Lscott

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.

The group that was recorded were involved with some very illegal activity and were using two way radios to help facilitate it. They had the bad luck of picking the wrong frequency to use too.

One other thing I don't recommend is pilfering, or spoofing or faking, a call sign. For example on enough occasions I would talk to somebody for the first time on the air. Then was a bit put back when they knew my name and location that I never mentioned. Seems like people like to sit in front of the computer and look up call signs on the FCC's database while yacking on the radio.

You would be surprised that some do. There are a LOT of "ears" out there with nothing better to do with their time. I have a buddy who routinely recorded some illegal activity he stumbled upon on VHF for a few months . The recordings he had were sent to the FCC, by their request, as part of their evidence gathering activity. I know for a fact it was being done since I had an opportunity to hear one of his recordings. The people involved thought they found an unused frequency. Turns out the group being recorded had stupidly picked a military VHF frequency that wasn't currently being used in the area. Oops. Oh, yeah, they got busted and prosecuted for various crimes after a while.

Need more info. Are you trying to talk through a repeater?

Yeah, and they're sitting in adjacent seats too.

If one wants to think about it a bit differently 11M CB is a license free simple HF service. That goes with the license free MURS and FRS services too. For someone who doesn't want to deal with tests and licenses but wants to sample the RF waters the above is about the easiest and cheapest way to get a taste of the radio hobby and the differences between the bands. Part 95 services has HF, VHF and UHF bands to buy radios for and have fun. CB 11M radio has it's place.

You get what you pay for, and sometimes not even that much.

I'm assuming you mean into the radio. I think you're looking for something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-2-Pack-Female-Coaxial/dp/B09DDHDNP4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=sma+female+to+so-239+adapter&qid=1689625710&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

I think if you can read that file you’ll find a number of the points are addressed.

If he has a K1 type cable, which the Chinese ripped off from Kenwood BTW, for many of the Chinese radios it should work on those. I have around 8 to 9 of the 3170’s, same for the 3173’s. TK-2170_3170(K) Brochure.pdf

You can buy an after market rebuilt case for the radios I attached the brochures for at around $15. I’ve replaced cases before. It’s rather straightforward if you work carefully. I would still hold out for a TK-3170 or TK-3173 if you want a Kenwood HT. I’ve seen the full kit, radio+antenna+battery pack with charger, for $150 more or less with everything in very good condition.

I would pass on that one. It looks like one of the old 16 channel models. They are OK but lack any means to change the programming including tones. These radio are program and forget types where you never need to make field changes. I have a few of the TK-3160’s and TK-3360’s in my collection. TK-2160_3160 Brochure.pdf TK-2360-3360 Brochure.pdf

Did you look back at some prior posts in this thread? I attached a file outlining most of the points you mentioned to one of my posts. While I think digital voice, not DMR for technical reasons, can be done on GMRS but with certain tight conditions. I would suggest you read that file. I think there is a valid reason to do digital voice that would benefit users while not ruining it for everyone else if the suggestions in that file are followed.

I've fat fingered entries when building a code plug for a radio. Later testing it and noticed it wasn't working. Reloading the code plug in the programming software that's when I spotted the mistake. Who knows who got hammered when I was testing the radio out transmitting on the wrong frequency. I understand the above and still screwed up because I didn't double and triple check the entries. This is why, at least for GMRS, the radio needs to be certified, fixed frequencies, because it's easy to mess up. The more programmable it is the more potential for mistakes. When programming Part 90 radios there is a LOT of room for mistakes, even by people who know what they are doing.

They're just option shopping. Looking for someone to validate what they know is wrong so they don't feel so guilty. Same thing when your kids say everyone else is doing it, until you remind them strongly they're not or else.

It's sort of a bummer when you see your really expensive, $300-$400 plus, HT slip out of your pocket and sink to the bottom of the lake.