marcspaz

The PL tone (or DCS) is a squelch tool. It limits what opens your squelch, but doesn't give you another channel. For example, let's say someone is talking on a specific frequency/channel you are monitoring and you can't hear them due to having a tone set. If someone transmits on that frequency with the tone you have programmed, you will hear every station that is transmitting, because the conditions to open the squelch have been met.

There is lots of overlap around the DC metro area and it works out fairly well. Just use a different tone and you should be fine, regardless of your coverage area.

As others have mentioned, it's a Line of Sight (LOS) service. The signal will only penetrate buildings and trees for very short distances. The radio LOS is about 15% further than your visual LOS, as a quick reference. From the ground, I can talk on Amateur Radio satellite repeaters in orbit 240+ miles above Earth. However, my house is at the bottom of a hill and I can't talk more than a few blocks with 5 watts while in my yard. Just the way it works. What if I leave my FCC type approved wrist band at home? How close to said panties could I possibly get? Does antenna size matter?

Contact Us by Phone Business hours for all non-emergency calls: 8:00am - 5:00pm, ET Toll-Free Voice: 1-888-CALL FCC (225-5322) My call got answered. It rang, was answered and the automated system asked me to pick a language. From there, I got menu options.

Good video. I always like his content. The problem he touches on is, the conflicting and contradictory rules combined with poor definitions and poor word choices. Until FCC updates the rules with very clear and specific language or a case makes it to the SCOTUS, there won't be a good answer.

Can you share the link to the page? I'll test it. There are a bunch of different numbers depending on what the call is in reference to. There may be another number you can use.

Not sure what to say. I just use the radio. Every HF radio I have every owned, ranging in age from manufactured in the late 80's to still being made today, all have FM on every band from 160MHz to 30MHz. It has not been possible to make any adjustments to it... it just is what it is. In my entire life, I have never ever heard of anyone get a no-no letter from the FCC or even complaints from other operators. I looked at my logs a few minutes ago. I personally have made over 1,000 contacts in the last 20+ years between 14 MHz and 3.8 MHz, all around the US in in over 30 countries. It's being done and it works. No fiddling is even possible.

With limited exception, there are almost no rules on bandwidth on HF. The bandwidth limitations are typically defined by the modulation type authorized. Most of the HF radios that I've seen that transmit FM only occupy 1.8 kilohertz of bandwidth. Which is well below the common bandwidth of 3 kilohertz used for single sideband, and it works great. I personally have used FM as low as 3.85 MHz and spoke to people as far as 300 miles away without issue.

Actually, FM is allow almost everywhere phone/voice is allowed on the HF bands. The only modulation restrictions I have ever found in the rules are on 60m where you must us USB for phone, and on 10m tech segment (28.3-28.5) and only if you have a tech license. Then, you have to use AM or sideband. The only other restrictions I found specifically for HF voice is that the total bandwidth of a sideband emission with a B designation or a multiplexed image and phone emission cannot exceed the communications quality A3E emission. Which is kinda of stupid, but whatever.

Did someone say FCC Rules???

When I had my FT-891 and IC-7300 MARS modded, it opened up transmit on the CB frequencies, too. Even though I have a legit CB, it's nice to know I have options if needed.

I mean, they didn't do it until 4 decades after the rest of the nations with CB equivalent services did it. If the FCC kept with the times, GMRS as we know it might not exist. Now that I think about it, 27 MHz FM with 50w and repeaters doesn't sound like a terrible idea from a technology standpoint, but it hasn't been very popular on 29 MHz. So, we may have ended up with modern GMRS regardless.

I hear a lot of people from Dominican Republic.

I think President is the only company making FCC type approved radios with all three modulation types. The President George FCC is a great radio with all 3. So is the McKinley II FCC. I'm not sure if there are any other brands, but it would be fun to see what folks can find.

Add that to the list of rules I mentioned earlier that don't make sense. I could see emergency traffic and travelers assistance being priority on every channel... but saying one of the channels cannot be used for anything else seems like a waste of one of the limited number of channels. Especially in today's world of communications tech.

When people are talking locally, they still use a handle, but in noisy DX pile-ups, it's easier to hear a number. Also, there are some really stupid rules, like you are not allowed to talk to people in other countries and you're not allowed to have a conversation for more than 5 minutes, then there is a mandatory 1 minute break, etc. So people have a tendency to use a number instead of a handle to make it harder to ID who's talking. Was it 401 in New Hampshire or 401 in New Mexico kind of mindset.

As 255 mentioned... This will transmit 141.3 and only listen for signals with 141.3. If you want to hear everything and only transmit the tone to open the repeater, do this...

I would agree with others that GMRS is not great for finding people to chat with. If you want radio for that, CB and Ham radio would be much better. Outside of metro areas, GMRS users are far and few between and even in metro areas, you will have a bunch or people lurking, but unless someone knows you, they probably won't respond. Also, "the best" is so incredibly subjective. You need to define what "the best" would be fore you, including upper and lower budget, features desired, is space or weather-proofing a concern, etc. Then we can recommend brands on models based on your goals and limiting factors.

Dude! Don't curse my people! I thought we were friends! LOL

For handheld radios, the Nagoya NA-701C is good for MURS and GMRS. The Nagoya NA-320A is average for amateur 144MHz, 220MHz and 440MHz, and performs marginally on MURS and GMRS. The Diamond SRH77CA will work anywhere from sub-par to fantastic on frequencies from 136MHz to about 600MHz, but is designed for 2m/440.

The short answer is yes, there are plenty of multi-band antennas. The long answer is, yes, but not that cover every band. Also antennas tuned to and dedicated to the band you want to transmit and receive on Will work better.

Two of the old moderators were the biggest troublemakers. He bounced them and hasn't put anyone back in the role.

I think you're giving human beings way too much credit. Counter surveillance and evasion tactics aren't something the typical person understands.

I guess you don't know that every GMRS radio (including made by American owned companies) is made in China or Chinese territory?

I'll take "Questions Answered with 'No' " for $800, Alex.