Lscott

We know how 11 meter CB turned into a wasteland. People just didn’t care either and did whatever they felt like. It’s sad to see that attitude spreading through GMRS.

You do understand those FRS type interstitial channels sit between the main repeater input channels? That's why they are limited to narrow band and 0.5 watts. The potential for interference isn't trivial. The main repeater channels are on a 25KHz channel spacing with a 20KHz authorized bandwidth emission. That leaves just 5KHz guard band between the channels. Now stick a narrow band FM signal, which is 11KHz, in there. Now you have some overlap from the low power channel to the high power repeater input channels above and below the low power one. So you have somebody with a 0.5 watt radio a few blocks from the repeater using one of the interstitial channels adjacent to the repeater's input channel at the same time a distance station is trying to use the repeater the results might not turn out so good. FRS-GMRS Channels Layout.pdf

PacParts is good. I've ordered stuff from them to fix a few minor problems with some of my radios and to get missing things like side cover plates. However if it's out of stock it can take weeks. I've wait over a month for an order because it wasn't in stock. In particular I needed the side cover plates for the universal multi pin connectors on the side used by some Kenwood models. One of the pads is a connection to the +5VDC internal supply on the radio. I don't need to accidentally short that out due to the exposed contact pads. All those radios have the side cover plates on unless I'm programming them or have the external microphone/headset installed. Kenwood also has a warning about making sure the radio is off before making any connections to avoid shorts.

I think people totally misunderstand the requirement for call signs and the necessity of ID'ing. It has very little to do with being a rule that is stupid. I'm very sure that people at times have wondered who is that on the air. Without being required to ID, or recognizing the voice, you just don't know. The station maybe jamming, interfering, with other traffic on the frequency and may not be aware it. With a call sign it's fairly easy to look up their address, home, P.O. Box, etc and contact them about the problem so it can be resolved. Otherwise it just a PIA to try and DF them or through other means. I gave a perfect example earlier in this thread about a local mall's house keeping repeater. No ID from it, and the users never ID'ed either. It took weeks to finally figure out who it was and notified the trustees of the GMRS repeater being interfered with who to contact. The whole process would have been so much simpler if a call sign was used. Then is it a bad rule if it can't be detected? Well it's like being pulled over for speeding and the Cop notices you're not wearing a seat belt. So you get a ticket for that too. Same thing with failure to ID. The FCC contacts you about another issue by then they have likely noticed you haven't been ID'ing either so you get screw for that rule violation as well.

You should. Otherwise why have any rules at all, for anything? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons In our case the “commons” is the limited RF spectrum EVERYONE must share.

Sooner or later the FCC will have to acknowledge the use of various digital voice modes on GMRS. If they don't it means the population of non regulation compliant users will just grow with no formal order to the whole thing. It's better they set the rules before it becomes too chaotic. What digital mode(s) would be allowed, and where, is another whole topic. There are some past threads on the topic. You may find those worth your time to read through.

If one is using a GMRS certified radio one is operating under GMRS rules. It doesn’t make any difference what power level is used. If that weren’t the case nobody would bother to build and sell FRS radios, just make only GMRS certified radios, then instruct the customer to turn the power down with narrow band FM selected. But that’s not what the FCC allowed. They specifically prohibited combo GMRS/FRS radios, which effectively is what is being suggested here.

I did a simple J-Pole simulation a while back. The results I got don't look like the one in the link. However the pattern isn't symmetrical because the antenna isn't symmetrical due to the 1/4 wave matching stub. I wonder just how he modeled the feed line since the software doesn't include it as part of the radiation model that I can see. If it did you should have seen it as some kind of "long" wire segment. Typically the software simply does the impedance transformations and time delay calculations, then applies those to the ends of the transmission line in the model. The line itself is assume to be non radiating. At least that's my understanding in the software I use. J-Poles are difficult to model correctly as it is, and that's mostly because of the 1/4 wave matching section.

Oh, if you want to try your hand at modeling the antenna try this software. It's free now. https://www.eznec.com/

And if it's your careless neighbor down the street jamming your communications and interfering with your repeater, not so victimless. You would be surprised how far a low power radio will reach at times. I had to put up with a local family with kids that get on the air for hours. One night they picked the channel used by the local wide coverage GMRS repeater. That really F'ed up things. No call signs so maybe they were using FRS radios. If they had a GMRS license I could have looked them up on the FCC database, got their address, and sent them a note asking not to use the repeater channel unless they were using the repeater. Then there is the even worse case of a house keeping crew who is using the exact same channel, with their own repeater no less!! The repeater NEVER ID's. It did use a different PL tone. Again no call sign was ever used and it required some effort and detective work on my part to figure out who it was. Discovered it was a local mall. Also discovered their license was expired from 10/2015 no less. They still use their radios. Still have the repeater, and still no license either. When the ding-dong that programmed their radios used a RX tone so they can't hear when there is traffic on the other repeater and just key up jamming it. I'm 4.5 miles LOS from the mall and I can hear them just fine. The GMRS repeater is just about the same distance away from me as well. Every once in a while I hear somebody complain about interference on the GMRS repeater and that happens when the house keeping crew uses theirs. Their is a reason why call signs are required. Use them. ULS_License_-_General_Mobile_Radio__GMRS__License_-_KAB1523_-_LA-job_178.pdf ULS_License_-_General_Mobile_Radio__GMRS__License_-_KAB1523_-_LA-job_252.pdf

Likely may work good enough. You can tell by moving the coax around. If the SWR changes very noticeably it isn't working.

Hum, the black wire between the two half of the driven element looks like you're trying to use a "hair-pin" matching section. Any changes in dimensions will impact the match. Hairpin Article Match.pdf Baluns.pdf

You by any chance ever forget to drop the mast before driving off? That setup make a great tree branch trimmer.

Oops, lots of people from the US forget they even have a weapon in the vehicle when crossing the border. At least a few of the Canadian border security give you the option to immediately to turn around and go back rather than bust you. It all depends on the guy/women you get.

Yes you’re right on that point. I’ve got an electronic library I keep on the computers and smartphone. Has all the manuals for my radios, frequency charts for various services, regulations etc. One of the folders is about Canadian GMRS. There is a cross licensing agreement between the US and many countries for Ham Radio, including Canada. My radios have programming for both since I’m dual license. So far I haven’t had an issue with the radios and the Canadian border security. Mostly what they seem to be concerned about if I’m taking some poor Molsen chugger’s job when going there on business.

That part I understand. Most people not involved in some fashion with RF communications wouldn’t know what an FCC license looks like. It costs nothing to keep a copy with you so why not. I have wallet sized copies of my Ham and GMRS licenses. I don’t think I’ve ever had to show them to anyone to date. Not even at the airport going through security with my radios. At the Canadian border I have a Ham call license plate on the Jeep which sort of does the same thing as having a paper copy of the license. Cuts down on the questions about the weird antennas and why they’re there.

If it were only true for number 1. Cops in general don’t even know what an FCC license for Ham radio even looks like. And of course are they going to believe some slip of paper that came out of an inkjet printer? Heard more than one story where a Ham got his radio confiscated even with a copy of their license AND the printed section of the law that specifically allows it for the cop to read. You can’t fix stupid and trying to educate the ignorant on the road side takes too long, if it’s even possible.

Somebody, past President, once said walk quietly and carry a BIG stick.

Given the current tools available almost anybody can do a fair job producing a phony document on the computer. Without some other "trusted" method to verify the information you wouldn't know if your own license was fake or not, and neither would anybody else. So the purpose in having a paper copy is to flash it in front of somebody to impressed them enough to go away and stop bugging you.