Logan5

I just noticed the Ethernet connection, do you run a mobile router? War driving?

I use 75 feet of LMR600 "is very stiff" but I am very happy with it.

Low power is fine, but at 40 or 50 watts I would use a duplexer and use a single antenna. If not, be sure to set the antennas on different planes and separate them as much distance apart as possible. 20+ feet in combination could save your radios.

I was running that exact same comet antenna, I swapped it out with a Browning Yagi 10.2db, considering my lack of height, the yagi helped overcome some LOS issues.

for the cost, I think good quality feed line and keeping feed line length minimal would be better. if your feed required coax in lengths over 100' might consider a preamp. but unlikely to do much if you already have a quality setup to begin with.

Consider another frequency. I would not park on the same channel, although it can be done, it would be highly recommended not to use any of the same PL or DPL tones the other repeater is using. I say, pick another pair.

http://www.hol4g.com/webpdf/DBB_CAT29-PG342-343_01.PDF http://www.hol4g.com/webpdf/DBB_CAT29-PG342-343_02.PDF

I just gogled it and, it looks like all the elements are on one side of the antenna, the PDF shows, top of tower install as well as side of tower, elements facing tower and facing away. this antenna creates a slightly oval shaped radiation pattern, depending on how it is mounted.

LoL, Have fun on 49mhz.

Height of antenna is greatly affected by HAAT=Height above average terrain. here in Florida average terrain is not much more than 30 to 35 feet. So a 50 to 60 foot tower is good, higher is better and affects your propagation much more than power output. also important is the antenna design and quality feedline and finely tuned cans. All much more important than the actual repeater it's self for propagation.

you should always identify yourself by stating your call sign. This is especially important when given permission to use someone's repeater. I have a few guest that do not and it bug's me, I try not to pay attention to it.

clean, no clutter, Lucky Dog!

GMRS travel is 141.3 and is one of the various PL tones available. the travel tone allows for easier travel from repeater to repeater and could work well with the ORI= Open repeater initiative. Our local repeaters use travel tones and ORI with advance permission, but were all open to formal "open air request as well. My repeater operates in mixed tone mode. PL tone to open the repeater and DPL on the output. hope this helps.

The new license fee is only 65 bucks for 5yrs for your entire family. The old price was 85. You may use almost any UHF radio, but it is recommended that you use only Part95 equipment on this GMRS part95 service. Radios can cost as little a 14.95 each for baofeng BF888, not part 95, Much more for Part95 certified radios. Without a repeater don't expect more than a mile or 2 miles coverage with hand held radios. The advertised range of 20 plus miles is not achievable, except over open terrain or open water. Access to a centrally located repeater on a hill or on a tower can allow effective communications in excess of 50 miles. You can build a repeater for a few hundred dollars or you can buy a new part95 certified repeater for quite a bit more. There are a lot of options and issues, Topography plays a major roll in the distance you achieve. antenna height is generally much more important than power output in watt's. I could go on and on, but I will allow others to elaborate or correct any of my inaccuracies. Best of luck with your radio endeavor.

Regulatory fee? or License fee? I can see that the Regulatory fee has been eliminated, but the License fee still seems in effect.

I just checked and it came up as $65

I have a few 888's I use an SMA to BNC adaptor and buy BNC antennas, then when I get in my truck or Home, I can easily hook up to roof top antenna. I also like the short stubby spring BNC antenna for around the house. I would upload pictures but says file too big. If you search "golden spring" and "BNC female to SMA female" on ebay and maybe Amazon. for a gain antenna I like the SRH 901s Dual band antenna also BNC based. a BNC connection is by no means perfect, but it is convenient.

I tried an MR350R and was able to use on my repeater, although at less than half the range of a "Cheap Chinese Radio" CCR. I also found the sound to be tinny, that may have something to do with wideband/narrow issue. I ended up returning them in favor of more versatile CCR's

DTMF or telephone touch tones are used for many things including remote control of repeater, dialing out from a telephone interfaced repeater as well as other non radio related remote control and signaling. a local car dealer uses DTMF over 2 way radios to inform the repair shop of cars coming in for service. and to indicate customer are there to pick up. no talking just strings of DTMF tones.

Without question run the electric to the garage. it's easy to do and in the long run has a multitude of side benefits. I ran simple 117 volts to my mothers garage for less than 100 bucks, she says it was the best thing I did after doing some repairs and upgrades over one summer. Long feedline is gonna cost you on performance, (less propagation) shorter the feedline the better.

I thought the BF888 was only rated at 2w high and 1w low, so I just searched some e-bay listings and found this, Frequency: 400-469.995MHz16 channel;50 CTCSS/105 CDCSS1500mAh Li-ion battery; Low Voltage Alert; Intelligent ChargingVOX Function; Voice Prompt; PC Programming; 3 Watt Transmit Some e-bay listings claim 5 watt's, but then some e-bay listing make a lot of false claims. most say less than 3 watts. Even the Uv5r is only about 3.86 watts.

The BF888 is a good simple non FCC certified radio. Please inform yourself and understand the BF888 is not part95 certified for use on the GMRS service . Use at your own risk. They can make great glovebox radios, but I would not store any radio with the battery attached., I am also sure the battery would need periodic recharging. I keep a UV3r in my glovebox and I must swap the battery every 45 days or so. The UV3r is a dual band radio and front key programmable, can be used on GMRS full power and MURS, if you use low power. the UV3r is also not FCC part95 certified but is commonly used by Hams and GMRS users alike, The BF888 and the UV3r are both rated at 2 watts and 1watt in low power so neither is acceptable to use on FRS. Fleabay has uv3r's at 35 bucks, so if you chose to, for a few more dollars you get dual band and front face programing,. Baofeng makes a lot of radios. So far none that I am aware of is part 95 cert.

LMAO @ 50 mile range. Welcome to forum TonkaToy. Glad to have you here. generally you would contact another person in your group, a GMRS radio is not specifically an emergency radio, but can be used as such if the comms are already there. If cell service is available 911 is your best option. Best regards Jim...

Also very happy with the Comet CA-712EFC

I use 75 feet of LMR600, into a comet712-EFC. It's a very quiet setup with good range, I have also used LMR400, I I have never had a problem with either. But Zap knows more than I. I have no question of that.