Lscott

You need to stack a few Yagis up and dump that wimpy dish.

You need to stack a few Yagis up and dump that wimpy dish.

You need to stack a few Yagis up and dump that wimpy dish.

Using a high gain antenna the radiation pattern tends to be flat like a pancake. This concentrates most of the power out horizontally at a 90 degree angle to the antenna. What I suspect is happening is most of the RF power is simply shooting over their heads or hitting the canyon walls. 

The HT antenna radiation pattern is more like a fat donut. A lot of the power is at much higher and lower angles relative to the 90 degree position. This allows you to get a signal to and from other stations at much different horizontal elevations.

What some people do is carry several antennas then swap them out depending on local terrain. A high gain antenna is great for open flat country. A low gain, typically a 1/4 wave like what is commonly found on HT's, when in hilly or mountainous areas.

I take offense to that. I use a Surecom SW-102 and I'm not normal. 🤨

That’s why i buy kits with multiple variations. So now I always have 48 that I’ll never need. 🙇‍♂️

I can verify that. 🫤
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/427-adapters-connectorsjpeg/?context=new
 

I can verify that. 🫤
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/427-adapters-connectorsjpeg/?context=new
 

They are going to be close to the antenna and in what is known as the "near field" so it couples into the driven element. That can booger up the impedance match, SWR issues, and the radiation pattern. It's not a guarantee you'll have problems but keeping the antenna away from from structures like that will at least avoid the potential for them. You read through the past comments over time here and you'll see this mentioned from various people.

I can verify that. 🫤
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/427-adapters-connectorsjpeg/?context=new
 

The aluminum foil won't hurt the magnet at all. Don't worry about it.
Sticking something magnetic on the back side of the foil the magnet can be attracted to is a good idea to hold the foil in place. The foil needs to be a rough square at lest 6 inches on a side or a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Put the magnet mount in the center. 

The aluminum foil won't hurt the magnet at all. Don't worry about it.
Sticking something magnetic on the back side of the foil the magnet can be attracted to is a good idea to hold the foil in place. The foil needs to be a rough square at lest 6 inches on a side or a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Put the magnet mount in the center. 

I can verify that. 🫤
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/427-adapters-connectorsjpeg/?context=new
 

No. Some things are blamed on greenhouse gases and other on green men.

I would avoid using the repeater channels as "simplex", transmitting on the repeater output frequency directly to another radio, if possible. It's not illegal to use them as such but it can cause problems.
Transmitting on the repeater output frequency may result in you jamming another station that's trying to listen to the repeater's output. Also very likely the station transmitting to the repeater can't hear you and will simply jam your communications. I've gotten rid of a few kids using FRS radios on the local GMRS repeater's output frequency a few times. When the 50 watt repeater got used, only about 4 to 5 miles away, the kids got the message and disappeared real quick.

You can ask questions with an in-person class. Can't do that with a YouTube video and get instant feedback.

You can ask questions with an in-person class. Can't do that with a YouTube video and get instant feedback.

They haven't gone by the wayside. But they're probably circling the drain. Personally, with all the information on YouTube University and about a million other free internet sources, I think an in-person class seems silly, especially if you have to pay for it. I studied on my own and passed my tests with no in-person classes. The only in-person stuff was the tests.

My radios when haywire. I live outside of Austin and the lights on the radios just kept flashing. Couldn't turn the radios on or off and there was nothing on the display. After the eclipse passed everything returned to normal.

I think there may have been some variations of it, but as you can see on the VNA, this model lands nicely into GMRS. I’ve been talking on it very reliably and getting good reports. 

You need a few more zip-ties on the cable. I imagine that's to try and take the weight off the cable connector at the base of the antenna.

This is why some people keep a couple antennas in their vehicle. They use a low gain, 1/4 wave, in very hilly or mountainous area or a high gain antenna in nearly flat areas.

You need a few more zip-ties on the cable. I imagine that's to try and take the weight off the cable connector at the base of the antenna.

I didn’t phrase my statement very clearly. Gordon West doesn’t compile the test questions for the amateur radio exams; he compiles his books using the test questions and answers. 

I read it the way you intended.  I just provided the info I did in the event someone just wanted to read the questions and answers.  West does a good job, but they cost money. LOL