MSnow
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Posts posted by MSnow
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On 5/4/2024 at 8:24 PM, wilhelm said:
I've looked at other threads here about external antennas, I I just get more confused. My purpose of buying some 5R's was my wife. When we go camping up in the Adirondacks, many places have no cell service, and she like to take hikes by herself. ( My back limits the amount of walking I can do) I'd like to mount an antenna to the trailer roof so I can keep one of the HT's inside the trailer and have the best possible ability for her to tell me she's lost. Ok, not lost, just not willing to come back yet.
On here I's seeing all these things that are way past my knowledge: ground plane, MRO (?) 1/4 wave, and several more. Then there's talk about trimming, cable length, tuning...
Is there something out there that will do what i need, something to mount on the roof, some kind of cable that will allow me to pick up the radio, and a way to remind her to turn it on?
On my Grand Design 5th wheel there is a ladder on the back. So I bought a flagpole to put on the ladder from camping world, here is a link. https://www.campingworld.com/pyramid-led-whips-flagpole-kit-and-camp-locator-with-bluetooth-control-122892.html
I wasn't real happy with the way it mounts so I added some arma-flex rubber around the ladder before attaching the flag pole mount, and it made it more sturdy and protected. You can get the arma-flex or pipe wrap from home depot.
Then I use the Retevis antenna that came with my RT-97S portable repeater from them on the top of the flag pole, it also came with 50ft of coaxial. I think this is the antenna that came with it. https://www.retevis.com/ma09-high-gain-gmrs-omni-directional-base-antenna-us
So far its ok, I didn't want to get the fancier Flag poles due to price, but it might be better after having this one for a little bit now. The higher priced ones have an attachments at the top and bottom of the ladders which i feel would be more secure. We haven't gotten into high winds yet with this one to really see if its needed.
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This seems to have it working currently, hope it can be useful for anyone else.
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2 hours ago, dmttomb said:
I am in the same scenario. Ordered my Retevis 97S ... Ordered my URIxB from mygmrs ... then found out I need a serial cable to convert to DB-9. Now trying to find instructions on how to tie it all together. I am a long time pi user ... so I have plenty of Rasberry Pis ... will look for the disk image ... not frustrated as I find all of this fun and exciting .. My goal is to be able to put up a repeater that will tie into mygmrs for my neighborhood ... Several of us use gmrs radios .. closest tower is almost out of reach .. would like to see us be able to talk around the country using gmrs.
The image file is on page 5 of private discussion/repeater linking one is specifically listed as for the Rt97s but it don’t work, and you can’t edit nothing to fix it because it’s locked down mostly as read only. So it’s pretty much a waste of time. Tried chmod to read write execute but it fails.
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I had on my truck dual firesticks on each bed rail and then had my mxta26 on the roof about 2.5ft away from each firestick with no issues.
- SteveShannon and WSDB540
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As the title states I am stumped so I am attempting to see if someone can help. I purchased an RT97S. I decided since mygmrs has all the linking items I would go ahead and link it. However this has been a nightmare. Searching this web site and forums it seems no one has ever made this work even though it is advertised on the shop and even Retevis' web site as working.
- I found the RT97s myGMRS img and flashed it to an a sd card, then configured and connected to the network. (Had to order a PI3b+for this image) Green dot shows on the map, and i can connect to other nodes.
- I purchased the URIxB from mygmrs shop as well as the 25db to db9 cable from the shop.
- I have also modified a hamvoip1.7 img to work on mygmrs as well. Based on a forum post, green dot shows on map and can connect to other nodes and listen. (This image is much faster booting and runs on Pi3B+ and Pi4)
The repeater works as it should in stand along mode.
I connect the db9 cable to the URIxB and repeater. Then from the URIxb usb to the Pi usb. When I turn on the pi I get ID and time/weather from the repeater RF. I can key the repeater from Supermon to get audio over RF to all my radios. If I link the node to another node on the network I can hear people talking over the repeaters RF.
The problem is when I transmit from a HT the repeater is not sending audio to the node. I am not able to talk over the network through the repeater. The URIxB has flashing green light, and if the node is IDing the red light lights up. If i connect to active nodes and people are talking I can hear them and the red light on the URIxB lights up. When I transmit from an HT the repeater lights up but no red light and no audio makes it to the node/network.
I have tried:
- DPL/CTCSS tones, No Tones
- eeprom mode 1 and 0
- Simplex mode 1 and 0
- Duplex mode 2
- only way I get the cos to trigger is manually key in simple usb tuner option I from low to high
- I can attach an AURSINC simplex radio/audio and it works, but is not allowed on myGMRS so just used for testing but was able to get my green dot to turn red
Has anyone ever gotten this setup to work? It seems the issue is either a setting combination i am missing, or and issue with the Cable or URIxB I bought from myGMRS shop.
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If your getting the courtesy tones back from the repeaters you know your making the trip. If you don't hear people talking and no CT you might be out of range. Maybe they changed the CTCSS tones or DPL tones as well and you might need to scan to find new ones.
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18 hours ago, WSCZ240 said:
I am a member of mygmrs. From MyGMRS I see there is a repeater in Magnolia and one in Conroe. Is it true that I should be able to hear part of the conversation without being linked in with them? If so, both seem to be out of range for me because I’ve never heard anything from them. I’ll be getting a new radio soon. Maybe it will have better range.
Memorial Park repeater probably your best bet. Conroe gets sketchy around the Woodlands area FM242, and is gone by FM1960 and IH45. Magnolia is small foot print for just a neighborhood off Toll249, you cant even get it on Toll249 because of all the 80ft tall pines, I think its only 40ft tall. They are all linked however so you find one you can hear and you can hear them all. You do however need a Texas GMRS Network login which is free to access them. They are separate from myGMRS for some reason.
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There is no club so to speak, but there is a very busy bunch of repeaters. I think you need to signup for a free membership to get access to the repeaters. look up Texas GMRS Network on facebook, or go to their website to get access to the repeater network.
For what it's worth the original poster I hear him on that network all the time.
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ah ok I have another node on a different network set up that same way yours is and it works.
I am assuming you omitted the > after the = on your forum reply but it is there in the iax.conf file? if not add it and see if that fixes it.
It may just not be approved in the system yet by the admins and that is why its not connecting. On another network I have a node on a few weeks ago they updated some firewall setting that blocks about 10 different nodes from connecting until the admin could fix it.
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On 5/18/2024 at 4:22 PM, WRZK971 said:
The registration line was put in the iax.conf file
You uncommented both lines as well? Seems like its not pointed to the right spot based on what you posted. Maybe DMZ the node in the router just to check if its a firewall setting.
Commented out ;register => nodenumberhere:nodepasswordhere@ast1.addcorrectwebaddress.com ;register => nodenumberhere:nodepasswordhere@ast2.addcorrectwebaddress.com Removed to parse register => nodenumberhere:nodepasswordhere@ast1.addcorrectwebaddress.com register => nodenumberhere:nodepasswordhere@ast2.addcorrectwebaddress.com -
28 minutes ago, crash3x said:
How do I update my TD-H3 using a MacBook.
Do I use Chirp, OdMaster or the Tidradio Website?
What's the steps/process?
Any links/download links & tips would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
Odmaster allows you to program that radio through bluetooth, you don't need a mac for that just BT smartphone and the TD-H3,
Chirp Works on Mac and it could be used, just plug radio into usbc.
Search youtube and you will find plenty of step by step guides how to use either.
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The best way would be to run the power wire direct to the battery, and have the ground as short as possible. Make sure to use a DMM to measure voltage drop and get the drop as small as possible to eliminate ground loops. Some Vehicles have built in switch systems you can use, for example Ford F series Super Duty trucks have the uplifter switches. If your vehicle is not equipped you can use a SPDT relay. The relay would be triggered by the key turning on, so if you forgot to turn the radio off when you turn the key off it will disconnect power. The power wire should have a fuse within 12inchs of the battery, for safety.
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6 hours ago, WSBT633 said:
I’m new to gmrs and curious to see what some of your more seasoned gmrs’ers think would be a decent radio? Right now I’m using the Tidradio TD-H3.
I have a few of the Boof Wangs, they are ok, got the td-h3 and really like it its small like the uv-5r and i like that but has alot of the newer features of the bigger radios. I ordered a Wouxon KG-uv9x im a little worried I won't like it due to the knob on top for channels but I am sure it will be fine just like all the rest of the gmrs / ham radios. Best one will be the one you like using, only way to figure that out is to buy them all.
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Give or take 980. It has 999 memory spots. 1-22 programmed as reg channels then 23-30 are default repeater channels, but you can keep adding more with tones until you have 999 total channels.
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Use a 3m Double sided tape on the entire base, then clean the roof and stick it down with good amount of pressure. This is the same stuff they use to affix badging from the factory and most trim on cars. Might affect your range however but it would keep it from moving. Otherwise look into getting a bracket to mount with.
Search Amazon for this:
3M Exterior Attachment Tape
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Windows machines will always flag it as a virus, unless they decided to get WHQL certified with Microsoft. You can set a rule in your antivirus/windows defender for chirp so it will stop telling you its a virus. 3rd party antivirus will work the same as well, but normally its better then windows defender as they will identify some programs as safe just not certified with Microsoft, but t hey will allow to install without issues in some instances. BitDefender is really good, and there is a free version it's probably the top rated AV and its free unless you want all the bells and whistles.
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OK i'll eat crow, you can use Chirp Next to program the uv-5g plus now. I just tried again after reading this post, and there was an update. Model is still not listed, however, i plugged radio in turned vol all way up and selected Baofeng and model GM-5RH and it downloaded the radio. I then uploaded a hundred channels and confirmed they were in fact on the radio. It doesn't make it able to transmit on non gmrs channels, or unlock the radio per say, but much easier to program then the cps software with no copy paste.
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I got the same file name as you did. Baofeng_UV5G_Plus_CPS_1.1.9_20231205 make sure if your in windows extract all first before running the executable. Some times there is an issue running from inside a zip file. Hopefully one day soon they will add this to chirp, the Baofeng software is all but useless. You can't even copy paste rows you have to enter everything manually per cell, just as easy to program on the radio honestly.
EDIT: Also make sure if your running anti virus it don't quarantine it as well.
Newbie looking for the best setup in SW Texas
in Guest Forum
Posted
1500ac is more like 2 1/4 sq/miles.
Go to Retevis web site and grab one of the RT97s repeater bundles. https://www.retevis.com/retevis-rt97s-portable-repeater-and-2pcs-ailunce-ha1g-gmrs-radio-bundle-us Its basically made for what your doing, and its portable so you can put it up and take down easily. You can even get a package deal with radios from them, one lump deal its easy to setup and basically plug and play. You can get it with tuned antenna and coaxial cable and everything you need. I'm in Texas as well and Hunt 40Acres in Leon County off lake limestone and simplex is basically impossible so we use the RT97s. I use a flag pole on my camper to raise the antenna up 40ish feet in the air and viola problem solved. Plus with the repeater you can hear them talking when your talking, which is good when there are several people and you double. Just my opinion, but typically when I asked for the same help you asked for you'll get people telling you you need to spend $10k on all the commercial over kill crap you don't need. Also you can get a Midland setup that is very similar just more expensive. The draw back is the duty cycle these portable units will get hot if it stays keyed up a lot.