Lscott

I know about some people who talk to the train personal when its in range. They don't do it regularly. And if the train personal are using NXDN they won't be using a Baofeng to do it.

I don't think it is either. If somebody was looking for a small HT with a bunch of features to use for GMRS that radio is one I would recommend. It's also Part 95 certified. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/?context=new There is a similar model, TK-3173, that uses the same programing software, cables etc. http://www.swscomm.com/kenwood/TK-3173.pdf Both can be programmed out of their band split to get them on the Ham 70cm band. I have a number of Ham 70cm repeaters programmed in mine.

Some people put a few of the marine band frequencies in their VHF radios when out on the water. Also hunters have been frequently known to use portable VHF marine radios when out in the woods. That's a dead give-a-way as what they're up to with local conservation officers.

I don't believe Yeasu is making them any more but the FT-817, and the updated version FT-818, are multi band and multi mode QRP portable radios. You can still find them at various swaps. They aren't cheap even used. I have the FT-817. I used it portable while travel while staying in hotel rooms with a portable antenna system. I usually asked for a room on the top floor for the height advantage and put the antenna near the window. https://www.yaesu.com/downloadFile.cfm?FileID=618&FileCatID=154&FileName=FT-817.pdf&FileContentType=application%2Fpdf

I would tend to agree. I’m sure they envision the market are those Hams that waited too long to buy the D74A. Judging by the absolutely insane prices people are asking, and likely some getting it, for the D74A on the used market they might be right.

IMHO having 6M TX in an HT is a bit useless. You really can't put a decent antenna for that band on such a small radio. There just isn't enough of a ground plane. A loaded 1/4 wave antenna, to keep the length reasonable, is very inefficient. Also from my experience the band is mostly dead unless there is a band opening. Then most of the activity is SSB anyway. I think Kenwood got it right with including 2M, 1.25M and 70cm in one radio. However I would have preferred DMR over D_Star in the new TH-D75A. Being most new radios are DSP designs, including the CODECS, offering two different firmware options for the radio would make it appealing to a wider customer base. They have the technology to do it, on the commercial side at least. For example the NX-1000 series offer either FM with NXDN, or FM with DMR depending on which firmware is loaded into the radio.

Oh, you don't need to experience a direct strike to suffer damage. A near strike can do damage as well from the EMP generated.

Here is some more info. Grounding Tips for the Shack.pdf Lighting Protection Guide - 3rd Ed.pdf

YES!!! The commercial radios have a lot of options/features that chirp can’t adjust. Your only choice is the official Kenwood programming software. Most of the software can be found on the internet along with the installation keys.

Then there are those who get “educated” but tell you to go pound sand and refuse to get a license. You report them to the FCC?

You’re going to need a bigger boat.

This is what I have on file for one of those cheap Chinese Duplexers. SGQ-450D-N.pdf Chinese Mobile Duplexer Measurements.pdf

I wouldn’t assume a 100% duty cycle. Those cheap Chinese Duplexers were primarily designed for mobile applications, I believe, which are low duty cycle.

If a young person wants brain dead communication the. by all means use their cell phone. If they want a technical challenge then Ham Radio is where it’s at. Even a Tech class license you can get worldwide communications using various digital modes. Set up an internet connected repeater for digital and maintain it. Then there is satellite communications to test skill level, moon bounce etc.

That’s good! I like to see more young people getting interested in it. Most of the swaps I go to look like a retirement community get together.

Just a wild thought. What is the power and duty cycle rating of the duplexer?

Just another idea.

That’s been my understanding as well.

The FCC do have commercial radio telephone licenses, but that’s not part of the Amateur Service.

There is nothing that prevents anyone from purchasing a cheaper analog only radio if they are happy with that mode of operation. I think one of the concerns with digital has to do with the band being run over by an influx of digital users. That was one of the reasons the use of channels 8-14 was suggested. For typical GMRS operations those are rather useless channels. By restricting digital to just those, by design of the radio (firmware), the rule would be enforceable. That leaves the rest open to those who only want analog FM. I'm not concerned about what effect it might have on FRS. After all they have the same exact simplex channel access that licensed GMRS users enjoy. That means if they don't like the digital stuff on 8-14 then pick another simplex channel to use. Don't forget they are also limited to narrow band and 0.5 watts on those channels as well. They aren't anymore useful to FRS users than they are for GMRS users. Both are stuck with with the same limitations. IMHO if FRS users want access to digital then pay for a GMRS license, buy a compatible radio and quit complaining. Right now they are using the spectrum for free. Anyway the point I was making in that paper was trying to crack open the door to digital voice operation on GMRS that would at least have a good chance of coexisting with FM users while not pushing the FCC into doing a lot of work. The less screwing around they have to do with the rules the more likely they might go for the idea.

DMR has some attractive features. 1. Being a TDMA, time division multiple access, mode the transmitter is only working half the time. For a handheld radio that works out to a significant increase in operating time on a battery pack. That's a huge consideration for those who want the radio to last all day while out hiking the tails. 2. DMR, along with other digital voice modes, provide clear noiseless audio out to near the limit of the range typical of an analog only radio. Where the analog radio starts breaking up and getting very difficult to copy the digital signal is still clear. 3. With the proper radios that can auto negotiate the slot timing among themselves, that's the main caveat, you get two voice paths on a single channel. 4. Finally there are radios that can operate in SFR mode, single frequency repeater, without the duplexer requirement typically necessary for an analog repeater. The SFR, as the name suggests, allows the equivalent of a full duplex analog repeater but using ONLY one frequency, no offsets required. The trick is allowing the use of ANY digital voice mode on GMRS. Some of the objections voiced by several other posters are legitimate. I would suggest you look at this post and read the attached file that goes into the issues a bit more. It's meant as nothing more than to get some ideas out there. https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/5720-new-repeater-channels-for-gmrs-in-2024/page/2/#comment-57605

That solid sheet metal ground plane will be a HUGE wind load at highway speeds. I can just picture it ripping off the roof rack rail. It was ok for a static test but you need something else. The following link is a suggestion. If you’re using an NMO mount then you need to look for a kit like the one in the link using that mount type. https://www.amazon.com/WORKMAN-WIL-KIT-W-ELEMENT-MOBILE-GROUND/dp/B01D3ITZ9C

You just might be unlucky to be in an area with low activity. You can try scanning all the channels using narrow band. That would make the radio compatible with FRS radios. Usually the FRS radios are frequently employed by hotels and other small business since they don't require a license and they are cheap. See if you can get any activity that way.