Webslinger

I appreciate your insight. Similar situation for me in that my wife likes the GMRS HT's (KG-935G Plus) that we have been learning on. One of the benefits of the KG-Q10H is that the display screen is very similar to the KG-935G Plus, so it's something she is already accustomed to. The VX-6R would be an additional learning curve. She is planning to take the Technician's exam this summer, just so we can add the Ham radio to the quiver of EmComms, but if given a choice, she would stick with GMRS all day. I 100% agree with the KISS method (for and me). We do practice 2-3 times per week on the KG-935G Plus for certain features of the HT, but I would not ask her to learn every aspect of that radio. Just the few things needed to communicate simply in those stressful situations.

I have watched his operator series on the VX-6R; a big part of the reason that HT is my preference, BUT then I came across the KG-Q10H unexpectedly and it peaked my interest. If I had to make the decision today, I would buy the VX-6R, but the KG-Q10H has me hesitating. I may wait until KS6DAY posts his video reviews of the Q10H, then decide. Thanks for that heads up.

Trying to decide on a pair of either one of these HT's for EmComms (EDC, Get-home bags). The KG-Q10H has lots of bells and whistles, not to mention the quad-band capabilities, BUT is that really a plus in this instance? I've seen a few comments on the Internet that a 6m band on an HT is not really that great. Something about not being able to put a real antenna on the HT that does well with the 6m band. Nevertheless, I do like the 2m, 70cm and 1.25m capabilities. The dual channel receive and transmit functions are great. Unsure if the KG-Q10H works with RT Systems programming. On my KG-935G Plus, the Wouxun CPS leaves a lot to be desired compared to the RT Systems CPS I use for my Yaesu FT-60R. GPS location is cool, as is IP rating. But I bet the scanning function on the KG-Q10H speedwise is slow compared to the VX-6R. The Yaesu VX-6R has been around a long time, a testimony to it's quality and durability. It receives multiple bands that I don't think the KG-Q10H is able to. The 1.25m band power output is 1.5 watts, but I think I saw somewhere the KG-Q10H is not a full 5 watts on the same band. Something like 2.5 watts. And, when it comes to Ham radio, I'm not as confident in Wouxun (Chinese) as I am in Yaesu (Japanese). Again, these HT's would be stowed in Bug-out/Get-home-EDC bags for EmComms. Thoughts?

I've been doing some field testing of the Wouxun KG-935G Plus x 2, a Yaesu FT-60R and an Explorer QRZ-1 (from the Gigaparts Jumpstart program). Testing simplex range for both GMRS and 2m ham bands. I took a KG-935G Plus and the FT-60R in the truck with me, while leaving a KG-935G Plus and the Explorer QRZ-1 with my wife at home. Hitting random locations and various distances, we found the KG-935G Plus outperformed the ham radios. Within a 4 mile range of home, the strength of Tx/Rx signals were equal, but once we got beyond that range, the GMRS HT's did better. At 6 miles, the GMRS HT's signal strength was clear and strong, while the ham HT's were choppy and scratchy. Both ham radios are using the Signal Stuff Signal Stick dual-band antenna, while the GMRS radios are using a Nagoya NA-771G antenna on one, and the stock Rubber Duck on the other. I was surprised at the results. I thought the combination of Signal Stick antennas and the use of 2m simplex would give the ham radios the advantage over the GMRS radios. Obviously not. So, I'm confused. Is it a simple matter of the KG-935G Plus being THAT GOOD of a radio - I mean, c'mon, we're talking about the Yaesu FT-60R here - or are there issues with GMRS frequencies (70 cm band) vs. 2 meter band that I'm missing, or anything miscellaneous for that matter? I want to buy another pair of amateur radios, dual-band likely, possibly tri-band, and I really like the Yaesu VX-6R based on reviews/videos I've watched/studied. However, if Wouxun is really rocking the simplex range on GMRS, I have to wonder if I might get the same fantastic results with a pair of Wouxun KG-Q10H Quad-band ham radios instead. Thoughts?

If you try to transmit on GMRS frequencies using the FT-60R, the radio's display will show 'ERROR'. The FT-60R can be programmed to receive/listen only on GMRS frequencies, but it can't transmit on them.

Two repeaters in the area using the same GMRS channel/frequency. One is farther away, but covers a range of 60 miles according to myGMRS Repeater Map. The other is closer to me, but only covers 15 miles. My location is within the range of both repeaters. Now, both repeaters use a different PL tone. Does that mean I can use either repeater without the other one interfering?

So, question(s) on the use of PL tones when programming repeaters vs. using them for simplex communication between two GMRS operators/HT's. I have the mechanics down for programming tones when programming local repeaters. It's the theory I'm struggling with somewhat. If I understand this correctly, using a PL tone when I transmit to a repeater opens the repeater to receive the transmission. The repeater then retransmits my transmission out to a greater distance than my radio is capable of doing on its own. Now, is that retransmission heard by 100% of the operators monitoring that repeater frequency and within range, or is it only heard by those operators that have also programmed in the PL tone on the receive side that matches the PL tone I programmed in on the transmit side? (geez) Also, can the transmit PL tone be different than the receive PL tone, or do they always have to be the same, say for example when participating in a GMRS social net being conducted through a repeater? Now, when communicating on a simplex channel, can you use these same PL tones to set up "private" communication between two operators/radios? I understand that "private" is not really private in that anyone monitoring the same simplex channel will hear everything you say, but by using PL tones, it reduces the chance that others who are listening in from having the ability to break in on your conversation, right? So, in the case of simplex communications, is the transmit PL tone doing the same thing to the receiving radio that it does for a receiving repeater - opening it up (breaking squelch? Not sure if that's the right term for this)? Thanks!

Interested in the Smiley 5/8 Slim Duck 465 MHZ for my KG-935G Plus for a couple of reasons. 1) more compact than the rubber duck, 2) may get better performance (not so sure). With that said, the 5/8 Slim Duck is actually shorter than the rubber duck on my HT. For some reason, length of antenna is stuck in my kanoodle as better, and I know that may not necessarily be the case, but not sure why. So, if the rubber duck antenna on my HT is longer than the 5/8 Smiley, why would/should the Smiley be a better antenna?

Thank you for that explanation. Good info. one and all.

Coffee, bar soap and toothpaste

I started with GMRS one month ago. Got my Ham Technician's license earlier this week. Doing a deep dive into both methods of communication for emergency preparedness. My goals are 1) communication with my wife (empty nesters, so just the two of us, all kids live out of state), and 2) information gathering. Having a good scanner at home, as well as HT's that can scan emergency channels, is my immediate goal; along with finding a secure way to communicate with my wife. Eventually would like to set up mobile GMRS and/or Ham and base station at home. A lot to do and to learn, but figure one step at a time and eventually I'll get there.

I've thought of that, but then wonder if the whole GMRS band might be overwhelmed with traffic in such a scenario. I live on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area. GMRS offers limited channel capabilities, so it could be that that portion of the band is rendered unusable. Overall, it sounds like a combination of communications methods might be in order. So, GMRS, Ham and scanner. Right now I want to find the best option for communicating with my wife between home and her work. I work from home, so that would be my base station so-to-speak.

Thanks for the replies. So, is GMRS not a practical solution in a grid down scenario? Are there any options with GMRS to make communications more reliable, ex: setting up my own private repeater? Would Ham radio be more practical in that there are many more frequencies to choose from thereby limiting the chances that somebody else would interfere with communications? Is there a more reliable and secure way to communicate using options found in amateur radio that aren't too involved and complicated? What would knowledgeable GMRS and/or Ham operators suggest in such a scenario?

An event happens that shuts down the electrical grid and cell phone service. My wife and I are trying to communicate using GMRS radio. We have already tested our HT's and determined Tx/Rx distance in our community so that we might stay in contact from certain pre-planned locations. I have programmed a privacy tone into our radios on a specific channel (not 8-14, and not any repeaters), so that we can hopefully communicate without interference. Now, let's say that channel is 17. My wife and I are within simplex communication range, again with a programmed privacy tone, and their are 20 other GMRS radios within that same range using the same channel, but they have not programmed in the privacy code my wife and I are using. So questions... If all GMRS operators within range are using channel 17 and transmitting at the same time, what happens? Will the channel be overwhelmed by traffic, and would that traffic interfere with my ability to communicate with my wife, and vice-versa, even though we are using a privacy tone? I understand the privacy tone isn't real privacy, and others on the channel will hear what we say. My goal is to have a clear and uninterrupted means of communication with my wife. Thoughts?

Great info and thanks to everyone that responded. I know more now, and I won't fret so much about my HT SWR readings. That will change when the day comes I setup a base station.

Trying to better understand how and why this tool would be used for my GMRS HT radio. The way I understand it - forgive me if I use the wrong jargon here - the SWR meter is used to test the transmission power of the HT vs the signal gain of the antenna to see how balanced/matched they are? So, a 1:1 ratio is perfect, and anything close to that number is good? What exactly do you call the process for checking that 1:1 ratio, signal to power ratio? I dunno. Also, when using the SWR meter for testing, what is the purpose of a dummy load? Is that used only when testing transmission power (wattage), or is that used when testing for that 1:1 ratio? Is the dummy load always used with the meter when testing? Thanks.

Thank you for this info.

Thank you for pointing that out. Is there a better mag mount antenna setup you would recommend? If not, can I shorten the RG58 cable to reduce some of that loss?

This is in Utah. Sandy to Mt. Ogden 43.5 miles as the crow flies.

Nice! Pretty much how I envisioned it. Simple. Thanks for the info.

That sounds like a plan. On the BTWR website, I found the Nagoya RB-MJPL Strong Mobile Mag Mount Base and the NL-770G High Gain Mobile GMRS Antenna. Looks like I need a pigtail to connect my HT, and of course the one I need are out of stock. But, looks like that combo should do the trick. If you have other mag mount/antenna suggestions, please let me know. That is exactly my scenario. Thanks for posting that info.

Participated in my first GMRS net this evening. I could hear most stations really well, but when my turn came to join in, Net Control advised that much of my Tx was broken up. He heard parts only. Curious as to why I could hear Net Control and other stations so clearly, but when it came my turn, my signal was broken up? I have a KG-935G Plus. Replaced the rubber duck with a Nagoya NA-771G, which helped with reception on this net when compared to last week when the rubber duck could not receiving anything. With that said, what more can I do with the HT I have to increase my signal strength? Someday I plan to install a base station, but that's a month or two away. Might a mag mount with the right antenna work from home? What about a Smiley Super Stick IV? Any thoughts?

So leaving the Rx-CTC empty or off means your radio will hear everything transmitted to that repeater, including transmissions with the tone. If you program in the Rx-CTC tone, you will only hear transmissions to the repeater using that tone and no others right? Gets a little confusing.

Very nice! Thanks for the reply.

Want to program a repeater that uses an I/O tone of 114 DPL. From what I gather, DPL is a Motorola tone. I have a KG-935G Plus and I'm using the Wouxun programming software to program repeaters. None of the CTC/DCS tones in the program are a match for the 114 DPL tone of the repeater, but there is a DCS tone option of DN114 and DI114. Are either of those the same as 114 DPL? If not, does that mean my HT can't program repeaters using DPL tones? Also, The DCS charts I've seen online show DCS tones from 023 - 754. My Wouxun program lists DCS tones as follows, DN023-DN754 AND DI023-DI754. What is the difference between DN and DI? Thanks in advance for your help.