BoxCar

Gee, I'm a little confused here Miichael. When I tune to a repeater I thought my receiver was set to the output of the repeater rather than the repeater input frequency. Is it different in your radio?

Don't assume the FCC checks a radio for anything other than the requirements to meet the certification requested. They don't even test most units; they leave it up to independent but certified labs. The FCC is also not interested in any software provided for a radio, so it isn't included in the testing as it doesn't generate any RF from itself. If the radio's output deviates from those submitted for acceptance, then the radio no longer meets certification -- period. Most radios that are type accepted for parts 90 and 97 are also Part 15 which is where the radio does meet it certification as amateur radios are all Part 15. I'll lay odds that any GMRS certified radio also carries a Part 15 certification as part of the FCC ID.

The choices for HTs not manufactured in China are slim at the lower end. I hold both a ham and GMRS license and run a Yeasu FT-4XR for a HT. The HT can be unlocked from the front panel to enable an expanded frequency range that will include GMRS. The FT-4XR and FT-65 are both built in China but are Japanese designs and specifications. Higher up on the list are ICOM units, built in Japan. Kenwood HTs are also Japanese and good quality. I haven't looked into these but I believe they can also be stretched to cover GMRS. It really depends on what your goals are. If you plan to go ham, the Technician level course and test is easy. I recommend you go ahead and get the Tech level license as you will find amateur 2 meter and 440 repeaters are quite plentiful. The drawback is that the license is for the individual and not family. When it comes time to upgrade to a mobile, the choices become much greater. I have both a Chinese manufactured BaoFeng and the Japanese ICOM. I'mcurrently using the ICOM as a base unit running off a Chinese 30 amp power supply. The ICOM is stock, but it can be modified easily to increase the frequency range for GMRS/MURS coverage. The BaoFeng, a BTECH UV-25X2, came with a frequency range covering both amateur and GMRS/FRS/MURS.

We captured some slow scan images from the ISS during Field Day.

Well said. Just because you can do it doesn't make it right.

All coax injects loss. The amount of power lost in the coax can be determined by looking up the specification from the manufacturer and applying it.

Gigaparts (www.gigaparts.com) has a Bridgecom used unit available for $1400.00 All told, with antenna and power you are looking at approximately $2,000 for a commercial grade repeater.

Amateurs are restricted to bands of frequencies that are not channelized. Depending on a ham's authorization they may transmit on any frequency within that range. FRS/GMRS users are not authorized to operate on any frequency within their band but only on specific frequencies (channels) within that band allocation. FRS/GMRS users are also limited in the type of emission their radio may use. Amateurs are not to allow for the development of new emission types which may be adopted by other services. Amateurs also use frequency coordinators to assign repeater channels and once that frequency is assigned other hams avoid the input and output frequencies to prevent interference. Additionally, repeater frequencies are assigned from a specific frequency range in each band which is also published.

While we can continue this discussion on almost ad infinitium, you cannot use a hand-held transmitter on those frequencies except through a repeater. Control stations are used for the purpose of automation such as turning remote devices on or off or reporting status such as water levels in tanks and rivers or activating sprinkler systems. Control stations are in fixed locations meaning they are not meant to be moved from where they are installed. For a GMRS example, a repeater's input receiver functions as a control station in that its purpose is to trigger the output transmitter. Its transmitter is not used. While in practice two mobile or base transceivers are often used to construct a repeater site, each of the two units only uses half their capabilities. The two sections are hardwired together to form one unit. In any shape or form, a hand-held transmitter is defined as a mobile unit even if it is cast in concrete and cannot move. I suggest you drop a note to the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and ask their opinion of your scheme. I have found them to be quite responsive to queries of this type in my experience as a frequency coordinator under this section of the regulations. (And yes, you can look up the definition of a frequency coordinator in 90.7.)

Like I stated, you need to read ALL the rules. 47 CFR 90.7 Base station. A station at a specified site authorized to communicate with mobile stations. Control station. An Operational Fixed Station, the transmissions of which are used to control automatically the emissions or operation of another radio station at a specified location. Fixed relay station. A station at a specified site used to communicate with another station at another specified site. Land station. A station in the mobile service not intended to be used while in motion. [As used in this part, the term may be used to describe a base, control, fixed, operational fixed or fixed relay station, or any such station authorized to operate in the “temporary” mode.] Mobile station. A station in the mobile service intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified points. This includes hand carried transmitters. Mobile relay station. A base station in the mobile service authorized to retransmit automatically on a mobile service frequency communications which originate on the transmitting frequency of the mobile station. Mobile repeater station. A mobile station authorized to retransmit automatically on a mobile service frequency, communications to or from hand-carried transmitters. Operational fixed station. A fixed station, not open to public correspondence, operated by, and for the sole use of those agencies operating their own radiocommunication facilities in the Public Safety, Industrial, Land Transportation, Marine, or Aviation Radio Services. (This includes all stations in the fixed service under this part.) Person. An individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust or corporation.

Any changes to the type of emissions authorized would have to come from the Commision through either petition or upon self determination by a majority of the commissioners. In other words, don't hold your breath unless digital is allowed in Europe or several manufacturers petition the change.

Your interpretation is in error. If a radio is type accepted to operate under one section of the regulations then modifying the radio to operate under a different section of the regulations invalidates the original type acceptance because the radio was not tested under the second set of requirements. It doesn't matter if the modification involved hardware and/or software. Any modification that causes the unit to operate outside its accepted parameters requires the radio to be resubmitted for type acceptance. The FCC Rules and Regulations require 7 volumes to contain them all. Reading one portion of one paragraph under one section does not negate the information or requirements found in the entire body of Title 47 of the US Code.

You need the one with a matching connector. The connectors are typically a male or female SMA or BNC. The Yeasu uses the female SMA.

No, the rule states THROUGH a repeater system. Units are limited to test transmissions only otherwise. Using an input frequency for simplex communications is not permitted.

The BTECH UV-25X and 50X also do them. I have a 25X2 that I use on 2M and 70CM.

I have found more hams monitoring/working the local repeaters than the calling frequencies. I did a trip from Asheville to Shreveport and found the activity was almost always centered around the 2M repeaters. I used Repeater Book to find the local repeaters along the route I traveled.

Repeaters require "high site" locations. High site means mountain top, highest building or tallest tower in the area. On mountain tops, lower gain antennas work better as they are more omnidirectional. As the gain goes up, the antenna pattern starts to resemble a donut more than a slightly squished ball. This increases the radiation pattern more to the horizon rather than filling gaps nearer the antenna. That said, an omni rather than a beam type antenna is what you are looking for. There are several designs that meet this requirement from vertical whip types to vertical poles with multiple folded dipole antennas attached. Your wallet will be a big deciding factor on which antenna you install.

What I predict is we will see units that will automatically mode switch between AM and FM based on the signal being received. We will also see dual receiver units, one AM, the other FM and the transmitter will shift mode depending on which receiver is selected.

The place with the helpful hardware folks sells small sheets of sheet steel. I picked up a piece 2' x2' for less than $15 there.

There is very little to stop the change from being published. The rule change has to be vetted by administrative agencies for finance and paperwork impacts and then scheduled for pub by the Government Printing Office on an almost space-available basis. Routine red-tape delays.

The changes have to be published in the Federal Register first. They will then be effective 30 calendar days later. It can take more than 2 months for the publishing.

The RG-8X cable cuts the power being fed to your antenna by half for the 50-foot length in use. The gain of the antenna makes up for the losses in the cable so the result is you are even power wise. From the info you have provided though, it appears you don't have any test equipment. The best place to start will be with a SWR/Power meter for UHF measurements. I would add to that a dummy load handling 50W at a minimum. The dummy load will provide a known value so you can see how well the SWR/Power meter is calibrated. Both items are available from radio shops selling radios and Amazon. While not a recommendation, many people use UHF meters from Surecom that provide the transmit frequency, power being sent, the amount of power reflected back because of impedance mismatch and the percent of power being fed to the antenna. These will tell you how well your antenna and/or radio is performing.

A Yagi is probably your best chance for reliable communications but the one taco6513 is suggesting is 6 feet long. The Browning BR-6356B is 42" and $80 less with close to the same gain.

You may try slitting the weatherstripping and then sealing the slit with some Gorilla Glue or silicone glue.

I would guess the mounting location is the problem. The 32 inch antenna places it above where it is shielded by the vehichle.