QuarryCreek

Thanks

Logan5 - thanks for the reply - haven't been able to get back on my project full time yet. Started calving right after my last post and have been busy with that. Its continued raining here which has become frustrating. Ive had nearly 38 inches this year - and half of that since October. Tried digging my holes for my antenna mast at the house and at 2 feet, it starts filling with water. Will have to let it dry a bit more. I want to get at least 4 ft. deep. In the meantime, I have bought a Kenwood 880H (version 2) radio to allow me to program. If I like it, I may get another one. From looking at other posts I would need the 49D software. Any idea where to get it?

Got my radios, cables, etc to put my base and mobile in operation about a month ago, but haven't been able to finish because its been raining here about every 4 days -- imagine that in West Texas. I had 4" yesterday and its just been too muddy to get my antenna mast set. My mast will be about 35 ft. Starting with a simple J-pole antenna just to see how it does, but one thing I noticed is that the LMR400 cable is pretty stiff. Would a short pigtail from the main cable to the radio that is more flexible be reasonable - if so, what cable would be best.

Thanks mcallahan, I figured that would be the case, but thought I'd ask. I want to use the 1/4 wave since it will clear brush and trees better.

I've ordered my radios/antenna's to start my system, but I had a question about installing the quarter wave on my truck. Of course its a ranch work truck, single cab with a flatbed and a headache rack on the flat bed. My question was how much difference it would be to mount the antenna in the middle of the roof of the cab vs mounting it on the headache rack. The headache rack would be a lot simpler, but I didn't know if it would make much difference overall. Thanks

Lee, I checked out your website - looks interesting. I am quite a ways from the repeaters you show, but will stay in touch as I progress. I'm just getting started on the project, so it may be a while.

No, no windmill tower that tall. The only windmill tower on the ranch was only used to pump out of a creek and is only about 20-25 ft tall. I think I'm going to get my radios installed and get a base set up in town and just do some testing to see what I need before getting into detailed planning on towers. I'll most likely use a j-pole on a 60 ft tower at my town base and just see how it works with my mobiles first and then start thinking about the repeater and its antenna. I also don't know how that heavy 2 3/8 drill pipe will work as a pipe mast, so I may experiment a bit setting it up at the ranch where I can work with it safer.

I'm following you on this issue about antenna height. Since there is really no hindrance other than proper construction (being on the ranch), I'm actually thinking about building an antenna tower somewhere between 75 ft and 100 ft tall, probably closer to the 100 ft. This height should maximize my coverage area without regard to any terrain issues. This is plausible for me since I already have the equipment and materials to accomplish this. Will just need to do the engineering to make it right. I have a little over 4000 ft of 2-3/8 pipe in 30' joints which I can utilize for at least part of the tower. Just depends on the design. This height would also let me stay with the lower gain antenna. Close communications are necessary, but my range requirements are not enormous since this height should give me true line of sight to all areas I'm interested in.

Lots more good information for me. I just realized I must have been looking at some old websites regarding height limitations on GMRS antennas. I'll be able to put them much higher than I thought, so that should eliminate the elevation issues I was looking at. I will probably still look at putting up a repeater so I can use handhelds when we are out on 4-wheelers, tractors, and such.

Thanks for some confirmation. Yes, the 10 ft. rise is between the ranch and town, but that was measured at the ranch headquarters. There are higher places on the ranch that are high enough to be true line of sight. My real question was whether or not the 10 foot rise would be an issue. From what you say, if I set up a repeater on the ranch it would pretty much eliminate any issues for me all over the ranch (its about 1000 acres which is not that big out here), so I would rarely be more than a mile from the repeater while on the ranch. The other ranch that is about 6 miles from mine is actually my brothers, but I lease and operate it. I might be inclined to set up a second repeater on it so we can use handhelds there as well. I'm going to start with the base stations and some quality handhelds (not the "bubble pack"), but haven't really looked at specific ones - if anyone has any recommendations, I would appreciate input. I had already decided on a 1/4 wave (6") antennae on my trucks - longer antennas don't do well in the brushy areas and driving under things that you do with a work truck on a ranch. I've looked at several, but don't really know which ones are quality. If anyone has any brand/model suggestions to look at?? Certainly don't plan on skimping on antenna, radio, or mounts, but I do feel better about the potential seeing your replies and I think GMRS will work well for me. I'm the only one in my county that has a current GMRS license and the nearest repeater is about 60 miles away, so I shouldn't have much interference. About a year ago I programmed the GMRS frequencies into a radio I use for scanning and have been of and on scanning and monitoring, and there is only occasional traffic, mostly vehicles passing through. Your reply (Jones) was almost exactly what I was planning on setting up, and your certainly right about the permanent wiring & antenna install. Back in the 70's when we tried to use CB for this we did the same, but CB was only reliable for short range - 3 to 4 miles and wasn't very satisfactory. Thanks again for the insights. Once I get everything setup and start using it I will definitely get back and post how it works out for this area.

I've been trying to decide about GMRS for about a year now. I have two ranches in West Texas that are about 6 1/2 miles apart and in many areas cell phone is not reliable. I've had my ham license, but I can't legally use ham to conduct our family ranch activities. I would also like to be able to communicate with my home in town which is about 9.5 miles. I'm pretty sure I can't do this with just handhelds, but I plan to use the Midland MXT400 in by truck and set up a base at my home in town with another MXT400. With my house being at least 20 ft high, I should be able to get an antennae around 40 ft. I've checked elevation on google earth, and my ranch has an elevation of approximately 80 ft higher than town (only 40 ft if the antenna is 40 ft), but there is a rise/hill about 10 feet higher that is about 1.5 miles from the ranch. Since I don't really have a lot of experience with UHF, I was wondering if it was likely that reliable communication would be possible between the mobile and base, with the base having a 40 ft antenna. Ultimately, I'm thinking about putting a repeater at the ranch, which would allow a 40 ft antennae (20 ft. over existing structure) at that location. Any comments would be welcome. Thanks - Karl