kidphc
-
Posts
1010 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
16
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Classifieds
Posts posted by kidphc
-
-
I would say shut up. Commercial lmr gear is made very well. I mean it cost so damn much, most of the cost. They are part 90 and although fcc doesn't want you to they understand that radios are much better then the 90% of the garbage on the consumer market. So for the most part turn a blind eye.Also beware of "some people" that will chastise you for even thinking about using an XTL5000 on GMRS and watch out for the "experts" telling you that you will go to jail if you get a copy of the XTL5000 software..
I just can't afford $2500 for a 5 watt 10 year old handheld.
The problem is getting the software. It is still available Motorola, charges roughly $300 for it. You still may need a ris programming box, not all do.
If you can find a friend online or real life you should be able to get a copy. It was the only way I could get v12.05 for the cdma1250. Crap, said friend handed me 4 used 1250, with new in box accesories, hooked me up with someone who sold me original remote head kits.
At absolute worse case, you can contact a lmr radio shop or talk to someone in the government radio shop. They probable have the hardware and software. They will probably charge a nominal fee. If you get super lucky they will also align and calibrate the radio.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
I know who you are talking about for the most part. Didn't know this area was so saturated. I am not talking about parrot repeaters and little home grown systems. Some of the stuff around here put well funded amateur setup to shame in the same respects they are at lmr commercial setup levels and locations. I use to be a big 2m repeater fan due to coverage. Shock more and more everyday with what gmrs can do.I like the idea. I have been trying to help.
The area's I have homes are flooded with repeaters. Multiple friends/acquaintances of mine, as well as several clubs, have put up so many repeaters in Northern VA, that there are 2 or 3 on every pair.
I am still trying to get some more deployed. I do have one up at my Virginia home that has about a 15 mile radius. I am also looking at putting up several repeaters in a park in Schuylkill County PA and New London County CT on property that belongs to family and friends.
I think part of the problem. Is that they need to be published and easier to find.
Finally, got the coveted list from no other then M.W. Now I want to cry. I thought this area was devoid of anything but react repeater. Which turn out are his, several of many repeaters!?
Do we have perfect coverage no. Still some holes. In his plans from what I get, aka remote recievers. Linking, in his wish list, technical problems, ie is etc.
I still firmly believe publishing and actual coverage areas are part of the problem.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Some awful nice radios for gmrs usage.The GMRS antenna on both my Jeeps is at the rear-passenger corner. Its not the most optimal location, but it works just fine. SWR on the LJ is 2.1:1, and on the JKU is 1.6:1 .. Range is great and I regularly get simplex fars of 20+Miles and can hit one of my repeaters from 98 miles.. So dont let any of the "experts" tell you that this mounting location "wont work"... Both Jeeps have Motorola XTL5000 radios.
CB (when I used it) was same location, but dont use CB anymore.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
This might help a bit to decipher between 868 and 878. I always thought the 878 was the successor to the 868.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Older 878 models where aprs recieve only analog/digital.BTech DMR6x2, for example (which I've been tempted by, mostly for the APRS). Itll even use code plugs for the anytone 868.
I'm noticing the description only refers to transmitting APRS data, though, and not receiving.
Believe 878 ii and sister models is where the aprs transmit was added, some you need to update the firmware.
878ii plus has aprs rx/tx analog/digital with sms capabilities.
The article I posted about 2 post upwards outline the differences and how you can upgrade whether it is a hardware change or software and hardware.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Awesome.I have and like the Alinco. I have never owned the Anytone, but I believe Anytone made the MD5 for Alinco and that it’s similar to a slightly earlier model/version of the 878. Many of the guys in my radio club have the Anytone and like it. They are so similar that I would have almost zero time spinning up to use an Anytone. Both are commercial radios.
The Alinco is more compact.
The Anytone has much more memory (500,000 contacts versus 300,000) but I loaded all the DMR users in North America in mine and have lots of room still so unless you plan to load the entire world you may not notice it. There are a lot more tutorial videos available for the Anytone, especially if you buy it through Bridgecomm. I cannot point to anything about either brand that makes me think one is higher quality than the other.
The Alinco accepts antennas made using the reverse SMA connector that the Baofeng uses, female threads and male center pin on the radio body. I don’t know for sure that the Anytone does, but I’d be surprised if it doesn’t. I have the following Amateur handheld radios: Baofeng UV5R, Baofeng GT5R, Alinco DJ-MD5GTP, Yaesu FT65R, and Yaesu FT5DR. All except the FT5DR use the Baofeng pattern SMA connector.
I’ve been complimented on the quality of my signal when using the Baofeng GT5R and a faux Nagoya 771 made and sold as the Tidradrio 771. They told me that I was getting full quieting on our 2 meter receiver. The repeater site is on a mountain 16 miles away and is the site of a UHF DMR repeater also. When I screwed that same antenna onto the Alinco and monitored the signal strength reported for my DMR transmissions, the signal goes from S5 to S7 and sometimes even S8 while sitting in the same chair at my kitchen table on the other side of the house.
So, I like the Alinco. I would like the Anytone just as well or even better because of its features. My favorite dual band analog radio is the Yaesu FT-65, in spite of the FPP interface. I like the size, sound, and price. I feel like it’s an excellent analog handheld.
As long as I’m doing a very subjective data dump, I prefer the way DMR is structured over C4FM, at least so far. C4FM is easier to program from the front panel, but the underlying infrastructure is more complex. When it comes to digital modes, it’s probably not very realistic to expect to program many digital channels via the front panel. I can and have done it on both the Alinco MD5 and the Yaesu FT5DR, just to make sure I could.
I did find out that Anytone and a lot of the other radios are essentially cousins (some have pretty big changes).
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Again awesome.Actually GPS Roaming as implemented by Anytone switches to either DMR or analog repeaters based on location, rather than DMR handshake:
There aren't great reviewer. Most are crap let me open the box type reviews, that do range review (really why?). The lack of technical review for a lot of radios make me cry, I can read specs and the manuals for the most part. I try to avoid RTFM (READ THE F@*KING MANUAL) and ID10T (idiot, you sound it out as id ten t) type of moments.
I think I will be buying the 878uvii plus over the alinco md5 series (this is cheaper, with many similar features. I originally wanted to invest in higher quality gear and was willing to pay for it. Turns out I am slowly turning into an Anytone whore, with an at6666, 20g and likely 878.
This article has swayed me to not bother with 220 (open transmit) and towards the 878.
http://members.optuszoo.com.au/jason.reilly1/868mods.htm#SelectingBands
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
New clarification. As always appreciated. It's like the manafacturers expect you to have worked the commercial trade and their particular model linesWell at least normal FM. There are some trunking systems, with distributed repeaters, where the radios will look for a repeater that has the strongest signal, or above a threshold level, and use it. The radios are programmed with the minimum signal levels which the repeater has to meet or exceed to connect.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Yes, you are correct almost all ht will recieve gmrs without mods. I perfer the mod for when I wish to transmit, all legality a side that is speaking.All but entry level Amateur gear should RECEIVE most of the VHF/UHF spectrum without a "MARS/CAP" modification. If you need to talk with those "little ones" (who are probably NOT on GMRS, but rather FRS) it might be cheaper just to buy a set of bubble-pack radios and consider them disposables if they get splashed at the beach. You'd at least match the NFM deviation of FRS.
Just as an aside: to me "all-band" implies HF/6m/2m/7cm (maybe 1.2G; not much stuff included 1.25m -- Kenwood being the main exception as I have the D74 and F6 which both include it at "full power" [for an HT]; Yaesu VX8DR had 6m/2m/70cm at full power, and 1.25m at, if lucky, 1W).
I do have multiple frs and gmrs radios to use. Often will carry one of the gmrs radios to use with the family. There times where I will only carry one radio. Like on some particular hikes up mountains.
Sorry, I was using all band in the like in the lmr modes. Parts of 2m, 70cm (more like 65cm) and 800-900 band.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Now it is kinda between the Allinco and Anytone..
Price versus some features... guess the commercial gear is going to have to wait.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk -
Think it only works with bluecat. Which is for like 2 yaesu unitsI went for the Repeaterbook app...the proximity search based on your location is kinda nice, but I don't have anything it can push the presets to over Bluetooth (I think there's just a couple models that can).
I've also programmed common stuff in the common areas/routes i travel. I do have the luxury of time, though, since I don't travel all that much. With the LMR radios, I have banks of out of town stuff by region (sf bay, slo coast, coast p25, etc)
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
I believe so.Is that the GPS Roaming that Anytone has? The Alinco has regular roaming which is the same as roaming in the Anytone, but a few Anytone models have GPS Roaming where a repeater in memory that’s within a radius of a gps point will be selected automatically.
The repeater must be programmed in though. Of course a single download from Repeaterbook can accomplish that.
I will check my Alinco, but I don’t recall seeing GPS Roaming.
Didn't see it in reviews or features.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Icom, kenwood thd74a, anytone 878uvii plus (current winner for me) have a near repeater function.I’ll bite; what is “near repeater”?
Not all repeaters are in the database.
Using the onboard gps it will try to locate a repeater that is near by.
Some of the manfacturers have also implemented a feature it will then try to connect to it, if you want to.
It's a feature that I wish it was in all higher end mobiles and hts.
Currently, got to walk around with a repeater list, or have it preprogrammed.
Me I have repeaterbook link on the homepage of my phone.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
2 minutes ago, wrci350 said:
Alinco DJ-500TB Analog $140
Alinco DJ-MD5XTG DMR/Analog $196
Both are Part 90 radios, so no diode clipping, resister removing, or magic power-on sequence needed. They ship with a 136-174/400-470 antenna, which certainly must be better at *some* of those frequencies, but usable at all of them.
Hmm.... interesting. Just to need to find out it if has near repeater functionality. I REALLY would like that in my next radio. Sigh a Kenwood THD74a would of worked, but it would be nearly the cost of some commercial radios used. Hence the start of the thread, for an all around radio that could do it all, but not perfect, just close.
For most part i will try and carry a dedicated radio for that service. But would be nice say at the beach to work the ham radio and still listen to the little ones on their gmrs radios.
Just now, Sshannon said:Yaesu’s good about publishing free CPS for their radios. The FT5DR is really nice in that you can put the programming on a micro sd card and pop the card into the radio.
I currently have multiple SDR cards for my FTM400XDR so I could travel and load up repeaters on the route. Thought about doing that with a FT5DR. But that 1.3 watts kinda destroys so of the flexibility of the radio for me.
-
20 minutes ago, wayoverthere said:
Unsurprisingly, that looks like the same antenna as came with my ft4x. Mine is opened up as well, but I haven't tested power output out of band...I think I've seen the same info as @kidphcon the ft5dr's lower output on gmrs.
Have done FPP on the ft4x, and it's not the top of the list of things I want to do. Not much ahead of a baofeng...again, unsurprisingly. Both are doable with some practice, for that occasional new repeater you might want to add, but not something I'd want to do from scratch with a massive list.
Definitely, easier on the FT"X"dr series then on something like the FT-65/uv5r style radio. Only because of the menu system vs touching different things.
I have manually programmed repeaters on my FTM400 and will say I think the UI designer was drunk when they designed it.
So yes mass programming repeaters RT systems all the way. I would of killed myself on any of the radios if I had to program 400 repeaters using FPP.
-
4 minutes ago, Sshannon said:
The antenna for the FT-65 lists a range of 400-470 MHz.
The antenna for the FT5D has no range markings that I have seen.
IF you feel the need https://imgur.com/account/favorites/QVHfAiw
-
Just saw the ft"x"dr series that. Take off the battery and there is a rubber plug. Remove and the resistor below it is removed. Thank you yaesu for pointing it out. It reformat the memory card and restarts...Yes I do! I love everything about the FT-65 except the front panel usage. That’s probably my fault for having multiple radios and not becoming as proficient in each of them, but the Baofeng UV5R is one of the few that I can do from the front panel without having to consult the manual.
I do have the FT5DR, since you mentioned the SMT chip removal on it. I haven’t done it, even though I have quite a bit of SMT experience. I just don’t feel the need yet.
You did stimulate my interest in doing the software configuration for the FT-65 though. It worked exactly like the video showed and I was able to transmit to it using my Garmin GMRS radio.
But I also read that the 5dr will only transmit 1.3 watts in gmrs.
Which begs the question, what antenna to use.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
-
Just now, tweiss3 said:
That makes sense. Yes, on the APX line they do have multibands. You will likely spend your entire $2500 budget. Fortunately, the APX CPS is free now, and you are able to get wideband entitlements from Motorola.
yup... I can see why there are reports of the radio saving officers lives from bullets.
It is starting to look like the Harris for me might be the ticket.
-
3 minutes ago, Sshannon said:
Even the software configuration changes are commonly referred to as MARS/CAP modifications. What you’re wanting to do can probably even be done with a Baofeng UV5R. The older ones just were sold opened up but the FCC made that change. I don’t know exactly the sequence there, but I doubt it is too difficult.
My Alinco DJ-MD5 only requires a software change similar to a reset.I do have a radio that I am currently using that is similar to what your are suggesting. I am using the BF-F8HP. It does have FPP although at times makes me want to cry. If you have FPP programmed you understand the pain, mostly for me is "is why did I program that again?".
- SteveShannon and wayoverthere
-
1
-
1
-
45 minutes ago, wayoverthere said:
It's not full dual band transmit, but apparently the Vertex Standard vx920 (and p920) series have the ability drop in an add-on board to receive the other band (vhf receive on a uhf radio, or vice versa. Afaik, limited FPP can be unlocked on the 929's (mainly changing tones, not full frequency freedom...I haven't dug through that too much yet).
Love the tone agility. Lack of frequency agility kinda sucks especially for ham use. Its doable but not on the top of the list.
-
4 minutes ago, kidphc said:
I thought i was looking at an all band XPR7550 all band this past weekend. I will have to double check with a friend. I also thought it was a rarer vhf/uhf 2 model.
Fug, my bad..... Turns out it was an APX7000 UHF R1
still learning
-
2 hours ago, tweiss3 said:
Moto XPR7550 does not come in dual band, but you can get both VHF and UHF.
Kenwood NX-5700/5800 is similar, one deck for each band, but you can stack the decks into a single head. A dad mount (not remote mount, single deck) is about $900 new. Remote kit is about $350/450. Should be right at your $2500 for UHF + VHF with analog and NXDN. FPP is $130/deck. Caveat on the IHF is any FPP reverts to narrow band, but the VHF supposedly doesn't. I'm on the waiting list for a 5800K2 that should be coming soon. You can do OST (operator selectable tone) and setup a table of 40 options. You could add DMD or P25 to each deck as well, P25 is the most expensive entitlement though.
I thought i was looking at an all band XPR7550 all band this past weekend. I will have to double check with a friend. I also thought it was a rarer vhf/uhf 2 model.
-
1 hour ago, Sshannon said:
I think almost any of the dual band handhelds by Yaesu can be opened up to do GMRS. I have an FT65R that can be using a numerical sequence after a multiple key press on power up.
I had looked at buying a FT5DR. Which would require mucking with SMD. Kinda why I added the cavet of not doing a mars/cap mod.
-
All band commercial/lmr/amateur HTs. Not looking to mars/cap mod it, want it built so it is capable. Trying to keep it below $2500
All legal discussions aside. Do you know what old commercial/amatuer ht gear falls into this terriotory?
-all Band ( capable of 2m,70cm, gmrs, so has to have analog built in.
-front panel programming
I have come up with three so far that fit the bill.
- Anytone 878 uvii plus
-Motorola Xps7550 all band
-Harris Unity Xg100p
Programming Motorola XTL5000 or CDM1250 mobile radios
in Technical Discussion
Posted
I had wished their was a outside primer document. I would write one up, but I am no expert/instructor and wouldn't be able to answer any questions nor would I be sure it was right.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk