kidphc

Good antenna Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Such an answer, you are the man. To the OP there are propagation calculators that take topography into account and can give a decent idea of coverage. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Depends on topography. Does that antenna have a ground plane kit? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Here something to look at. I don't know of how many stepper motors that are waterproof. They can be had on Amazon for cheap, used alot for 3d printers. You could make one with a micro controller, and customize to you liking. https://ecosportdiyseries.com/2018/10/14/diy-motorized-antenna-mount/

I have seen guys use heat shrink (multiple) to keep the fold over up. It seams you may get more convenience out of the motorized mount even without the indicator. Or maybe just have to Jerry rig one up. It is like diamond tried to maximize the profits by not selling replacement gears or any indicator. I wouldn't strain too much about the lack of the indicator. You could mount the antenna lower to limit the need of taking it off. As far as the match for gmrs I hear you. Even my larsen 2/70 was a horrible match at that frequency. Given it is on a hood mount now it has gone pretty deaf, due to the shielding from the roof and windshield. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Btw, I have thought about using that same antenna a ditch (hood shoulder) mount. Any reason you don't just for it over? Also, don't let the lack of indicator stop you from using the motorized mount. How often is it going to be going up and down? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

You would of thought something like that would of come up. Another way is to put an inline voltmeter with pie zero, when a voltage spike appears the motor has met resistance. For the most part would tell you when you are at the limit. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

More negatives to think astop. Talking to owners, most love it. 1.) Requires no ground plane antenna to perform acceptably. 2.) If the antenna is too heavy can cause the gears to stip. There are diy designs most I saw where lineat ram style. Which can be pricey. I have not seen one with an indicator. You could always add stop switches that trigger a light.

You could get a STI extra flexible whip and cut it down to tune. I was looking for the video where the guy basically sings as his antenna is whipping the garage as a beat. For most of us it is the "song of our people."

I love ssb on cb. Well except everyone being off tune (never used the clarify so much, personally it seams like they do it so they can be heard) and talking over each other. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Having a units (separate) that does 11m (cb) and gmrs. The gmrs with repeaters and such function with much more fidelity because of the use of fm. The cb can reach out further at times, but not due to power, but propagation openings and use of ssb mode. I much prefer gmrs because of how clean it sounds versus cb at the limits. Although, relatively close the cb can be pretty clear. Still waiting for cb radios that can do the newly approved fm. Yes, my rig can do fm for cb, probably will be to wide banded (not even sure what the bandwidth is). Kinda like comparing a pencil to an eraser. Now talk about user base, usually much more discipline on actual licensed gmrs users, frs toy radios can be intresting. Cb radio, well you have to get on it to understand. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Pretty much. Although, you can't contol people who are accessing it. You are the control operator, so if they want to hit you they can. You are definetly responsible for the repeater. Such as if it cause interference, frequency drift etc. Never heard of anyone being chased legally. Although, I bet you there are cases where they have given polite but frightening warnings to correct the issue. Wife is an attorney, a lot of the jargon is worded so they can do pretty much what they want (ie going after whatever people associated), if the need arises as well as to protect themselves. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Both. Fender mount antenna, ht inside and outside the truck. Might have to pull fuse to find the offending system. Think I might pull out the sdr to see the spectrum a bit better then chasing channels. Oh. Sigh. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

It wouldn't matter if it is certified for gmrs when listening. The Baofeng gmrs v1 hears it as well. It's more of trying to find the offending source of the rfi. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Will try without the antenna. Only the gmrs frequencies. 70cm seams to be clear of the issue. Bounces around also so a chore to chase down. Sometimes on channel 4 then channel 6 then it will be on 19 or 22. Killing me. Can be heard outside of the vehichle also with the radios. Probably one of the modules probably a pwm module failing. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

The Burb decided to become damn near dangerous to drive. Most of the possibilities for repair were going to cost what I paid for the truck. So I gave up on her. Enter 200 Land Cruiser. Got the FTM 400 installed. However, on GMRS frequencies I get hash. Even with squelch all the way up it breaks the squelch. So far with the engine off all accessories on no hash. Engine running is when it occurs. I even took out the BF8hp and can hear it when the engine is running and all the ham gear (radio, power pole distribution and Cell phone chargers unplugged). Was trying to use the BF8HP as a locator but eh probably not the best radio for it. So the noise is not entering through the power leads, since it can be heard by the Baofeng. Kinda, lost as where to go to find the source of this noise. Never thought I would have to do a fox hunt on my truck. Any suggestions.

From ehat I can tell there is a repeater on 19 in nova. Alexandria I think. Haven't been able to get the repeater I'd, apparently its been running for a long time. I catch it college park, MD. Lots of picket fencing in the truck. Much stronger in Rockville Md. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

From my reading of the law. You can't even have it in the car/truck. Due to the fact some of those frequencies are used by their lmr and public services. I am ham. They really don't question my gear my ham gear. I do have an sd card for my FTM400 that has all the gmrs frequencies removed to avoid any temptations Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

The concept has existed, well in the Ham world. Repeaterbook. Although Repeaterbook's app doesn't really have a gmrs filter and the website database is meh. I applaud your effort, it is an app that we needed. 3 problems. 1: what if the repeater is REACT or club member only? 2: not all Gmrs repeaters are available for general public usage? 3: how to restrict people without a gmrs license to access the info? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Tropho ducting rocks. I want to experience sporadic e, I can't tell the difference unfortunately. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Using stock, design the enclosure so everything was inside of 12" of each other. Did you check to see if you have loose power connections? Also make sure to run the firmware updates before install. I have been having issues with aprs, sometimes doesn't beacon. I see the packet in aprsdroid, just not on aprs.fi. starting to think it maybe a GPS lock issue on cold start. The tarheel is what I had looked at for hf. Just with the controller and the antenna it would cost almost as much as say a ft917. So we'll outside of my budget especially as a tech with no hf privelages. Would love a scorpion antenna, actually may die for one..... Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Got a Wilson 4" flex, it is too long to 10m. So in the back of the truck is a Shark 10m (non-mini) little shorter then the MFJ, still gotta tune it. Been working on a 2012 JKU Unlimited Wrangler, my dad picked up. Absolute garbage, well this example is. All the common crap. He made a big mistake buying this and knows it. Just keeps apologizing to me. For example, stereotypical overheating on the 3.6L. Welp wish that was it, but to give an idea spent 9 hours pulling wire and correcting a bunch of hokey stuff on the truck. YSF/C4FM is just another digital format, it is very similar to P25. There is a narrow band and a wide band digital format. Both are too wide to be used on HF say like a 991a, hence. Dstar is narrow enough to be used on HF. The FTM 400 when put in AMS mode, will auto select Fusion digital narrow, Fusion digital wide, FM narrow or FM wide based on the signal it receives, now you see where the C4FM nomenclature comes from. Wire-x is the when the repeater or radio (PDN) is connected to the internet and can access the Wires-x network. FTM400 when set to PDN mode say in a base station setup with internet access can act as a portal to the WIRES-X network. You will need another C4FM capable radio to connect to the FTM-400. Otherwise you will need a hotspot, which connects to a bridge. Keep in mind the Bridged "Amerilink" room is not the same room as the one on the Wires-X/Yaesu network. Confusing, yup.... Then there is GM "group monitor" You can set an ID and Group# beacon on a frequency and anyone close enough by with the same group # in GM mode will popup on your radio. By default it is set to ID 0 Group 0. No one in my area is really on GM on the FTM400 or my FT991a on 6m. One of my HAM friends (collects radios) says that C4FM/Fusion wide sound the best out of all the digital modes. With P25 and DMR sounding pretty good. Pretty much said all of them on narrow mode sound like garbage. You know the nasal under water robot sound. Check to see what Wire-x or Fusion repeaters are close by. That may sway your decision by a big long shot. Especially, since a lot of higher end DMR radios come with APRS. I'll try to get a shot of APRS Droid and the FTM running to give you an idea of what I was going for. As well as what Americalink sounds like over the repeater. Hell may do it on the FT991a and HRI so you hear what it sounds like.

Its through APRS... For Winlink and FTM400 For APRS FOR SMSGATE

Part of the reason I eneded up with the 400, was the ability to do Winlink, and SMSgate via the touch screen. Didn't like the whole T9 style texting of the Kenwood. Would of ended up with the ID5100a if it weren't for DPRS, yes you can add a TNC, but was trying to avoid that. Also, wanted to avoid a laptop in the computer, the boot up time was a big one. I did however, wanted to see resource location

The TNC on the FTM400, is limited. It was more for visual representation on a map using APRSDROID, with a cell phone, as well as using APRDROID it is easier to see the raw aprs packets data, which is a pain in the but on the FTM 400. Not sure if it will relay SMGATE/winslink data from the phone to the radio. READ: NO digipeater possibilities in stock format. If you need full packet control you can add a TNC, and bypass the onboard TNC. However, at that point I would recommend a Kenwood 710ga, which has a fully accessible TNC, and a windows laptop. You could do pretty much the same thing incorporating a Bluetooth dongle. The FTM400, from what I get doesn't follow all the standard APRS formatting either, think it was a weird nemea data. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk