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marcspaz

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Everything posted by marcspaz

  1. No, there is no PA feature. You can buy a separate PA system for anywhere from $35 to $600. That's likely going to be your only option if you want the KG - 1000
  2. LOL.. sorry, I'll try to keep this shorter. This is just my opinion... but this reply providing an explanation of your opinion is significantly easier to digest, except and respect. Especially for me comparing it to your initial post. I seriously do appreciate the cordial response. All of my friends call me Spaz. Please feel free to use whichever you are comfortable with. Understood. I have to be honest... there is a difference between understanding that it happens vs. being SOP and part of the plan, which is what it sounded like you were advocating earlier. I'm glad you clarified. I thank you for that. I try not to have a "holier than thou" attitude. I don't believe I am better than anyone else, but rather accept that I am flawed. Everyone has value, regardless of differences in any parts of our lives. I do owe you an apology, though. I really took you post personally, so I came at you pretty hard, not giving you a chance to explain your side of it. For that, I'm sorry. Legacy license Like Advanced and Tech+ are still honored, but the only new licenses currently issued are Technician, General and Extra. As far as getting rid of the test requirement for entry level, I think I would be really hesitant. With even an entry level an Amateur Radio license of Technician, you can have global communications with just a few watts and Amateur bands but up against frequencies that are used by emergency services. FRS/GMRS but up against frequencies that are used by emergency services too, but the radio equipment is restrictive enough to prevent someone who is not aware from causing harmful interference by mistake. Almost all of the Tech license training is about rules, more than technology. That is to help make people aware of limits so they don't make themselves or others sick (RF exposure) or mistakenly cause harmful interference to other services. If the test was ditched, I would probably be more open to the idea if it was replaced with something like a few hours in a mandatory class, so we know that new operators are aware of dangers, benefits and resources for information if they want to learn more or get a reminder.
  3. @WRQI583 The things you are saying and what @WRQC290 are saying just don't match up to what is really happening in the world of emergency response. I'll share actual facts about what has been happening based on my continued involvement over the last 20 years. If you still feel the way you do, than I will just simply stop the discussion. Before I get too far into this, I want to share my background. Normally I hate people who "flash their resume" in an internet debate, but in this case I think its relevant to the topic we are discussing. Especially since John set the precedent. I am turning 50 this year. I have a gifted IQ and since I was 12 years old (1984), I have been working as a professional in Electronics Engineering and Computer Systems and Network Engineering. I have been specializing as a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security since its inception in 2002. I have several major roles in the organization. One of my roles are providing emergency communications sustainment to critical communications infrastructure to ensure first responder, emergency responders, public messaging, and 911 communications are functional during emergencies. Additionally, I am and have been a volunteer with ARES/RACES for 20 years. I am an Assistant Emergency Coordinator, Operator and trainer in two states, totaling 3 counties. I have decades of extensive training in NIMS, ICS and EmComm/AuxComm. In my years of experience, I have assisted with emergency communications with several major disasters in the US, both man-made and natural. Most lasting months. With some of my credentials listed (goodness I hated that) let me explain what happens in the real-world. Obviously I cannot speak for how everyone does everything, but my teams are regularly used as an example of what should be done. For someone to join our team and be a successful participant, they only need a technician class license, a decent VHF handheld radio, a couple of spare batteries and some entry level ICS training. Would other tools help? Sure, but our teams do provide almost everything needed. Obviously, there is a significant need for people to be in good health due to the working conditions in an actual disaster, but we don't discriminate due to disabilities. If you can do the job, you can do the job. The teams that I work with have a very heavy focus on VHF and UHF. We have VHF/UHF repeater systems owned by the ARES/RACES team members that are located at key locations, such as at the hospitals, airports and both County and State EOC's. We have spent a significant amount of time and money investing in battery, solar and liquid fuel generators at each location, for extended to unlimited amounts of runtime, regardless of commercial and public works infrastructure. Our repeater systems are designed in such as way that we have coverage with most of them for greater than a 90 mile diameter, with overlap for relays. We also have extensive, member owned digital and APRS networks in our support areas. We have our own extensive OTA computer network that allows us to send electronic documents, email, and other tradition computer-based functions. On occasion, that also includes voice and video conferencing. We have several redundant systems for portable and mobile VHF/UHF repeater systems that can be on the air providing coverage in minutes... not hours or days. All 100% standalone and supported by battery, solar, and/or liquid fueled generators. All of our VHF and UHF equipment has been modified for compatibility with with FRS and GMRS radios, as well as some DOD services. Often our civilian volunteer SAR/USAR teams use these radios, as well as us intentionally putting FRS radios in the hands of critical leadership and POC's inside the workforce so they can easily reach us if we don't have the manpower for a Shadow. Additionally, many of our members' personally owned equipment has been modified for this purpose as well. With regard to HF, there is an occasional call for the use of it. This is typically for voice or email traffic that does need to travel hundreds of miles and the backbone is down. Examples would be during the Katrina response or during the week-long power blackout that impacted all of the Northeast and parts of eastern Canada, to name a couple. We do have a few members who hold a General or Extra license who would man those stations at the EOC's, their home shack or portal shack, if needed. So, with all of that said, I get personally offended and defensive when people such as yourself or John say things like you have. Especially stuff like this... "old fogies who run the miscellaneous clubs, and prepper groups, think that reading fox news headlines over the local repeater, or broadcasting which Costco still has pallets of toilet paper in stock during a crisis is going to be the best use of 2 way radio comms after a major emergency." (Encouraging or advocating for theft? Wow) "The reality of course is that inexpensive radios that can be looted from the local Walmart and distributed to neighbors..." "overweight retirees with ham licenses, will be the ones needing rescue, not providing essential communications (or any useful assistance whatsoever)." So, are there a bunch of old farts, contesters, rag chewers and people with disabilities on Ham radio? Sure. In my 20 years of personal and profession experience specifically surrounding emergency services, are those the people who are responding to emergencies? Nope. Is FRS/GMRS "better" than Amateur Radio for emergencies? While if depends on the immediate need and the bodies doing the work at the moment, generally speaking I would say no, because FRS and GMRS simply can not provide the level of services that Amateur Radio can. Again, GMRS and FRS are extremely valuable for some emergency responses. I am proud to be a GMRS user. I am not bashing the service, its users, or the awesome men and women who put together some amazing GMRS networks to help people in their area. So, that's it. End of soap box.
  4. I can't believe this is true AND you have the previously stated opinion. You would know that there is no other group or assortment of technology, techniques and talent that can match what we can accomplish and have accomplished with amateur radio and our partnerships with the aforementioned agencies. When no one else can communicate, Hams can. I'm certainly not bashing GMRS, FRS. The best solution is the one you have, but I'm not going to sit here and let you post that BS opinion and not call you out. Sorry... but no.
  5. I can't even begin to describe how ignorant and arrogant you sound. You clearly have zero practical experience in amateur radio, how the operators are integrated within local, state and federal emergency response plans, nor the overwhelming success the amateur radio community has had serving in actual national emergencies. The assumption that every operator is a decrepit, overweight, old man whom needs rescuing is laughable at best. Sorry @OffRoaderX I know that has Sad Ham written all over it... but I have to draw the line somewhere. LOL
  6. @WRMN374 glad to hear it! Always happy to help! I wish you the best and looking forward to seeing/reading about the install.
  7. The DB-404B is an omni-directional antenna, so there is no need to rotate it. Just put it on the mast. You only need to be able to rotate an antenna that is directional. Freestanding towers are fine as long as you adhere to load and wind restrictions. Some tower manufactures have dual ratings, too; one rating if the tower is left freestanding and a second rating if it is guyed. If you are concerned, you should be able to contact Universal and see if they have any recommendations, if you think you are going to be on the fringe of the load or wind ratings. Based on the description about the tree height vs the antenna height, you should not have any interference from the trees.
  8. I don't have experience with the 4-40 specifically, but I have owned a couple free-standing towers over the years. What are your questions? I may have an answer.
  9. Man, blast from the past. I just wanted to hop in and say I always loved Vertex Standard equipment, but I am shocked to see some being actively used and even finding software for it. Between going from Standard to Yeasu, to Motorola, and the back to Yeasu before finally being dissolved in 2012, support and software must be tough to come by. Have to say, with the talent here, I am not surprised you got the right answer so quickly. How are you liking the radio?
  10. @wayoverthere I'm not surprised. These companies seem to not put much money into the software piece. Seems like none of them customized the windows at all, defaulting to the built-in colors and presentation from Windows, which gives them all the same look and feel.
  11. marcspaz

    Licensing

    I searched the database and found tons of very expensive fines for stuff like Pirate Radio. I guess I'm gone scratch that one off the bucket list now. ?
  12. In some radio services the offset does vary in step and direction (+/-) depending on the frequency you intend to use. You may have heard/read discussions about those other services (which is occasionally discussed here). However, as mentioned above, GMRS will always be +5Mhz.
  13. Ellicott City and Bull Run Mountain are both on the ch19 pair and accept the 141.3 tone for emergencies. But the regular users of Ellicott City use 7a and the regular users of Bull Run Mountain use 4b for day to day to avoid bringing both machines up at the same time.
  14. Man, I had to screen grab this one for posterity. I call this "internet gold". LOL
  15. I know you are not asking me specifically, but are you asking about how well FM works in other bands, such as lower portions of HF (20m, 40m, etc.)? The reason I ask is because the RF propagation is not impacted by modulation type. Modulation types are chosen due to their performance characteristics with regard to either efficiency or ability to carry data.
  16. Both in VA and in FL, there are a lot of POTA activations on 2m and 70cm FM. They usually call on or around the calling frequencies so they are easy to find. With SOTA in VA, there are a lot of VHF/UHF activations. I'm not sure about the rest of the country, but around these 2 states, except for the GMRS and fox hunt aspects, it's already happening. I'm not sure if that is a good indicator that you will have interest from others or not.
  17. I love 10m repeaters. Had a guy somewhat local to my home in VA with a 10m repeater. It was 37 miles away from my house and I could work it from home all day with only 5 watts. It was high enough that with 100w, it easily had 100 mile+ of LOS/Ground wave coverage and at solar maximum the world was the limit. The repeater is listed as private/off the air now. I'm not sure if the owner passed or decided to stop public access.
  18. That Proclips mount looks pretty neat!
  19. I have on an antenna, but not a dummy load. I definitely do not get full power at night. The short of it, if the battery drops to 12vdc even, when I key up my GMRS radio, the voltage drops to as little as 11.4vdc while transmitting and I see about 18w-20w output. My 100w HF radio will send the battery down to 11.1vdc and I'll see about 50w out. At night, I usually reduce power to get more run-time out of the battery and so I don't stress the radio as much with increased current. Depending on how busy I get this week, I can see if I can get real measurements on the dummy load, if you're interested.
  20. I bought a Thunderbolt 100w solar kit from Harbor Freight. It comes with a controller, which hooks to the battery. I then hooked up a 100 amp hr battery. When the sun is out, the radio runs off the solar kit, but as the sunlight weakens and at night, it runs off the battery I got from Batteries Plus. Total out of pocket was about $500.
  21. I like the post... just a minor point of interest here. It's not a Ham theory... the FCC rules say that amateur stations are limited to the least amount a power required for reliable communications, with maximum power limits. 47 CFR § 97.313 - Transmitter power standards. (a) An amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.
  22. Thanks for the kudos!
  23. I bought a WayALife CB Bar. I have a 2020 Gladiator, but they make them for previous models also. Here is the part I used... just search their site if you have something other than a JL/JT. https://www.wayalife.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=PARTS-CB-BAR A few pictures of my Ham gear... The GMRS radio goes in the same location when I go wheeling.
  24. I'm glad you have a good sense of humor.. I actually do just that on our trips. If there is someone who didn't bring a radio or doesn't have FRS/GMRS when everyone else does, I just hand out a cheap loaner while we're out on the trails. If you let someone use the GMRS radio,, unless the person using your handheld radio is an immediate family member, they can't use your license to go on the repeater. Also,, FRS radios are not repeater capable, so that prevents someone with an FRS radio from getting on a repeater as well.
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