices are subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements specified in §§1.1307(b ), 2.1091 and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate.

    (b ) FCC certification (see §95.335) of transmitter types that are “portable devices,” as defined in §2.1093(b ) of this chapter, and are designed to operate in certain Personal Radio Services, is subject to rules requiring radiofrequency radiation exposure routine evaluation pursuant to §§1.1307(b ) and 2.1093 of this chapter. See §§95.2385 and 95.2585.

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