WSEZ864

NOTE: edited loss figure error in bold below. Not sure about the "KMR", but 25 feet of LMR400 would only have about 0.092 0.675 dB loss. I use and suggest the 'flex' version of whatever coax brand you like. I use TM LMR400 UltraFlex for almost everything. I realize it's expensive, but compared to the rest of the radio/antenna investment, it's not a big portion. We just talked about the difference between regular and flex type coax in another thread and the advantages of flex is that it is easier to work with (your advantage), can be bent into a tighter radius and can be more easily repurposed if you change setups. The LMR240/240UF is decent coax, but at GMRS frequencies, I think it will have more loss than you want (@450mHz - 5.3dB/100 feet for LMR240 vs 2.7dB/100 for LMR400). It IS physically much easier to work with and much lighter than the 400 series, but you'd still probably want to used the 'flex' version in either case. Specs: https://timesmicrowave.com/cables/lmr-240-uf-coax-cables/ https://timesmicrowave.com/cables/lmr-400-uf-coax-cables/ Loss tables: https://www.w4rp.com/ref/coax.html

I would agree with @SteveShannon and @WRYZ926 and the only thing I would add is that I's suggest investing in LMR400 UltraFlex or equivalent. The reason for this is for ease of installation, tolerance of tighter radius bends and versatility if your setup changes. I use LMR400 flex for everything except short runs for HF, where I use LMR240.

While power usually isn't the deciding factor and line of sight typically prevails, in your situation I think you're overcoming the attenuation of the foliage, which is why the power IS the key parameter.

How do you like it? I'm shopping for a new HF and it's on my 'short list' (with the IC-7300 and Yaesu FTDX10D).

Many/most of the GMRS radio specs I've looked at say "xx watts max" or "up to xx watts", making it impossible to know exactly what they should deliver..

Channel 20 (462.675) may be a repeater output channel for one of your local repeaters, so if you hear them on 20 and try to talk to them, you're only transmitting simplex and not transmitting on the true duplex repeater input (467.675). IOW, they may be on a duplex repeater channel ("RPT20" on many radios) and you're only working the output frequency. I'd suggest looking up the GMRS repeaters near you on those frequencies and trying to reach them there. You will probably need to program in a CTCSS to open the squelch on the repeater. Good luck and welcome aboard!

I too hear this on the two local GMRS repeaters I can reach: a few regulars that seem to know each other and talk regularly. I usually have my radios on scan and hear them on a lot, but have yet to talk with any of them. One of the repeaters does have a net, but I only caught it once as it was closing down and I don't know their schedule. Regarding "use as intended", I set my brother up with a GMRS radio/PS/mag-mount antenna (on top the fridge) at his house so we can communicate outside cell service. Unfortunately, we cannot talk house-to-house directly and have to use a repeater due to intervening terrain, so the true emergency value is limited. I don't have to go too far his way to be able to talk to him from my truck, just can't do it from here in the hole. Could probably reach him with a CB, but traffic and noise here is ferocious. If I want to just BS, which is seldom, our club has a 2 meter repeater (W3CU) where I know most of the users and check into the weekly net, and an adjacent club (W3VPR) also has a strong 2 meter repeater, both of which are pretty active.

Knife-edge refraction?

If you aced the Tech, you probably would have passed the General at that time. You could likely study up a little and go pass it. Exams are usually given free, and while a new license now carries a $35 fee to the FCC, you can upgrade from Tech to General free. I think the "flash cards" option is the easiest way to study for the exam: [url]https://www.hamexam.org/[/url]

We normally would allow a candidate to take both exams IF they have studied for both. Otherwise it would be a waste of everyone's time. There is a lot of overlap between the Technician exam and the General Exam and we get a lot of people taking and passing both in the same session. The Amateur Extra exam is much more involved and covers materials that are not part of the two more basic exams. IMO, the General license allows one to access most useful frequencies and modes, and would provide about 90% of what the Extra ticket allows. I would encourage the OP to study and give it a try, but not to be too worried about it until they're more experienced and/or find the General license somehow limiting.

I'd agree that Marc's video is a great intro to GMRS. I'm not aware of any specific book on GMRS, likely due to it being a very basic service intended for family communications and recreational use. The ARRL has several good books that, while intended for Amateur Radio service, can still be a big help in understanding two-way radio use in general. As Steve had said, they might be a little more than you need, but IMO they WILL help you understand radio basics. You may be able to find them used or in eBook form. This is the basic operating guide: [url]https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/114292[/url] This is the basic antenna handbook: [url]https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/114354[/url]

The Scadacore site is interesting, but without antenna height input, I don't think it's as accurate as it could be. NVM, I just figured out how to input antenna heights.

Double tap...

I agree that it IS population-driven - why invest in infrastructure to service a handful of people? Even here in relatively densely populated Maryland, we have surprisingly large areas with no cell service. The "Eastern Shore" (the peninsula east of the Chesapeake Bay) is still a lot of farmland and timber plus vast areas of marshland, and there are areas I routinely visit there with little or no cell service. A lot of the marsh is being abandoned and stuff like the roads and telephone lines are just deteriorating, with no plans to improve things or add stuff like cable TV or cell towers. I can still reach ham repeaters from most of these places due to how flat the terrain is. Our western panhandle is mountainous and there are large areas in our two westernmost counties where cell service is unavailable, not counting the local pockets like deep ravines and hollows. Out there, my ham radio has limited service for some of the same reasons cell service doesn't penetrate: no line-of-sight to towers.

An additional consideration is that the simplex channels 15-22 are sharing their frequency with repeater outputs. If you plan to use simplex on any of these channels, check for repeater activity so you don't create interference. I have two active repeaters in range, one uses 17 and the other uses 19, so I avoid these channels when operating simplex.

I bought my TS-590 based on Sherwood's receive sensitivity ratings, but gave up ground on noise suppression technology.

I have had a Yaesu FT-8900 in three trucks over a period of 9 years and it has seen everything from sitting in a field all day in central VA summers (100f+) to western MD winters (<0f) and everything works as it should. We just had single digit nighttime temps for about a week. Display is still crisp, controls are OK.

Not yet, but am about 2 paydays from buying one. They really are great radios. I bought a Kenwood TS-590 (pre-G) when I first got my license and while it has been a very nice radio, I am drawn to the bandscope/SDR style screen of the IC-7300. I have been using an SDRPlay dual channel SDR for receive only and would love to have a radio with similar display function.

@WRUU653, @brasda91, @nokones & @WSFL951: Thank you for your comments and suggestions! I appreciate you taking the time to post and I will look into the other radios mentioned.

Sounds like the new mount is defective, maybe a bad connection at one end or the other. Can you check it with an ohm meter and ensure it is not shorted (check resistance between the center conductor and shield) or open (check continuity from end to end on the center conductor and then on the shield). You might also inspect the NMO mount and make sure it is clean and making good contact.

Thank you Steve. I'm apparently out of 'likes' for the day or you'd have one. My buddy actually knew exactly who I was talking about when I gave him Maurice's name and has already emailed him. We're more or less in the area - my buddy lives up near Baltimore and I'm a little further south.