Downs
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Posts posted by Downs
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Hello ya'll. My name's Jerry and my call sign is WRJU443. I'm a newcomer to GMRS and just recently got my license. I've found a repeater in my area and got the okay to use it (Sherman 675). Problem is, I'm not getting any answers to my call outs. I'm almost positive I'm connected to the repeater, so we're okay there. I was just wondering if there is anyone in my area involved in GMRS. If you are, let me know and perhaps we can arrange a time to shoot the breeze. I still have a lot to learn. Without anyone to talk to, it takes a bit of the interest out of the hobby.
Jerry Swindle Jr.
WRJU443
I'm too far away from that Sherman unit but if you ever make it out towards Greenville we have a fairly well active local repeater.
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Okay, so now that I have both my GMRS and ham licenses (just waiting to receive my ham call sign), I have a couple of questions about these two radios: BTECH GMRS-50X1 and the BTECH UV-50X2.
If I get the GMRS model so I can truly be FCC 95A compliant, can I program (CHIRP) the radio so I can also use ham freqs in the 2 meter and 70 cm bands? If I do, does that negate my 95A compliance? In other words, does the GMRS-50X1 block me (in firmware) from tx on ham freqs?
Conversely, if I get a UV-50X2 and program it correctly (leap of faith) for GMRS usage, is that externally (over the air) discernible from using the GMRS-50X1 on those same freqs?
Buying 1 of each seems silly to me. And yes, I know I can get a used Kenwood, etc. At some point, I'll no doubt buy a big and hugely capable transceiver, but I prefer to do these things iteratively. That's me.
Cheers,
Ken
WRFC318
The GMRS version will be locked to xmit on GMRS frequencies only. The UV50X2 (at least the one i have) will go into the GMRS bands but is not legal to use there.
You're not going to find anyone here that will straight up tell you yeah do it that way due to the legalities surrounding it but I will say it is possible.
Will anything ever come of it? You probably have a better chance of being attacked by a shark on Mount Everest, than being hunted down and caught by the FCC, but its good to be advised and educated on the matter.
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- Elkhunter521 and marcspaz
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Are the existing radios able to do firmware updates?I would agree that they are not too worried about making them fully inter-compatible with legacy radios and setups in the wild now. I can see why, but there are some people who are about GMRS (die hard) that would like to try the products on their repeaters to attract more users who don't want to feel like they need a degree in radio to get in.
I was told by a Midland rep, the wideband, and Split tone issue would be addressed this year in product updates. I'll be the blue boy in the corner now.
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Wouxoun makes good stuff. Ive got one of their KGUV8D HTs thats a nice radio. Dual band, dual reciever, cross band repeater, color screen ect. Rx and tx are clear. It cost quite a bit more than a Baofeng but its a more capable and nicer radio to boot.I just discovered that Wouxon has GMRS radios that are repeater capable. I think they are on the higher end of Chinese radios.
https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-805g.html?___SID=U
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The OP said he wanted to be lawful. The MARS/CAP mods for ham radios are not in any way legal to use on GMRS/MURS. Those mods are only legal if you are in fact a member of the Military Affiliated Radio Service or the Civil Air Patrol, using the radio on the military frequencies just outside of the ham bands.
Yup missed that second sentence.
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Look into the "MARS/CAP" mod for HAM radios.
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Nearly every state or local cell phone ordinance exempts police/fire/ems from the law.Ohio is trying to sneak in a law that essentially only lets the cops text and drive (and wreck and kill you).
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Yall are assuming the cops even know the ins and outs of these laws.
Texas recently passed a cellphone law. Everyone still drives around with phones up in their faces and to their heads.
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4781 in Texas as of 20 Jan 2020 at 0017 local.
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I'll have to check a few more of them out. I dropped a voice message in the MYGMRS zello channel days ago and have heard nothing and haven't been approved.
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On my 16 channel radios i usually setup all channels on low power and program a switch or button to put it in high power if I want.
Then
1-7 wideband no tone
I dont even bother programing 8-14
15-22 wideband no tone with exception of 16 and 20 which i program with the tones my local Jeep clubs uses.
Channel 16 i program with my local GMRS repeater.
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Shared with my Jeep club.
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Just means they havent been updated in a while. We have a few "outdated" repeaters out here that are still ready to go.141.3 Hz PL for repeater.
Is this PL synonymous with CTCSS for repeater access?
If a local area repeater on the map shows "Tone In 141.3, Tone Out 141.3. (PL/DPL/CSQ) that 141.3 programmed into my radio will get me onto the repeater by simply transmitting a signal on the repeater channel posted? Another repeater says Tone Out No CSQ/No tone and Tone In 141.3.
Just wondering the simplest, elementary method to get onto and use a repeater (after permission).
Also, I found both repeaters on the myGMRS app. Neither show up on the Map until I select "Show Outdated" at the top. Is that meaningful?
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Commercial radios are great. Built like tanks and typically have long battery life. Upshot of Kenwood gear is finding programing software is typically pretty easy compared to something like Motorola.Hijacking:
https://used-radios.com/products/kenwood-tk-380-ltr-trunking-portable-radio
Right track for 1st HT? Version 1 firmware so no Windows programming (DOS - yuk) but can have it programmed by seller. Looked on ebay but usually radio only, no charger, etc. Figure I can pickup a spare battery online.
Might jump into Kenwood mobile unit after messing with this..
Don't get scared off by the DOS programing. Its just some extra keystrokes. I program my HT1000s via DOS.
Also +1 to above no need for trunking for your use so if theres a cheaper version without go for it.
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Either one will be a great radio for you, and either will KILL a Midland micro-mobile. I think the 880 series is a few years newer than the 860 series. The 880 series had a better alpha-numeric display also. You really can't go wrong with either Kenwood option.
Another difference between my 862s and my 880-885s... the 862s have a 6-pin mic connector and use the 6-pin programming cable. The 880 and 885s I have use an 8-pin mic and programming cable.
-- Dirty Little Secret 1 -- The 880-885 Kenwoods use the same programming cable as the popular CCR called the VV-898.
-- Dirty Little Secret 2 -- You can use the 6-pin Kenwood programming cable with the 880 and 885. Just center it up and plug it right in to the 8-pin socket. The middle pins are the same on the 6 and 8 pin plugs, and the outside 2 pins on the 880-885 are not used for programming.
Seems that the CCR companies did a lot of Kenwood copying haha. The Btech UV series radios use a very Kenwood handmic for instance.
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Any commerical spec gear is going to blow the MXT115 away. It's a pretty limited radio and priced quite high for what it is. But it's a turn key solution for those who don't want to meddle with radios at all.
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I believe that was guerilla communications on youtube.Or do a "parrot" repeater. This is where you TX and the controller will record the message. When you're done it then re-transmits the message. This of course slows down the communication, and some find them annoying to use, but are simple to setup using one radio and fairly cheap. There are several YouTube videos where a guy did this putting the guts in an ammo can with a battery and charge controller connected to a used solar panel. He used the metal ammo can for the ground plane required by the antenna. Stuck it on a mountain top in a very remote area. Had it there for about a year or so running before having to service it.
The repeater controller he used should be like this one.
https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=98
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Not sure what's attached. I'll take it for 25. Let me know paypal address or how you want to get paid and I'll get money out ASAP.
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There's some zello handmics that bluetooth to your phone. So the phone becomes the "radio" and you use the handmic like a standard 2 way radio.
Bluetooth PTT Microphone PTT Button Zello mic Zello ptt button speaker Android https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBB7DU0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_or9cEbS2QXDDD
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I have one I'm not using, if you want to buy another one. For substantially less than that.
I may be interested. UHF or VHF? Channels?
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Used commercial gear is a boon for a lot of us. You get the reliability and quality of the big brands for dirt cheap. I've got into a HT1000 and 2 MTS2000s for less than 150 dollars with chargers, batteries, and antennas and got a Motorola PM400 mobile for 120 dollars. That's not much more than some of the Chinese radios out there.
Downside is you loose a lot of the flexibility of something like a dual band ham radio but programing them via laptop is easy enough. -
They have a ton of business band frequencies that arent even theirs on there. And unless you corner them they try to skirt answering any questions about licensing.
Theyre a shady underhanded company but they have a good marketing team and sponsor the crap out of the off road and racing community.
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What I heard on a three day road trip... (not much)
in General Discussion
Posted
I just got done driving from Dallas Texas to Montgomery Alabama and back, about 1200 miles round trip, and was monitoring 2m Call, 70cm Call and Scanning GMRS/FRS. I heard more GMRS/FRS activity, mostly people on the road, a few businesses here and there.
This was on mobile radios not HTs.
I didn't hear a single peep out of the VHF or UHF Calling frequencies during that trip. When I commute to work I monitor 2m call plus 2 repeaters and a GMRS repeater and rarely hear anything on the HAM side. The local GMRS repeater is pretty active though.