BoxCar

The radiation pattern is depicted as if you were viewing a vertical antenna from the side. The pattern is actually a circle so the primary lobe goes around, just as the secondary lobes. The primary lobe may take off at an angle or it may radiate on the horizontal plane. The secondary lobes do take off at angles to provide some radiation above and below the primary. The dB figures for the secondary lobes are the amount of difference between their power and that of the main lobe.

The piece of data needed in your quest will be the radiation pattern of the two antennas you are looking at. The primary lobes will be similar but look at the secondary lobes as well. Does one antenna's lobes give better coverage close to the antenna in the areas you need?

Firmware is different than the info in the data file, two different creatures. Firmware controls the radio functions while the DAT file contains how those functions operate. Restoring a DAT file is similar to reloading a program on you computer.

+1

B/ILT (Business, Industrial, Land Transport) licenses are available to any individual whether having a business or not. You need to qualify under Part 90.20 to be issued a license. Certain individuals are also able to obtain a public safety license under part 90.35 as well. The qualifications are much narrower however. (

The rule-of-thumb on power line separation is twice the height of the antenna.

OK

Hmm, I don't have any problem from here.

You'll need to check the FCC registration to see if it has Part 90 approval. l know the D878 is both Part 90 and 97.1

Depends on the band. For all bands, a 6.25 kHz step will handle most uses..

We used to put a nail through an offender's coax.

My comment on the post being uncalled for was over the way it was presented. I agree that SAR and EMA teams need good quality radios however, they do not need "public safety" grade radios in a volunteer organization. Public safety grade units are desirable however they are not required. Commercial grade or quality consumer grade radios are just as effective and have the advantage of being more available. Often, the only technical difference between the radios is the temperature range of the units. An IP67 grade radio is an IP67 grade regardless of who manufactures it as the comparison is to a standard not a brand.

Uncalled for!!!

There are several possible antennas that could be used. The key parameter is the bandwidth of the antenna. You'll need to see if it has enough bandwidth to cover both the amateur UHF frequencies as well as reaching up to 468 MHz for GMRS. It's doubtful you will find a satisfactory solution in a glass-mount

Have you reached out to Bridgecom Systems? They are a Maxon dealer and may have some guidance. Otherwise, I would check if there are any 2-way radio dealers close. The could possibly reprogram the repeater for you as well.

Laird

You forgot to say GMRS can cause excessive spending on new radios and antennas.

Nope. Tuning step has no bearing as the channels are fixed./

Being the south end of a north bound donkey?

My playing with some Retevis handhelds show they do have a CTCSS code enabled. It's been a couple months since I went into them but if I remember it was 127 or 185 as the primary digits.

Th FCC says HOSs can't ban dishes.

Retevis radios DO have a CTCSS code installed from the factory. That's why they state they only talk to each other but offer a CPS to change or remove the code.

As a follow-up, it also depends on the repeater's receiver. If the repeater is a retuned commercial/public safety unit, the receiver will be more sensitive to RF than a Retevis or Midland "suitcase." Your carrier signal that carries your voice can reach further than the rest of your signal.

Yes.

No. Licenses are issued to individuals only in the Personal Radio Services. However, you can use FRS freely within your group.