GeauxGreddy

LOL. Just having fun, because life is too short. I should have mentioned, after only being able to barely hear the others, I switched from wide band to narrow band. The MXT400 has that capability. Same result. Any idea which motorola speaker you're using?

I installed my radio, registered with the Overlords, and checked the SWR AND fars ability of my two very cool and very fancy new antennas. Thats right, I have a pair. I then passed the broken neck test while in my sons 4th grade carpool line. Despite what "they" may tell you when laying on adjacent pillows, length does matter. Trust me. Pretty sure Lulu Annes mama flashed me. Small chested though, so I am not positive. Hot. Due to my successes in installation and subsequent feather fluffing, I was PUMPED when I hit the trails last weekend. As soon as the first words were spoken...I was at FULL attention, ready to go from 6 to 12. Then.....womp womp womp. Whispers...near silence. I need some radio viagra. I couldn't hear a durn thing the trail leader or tail gunnar were saying. We had a spread of about...200 yards. Only 10 Jeeps. I was 3rd in line behind our dear leader. Flat woodlands. My CB radio could reach the gas station 2ish miles up the road (I've lead people to the trail from the gas station over my cb when they arrived late). I have video on the Tubes of You of screaming loud comms clearly heard over my very cheap and very abused Uniden Pro 520. So far, I am not impressed with this new fangled technology. I am, as the kids would say, disappoint. I even turned on a 2nd handheld GMRS radio to supplement sound amplification. Which nearly killed my ears when I mic'd up without turning off said 2nd radio nestled against my jimmies. Of course it was on vibrate..duh. Great feature. So, to ye, the Masters of GMRS, do I need to supplement my 250 dollar GMRS mobile radio with an external speaker OR.....do I need to remind people to make their words directly and LOUDLY into the hand held voice capturing contraption?

Coming from the world of CBs, and not even proficient in that world, figured I better check the SWR of my new fangled setup before I was crying over a fried radio. To my shock, i hit 1.01:1 on thr first 22 channels. Then when I got to the repeaters, it jumped to 1.93:1. My gut says cut, but should I just leave it? Tested with the Surecom up to 100w GMRS SWR meter. Midland MXT400. 32" Jungle Brand Whip 6db midland look alike Front Bumper Hoop mounted Channels 1-7 1.01:1 Channels 15-22 1.01:1 Channels 15rp-22rp 1.93:1 4" Stubby 3db Midland Feont Bumper Hoop mounted Literally flip the above. 1-22 2.2:1 15rp-22rp 1.01:1 I dont know....maybe ill just carry both and swap em. Lol.

My local repeater is the same (Input tone listed only) and the owner happens to be in my Jeep Club, which I learned when I asked for permission. But, I digress. My radio automatically copies the output tone to be the same as the input tone when you enter said input tone. Super cool radio functionality. I hear it brings all the milkshake to the yard. I see all the moms side eyeing my big antenna when I slow roll the carpool line. They can't help it, its genetic. Sorry, off topic again. So, is that ok or do I need to go back and REMOVE the output tone so that it is blank? I think i need to remove it. But, I'm probably overthinking it.

I do have the ability to program it, and I did hook it up to the laptop to see what that would look like, but didn't change anything. The menu on the radio itself has a setting for nb on/off, just select that, turn the knob to on or off and hit select again. If its on, the radio show nar and if its off, it shows nothing. I bet that landcruiser is a dream on the roads compared to a Jeep. I must say, my old girl isn't the most pleasant ride above 45 mph. I also experienced the 35" tire tax, lol. But, she's solid now, hasn't broken in 10 years since going to an 8.8, HP30, with Warn Alloys up front. Knock on wood.

Good question. I think its probably a mix of the two. Not sure of what that mixture ratio may be.

As the title says, I have entered the domain of GMRS. My spot in the corner of mom's basement has been secured and the chicken nuggies are warming in the oven. My license has been received from my overlords at the FCC and I have been accepted by the very knowledgeable and fine people of MyGMRS. Thank you for having me. I have wired up my Midland MXT400 and dropped the stubby little antenna that came with it on the bumper of my 1997 Jeep TJ (arguably the greatest offroad vehicle ever produced by man). I'm sure the ground plane is next to zero, my SWR is probably 5.83 repeating 3, and my radio will be fried within a month or two. That said.... Do I turn ON or OFF narrowband for channels 1-8? Likely only to be used to hear a sweaty middle aged individual standing feet away saying, "little more driver...little more... no too much driver...." or someone else calling for help further along the trail because they stuck their rig in a hole filled with mud. Midland has pre-selected narrowband to "provide optimum communication and spectrum efficiency with both FRS and GMRS radios". Which sounds very fancy. But, I can turn it off if it isn't as fancy as it seems and I seem to remember watching a video somewhere at sometime about narrowband on midland radios being the devil. TIA Greddy