gman1971

@IronArcher
 
No, it cannot be done, b/c it doesn't really matter. I've been sharing some ISO-tee tests figures here, and all I get is people arguing personal opinions, swirling personal attacks and sowing doubt, deflecting from the problem at hand, while painting me as someone who is trying mislead people, etc. So, I've decided its just better to silently laugh watching people fumble around with garbage equipment, always wondering why their ranges are only a tenth of a mile, than me getting all worked up, writing long posts trying to explain things that noone cares.
 
And why it doesn't matter to have any spec chart, of any sort? Well, its very simple: Because we are cheap. Lets just say we had a chart with a bunch of radios, so, you see that fancy XPR7550e, and everything looks great, a +18dBm better effective sens, tight selectivity, and better everything... so you quickly realize this is the radio you want, but then, finally, when you look a the last column, the pricetag... you have a heart attack.... so in your mind you quickly disqualify the XPR7550e, b/c none of things can be that much better than the 59 dollar garbage CCR special... so without having any sense of what a 18dBm difference truly means, or any of the other spec chart parameters mean, all of the sudden, that 59 dollar CCR garbage special becomes the best radio, the same radio Jesus used to call Home before ascending back to Heaven... 
 
Seriously, it doesn't matter.
 
Only way to guarantee learning is making mistakes over time, and if it has to be an expensive mistake over a long period of time, so be it. The more expensive the mistake, and the longer you've made it, the better you learn the lesson, and I can certainly attest to heart to that... until then I'll be laughing... yeah, I am a cruel person, I am gMan the heartless, the troublemaker, the troll... etc etc.
 
G.

Just a data point here speaking about some Ham HT's. My TH-D74A does multi mode RX from HF up. The scan speed on it is around 20+ channels per second, I've timed it. Its the fastest scanning radio I got. Of course it's not cheap either.
 
About VFO's, yeah I rarely use one. Just about any frequency I'm interested in is programed in one of the memories.

I was just going to mention this. I'll check with Net Control on Sunday. Perhaps they can make a mention and see what comes up, though it will likely be regional. I believe if we did a nation wide QSO it would likely be a long wait to get in.

I agree with your comment about accepting responsibility for the consequences of our words [and actions] while keeping in mind the 1st amendment to the US Constitution applies specifically to the government:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
 
Courts have held the term Congress to apply to government in general. However, private enterprises and citizens are not bound by this amendment. So, whatever freedom of expression we have on this forum is limited to that which the owners and operators allow us.  Fortunately, on this forum we have been given a fairly broad latitude in this respect. However, along with that privilege of expression comes the responsibility to use it thoughtfully and not abuse it.

Glad I could help.
 
Much like I told another person to leave the "Americans think they are the world" comments out of their posts, I have to agree with Berkinet on his assestment. I think I speak for most people here when I say "nobody here has had a good time during this whole situation..."  However, stating that something is over-hyped might not sit well with a random person who reads the post and has had a relative, or dear one die b/c of it. I am pretty certain the situation is not over-hyped for that person.
 
Again, please forgive me if you feel I am trying to overstep on your 1st Amendment, I am not, and you're free to say whatever you want, however, always remember that whatever you say will always have consequences... and especially so in written form. (and I know that well) 
 
Cheers!
 
G.

Glad I could help.
 
Much like I told another person to leave the "Americans think they are the world" comments out of their posts, I have to agree with Berkinet on his assestment. I think I speak for most people here when I say "nobody here has had a good time during this whole situation..."  However, stating that something is over-hyped might not sit well with a random person who reads the post and has had a relative, or dear one die b/c of it. I am pretty certain the situation is not over-hyped for that person.
 
Again, please forgive me if you feel I am trying to overstep on your 1st Amendment, I am not, and you're free to say whatever you want, however, always remember that whatever you say will always have consequences... and especially so in written form. (and I know that well) 
 
Cheers!
 
G.

Your "sharing experiences" was what allowed to put it all together. Thanks!
 
Moral of the story is, even if you think you know, talking to someone who has a lot of experience will help a lot...  
 
 
G.
 
 

Glad I could help.
 
Much like I told another person to leave the "Americans think they are the world" comments out of their posts, I have to agree with Berkinet on his assestment. I think I speak for most people here when I say "nobody here has had a good time during this whole situation..."  However, stating that something is over-hyped might not sit well with a random person who reads the post and has had a relative, or dear one die b/c of it. I am pretty certain the situation is not over-hyped for that person.
 
Again, please forgive me if you feel I am trying to overstep on your 1st Amendment, I am not, and you're free to say whatever you want, however, always remember that whatever you say will always have consequences... and especially so in written form. (and I know that well) 
 
Cheers!
 
G.

Found it. It was started by @gman1971 on 25 October 2020 and the last post was barely 3 weeks later. A total of 3 people contributed reviews.
 
https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/2183-brand-name-radios-proscons-thread-usednew/

Glad I could help.
 
Much like I told another person to leave the "Americans think they are the world" comments out of their posts, I have to agree with Berkinet on his assestment. I think I speak for most people here when I say "nobody here has had a good time during this whole situation..."  However, stating that something is over-hyped might not sit well with a random person who reads the post and has had a relative, or dear one die b/c of it. I am pretty certain the situation is not over-hyped for that person.
 
Again, please forgive me if you feel I am trying to overstep on your 1st Amendment, I am not, and you're free to say whatever you want, however, always remember that whatever you say will always have consequences... and especially so in written form. (and I know that well) 
 
Cheers!
 
G.

I'll be travelling to the US VI soon here.  I've been the main supplier of all the in vehicle laptops (Toughbooks) for the police, fire, ems, and for the hospitals.  I have some monster meetings and installs coming up (Which I was supposed to go down in March then the over-hyped rona appeared.... But I digress there...).  Anyways I'm planning on bringing both a high power (45W) and my hand held to try to make some contacts from my hotel room.  I don't know yet when I'm going (probably another couple months here if I had to guess) but I will call out when I do get there!
I've enjoyed reading the conversations and thanks for all your input Gman!!  I've learned a lot from reading all what you wrote!  Very helpful!

That comment added nothing to your post. And further, what is the point of bringing up your personal opinion about something that has nothing to do with GMRS radio to begin with. This forum tends to work a lot better when people stay on topic.

One of them, yes...I forget now if it was the one linked, or their other listing. I honestly debated for a bit on grabbing both pairs. And thank you...I'll see what I can figure out, but I may take you up on that.

Nice, you got the ebay auction? I saw it was "ended"
 
Congrats.
 
And If you need any help with those, let me know.
 
G.

What do you think of this one, gman?

Most people only seem to care about new vs used, it seems that we've been brainwashed to think used == garbage... new == good. So, until that mentality isn't eviscerated, people will keep buying  garbage new CCRs no matter how atrocious the specs are...
 
As a recently rehabilitated CCR addict, I can tell you this: none of those specs tables, spec comparison, etc, none would make a lick of a difference, a) b/c most people don't understand what the specs mean b ) all CCR specs are "made up" to match whatever the radio they are trying to "oust" in the market. are... The best analogy I can think of ATM is cheap flashlights made in China, using China Lumens, using a knock-off CREE leds too... like the infamous CREE XML-T6, which puts about 800 lumens under most realistic scenarios... but the cheap china flashlights manufacturers claim their cheap knockoff magically produces 5000 Lumens now... again... this is the same exact thing. Until you don't try a real CREE led, on a high quality flashlight housing/reflector etc, and see the massive difference in color temperature, CRI level, beam pattern, etc...  you'll keep buying the cheap flashlights.... The same applies to radios, and I can safely state that nothing short of a real world demonstration would've convinced me to believe that the CCRs I was buying were actually crap... 
 
G.

Nothing wrong with that idea. Who do you propose should take on the responsibility of doing that?  A thread was setup for exactly that purpose a few months ago, it went dead after listings for a half-dozen radios or so.  I can't even find that topic now.

The real problem is - they don't realize that for similar prices, they can buy used commercial radios that have 10 times better specs.

GMRS can be linked via internet, there are entire GMRS networks already in place... now you're saying its illegal? 
 
G.
 

How much you paid for this wonder?
 
G.

Wow, you say you paid 69 dollars for that Bao...?? man, that is bad... sounds like you got ripped off...  I paid 29 bucks for an UV-82FHP (8w) back in 2018...  
 
G.

You could try with your handhelds while sitting on the roof of each house (if possible, and if its not too dangerous). If the portables reach, when both radios are on the room, then all you probably need is a roof mounted 1/4 wave antenna. 
 
2 miles out is at the edge of radio horizon for high end portables...  so if you don't want to invest a ton of money I think a couple of 1/4 wave antennas on the roof of each house is going to do it nicely.
 
G.

This is a spectral purity test from a typical Bao Feng HT. Note the existence of 1st., 2nd., and 3rd. harmonic 'spurs'. This is what you want to amplify? A properly designed transmitter would have adequate filtration to suppress those spurs almost completely.

Really liked my 880 until I toasted it by ripping the antenna off and trying to transmit.. sizzle.  Have replaced with 8180.  Below is info on all you should need for the 880.
 
Software
KPG-49D 
https://hamfiles.co.uk/index.php?page=downloads&type=entry&id=radio-programming%2Fkenwood-programming%2Fkenwood-kpg-49d-rss_2
 
Programming cable:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FTDI-USB-Kenwood-Programming-Cable-TK-780H-TK-880H-TK-980-TK-981-KPG-46/163486194020?hash=item2610895964:g:lfAAAOSwARxfZCD5
 
Manual:
https://www.manualslib.com/k/kenwood+tk-880.html

And just to keep gMan comments consistent, here is my daily batwing recommendation, err... Motorolian Empire propaganda...
 
Get an XPR4550 UHF... I think you'll really like that radio.
 
Here is a good one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorola-XPR4550-Two-Way-Radio-AAM27QPH9LA1AN-403-470-MHz-25-40-WATT-UHF/114491711393?epid=1901496480&hash=item1aa83cdfa1:g:EhwAAOSwNDVfnQra
 
Mic here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RMN5052A-Mic-For-Motorola-XPR4300-XPR4300-XPR4500-XPR4550-XPR5550-XiRM8260-radio/124480973478?hash=item1cfba4eaa6:g:p1AAAOSw96Ff0lMp
 
Here is the cable:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Programming-Cable-441-Motorola-MOTOTRBO-XPR4550-XPR4580-XPR5350-PMKN4010B-USB/351924161247?hash=item51f0508adf:g:Kh0AAOxy0rZRFnXY
 
Here is the CPS:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Programming-Disk-CD-For-M-16-0-SL300-XPR7550-XPR4550-XPR6550-CM200D-CP200D-DMR/264975585174?hash=item3db1c68f96:g:YkcAAOSweMZc5GfY
 
That should get you started in the world of Motorola radios... if you need help with the programming send me a PM... I walk you through the basics. There are also a lot of Motorola CPS tutorials on youtube... either way.
 
/End of daily Motorolian Empire propaganda...
 
G.