Lscott

Maybe you could start one by you and announce one of those touchy topics as the focus.

If you don't have your Ham license yet, well now might be a good time to consider get it.

Nothing radical was discussed. More along the lines of what kind of food stuffs are good for long term storage, emergency power, go-bags etc. Nothing about guns or crazy government conspiracies.

Given the frequent questions about people wanting to setup their own private repeater maybe now is a good time to go shopping for equipment.

If the net has a specific topic it could be interesting. For a while the original wide area local GMRS repeater held a "Prepper's Net" on a Tuesday night once or twice a month at 7PM. They stopped because a few had an issue with it, and some infrequent jamming I believe. Some of the topics were informative when the net was active.

But you can hold it's head under the water until it's ready to drink.

That about what this attached chart shows. IC-706MKIIG Freqequency Mod Power Output.pdf

We never got that spectrum back either.

A buddy picked up some cheap XTS5000’s at a few swaps. Used some utility to create a fake authentication file for the radio. He says he uses them to monitor his local 700/800 MHz public safety frequencies.

I don't think people in general understand this point. The 10-codes aren't that universal. PLUS when you have a bunch of volunteers I'll bet most have no idea what those codes are, unless they are specifically trained. Its far better to communicate as clearly as possible without obfuscating things with various codes. That's the general recommendations I've read from other groups.

At least people aren't using silly CB lingo, 10-codes and echo-mics yet.

What kind of antenna do you use on the truck?

I don't think the FCC would agree. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.303 The definition of "Base station" makes NO assumptions about the manufacture's classification of the radio. It would seem the definition is not the label slapped on it by the manufacture but the actual usage of the station independent of the manufactures targeted usage. The prime example is a radio with a nominal 13.8VDC power supply input but connected to a wall powered converter and never leaves the house.

You can put these on the Ham 33cm band with a software hack for the radio programming CPS. See attached file MOTOTRBO too 927MHz Code Plug Mod.pdf

If you have a digital multi-meter you can check the contact on the back side of the battery pack for voltage. A freshly charged battery pack should read about 7.5VDC. I wouldn't be surprised if the battery pack is toast. Not uncommon for used radios. XPR6380_6580 Service Manual.pdf

Like 11m CB radio, FRS and MURS. Big difference is none of the later requires an FCC license, limited to 4 watts or less, unlike GMRS.

You only have 22 channels. Using CTCSS/DCS you just have more choices on blocking what you don't want to hear on those 22 channels.

I learn many years ago one thing. If something isn't broke, and you start screwing with it, it soon will be, BROKEN.

Oops, I guess they didn't learn. They added FM to the service now. So how many people would trash their old obsolete 40 channel AM only CB to get one with AM/FM?

1. The majority of digital voice modes are on Ham UHF. 2. Ham UHF has a satellite sub band for FM operation, and some birds have linear translators for SSB, which can accommodate multiples stations at a time. 3. Fast scan TV. 4. Some have high power EME, moon bounce, stations using digital or analog modes. 5. World wide linked repeaters, using different types of digital voice modes. There’s more but the above is what comes to mind.

Thanks. That has to be the first one I’ve ever seen.

Sad but true. I've heard recommendations to just put up the tower/antenna and not even connect it to radio. Then wait a few weeks to see who complains about malfunctioning appliances, radios, TV, stereos, automatic garage doors openers etc. Then you show them there is NO RADIO.

No, I think you get it. Maybe some just don't get your brand of humor.

The group that's setup several linked GMRS repeaters lately in my area said they wanted to give people a feel for what is possible on Ham radio. However if you give away too much some will wonder why bother with Ham. The FCC might take a dislike to the direction GMRS is head towards and tweak the rules to discourage the increasing Ham like activity. Might be one of the reasons for the FCC getting their fingers into things and the current topic of repeater linking on this forum.

Digital Coded Squelch is a whole different animal. The attached file goes into some detail on how that all works. DPL _ DCS Squelch System.pdf