kidphc
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Posts posted by kidphc
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If you aren't using some type of cat control, which i recommend for the yaesu hf radios, especially since a computer is probably already hooked up to the radio.You aren't kidding. And yes Yaesu seems to be the worst. I just got an Icom IC-7300 and put it in line instead of the Yaesu FTDX10. The Icom menu is definitely easier to use. I'm printing out the IC-730 manual now so I have it handy. I bought it from one of the old timers in my club but he couldn't find the manual.
The FTDX was given to me but the USB port is bad so I have to use an external sound card for FT8. Otherwise it has worked fine for me. The other reason for switching is that I can use the same Heil headset for my Xiegu G90, Icom IC-2730 and Icom IC-7300. That simplifies things so I don't have to worry about using the wrong headset with the wrong radio.
I recommend cat knobs. The one I have for the ft991a is discontinued (I believe) he's switched over to a touch screen interface. Either way it had 4 programmable knobs, that sit above or below the radio and is daisey chain able. It was a game changer I am only a technician, but listening on hf was a real pain with everyone running different bandwidths on ssb stc. It allowed me to program one rotary dial to something like bandwidth size, freed up a programmable on screen button, btw that you yaseu but why can't I add more that 4n ever heard of scrolling menus or swipe arrows.
Either case it let me have quick access to thing I would be adjusting just so I could listen clearly. Instead of the dread 3 button menu clicking. Sdrconsole and omni rig took care of a lot of other complaints.
Link to cat knobs to give you an idea.
https://www.catknobz.com/
Miss the old radios because of the simple lack of knobs on new radios.
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That is part of the negative of modern digital transmission radios, well a lot modern radios.
Everything is buried in menus, buried under another menu. Yaesu being one of the worst, I think Icom does better with the menus.
I inadvertently pull up memories of high school calculus, when trying to adjust even simple things like squelch on the ftm400 couple that with it always is kinda done when driving and it becomes painful.
Those that complain, about Uv5r programming need not look at some of the higher end radios. I have copies of the manual, on my phone, in glove box, at home and a travel back pack.
I push rtsystems, at least it is fairly consistent across multiple radios, does most what everyone wants. You have a really good chance on finding a setting. Too bad they have nothing for LMR radios.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk- WRUU653 and SteveShannon
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Yup. Only reason I didn't upgrade the ftm400 to the ftm500 was the lack of a touch screen.Fortunately the FTM-500 can easily be used as a basic analog radio. Dual receive and the dual display could be temporarily disabled to reduce a little confusion and then re-enabled as the user’s skills grow.
For me the ftm400 was a nice analog radio, main selling point was aprs. The touch screen was deal breaker, for the ability to write aprs sms messages, aprs winlink, and simple aprs text.
Each to their own, I guess that is the moral of this message.
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Nah. You kinda described the negative. I think all healthy opinions should always be welcomed. It's negative, berating behavior that shouldn't be tolerated on a forum. Sarcasm, jokes etc are hard to read/pickup on at times in text.And unfortunately that’s sometimes the issue. People buy an expensive high end digital radio that’s so difficult to use for regular analog communications that they get frustrated and give up (and as a bit of a confession I realize my statements don’t make him feel any better about it). I almost think he might be better served by boxing up the FTM-500 temporarily, picking up a basic dual band radio such as one I mentioned, and learning all he can about basic analog communications.
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Well he has the radio so he is going to be forced to learn the advance features to use it, not a bad thing. It will convolute the learn path, let's face it digital is a side path with its own learning hill and concepts.
He'll be fine. Just do some basic research on questions, before asking someone. It will limit the side branches of topics, there are a lot. I have friends that can spend hours just talking about pl tones, from why some tones are better than others, it's history etc.
My brother who works mobility for the federal government said it best. "People buy flagship phones not because they need it but because they can, most don't even use 20% of the phone capabilities. Even myself and you whom are phone geeks barely use more than 50% and we are serious power users." Features go unused that can cause headaches and vulnerabilities.
Enjoy the radio. If it becomes too much buy a ceaptacular bofeng uv5r, it's pretty basic and disposable (as a gift, if it get destroyed oh well).
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk- WRYZ926, WRUU653 and SteveShannon
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No.
It's required for wirex.
Plug your gmrs call sign or we'll part of it. You change it later, or revert the radio to factory.
Kinda $$$ for not having a license. Would of chosen a straight analog radio to practice with. Since there are features that won't be used on systems like digital ID, groupid or group monitor.
Don't worry about sounding like an idiot. We all started somewhere. Tell then you are new, the otherside will normally congratulate you and will take the time to answer your questions.
Ham does not equal whatever notarubicon makes us sound like. There are as@holes in every group. We do self police (fcc wants us to) some are way too fundy and the grump comes out. At least it has not turned into the wild wild west like uhf-cb and 11m cb.
Enjoy... and have fun.
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Yeah you can tell by certain people, the way they speak and what codes they use. Their back grounds become apparent.Amateur operator with a GMRS license and also a police dispatcher. I have no problem keeping the lingo separate. Ten codes are common for my agency but I do not use them anywhere else. I do hear them on ham and GMRS from a few people around here though...mostly new licensees. Most of the GMRS folk here also have ham licenses.
I too try to keep all the garbage out as much as possible.
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It really depends on the local ham groups a lot. As an amatuer radio operator you know a properly set up repeater can be pricey to install and operate.
Although places like your where there are an abundance of out door activities I agree it probably would be nice to have several overlapping repeaters. But who is going to foot the bill? Government, nah they probably have their own setup and put low value on a public available system.
In our area we got super lucky. Old federal communications guy with a bunch of old left over gear public saftey repeaters, personal professional grade repair instruments, the knowledge of 500+ of us radio geeks in his head. Just to let you understand Marc, from the mygmrs, is probably the only guy that could pick up when he is taken from us. But even Marc, whom by the way managed some of the local ham emcom repeaters will probably admit he can't even shake a stick at him. Actually, Marc is one of the few hams that I think our friend even likes or thinks is knowledgeable.
With a lot of handshake and his time we probably have coverage that some cell phone providers stare at and go can we do that?
If you want it you might have to champion it. Both financially and with the knowledge.
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It will work. Pretty much any length antenna will work to a point. Depending on size and frequency it might be a bit deaf.
The closer the antenna is to resonant frequencies the better it will work better.
Hence, why long wire antennas, random length or resonant are perferred for mw/hf listening even on sdr radios. The rabbit ears will work but are limited by their size.
With a gmrs antenna tuned to gmrs frequencies. That is where you best frequencies of reception will be.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk- WRQD922 and AdmiralCochrane
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True. I always wished we had more hf privileges, small slices with low power cap. More inline with the foundations license in the Uk. Too bad SHF and EHF gear is so pricey looks like it could be fun to play with.The Tech license in amateur radio is limited almost exclusively to VHF/UHF frequencies however, there are so many different modes available you really don't mind the restriction. I'm Extra class but operate primarily in the Tech bands because its so much fun.
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It's kinda exploding, if I get the gist of the thread due to the following.
1. No technical/skill block.
-really a poor excuse technician license is easy.
-applying for an lmr simplex frequency can whack you about $500 depending on the cordinator.
2. Cost of entry
-cheap ccr radios
-Ability to use old LMR gear
Really can make repeaters affordable or down right cheap.
-business abuse frs a bit, let's face it lmr service can get expensive, if you don't coordinator.
Contributing factors, cell phone outages want for e-comms, covid boredom
Murs is still available, limited in frequencies. Not exactly sure why it isn't more popular.
A lot of it does come back to $$.- SteveShannon and gortex2
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Think you need the programming cable and to be on later firmwares to flip to wideband. Don't have the radio so couldn't be exact. Hopefully, some one will chime in.
The TJ 4.0l where awesome till you tried to jam on 35". Then it got pricey.. I think a CJ with a v8 swap is more fun and to the nature of jeeps. Although my land cruiser might not be set up for rock crawling (old 100 series) she is damn comfortable on the highway and off trail. All my friend's jeeps (even my dad's jku) beat the snot out of me traveling to the trailhead and on the trail as I get older even more so.
Most mobile radios can deal with high swr so as long as you have some ground plane, or have a ngp antenna and didn't botch the install you should be fine.
All the years, off trailing, fire roads and such. Never heard a peep on 2m/70cm calling or on gmrs for emergencies. We'll except for kids on frs in the neighborhood.
Has to do with the trails around here being sparse and I wouldn't call it technical, unless oversteering between trees is your thing. Orv parks are a bit different.
No one even responds, when I am following aarl wilderness protocols. Most of the gmrs/frs usage near trails that is heard for me at least, are parents calling their kids or the occasional spotter screaming driver, driver side, driver side...omg....
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Sorry thinking 6m11 and 10 are HF.
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Yup sounds like tropopheric ducting. Vhf and uhf pass through the ionic sphere where hf bounces off it (skip). Yes, I know 11m is technically also vhf, but it's low band vhf.
Tropo occurs a lot more in the spring and fall. But can occur early and late summer. Not uncommon to get NY and parts of NC in the fc area when it occurs. Our tropo tunnels are more n/s directions due to the mountains and ocean.
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I believe gmrs call signs are just sinply sequential.
The ham call signs are sequential but also have a geographic designation. My ham call sign is a vanity from a silent key extra W3HRD (1x3). My original technician call sign was KC3NSR (2x3). Both are from the same geographical call area. Hence the "3", I live in the land of 3 which is md, pa, Delaware. Doesn't really matter i could move to Ca and keep my 3 callsign. Back in the day I would of HAD to apply for 6 callsign.
I do not believe any of the gmrs call signs have a geographical location. But rather a class and individual identifier.
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Are they made in the us?For a GMRS and consumer grade radio, I would stay away from the cheap Chinese POS radios and take a look at the Midland GXT 67 Pro or the Rocky Talkie. They may not have any foo-foo bells and whistles that really don't make the radio better but, they are simple to use and of better quality than those radios produced by a non-english speaking government owned corporation in a far-away land.
There are videos comparing the two aforementioned radios that are produced by an English speaking non-government owned corporation located on the "Land of the Free".
I mean the pro's fccid shows it was tested by a chinese firm. Well I guess 98% of shit now adays is made in china.
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- AdmiralCochrane, WRXB215, WRHS218 and 1 other
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For rx only, you have the options of a ht scanner. Although, a half way decent sdr will have some serious sensitivity.
No suggestions on hts. Only because I found that the more you spend generally you, after a certain point, you get more features (ie ruggedness, color screens etc.)
But I will say I have been more impressed by the selectivity, and sensitivity of commercial offerings by motorola, kenwood, harris than any of my amateur radio gear.
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Well yeah.If I understand correctly they can use my call sign as long as they or myself attach their name to it when transmitting or receiving?
To be honest. No one cares as long as the callsign gets thrown out.
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Should you don't really need to put the callsign with their unit/or whatever.However you want. Provided the callsign is included.
Callsign base to callsign mobile.
Callsign Vicky to callsign Billy
Callsign ht1 to callsign ht2
Callsign unit 1 to callsign unit 2
My favorite
Callsign actual to callsign unit x
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Since they will be answering with it.
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Yeah it went up and came down in less than an hour. But the repeaters haven't been thr same.Oh gotcha, thanks. I'm in that group but I must've missed all that.
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Mostly in the nova group on facebook. Original post was removed. But the damage was done.I'm a more casual GMRS user in the area, but have noticed the drop in repeater activity. Sorry to hear about Roland, remember talking to him once.
I like the occasional "rag chew" on open repeaters to know they're still working. Is talking on radio considered "ham" now? I'm not in the group where this discussion took place.
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Curious.delete
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Yeasu 500dr "lock"
in Amateur Radio (Ham)
Posted
Played with my friends icom 7300, from a user stand point it was a more pleasure experience then the ftdx. He sold both and got a ts590, set it up with a sdr and panadapter.
Funny enough I think he is crazy happy with the setup. Loves ft8, 5w to europe, 10w to Australia. That is with a 46" ultimax dx snaking through his kitchen and living room that i gave him as a bday gift. Gotta keep reminding it's a random wire and incredibly inefficient.
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