Lscott
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Posts posted by Lscott
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1 hour ago, WSBV579 said:
I've got a 6ft steel fence post that I could add onto my telescopic 20ft antenna mast...it would basically add 5ft to the height, taking the top of the antenna from 23.5ft to 28.5ft.
Would adding 5ft even be worth it? I could spend $25 on a 10ft steel post, but I figured since I already have a 6ft section laying around, I should try that first. But would it really make much of a difference at all?
For reference, I can hit a repeater about 30 miles out, and simplex clearly out to about 12 miles and I start to get a bit of static after that, with no reception at all at about 18 miles. Compared to the area I'm in, my antenna is in a bit of a low spot.
You can plug the numbers into this on-line range calculator. It's just a "ruff" estimate and the real range maybe a bit more or less depending on the local terrain. At least you'll get an idea what to expect.
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1 hour ago, WRUE951 said:
I love the Hytera Radios.
I'm basically a Kenwood guy. I collect mostly HT's. I get most of my radios off of eBay. One has to be a real bargain hunter to avoid over paying. I'm on the look out for a super good deal on some NX-1200DVK2 radios. I want to pay significantly under $200 per unit. Last radio I got was an almost new NX-1300DUK5 with battery pack and antenna for $175. The seller was asking originally $280.
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new
All thought not Part 95 certified the 400 to 470 band split make nice radios for the Ham 70cm band and will work on GMRS using FM wide band only.
My main GMRS HT is the TK-3170 which is Part 95 certified. This is my usual carry radio when I'm out and about. You can find these on eBay for reasonable prices if you shop for a while. Using a cheap 1/4 wave magnet mount it does a good job hitting local wide area coverage repeaters. It has enough range on the PLL to work down into the Ham 70cm band to access the local repeaters there as well.
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/338-cheap-14-wave-gmrs-antenna/
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18 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:
I would love to put the Comet 2x4SR on the roof of my Ford Escape but it is too tall to fit into the garage or the VA parking garage.
There is a spring bottom section which will prevent damage to the roof top and antenna from tree branch strikes.
https://cometantenna.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CA-SPR-instructions-x-1.pdf
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33 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:
unless you go in Pirate mode and go with a Motorola, Kenwood or Hytera..
Pirate mode? Unless you mean more $$$$.
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17 hours ago, back4more70 said:
For a few dollars more
- WRXB215 and back4more70
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2
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9 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:
An expanded metal rack makes a pretty good ground plain for the Comet 2x4SR antenna. Here is a photo of the rear rack on my Honda Pioneer 500. I have the antenna set in the center of the rack.
Here is a phot of the rack before installing the antenna.
That's about as good as it's going to get. The match should be fairly decent over the operating range.
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/268-ca-2x4sr/?context=new
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55 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:
I use one for my 38" Comet 2x4SR antenna on the back of my SxS.
Just a general comment. That antenna does need a GOOD ground plane for the stated performance and SWR figures. I just wish there was a ground independent version.
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30 minutes ago, WRWT868 said:
and with the press of a key on the keyboard, I was an American citizen again.
You ever watch that movie "Born in East L.A." ?
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1 hour ago, WRXB215 said:
There are some good sellers on eBay but yes you definitely have to beware. eBay tends to be a magnet for shady characters.
I’ve ran into a few. Fortunately just a small number. Most are paranoid about getting ANY negative feedback. I’ve gotten refunds from sellers that said in their ads “NO RETURNS”. In general my experience has been pretty good.
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2 hours ago, VETCOMMS said:
So is it possible to have a radio that does digital and analog, dual mode type use? Or is it only possible to do one or the other?
All of the LMR type radios I’ve dealt with were mono band. As pointed out there are a few multi-band radios.
I haven’t ran across a radio that wasn’t dual mode, analog FM and one digital voice mode. There are some radios that have two or more digital voice modes, with analog FM, but are generally the newer more expensive models. If you’re interested in digital voice you need to decide which mode.
I’m mainly a Kenwood guy but if you want to stick with Motorola I have a few that seem to be OK. Just be ABSOLUTELY sure you get the right band spread. If you want the cover the Ham 70cm band and GMRS then you want the 400 to 470 range.https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/261-motorola-xpr6550jpeg/?context=new
This radio will do wide and narrow FM along with DMR, Digital Mobile Radio, which is reasonably popular on the Ham bands.
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1 minute ago, SvenMarbles said:
We have this new 2020+ problem where us two people don't see reality the same.. I read the plain text of 15.5, and I reed gud. I have no idea what part of that says anything resembling what you're talking about..
Then I suggest you contact your local FCC field office. Since they have to do the enforcement actions that should settle it.
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6 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:
So when I want to listen to 780 WBBM on my kitchen radio every morning with coffee, but I get the hashy noise because I have a neighbor with the cheap Chinese switching power supply, 15.5 says "sorry bud"..?
Looks like it. Of course you could buy the guy a cleaner power supply that doesn’t trash your radio. Then you two can be real buddies like you mentioned earlier.
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1 minute ago, SvenMarbles said:
Read 15.5 to YOURSELF. slowly..
I have. And yes I know a few people that had to explain this to neighbors, of course they didn’t liked it either. After complaining to the FCC they got told the same thing.
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Just now, SvenMarbles said:
Yeah man.. I wireless pad phone charger isn't an authorized or intentional radiator on 780am, is it..
Nope.
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Just now, SvenMarbles said:
I don't get it..
It smokes out those most likely to complain without actually doing anything.
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1 minute ago, SvenMarbles said:
I'm also not a lawyer. But I don't even see what part of that makes it so that I have to just DEAL.
(b) Operation of an intentional, unintentional, or incidental radiator is subject to the conditions that no harmful interference is caused and that interference must be accepted that may be caused by the operation of an authorized radio station, by another intentional or unintentional radiator, by industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment, or by an incidental radiator.
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Just now, SvenMarbles said:
Good lawd.. Ok god bless you...
It’s just unfortunate that most people assume if their cheap electronics is messing up due to interference from a “properly functioning” radio transmitter it’s their problem, not the radio operator’s.
One interesting suggestion has been to put up the antenna(s) and don’t transmit for a week or two. When the neighbors notice them and come knocking because they “assume” it’s you just show them the end of the coax laying on the floor, no two-way radios in sight. When they see it can’t be you they’ll just go away and quit being a**holes.
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4 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:
Hey I'll tell you what.. When I get that knock on my door from that neighbor I just made a new friend anyway..
Hope you do. If not don’t cry about it on this forum.
3 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:Hey do I get t bit*h when my neighbor over here has some Chinese wireless pad phone charger that's putting hash all over my AM?
What authorities do I need to notify?
If the AM radio falls under FCC Part 15.5 you’re likely S.O.L. The FCC will tell you to complain to the manufacturer of your AM radio.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-15
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8 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:
I wouldn't, because I know how this stuff actually works in practice. Especially on Terra Firma. 50mw will get a block or so away on UHF, and as an "untoned" signal, it's not getting into any public safety systems' comms for example. I use a HackRF with a 20mw transmitter as a piece of test equipment. If I barely leave the room with it, it's ineffective. 5 watts is 5000mw. That's,.. not the same. Also there's that whole ABSOLUTELY pure line of sight that sat comms enjoy. Yes 5 watts will go into the sky forever. But it won't leave your neighborhood past the dirt hill 5 blocks away..
Of course if it’s next door or a few houses away I’m sure it’s going to bother you.
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13 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:
Here is a GMRS certified UV-5R
And here’s one that isn’t. Look it up.
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1 minute ago, SvenMarbles said:
They're 50mw worst case scenario
You would be surprised how far 50mw will go. People talk to low earth orbit satellites on just 5 watts just fine for example. There is a reason why the FCC has emission limits. It might not bug you but it will somebody else and I can assure you they won’t consider it “in significant.”
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9 minutes ago, WRXP381 said:
AND…. Even if that’s true, he did say gmrs compatible, who cares. I’d be very willing to be there are more non compliant radios in gmrs then compliant.
Some people do care.
One major issue with the UV-5R, at least the early models, they were noted for dirty transmitters. The joke was they were multi-band radios, i.e. you could talk on several bands all at the same time! Some people quit using them specifically because of that.
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1 hour ago, VETCOMMS said:
Just curious if anyone can direct me to resources about LMR. I'm curious about cost of licensing as well as how others have gotten their LMR license, other than paying out the $$$ to the FCC.
There is a poster on this forum who just went through this. I hope he jumps in here and relates his experiences and some hints on saving you some frustration with the FCC.
Best gmrs handheld radio?
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Then they go out and buy a horse because it runs on green energy, grass, and the waste product is good for the environment, fertilizer.