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Skunkworks

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Everything posted by Skunkworks

  1. Skunkworks
    Would you recommend the DB-25D over some of the more recent HT offerings like the VCG VR-N76?
  2. Skunkworks
    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?
  3. Skunkworks
    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.
  4. Skunkworks
    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?
  5. Skunkworks
    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.
  6. Skunkworks
    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.
  7. Skunkworks
    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?
  8. Skunkworks
    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
  9. Skunkworks
    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.
  10. Skunkworks
    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.
  11. Skunkworks
    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.
  12. Skunkworks
    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.
  13. Skunkworks
    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.
  14. Skunkworks
    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.
  15. Skunkworks
    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'
  16. Skunkworks
    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
  17. Skunkworks
    Thanks for the help. I'll try to figure it out this evening a bit more. I'm surprised there isn't more online in the forums and YouTube about this radio as it seems to tick a lot of boxes. I know that 100Watts is over the limit and that may be why, but at low power it is a beast with what looks like a virtually full-time duty cycle. I had thought about building a repeater and using it as the tx side of things, but I'm a long ways from that it seems.
  18. Skunkworks
    I have my local repeaters as well as all GMRS channels and open repeater channels programmed in. With monitor open, I still get zero sound. I'm able to transmit to my other radios just fine on simplex, but there is no sound at all. Should the green "busy" light be on all the time in standby? I'm getting frustrated. I appreciate all the help. Please keep the ideas coming if you have any more.
  19. Skunkworks
    Yes, this is using the remote head (KCH-11). I have a Kenwood speaker plugged in. Can you be more specific about the tone setting that would affect the squelch? I'm not seeing anything in the optional settings from the drop-down menu. Forgive me, I'm still learning and though the KPG-44D software is similar to the KPG-49D I use with the TK-880, there are lots of settings that I'm naive about.
  20. Skunkworks
    Thank you for the reply. Are you suggesting that the jumper needs to be in place when using an external speaker? I've adjusted the squelch and haven't seen a difference.
  21. Skunkworks
    I'm looking for some help with my newly acquired Kenwood TK-890H. I am using the full-function remote head and external speaker. I have been able to program it with all my wanted frequencies and I'm able to transmit, but I can't get it to receive. The seller claims it was fully tested and in working condition and I have no reason to doubt him. symptoms: 1-no receive, 2-busy light (green light) is always on, 3- no sound out of the speaker. I have enabled the SP function for the speaker, but still nothing. I suspect that there is something in the software that needs to be configured differently. I was/am very excited to use this radio as a base station at my home, but I might be in over my head. I have a couple TK-880's and a NX-800 that I was able to program and I am using them without issue. This one is more of a challenge. I do have a copy of the instruction and service manuals. Any help is appreciated.
  22. Skunkworks
    Thanks. I did read through the manual, but somehow missed that. I was able to program it to my liking using Chirp.
  23. Skunkworks
    Does the H3 have weather band programmed? Is there a shortcut? I can't seem to get mine into weather band. In a video review, I saw the host hold down the bottom soft key to get to weather band, but mine goes to FM commercial radio. Is this key programmable? I'd like have it go to weather since holding the "8" will get you to FM.
  24. Skunkworks
    Sorry for you to hear that. I use Android and very much like that feature when using my GMRS Pro. I can set it up on a high shelf and use my phone to talk. It is also handy when in the car with a mag-mount. I can leave the radio in the cup holder and use my phone mounted on the dash. Perhaps they will make an upgrade to the app?
  25. Skunkworks
    I am curious how far people have made contacts. I recently received transmissions from (what seemed to me) a very long distance away. I was on a high hill on the dunes of Lake Michigan near Muskegon, Michigan and was able to clearly listen to the Racine, Wisconsin repeater 85 miles away on the other side of the lake purely accidentally. Guys were mainly talking about fishing and the upcoming salmon and steelhead runs. I also heard traffic from Ohio and Indiana. I was on a hand-held GMRS Pro and also used a Baofeng UV-17 Pro GPS while employing a N9TAX Labs Slim-Jim GMRS antenna. Of course with only 5 Watts I wasn't able to make contacts, but it got me thinking. Just how far have people actually made contacts? I imagine mountain top to mountain top could be quite far.
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