kidphc

Have a friend who is heavily into commercial gear (knows more then some of the radio managers for the government agencies). Can't get a job because doesn't have the accredited/documented experience. He's a God in my book and a crazy resource. So getting the software not a problem. Hardware like programming cables ris boxes etc, he points me to fleabay.. He had the harris at dinner, the other night. That is what piqued my intrest. I have been wanting to upgrade my edc ht. The commercial radios had almost everything I wanted and the durability and quality. Plus the cool factor. Ended up ordering the 878uvii plus. As my daily edc an upgrade from the bf8hp, which isn't as crappy as you would think it would be for the price. Only missing one feature that I wouldn't be surprised if they made a 989 or 878 uv3. Which is true dual recieve. Which would probably put in the id52a/ft4dr price range. Found a harris falcon (knock off turns out) basically a uv5r in a case with mcu for 300. Friend of course goes Fake immediately, your price is the normal price used. Turns out it was made for milsim airsoft. Bonus found a kydex 90 degree flip holster for the radio. I love that style of holster. Durable to take bumps and bangs (rubbing against tree stumps and rocks when hiking etc. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

My x200a (about 8ft long 2m/70cm ham antenna) is in my attic. Averages out bout 60 miles or so on repeaters, havent tried further. On simplex it seams to get about 20 miles or so. Roland that I was speaking about earlier, has a tower that is part tree. I have to see pictures, cause I am a bit confused. But I believe he put steps on a tree and then mounted a tower to it. Pretty much everyone in the va, dc and parts of pa, have spoken to him. Commercial antenna 100ft up with the help of M.W. It has some crazy reach. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Not Annapolis Roland... but the other one. Haven't talked to him Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

The buddy in Annapolis and I talk on wheaton every night around 6. Keeps me company on my commute home. Roland2 is a bit worried about Roland1 (back in the hospital for complications after recovering form Covid). I thought you were suppose to meet up with M.W. about bull run. /shrug. Ashburn would be an incredible location. I hope this pans out. The Baltimore guys are hosting a meet and greet. I imagine M.W. will be there and so will Roland (keeps reminding me about it). I am going to try to make it. Gmrs meet up american legion post 109 butus md. 1:30-4:30 It wasn't me talking about shakes....lol Maybe we can meet on air. Wheaton makes it to Annadale. My mobile to Wheaton not so much. So it will be tough since we are just a hair apart. Might be able to do it on 2m repeater. Gmrs is not as good setup mobile or base. Base in Rockville is a 20g (20w) using a n9tax slim jim converted to blade antenna mounted 2 stories up in the house. Ok, but nothing like the x200 another 10 feet up in the attic. Sorry to all for the cryptic message. It is to respect the repeater owner. None of us want to get on his bad side. If you access any of the repeaters for a month you will understand. ×** if you want access pass us info privately. We will be more then happy to pass it on. He does check on you (license etc. And monitors the repeaters. Plus if you are an ass in the air we will tell him. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I found it more painful to learn their terminology. Not like it's difficult, just different words and thought process. 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

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. 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 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. 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. 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 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. 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 lines 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. 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 units Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I believe so. 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. 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

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. 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.

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.

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... 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

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.

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?".

Love the tone agility. Lack of frequency agility kinda sucks especially for ham use. Its doable but not on the top of the list.