BoxCar

So, taking your comment further about using someone else's property, you think you have the right to use anything you wish until a "proper authority" tells you otherwise. Your attitude regarding this is disturbing to me and probably many others as well. Just because a repeater is up and you find the codes needed to use it doesn't give you the right to use it. That attitude could be seen as theft of services as you do not have a right to access the system. With only a few channels set aside for repeaters and published codes that could be set, unlocking any repeater is possible. You could also scan the airwaves around you and unlock WiFi systems and use their Internet connection or the codes necessary to access someone's home systems. Your attitude about what is yours and your rights regarding electronic communications needs some serious reconsideration.

While there is truth to the argument that increased power increases range, I have found that to not always be true in the real world. The range is governed by the antenna height because of the distance to the horizon. UHF doesn't follow the terrain so increased power nets out as increased coverage within the effective coverage area determined by the antenna type and height.

Uncle Yoda, If you want a definitive answer on fixed stations, ask the people that wrote the rule. The Wireless Bureau answers email enquiries every day and the answer is free. The key piece is that fixed stations are stations that are not used for normal communications in the GMR service. If a unit does more than communicate to more than one station the class of the station changes to either a base or control station. It's really very simple.

Fixed stations in the Part 95 service are limited to analog transmission but that doesn't hold true in other parts of the regulations. Part 101, microwave, is now almost exclusively digital and those are fixed stations. Within Part 90 fixed stations are a mix of analog and digital. So, the statement that fixed stations only communicate with other fixed stations covers both types of emission.

Setting a squelch tail is the primary method used on the repeaters in my area. You hit transmit on your radio for a second and release. If you here a noise immediately after you know you triggered the repeater.

Wimp. I've gone out and started my car at -42 so I could drive to work.

How are you programming the radio? Are you using a program in a computer or through the radio keyboard?

BINGO!!!! If a fixed station communicates to anything other than a fixed station the station class just changed.

The definition is clear IMO. A fixed station is at a location that doesn't move and only communicates to another station that doesn't move either. Think of a microwave site. The dish only communicates to another dish some distance away. Neither end moves.

When reading the rules looking for specific information, you need to pay attention to any other rule or section listed in the footnotes as well. The FCC uses a lot of cross references in putting their rules and regulations together. After all, they are lawyers first.

I have a Land Rover and use a trunk lip mount on the hood,

It sounds as if you will be in the number of units limitation on the license. Send me the call sign by private message and I'll look at the license class as there may be additional restrictions. Under part 90.35, the authorized frequency coordinators all operate with the assumption that frequencies are shared and are not exclusive. The call sign will also tell me if they are on itinerant channels or regular business band channels. Itinerant channels are primarily used for short term messaging and lower power.

It sounds as if the theater has licensed channels in the Business commercial spectrum. Adding radios will depend on the number of units authorized from the application and the class of the licensed operation. You can't always just add more radios to a licensed frequency.

There are no rules regarding what you use to receive with other than it carry an FCC approval. The transmitter though is different and needs type acceptance for the task.

Michael, I'm a former NATIONAL frequency coordinator for Parts 90.20 and was a member of both the Land Mobile Communications Council and the Public Safety Communications Councils besides being a member of the FCC's Communications Information Security and Reliability Federal Advisory panel. I did part 90.35 and 101 coordination. I have written petitions to the FCC for rule changes and had them implemented. One petition initiated the first rule change in 35 years. I was an instrumental part of obtaining the Band 14 allocation at 800 MHZ among other items in my career. Now, what have you done that provides you with your qualifications?

Just because the rules do not say you cannot do something, they also don't say you can either. By convention, UHF repeater pairs are 5 MHz apart for uniformity. If you use a non-standard split you need to monitor both input frequencies to prevent interference to the other users. Rules DO state you are to avoid causing harmful interference to others.

You will get about 4X output from the antenna over the power level after coax & SWR loses.

Michael, as you do suffer from Valley Fever and its associated atrophy of higher cognitive functions, Goretex tried to politely state the issue isn't what others state, it's you. You are the one constantly bringing extraneous clutter to questions and possible solutions through the use of non-certified equipment, restating steps just stated by others earlier in the thread and then attempting to dismiss criticisms through your use of very poorly constructed sarcasm or snide comments. I do agree that you have provided some assistance in instances but it is your constant "need to input" on any topic which is the primary issue. In other words, you are not the best, most accurate or final authority on the questions raised by others. Stop trying to monopolize the forum.

Yes, more power does mean better penetration, but again it's another relative thingy. It depends on what you are trying to penetrate and the density of the obstruction. As far as bouncing (or reflecting) the signal off rocks like mountain sides or canyon walls, it's again the material used as the reflector. So more power may boost the signal from a poor, but marginal surface, at the levels we're using it's negligible.

Blaise, You're not the only one to need a fact checker. Try any of the Talking Heads or denizens slinking around Capitol Hill!

It may also be a flaw in the radio's design where that particular code causes a harmonic in a different part of the radio.

Another point to consider, antenna orientation. If your GF points her antenna to you, the signal will also drop because antennas radiate from the middle, not the end.

Mike, Your radio needs to transmit a tone to wake up the receiver on the repeater. In your configuration for that channel, set the transmit tone to the same value shown in the repeater's listing. You do not need a receive tone.

My thought as well, it's overpriced for what's there. The one point in their favor appears to be the installation instructions. IMO you can probably do with a 20 to 25W radio on the trails and for most travel needs. the extra power from a 45W UHF radio buys you maybe an additional mile of coverage.

The "custom" channels allow you to store various configurations of the authorized channels such as those using tones for '"privacy."