kidphc

You will lose range. The antenna will also transmit more directionally. Be slightly more deaf and often have much higher swr, due to the weird shaped/smaller ground plane (compared to the roof). If range is a concern. Then center of the roof with a high gain antenna, is the optimal answer, almost always. The cab (windshield and a pillar) will partially shield the signal. Not to mention the 2-3 foot difference in height. The ground plane differences lead to 2db or greater loss compared to a center roof mount. Remember, to get 3db gain (roughly one signal bar) you have to double the power with everything else equal roughly speaking. Comparably, although it is not as bad as you think. My hood mount antenna hears about 60-75 percent of what it did on center of the roof. Transmits about 75-80 of the center roof mount. Hence why we always recommend grabbing the drill and mount a nmo. When you do no ground plane antennas, stealth antennas, mag mounts, sub optimal locations. You take a comprimse and add more comprimises. Really comes down to what you can live with. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I think you have covered the 10 paragraphs already [emoji14] Foe the op.. How far are you trying to go? If the terrain has a lot of obstacles, try getting to the highest points you can. Baofengs uv5rs can actually do worse with higher gain antennas. They get overloaded fairly easy (they go at that point). Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Shouldn't be a problem. (Big shouldnt). Remeber, 70cm is third harmonic ( I think) of 2m. So best practices would be shut one down when in use. My xtl 5k will overload my ftm400 when transmitting on occasion. But that is when the frm400 is listening to 70cm, the xtl5k is used for gmrs. It's to be expected at 4.5 feet between the antennas, especially since 70cm and gmrs are so close in frequency. I haven't seen issue on the 2m side when transmitting on gmrs. I say if, since Marc had problems with his 2m xtl 5k, that one he thinks it might have been the gmrs xtl5k, that damaged it. Hopefully, he can chime in with his real world findings. But if you are really worried. Run some cheap filters. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Yes sir, you got it. The alpha deltas at the shack would because of the sdr, and the fact the ft991a has a uhf/vhf port and hf port. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

That is the plan for at the radios. To limit the amount of coax comming from upstairs. The plan is for a remote switch, for the 2m/70cm x200a, 2m/70cm yagi, the dipole and potentially a pair of moxuns on one feed line. The gmrs yagi would have its own dedicated feed line. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Doesn't work for hf. But a 5/8 mobile on a groundplane mount at the eaves came to mind. However, it would be viewable directly from the street. Thus in violation of 2 hoa rules. Currently, I have everything ( minus an antenna switch)for a 7 element gmrs yagi, 11 element uhf and 5 element 2m yagi. As well as a fan dipole for 40m to 6m... as well as a dx commander classic for 80-6m. Just not the time to set it all up. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Correct me if i am wrong, I wouldn't be able to disconnect an antenna remotely. Didn't want to feed both at the same during transmission. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It is only going to get worse. With more repeaters coming online, more licenses and a limited set of repeater pairs. I don't see any easy solutions. With mobile radios ( most cant go below 15w) not being able to use lower channels. It is all compounding to be worse. I told Roland many moons ago, that gmrs will in time become uhf cb radio sadly. Kinda of why I preach, open the squelch, or use monitor to disable pl tones. To listen before transmitting. That still doesn't help if your station has poor ears. Best operating procedures are the only way to help clear up the clutter. I mean come on even in the Ham world people trample on each other tuning up, just because that can't hear the other station. No quick solution, if I think of anything, I will chime back in. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It's my go to ht. Can do 2m,70 cm, gmrs and listen to local public services. It's also easier to inhibit when affiliating. Only time I choose something else, is when I want aprs or dual receive. The long antenna... well buy 2. Why? I am having one fail because it just is kinda long and interferes with a lot. Cons... price (its high) still cheaper than a comparable Apx, in radio, licensing and hardware. Weight, she is heavy. Buttons are chinzy (soft touch) She's a bit slippery, shaped like a box with no real grips. Motorola puts Dumbo ears on their high end for a reason. No parts availability. Gl, getting a widebanded model. If you have friends at a harris dealer. They still may not open it up. Battery life is meh.. even with the lith-ion. About a day with low usage, screen swallows a lot of power. Overall, still love the radio. Especially, the zones and how it is configured, very flexible. It hears and transmit at par with a Motorola in my estimation. Currently, hardest decision is 878 or big old clunky...lol tough decision right? Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It was in my plans to be a tertiary/fourth antenna... but it is on hold till I can buy multiple coax switches Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Nope, you to change the mode with the 3 finger salute (sorry don't remember the buttons). There are different modes for the different markets the radio is sold in. Crap can't even remeber what the mode was. Mine is set to allow 2m/70cm (ham bands) and gmrs band. One mode unlocks 144-147MHz and 400-490 MHz. But if you bought the g version it should be sent to gmrs. If not then it is probably set to the ham bands. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Yes. Since rf linking isn't possible with the limited bandwidth of Gmrs. It is possible in the Ham world by utilizing 2 different bands for the most part, I think. Think sorta cross band repeat. But even there internet connection or phone patches the preferred way. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Generally no. If you say inverse one repeaters pair (not legal for gmrs). They would cause a loop effect. Till one repeater timed out. Best way would be to link the repeaters. There is some hardware in the mygmrs.com shop for that. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

The travel tone of 141.3 was adopted because it is what REACT uses as their tone for the most part. Kinda makes sense.. lol Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Not going to really answer your question, since really it is going to depend on you and how you want it, it really is personal preference. However, you may want to contact the repeater owners to see if other tones are enabled. Some repeaters, many, will have multiple tones on the same repeater. For various reasons, however since there is no real gmrs coordinator, this can reek havic on other repeaters if those same tones are enabled and they are close enough. In your case, i imagine the closer repeater has both tones enabled. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Welcome. Unfortunately, the distance is pretty far. Depending on how far you are it would be cheaper to buy a house close by and live there. You didn't mention how far, unfortunately. Sorry, not trying to be a jerk apologies if it sounds that way. Most really good repeaters are going to have a coverage of about 18-22 miles in a radius. Even those repeaters are up on towers with pricey antennas and gear. Then throw linked repeaters, everyone in the footprint of all those repeaters would be hearing the conversation, as well as tying up those frequencies. Even amateur (ham) would have a tough time covering those distances reliably. Radio frequencies is subject to a lot of different things, like terrain, distance, atmospheric conditions. Have you thought about ip radio like zello? Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I thought the amateur antenna is protected if you are a mars operator. Then it is protected by the DOD. Then everyone can go pound sand. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Funny enough neighborhood is full of "karens". Complaining about leaf blowers and lawn mowers during business hours. That can be heard in their house. Same people where if they were less financially secure with live under a glide path to an airport. Then demand they move the airport that was there 40 years prior to the houses. Lol. I will have to recheck the covenant. But it's pretty restrictive. Not sure about the op. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

For me no. My Hoa will not allow yagi style antennas in the covenant. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

The peak of the eaves. I have a giant triangle on the side of the house. Some 40 feet off the ground. Mobile verticals are going to be omni. Very few people use mobile yagis. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

That only applies to tv antennas. They do and can restrict you from putting radio antennas and towers. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Similar problem with my hoa. For hf I resorted to a bird feeder with a "perching line". The other hf antenna, I will be putting up a 1/4 hf antenna with a flag on top. They allow flag poles up to 25 feet. For my gmrs and uhf/vhf antennas. I have resorted to in the attic. Which presents other problems. Plus, they don't work fantastic. But any antenna is better then non. Though about putting up a vertical mobile antenna, with a base ground plane made for mobile antennas on the eveaes of the house. My hoa doest allow tv antennas. Although that is in violation of the FCC OTA rules. They also only allow small satellite dishes under 16". There are ways around the rules. Most are not optimal. I wish I had trees on my lot, because, you can hide verticals reasonably well in a tree with green paint. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I asked the owner of the repeater (owns about 6 in the D.C. area). About the 100% duty on the Motorola Quantar. His answer which is stereotypical of him was "its a 100% duty cycle till it isn't anymore". Hence, why he tuned them all down to 35 watts. He said they rarely fail at that point minus a lightning strike etc. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Ok. The repeaters that were tuned down were Motorola Quantars. Which I view as nearly indestructible. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Can it handle that duty cycle? Most of the repeaters in this area are 50w capable turned down to 25-30w. To increase available duty cycle and not burn the finals out. Personally, I wouldn't add an amp to a repeater. To me it is just another maitenance item and failure point. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk