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Skunkworks

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  1. I don't have the GM-30 plus, but I was under the impression it is the same as the Baofeng UV-17 PRO GPS. I do have several of those and they program with Chirp just fine. Has anyone tried selecting the UV-17 pro gps with chirp to progran the GM-30 plus?
  2. Thank you for that helpful bit of advice. SMH I always want to be able to talk further. I live in a very wooded area and have a fair amount of hills, so every advantage is helpful. There are no repeaters nearby and sometimes I want better simplex communication (like at the hunting camp). I'm using a good antenna and a very good radio. I just don't want to handicap myself by using crap coax.
  3. So I am currently using 25 ft of RG8 for my "field" set up, and I'm wondering what would be a better/best replacement coax. I am usually using a 3-elelment yagi on a 20ft telescoping flagpole and a 50W radio at the back of my truck, but sometimes 20W or even 5W. So 25-30 feet is really all I need. I may use a 30ft pole in the future, but for discussion's sake, I doubt it matters. I would like it to be flexible (not LMR400) for ease of use. I also will be setting it up and taking it down often, so for durability, hard-line would be a bad choice I imagine. I'm not afraid to spend a little to get something good, but don't want to throw cash at something for no noticeable gain either. Any recommendations and real-world experience?
  4. Though I know what a Raspberry Pi is, I've never build one and I think the $60 I spent on a ThinkPad is competitive with the cost of the pi, monitor and keyboard. Change my mind.
  5. Thanks all for the advice. I do use Chirp for pretty much everything other than the Kenwood radios. I ordered a used ThinkPad from Ebay with Windows 10. I think I'll be able to add all the Kenwood software and code plugs as well as Chirp and my data files for my other radios. I'm not really looking for.it to do much more. Hopefully the one I get can hold a charge. Thanks again, gentlemen.
  6. I'm having fun with old Kenwood commercial radios for GMRS. However, most have limited or no Front Face Programming. What would you recommend for a cheap and small laptop to throw in a go kit to program in the field? I can put the programs and codes on a USB drive, but will a Chromebook or tablet be able to run them? Do I need to get a cheapy Window's machine? What are you using and what do you recommend?
  7. Thanks for the good info here. I have been dabbling with used Kenwood commercial radios a little bit and I'm really liking them. I have one 8360 and another on the way. The display isn't quite as good as the NX series or the old TK-890H, but it is more than adequate and much less expensive than some of the others. So far, I have: TK-880 TK-890H NX-800H TK-8360
  8. This was the problem. I was told by the seller that the ignition sense was to be like the top pic (he even circled it). It powered on and looked right, but I suspect the speaker pins were getting no power. Once corrected (bottom pic) it all worked as it should. Thanks all for the help and suggestions.
  9. Thanks for the help everyone. Turns out the ignition sense wire was in the wrong spot in the 9-pin on the back of the radio. I was told wrong by the seller on ebay (big surprise, right). He even circled for me, but wrong. The radio powered up, but I suspect the speaker was getting no power. Once correct, it all works as it should. I'm very happy with the radio.
  10. Yes, of course I did a search first. I'm learning as I go as there seems to be way more info on other Kenwood LMR radios, but this one checks a lot of boxes with an almost constant duty cycle on low power (45W). I have the KES-4 plugged into the 9-pin on the back of the radio. I'm just surprised there isn't more out there on these. I'll keep plugging away and maybe I'll be able to help someone else one day. It's all part of the hobby I suppose.
  11. Wow, I thought someone here would have experience with the TK-890H.....Nothing but crickets. Even if you don't have first-hand experience, if you know of a good resource, please share.
  12. I am hoping someone might share the programing code plug for the TK-890. I have been "successful" programming mine and can transmit fine, but I'm having some issues that I suspect are from something not being programmed correctly. I using the full function remote head and an external speaker, but I'm getting no sound at all. Also, the busy light stays on all the time unless the squelch is cranked to 13 of 15. If anyone is using this radio successfully and is willing to share, I'd like to try to replicate your settings and see what is different with mine. I should say that I'm still fairly new to Kenwood commercial radios, but I have had no trouble programming and using my TK-880's or my NX-800. Any help is appreciated.
  13. with squelch set on anything low (including 1) the busy light stays on. I am also unable to transmit when the squelch is low unless the monitor button is on. I can't believe it is this hard to figure out.
  14. Okay, bumping up the squelch to 14 out of 15 keeps the busy light off until I transmit from my hand-held in the same room. I don't see where any tones are set and still no sound. It is transmitting just fine. No sound while monitor is on. Should there be sound with power on or other functions? I got nothin'
  15. I have 4 of the Radioddity DB-25G's. I really like them a lot and they have cig-lighter plugs. This, the ability to monitor 4 channels, and listen to HAM vhf/uhf are the reasons they are packed in a Apache box in each of the family cars along with a Nagoya UT-72G mag-mount. They are great radios and I have used one as a base at times as well. Plus, they are only 89.99 on Amazon right now with coupons. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09C7JBBVY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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