Davichko5650

I rarely monitor any channels other than the specific simplex channels Wifeypoo and I use within range when travelling on-road. When on the road solo, if I'm using a two-way radio, it's on HF. Locally, it's also either simplex or a couple repeaters, but mostly only family and a couple friends, I don't go looking for conversations with random operators as a rule. Off road of course I know that TQOATIG (pronounced - Quo Atig) has reminded us ad nauseum that Ch. 16 is the go to! Then again my Cheesehead friends over in Sconnie seem to like Ch. 7 for that.

Again, not a bandwidth issue. Pt 97 says an angle modulated signal (fm or phase mod) cannot exceed a modulation index of 1. 1.8 khz at 3.85 Mhz has an MD of 1.465 according to the formula I've used in the past. Unless my slide rule is sticky? This is the reason for the amateur bands that FM is not very useable below 28 MHz. It can be done, but it takes a lot of fiddling with your gear to get that 1 or less MD. Spelled out way down in 47 CFR 97.307 (f) (1)

I'm a bit rusty on the FM side of things, having studied it last circa 1978 (not counting whatever studying done on the Amateur Radio side of things), but I thought the limiting factor for FM below 28 MHz was based on the Modulation Index. For the most part, the band allocations below 28 aren't wide enough???

Assuming you don't mind used, I've had great luck with used Lenovo ThinkPads from a couple gens back. Built like tanks, external batteries you can swap out. I've picked up 2 in last 3 years for like $65 or less off ePay (, I know, I know) loaded with Win10 Pro. Tons of them out there, but be sure to check the seller's info and ratings, etc. Used them to program with Chirp and various mfg CPS software (including my Kenwood TM-281 and a friend's TK-8180). They work very well in the field running Digital modes and RTTY on the HF ham bands, as wll as VaraFM on 2m VHF. Other than programming, have done zero with them for GMRS, I don't use it other than family and a few friends. They're both still running like champs, so very good bang for yer buck!

Really??? I do know that, but chances are average to good if you're hearing spanish on 11m, it's coming from down south Mexico way or down further.

Outside the US, Channel 9 is not designated as an Emergency or Traveler Assistance Frequency for the most part.. Lots of Mexico and other SA DX users on the channel at times...

Just need to drive one, especially one that's a bit on the old side to know why they call them Freight Shakers...

"Is that a new (guitar - gun radio - RTR tape deck) ???" No, I've had it a while now. Assuming she asks the day after I 've bought it, a true statement! In point of fact though, really don't have issues in that area. I spend on my hobbies within the budget, and she spends on hers likewise...

My son does it the impolite way mostly!

An exception here is the third party traffic regs. If there is no third party traffic agreement with the (DX) station's government, only the licensees can converse.

They may want to log it on Cue Are Zed? I don't know that I know close to half of the callsigns of few people outside my group of family/friends that I've spoke to on GMRS in passing. Their first names, sure, but I also don't see why I need to know their calls. The only one I need to remember is mine, so I can remind the wife to say it when she's done talking (on the radio...)

**********Google is my friend People also ask What is Zello used for? Zello makes a free push-to-talk (PTT) walkie-talkie app for personal use. Users interact one-on-one with other users, join a variety of public channels, and create private group conversations. It allows users to share their locations, pictures, and conversations with Contacts or within Channels. ************ An app for cell phones (and PC's) - there are many Ham based groups on Zello linked to repeaters world-wide, so in that regard, similar to how EchoLink works. But it's more used by regular folks as a POC type of app. There are some GMRS based links on there as well, but I've never used them. And with the current confusion as to legality, don't plan to for now. I used Zello very briefly to try it out, but went back to EchoLink as I use that to get on friends in TN and FL repeaters. ORX did a video on the Zello HT radios.

Congrats on the long run. We've been at it for 33 years now ourselves. Married later on in life, don't know if that helped us, but that's how it goes. Learned years back to "pay my self first" and basically busted my butt early in my post army days so that I now can work because I want to, not because I need to. And like you it's always been our money, even though the majority of it is mine as my wife has not been able to work for close to 20 years now. Oh, yeah, I've been a Ham for 32 years now, LOL!!!! (just in case the Great Randolpho cares to be reading this thread...

Haven't seen that word in a while! Harpy and Harridan used to be very common when talking about the distaff side of the equation...

Still do, and I've yet to have to clear any of them with Wifeypoo first!

I buy radios, guns, guitars and off-road accessories when I want, as long as I have the money and it doesn't take away from another part of the budget. And I've yet to have to ask permission or otherwise "run it by" my wife. Same for her and her hobbies, most of which, except the guns, she doesn't share with me. Am I the exception or the rule here? I can't see having to ask if it's okay to do something like that. Buying a house, or a new car for the wife, maybe, but not any of the above!

Do Radio Geeks bite the heads off of Baofengs?

This is a great source of information. If you're looking for repeaters, check out the repeaters section on the site here, you can look for repeaters near you, or, if travelling, in the area you're going to.

Once in a while I surprise myself! You should see the awesome answers I give out on the FB Page - a group where we all pretend to be elmer's. A fun page where being wrong is highly valued!

Welcome to the world of GMRS. The transmit frequency of the Repeater will be 5 MHz lower than the receive frequency. You transmit 5 MHz higher and receive 5MHz lower. Example is a repeater on 462.600/467.600 you transmit on 467.600 and the repeater receives that and simultaneuosly retransmits it on 462.600. Now if you're talking about the rx/tx CTCSS or DCS tones. That's up to the repeater owner to set, they can be the same or different. Many repeaters only use tones on the input, meaning you need to transmit the tone (100.0 for example) for the repeater to hear you. Many do use an output tone, but you don't need to set that if you don't want to, but is convenient if you only want to hear the repeater, and not other users on the frequency using simplex.

Pretty much also describes how my friends at the Infernal Revenue Service write their regs. They go a step further in having the Internal Revenue Code and a separate, much larger book of Internal Revenue. Regulations...

At least it's many people and not "some people". Have seen the Company based "reviews" of these radios, nice to see a more objective version!

I only have them for my Amateur Callsign - suppose I could cross that out and write in the GMRS one. So rarely talk to random people that there'd be no reason to do so I think. Besides, the Fridge here is for putting up those Grandkid drawings and photos!

Think your best best then is an Excel or Google Numbers type spreadsheet. Easy enough to whip up with fields like Date_Time_Callsign_Name_Location etc then with the call lookup here on the website, can fill in most the details...

Thought that too. Looking like "please don't ask me to say anything..."