kidphc

So a longer antenna should experience less. Trying to figure out if I want to use a 1/4 wave or a 5/8 over 5/8 on the roof. Put side of the 9" vs 31" lengths. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Any answer is more insight then no answer. Started wondering if picket fencing wouls be higher on the longer antenna due to it whipping around more and adding to the mulipath issue. Or even if the higher gain can cause issues with the ability to capture more signal, due to the surface area. But your response would say that neither really would be a differential that contributes. Thank you for your response. Curios what other operators have experienced. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I read something that said that 6db antenna for 450-470 at about 31" picket fences more then a ¹/4 wave which is shorter and flops around less. Therefore exhibits less picket fencing. Anybody have input or real life experiences? Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Originally couldn't find it. Then edited the post to reflect that I had found it and where. Unfortunately, the edit tab doesn't have the option to change font like a normal full reply. I'll change the original post again with strike through font. EDITTED: THIS STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE AND FOUND THE SETTING: Under Optional settings "work mode" tab in CPS v2.05

Nope didn't want to publish something that is everywhere if you look hard enough. Anytone has been making changes to keep the FCC happy. I believe this is one of the things.

Couldn't change mine without the utility. "out of band" when I tried to upload. May have been a firmware change.

Yeah, the CPS will show it, but it will not physically change it on the radio. You need the AT option exe to make the physical change on the radio. The model information in CPS only lets you change the CPS to program it for that mode.

As far as receivers.. The THD74 beats out the Anytone. I am not shocked though.

I think if the firmware is the same there is really no difference between the 878uvii and 878uvii +. It is interesting to note they bother to get it recertified. So what ever it was there was a change beyond the memory I think. With mode 14, I had no interest in 220. Even on the 878 series the power output at max for that band is reduced to Medium. It was more to unlock the radio for out of amateur band transmit as well as not to have the radio locked down to professional mode. Most of the commercial modes allowed up to 480Mhz. EDITTED: THIS STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE AND FOUND THE SETTING: Under Optional settings "work mode" tab in CPS v2.05 "There is no professional/amatuer mode selection in the CPS any longer. So the only choice is to choose a mode that is already preconfigured to amateur mode or lose the Front Panel Programming.""

878 god page gobs of info. Quick link to fix the "out of band" error ****cough *** Cough*** Fixes the problem you have with in the first part of your message. PM for the password if you can't find it. **hint Model number only with #, at least for the 878 Verified compatible with CPS v2.05 from anytone and RT systems 5.00.67 for the 878. Yes, I have both. No RT system will not do all the free CPS will do, so don't uninstall it. Just found it easier for channel changes then the original CPS.

Some minor changes i believe like contact list/dmr list size increase and APRS capability increase (receive/decode and TX instead of TX only. Wonder if there were any other hardware changes.

Weird since it seams to work fine with the standard rubber duck it came with. The nagoya 771 and signal stuff antenna showed marginal improvement. It is sitting under a desk in a concrete/cinder block/ steel building 40 feet from the window and it is receiving GMRS repeater about 10 miles away and a 2m repeater 18 miles away no problem. Haven't really tried simplex. Of course I can't get cleanly to either repeater unless I am outside and about 60 feet away from the building which is 2 stories high with a commercial steel flat roof. You have an 878uvii+ or one of the other model?

The 74a is worlds better then the 878 series. With that being said new it was also twice the cost. Bridgecomm said it best if it was in the class of a thd74a with a full tnc it would cost almost as much. Which I agree with. Can't say anything about reception on digital. Still learning the wonderful world of dmr. With pi prices the way they are I am just saving up for an open spot 4 pro. Wanna trade? J/k. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

So I ended up with an ANYTONE 878uvii +. It is built more like a commercial radio then like an amateur radio. It does show this most apparently, in the programming and some feature sets. Don't mistake it for an APX, XTS, Unity or anything in those class of radios. By amateur ht standards she is a heavy radio. Nice little radio. Minus the two following features that I don't agree with. 1. Not a true dual VFO. It is more like a since VFO radio with a dual watch feature. The dual watch being the sub-channel. I think this is where a GD-88 wins out. 2. The APRS... OMG the APRS is fustrating. - After contacting Bridgecom, you need to have an "APRS receive channel". Confirmed it will only hear packets when the sub-channel is set to the APRS RX channel. However, if that channel is in say the sub channel (fake VFO 2), guess what it won't auto TX packets. It will however, TX a beacon whenever manually. -- Only found this out after hours of testing and contacting Bridgecomm. The bluetooth rocks... Now I want all my radios to have a true bluetooth option, not with dongles and crap that don't work with half of the headsets out there. Only con here is that when pairing, it doesn't show friendly device names but rather the mac id/serial id. Compared to the BF8HP its world above it in reception, clarity and Front Panel Programming. I swear by the butts of pants meter, it hears better and gets out better. If you pick one up for an all around use radio, I believe like me you will be happy. Unlocking, the radio to use out of band, well was easy once I actually figured it out. Hint, you need a separate piece of software to do it. Also, do not start programming till you unlock, the CPS wipes everything out to start out new. If you don't you may get the "out of band" error message when trying to upload. When compared to the options available, it hit the marks as far as cost and features. Would of loved a mars/capped THd74a, but now a days they are fetching close to 3x the price of this radio for a used clean example. Which is right with a little luck is around the price of the Harris Unity, and still 1/2 of an APX7000. I was gifted a XTS1500, starting to play with that so it will be interesting to see the differences between a near 8 year old commercial radio and a new ham/business radio. If there are any questions please feel free to ask. I will try my best to answer them. Thank you to all that contributed to the thread.

1.0 is what you are shooting for. Anything below 1.5 hell 1.7 is acceptable. Just a tad more power loss on transmit. Will you notice difference? NAH. Normally, if I can get an antenna system to get around 1.2 I close my eyes and forget it all happened. No need to be OCD about it.

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