Lscott

That's why it's recommended to read the new radio first and save that file. If the memory ever gets corrupted at least you have a good memory file to reload to get the radio functioning again. Any changes should be made to the original file then loaded into the radio.

That's reasonably quick. I have the same radio.

I have my various radios setup for scanning. The channels are programmed for FRS, narrow band. Most of the simplex traffic is done using cheap FRS radios used by local businesses, hotels etc., and kids. Businesses use them due to the low cost and no license requirements. The legitimate GMRS traffic is normally on the local repeaters. Additionally I have various business band specific frequencies programmed to monitor things like a couple of local malls security activities. At times that can get very interesting.

Don’t pick the ones on TicTok or OnlyFans. You can do better.

No. Generally mobile equipment is designed to operate at a nominal 13.8VDC plus or minus 15 percent at most. That would be nearly 16VDC on the high side. Take a look at the manual at the following link. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/downloads/dl/file/id/1411/product/5287/wouxun_kg_1000g_owners_manual.pdf Look at page 80.

True. I was talking to another ham across town in the Detroit area here on a local repeater many years ago. That repeater didn’t have a courtesy tone. If you didn’t know better it sounded like two guys talking simplex. Anyway another ham broke in on the output frequency, full quieting. We thought he was local using the repeater. Then he asked were we were located. We told him our approximate location by local towns around the main Detroit area. The guy didn’t seem to have a clue what we were talking about. When we asked him for his location we were shocked to discover he was on a mountain in New York State. This was all on the 2 meter band.

Depending on the DMR radio it might have a monitoring or promiscuous mode. That allows the radio to decode any DMR signal without the necessity of using the correct color code, slot number or talk group. For example my D878 has this feature. Turns out to be handy at times. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/270-d878uv-model-1/?context=new

You're better off spending your money on radio equipment than some woke Karens.

Midland, good luck with that. If they get the data from a cell phone app why even bother with the two way radio?

I've run across mentions that it's illegal to manufacture and or sell a device, likely includes software, for the purpose of intercepting encrypted communications. I also ran across a number of comments on, I think it was GitHub, where a request was made to add some digital decryption features to the SDR radio software. The replies were basically no, due to potential legal issues. There is also an interesting section in 18 US code section 2512 which seems to say the same thing. Note the language used, "surreptitious interception", which could be interpreted as cracking encrypted communications. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2512 I know that some SDR software will "identify" encrypted communications, maybe even which type, but will not decrypt it. That appears to be by design.

Would have been even more hilarious if the FCC replies with their "advertised claim" of "up to 20 miles" using FRS radios they see no need to grant the waver. Maybe we would get some more realistic range estimates on the packaging from manufactures.

No. Too many people want to reinvent the wheel so to speak.

Most likely that's just BS. Manufactures still stick crap like that on their products hoping some will believe it. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/07/ftc-says-companies-warranty-restrictions-were-illegal

There never was. Advances in decryption algorithm design, number theory etc. soon renders many cryptographic techniques obsolete. The point of most encryption in the public arena is to foil the "casual" radio monitor. i.e. those with scanners, or scanning two way radios. Making the cost, in terms of time and hardware, significantly higher than the value of the intercepted communications deters most people from bothering to try. I have on order several ARC4 40 bit encryption licenses for my NX-1300 DMR radios. Is it secure? No, but should be good enough to lock out the "casual" monitor when used infrequently and the key switched on a frequent basis when it is used. Some of my other radios, the NXDN and P25 types, can use a special digital encryption module, which requires a special cable and external hardware key loader. Those modules are expensive. They also have to meet various tests for security. See attached file. There are also various types of analog scrambling modules too. I've attached a sample for a TK-3170 radio. Kenwood Secure Cryptographic Module.pdf Midian-TVS-2-KW2-VPU-15-KW2-Manual.pdf

I think if Hams were honest many would admit to owning one or more radios like this. Some are specifically modified while others are opened up out of the box. The later isn’t just the cheap Chinese radios either. The Part 90 radios are one huge category as an example. I have a huge collection of those. I have several buddies new to GMRS and Ham back a few years with such radios. I had to do my due diligence and advise them of the rules and potential FCC enforcement actions if they operated outside of their licensed bands. They’re big boys and make their own decisions and that’s where I leave it. If they do at least they do so informed. Then we have fun conversations about radio etc.

How many think about this when operating FM? When the deviation is 5KHz the typical bandwidth is 16KHz. If the center frequency is 5 KHz below the upper edge the signal will extend past the band limit technically. The occupied bandwidth extends 8 KHz above and below the center frequency.

I don’t understand why some Hams get so hung up on this. Not that long ago radios used analog VFO’s for TX and RX. It was the sole responsibility of the operator to know the band edges and to ensure his radio’s dial was calibrated. In fact a popular beginners project at that time was building a crystal calibrator for that purpose. It was very easy to go outside of the band if one wasn’t careful. Today Hams have gotten lazy by depending on the radio’s firmware to limit the digital PLL programming to keep within the band limits. Most Hams don’t realize they can’t operate too close to the band edges since the occupied signal bandwidth would extend past the edge even if the center frequency is within the band. When the FCC says you have to stay within the band limits that INCLUDES the signal’s occupied bandwidth too. Oops.

You had your first practical experience with the losses in coax cable verses length. Some new radio users don’t have a good feel for it, or even know it exists.

That’s true for simple 1/4 wave types. When you get into high gain verticals they can grow rather tall.

The right question is what is the best GMRS radio value for the money spent. Several of us could recommend a top class GMRS radio but you likely would faint when you see the prices, like in the 4 figure range.

@mire you have a nice collection started, mostly Kenwood radios. 2x Kenwood TK-3180 3x Kenwood TK-380 Motorola HT750 Kenwood TK-3700 3x Kenwood TK-350G Kenwood TK-353G A whole slew of BaoFeng BF-888S and GT1 radios Kenwood TK-880 Kenwood TK-890 Kenwood TK-8360

I spotted this one on my way home from work today.

I have one on my ride. Makes remembering my plate number easy.

Looks like I see another up and coming Kenwood fan like me. TK-780(H)_880(H).pdf

I like spotting call sign license plates. If I can remember the call sign I'll look them up when I get to the office or get home. I'm curious to see if the Ham is recently licensed. It's encouraging when I do see they are.