kidphc

For my 70cm gmrs hts. I usually use what is supplied with them. Aka my motorola xts5ks. For my ham radios (2m/70cm/aprs and gmrs) I have found stocks antennas are ok. But the stock rubber duck antennas did the best job trying go across such a wide bandwidth. Even the signal stick was barely an improvement on the 878uv, caused intermod issued with the Feng bf8hp for me at least. For my gmrs hts I usually swap them for Nagoya 701c and they perform admirably. The harris xg100m. The long high gain antenna works the best. It's tri band and is adequate. Real short, stock rubber ducks work fine. If it is a gmrs specific ht. I found the Nagoya 701c a good antenna. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Usually, the seller has the feature sets or options that the radio has. Sometimes they will have a screen capture of what the programming software read or you can inquire to the seller about said information. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

There are some videos on youtube. Which are really good at teaching things like programming p25 in astro25. You are going to want to narrow down your radio choices first. Each software is different and has different quirks. Generally, they program similarly to any other radio. Just with different terms for the same thing. Unfortunately some software like Harris rpm. There aren't videos, they kinda expect you to already know or attend harris training. Then it's a matter of playing with the software and figuring it out. For Kenwood, you have Lscott [emoji14] I for the most part think the Motorola software is one of the easiest, since it's straight forward, well for me at least. F harris.. nac code says its hex in software , but it isn't actually using hex its decimal...lol Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Stand corrected then. I don't load encryption keys on my radios. All my hexedits and feature additions are done by handful of friends. They are the ones that actually know the intricacies. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Real high level. Dmr = mototurbo timeslot digital (one of the better option for businesses requiring encryption. No encryption for amateur usage but encryption is ok for lmr usage Ysf = yeasu fusion proprietary c4fm digital. Negative it is only available to yeasu radios in native format. No encryption allowed. Wirex = ysf with internet connectivity Apco p25= c4fm (not the same as ysf and not compatible, but same technology) standardized for public safety. This can be analog. It can also be conventional p25 (used in simplex/with a repeater). Trunked you have a control frequency that tells the radios what frequency and talkgroup that can be used. It usually requires multiple frequencies. Benefit with digital with encryption. Is even if someone has the equipment, and the frequency and all the settings. That theu can't listen onto encrypted channels without the keys. It does require additional cost with a xtl5k/xts5k you will need a key loader like a motorola kvl, the cables and keys and entitlement enabled. Analog is always easier to work on then digital and usually cheaper. Pic of a buddies kvl3000 I was working. Attached below.http://files.mygmrs.com/forums/monthly_2024_04/FB_IMG_1713707770436.thumb.jpg.10a150798755507a315db1f20c958a8a.jpg Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It's single banded. Vhf, uhf r1, uhf r2.. etc. If you want to do say vhf and uhf. To stay motorola you will need to dual brick or pay for a relatively rare apx7500 vhf/uhf (only rare because a majority are set to 700/800 and r2/r1.) Or even an apx8500. Hence why I ended up buying a xg100m. 2m,70cm, 7/800 and vhf low (not really usable though). Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

You don't really pay all that much to the fcc. Now the local frequency coordinator. He's going to rob,rape and pillage you. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

You won't unless they have the same tone. Locally we suggest all people enable/program a monitor button if out radio has that feature... Then monitor for about 30sec to a minute before transmitting. On repeater pairs a lot of have no receive ton on the receive side. I don't do this because I don't want to hear all the kids and lawn mor companies stopping my repeater scan. So generally, before transmitting on a repeater pair I hit the monitor button on my xtl5k or xg100m and I removes the tones for the receive side. It's helpful for some one whom might be close on simplex but can be heard by the repeater for one reason or another (usually wrong tone or dont even have one set) but can hear our conversation on the repeater output. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It can help and hurt. Most springs are calculate into the length of the radiating (active) length of the antenna. For instance, the comet 2x4sr (think this post is the one you are referring to) is about the same length as the section that is removed to install it. It would not affect anything. You can actually tune the antenna by unlocking the allen grub screws and increase or decrease the length of the antenna smidgen. But because of it being a collimeter design it can be a bit tricky to do right. Which is unlike cb antenna steel whips. Which are technically too short, most commercial whips are about 102". By adding the 6" spring to the base it brings it closer to the natural resonance length. Give or take with spring it's 108". Resonance is about 108-112" (true 1/4 length) for 11mhz/cb. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It will work just not well. It's just a really kinda compromised antenna. 2m-70cm and gmrs is a real big stretch, bandwidth wise. So the swr values I got it was close to 2.1-2.5 give or take swr on the gmrs repeater. Some got lower swr, but my ditch light mount where the antenna is located is a compromise location. So take it with a grain of salt. It heard gmrs better then my Larson 270. But the Larsen is up on the car. Why? Well the Larsen is extremely flexible and can/has taken a beating. Some con with the 2x4sr. One it is thick (how it gets its bandwidth), tall and stiff. The other con is the hinge (mine started to loosen up in about a months time) as well as I found water starting to go through to the coil. If you do get it expensive. The spring (Highly recommend it) adds cost and isn't included. Mine at least whacked everything. The thickness a benefit to bandwidth, made my antenna move way to much. It rocked the mount violently with every bump, one of the main reasons I went back to the Larsen. In short if you don't need to have 2m/70cm you are better off with a dedicated gmrs 5/8th over 5/8th antenna. Sorry for the long winded post. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Sadly. Don't use the repeater is the answer. The only way to stop a tone decoder is to not have transmissions with the tone encoded. Hell we have one local guy, sits in a tow truck between calls and tries to find repeaters. He is proud of finding hidden repeaters. He has every tone programmed on every repeater pair. Basically tried to brute force method to find repeaters. He gets a repeater tail and he is happy. Just be prepared to change tones if someone starts interfering. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Yes, you are over thinking it. The mag mount should provide enough capacitance. Provided there is enough sheet below it. Even in hf, you would be better served by grounding chassis component of the car over going through the antenna mount. Mainly due to the wavelength in hf. Think meters to tens of meters to hundreds of meters for one full sine of rf wave. Gmrs is only going to need a disk roughly 9 inches in diameter. To accomplish the same. Stick the magnet on the center of the roof and enjoy. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Not sure if that is possible. I haven't seen any network talkgroup ids that are linked. Plus it's not in the same service, so what are the legal ramifications? Would this be a violation (maybe multi violation)? I mean cross repeating two separate radio services? You know gmrs radio transmissions to an ip network over to an amateur ip network, then over to potentially retransmitted to amateur frequencies on a hotspot? God my head hurts thinking about it. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Agreed. But it's expensive for a mobile antenna Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I have done a little research. Not a huge amount. Mainly because I thought I could do ham, lmr and gmrs on the same antenna. Which you can't i would have to buy ham antenna, lmr/gmrs antenna. Which would have been $$$. It uses what looks foil like flaps arranged in a circular pattern with dielectric material between the flaps. So it looks like it creates a circular polarization pattern, great for fm radio and satellite comms. Although I am really skeptical about some of his claims. Josh from ham radio crash course did a comparison of it to some tried and true dual-band mobile antennas. It in fact did seem to reach out and hear better than most of the whip style. I have no experience with it. Why didn't I plunk monet down on it? 1. I needed flexible antennas. Parking garages and trees. That antenna is a rigid tube. 2. Couldn't tune the damn thing. Not a deal breaker if done properly from the factory. But i like tuning mine and being able to get replacement parts cheaply. Guess if you really want to know you will have to whack the crap out of your credit card. Personally, that is almost as much money as used Motorola mobile or mid tier to high-end radio. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Yeasu's hf mobile motorized screwdriver. Works directly with the likes of a ft891,817,ft991a without the need for a controller. Gets shit on a lot due to weather seal issues, motor issues and missing features of its competitors. Frankly, you cant compare it to the competitors. Simply because even a baby tarheel is going to start at 350 or so, then if you want memory for the different bands, almost as much as the antenna a quality controller. Then there are the scorpions, easily 3x the atas cost for the screwdriver alone. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Barely tunes 2m. So I would venture no. But you can try, would have to cut the antenna pretty fierce. I figure the internal coil is too long. In fact I haven't seen a screwdriver antenna (commercial) built even go to 70cm. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Do you hear a repeater tail after you key up? Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Legally/technically.. you would need a FCC approved device for each service. 1 radio for gmrs/frs 1 radio for amateur uhf/vhf 1 radio for amateur hf ( they have base stations that do 2m/70cm and hf) 1 radio for cb 1 radio for public safety 700-800 Yada yada and so on. Fun part most antennas can't do multi services well either. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

No. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Whatever antenna you choose. You are going to want it roughly 100 feet up. Make sure there is nothing in the way, you will want to try to clear as many trees, hills and buildings. The less obstructions the better you are. Really helps if the repeater antenna is just as high or if not higher. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Gmrs is 462-472 mhz.. so yes unless you mod the radio all you can do is listen to the gmrs bands. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Don't think by default the 60re can transmit on gmrs. Not at least without a cap mod. Since it is amateur radio ht. Not a gmrs ht. EDIT: yup just confirmed transmit is 430-450 uhf and 144-148 vhf. Ham 2m and 70cm bands. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Could try a piece of vinyl wrap. Apply to the area on the car. Then place mag mount on it. Damn I wish I had tried it on the burb. The mag mount left a rust spot on the roof. It attracted iron from the debris on the road and that started to rust. Remeber dirt has iron in it. Don't believe me go grab a magnet and rub it on some dirt. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Frs/gmrs 4 is interstitial at 462.6375. Frs/gmrs 18 is 462.625. Shouldn't really hear them unless one of the following. 1. Horrible rf control by the radio. It shouldn't be spurious emissions, since spurious are usually harmonics. 2. Some is using a something like an unlocked non gmrs baofeng on frs 4 and didn't set the channel to narrow band. Set it wide and you would here some of the garbage on adjacent frequencies. Although it would be muffled and sound like garbage. Since you are getting some but not all of the carrier. Unlikely. 3. Most likely some radio on ch18. Roger beeps, clear to talk and all that crap are on multiple radios outside of frs. Remember the frs/gmrs rules were changed a year ago. So all but the repeater inputs are now shared. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk