gman1971

I can help you out there, if you're interested. I have a Motorola M1225 already programmed with GMRS channels that I would be willing to sell. It's in great condition. I'll even throw in the programming cable.
Nothing wrong with it; I'm just not using it because I have enough Kenwoods to cover all my GMRS needs.

Thank you RCM, however, the Vertex Standard mobiles I have ATM are working great so at this point I think I am all caught up on GMRS radios. (while keeps thinking about ham ticket, finding ways to buy MORE radios ) hahaha.

you are very welcome 

Hmmm...  if the photo below (from radioaficion.com) is accurate, the  control head is connected to the body with a 20 conductor ribbon cable. And, the part of the body that mates with the control head seems to have some sort of a bulkhead. You might just be in luck. Of course, there might be all kinds of RF issues if you lengthen the ribbon cable. But still...
 
 
http://radioaficion.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/AT-D578UV_teardown-3.jpg

THANK YOU very much!!
 
G.

argentdata  has some  APRS Packet Radio stuff reasonably priced and a pretty good selection of radio compatible cables giving a few different options     https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22

Got the radio today, genuinely impressed with it. It is certainly a huge step up from the AT-878 I tested (and returned). I would say its closer to Hytera territory in terms of RF performance; except this one is a tribander (rather than a single band radio). I think the specs printed on the brochure, based on quick testing, appear to be worse what the radio is capable of: Sensitivity is probably closer to the 0.16uV @ 12dB SINAD mark than the advertised 0.25 uV @ 12dB SINAD. It also doesn't seem to be hammered as bad as the TM-V71a on VHF with intermod, and the NOAA station that pops in and out of whatever channel I am parked at on the TM-v71a doesn't seem to be an issue with this radio, so that is huge. I will bench this radio vs the EVX-5300, hopefully tomorrow, so I can see how well it receives.
 
So, it has true dual receive, crossband repeat, and a single frequency repeater in DMR... which is awesome, so you can use a single frequency to link multiple radios... nifty little toy. You can have the audio come from the microphone, rather than the radio body, which is very nice too. So for my velomobile I can hide the radio and just leave the microphone. I will probably link the radio to my helmet Senna Bluetooth intercom, see how well it works. (haven't tried that yet)
 
Radio is fairly small, when compared to the XPR5550e this thing is a little radio; while not as short as the EVX-5300, its about the same width and height. fan is dead silent. No faceplate relocation kit as of yet, but it seems it might be coming since its just a ribbon cable with a small GPS micro coax connector, similar to the XPR radios. The included Bluetooth PTT is super nice, but requires disabling the single frequency repeater, not sure if this will change down the road. In my TYT8000E the Crossband repeater mode allows for using the radio as well, so not sure why the radio won't transmit on the band its selected.
 
There were a couple of bugs on the software that crashed to desktop, but other than that, the software seems to work well, wish it was as versatile as the Vertex CE142 CPS for some of the input stuff. I had the codeplug made from the 878 I tested (and returned) a few months ago.
 
I changed the band mode to allow for GMRS operation, with no front panel programming, nor VFO. Want to keep this like a commercial radio.  However, if need be I can re-enable that functionality back with the software, but needs a PC to do that.
 
For GMRS is probably a bit overkill, but for ham and/or commercial usage its a great radio. Wish it had airband too, and there is room in the PCB for a third receiver, which is unimplemented ATM, but when that happens I will be selling both my TM-v71A radios... listening to airband is the only reason why I am keeping those Kenwoods around. Being able to hear all the Mototrbo traffic from nearby business in both VHF and UHF is super cool; can't do that with the TM-v71a anymore... most of the stuff I hear around my house is all DMR these days... 
 
G.

Got the radio today, genuinely impressed with it. It is certainly a huge step up from the AT-878 I tested (and returned). I would say its closer to Hytera territory in terms of RF performance; except this one is a tribander (rather than a single band radio). I think the specs printed on the brochure, based on quick testing, appear to be worse what the radio is capable of: Sensitivity is probably closer to the 0.16uV @ 12dB SINAD mark than the advertised 0.25 uV @ 12dB SINAD. It also doesn't seem to be hammered as bad as the TM-V71a on VHF with intermod, and the NOAA station that pops in and out of whatever channel I am parked at on the TM-v71a doesn't seem to be an issue with this radio, so that is huge. I will bench this radio vs the EVX-5300, hopefully tomorrow, so I can see how well it receives.
 
So, it has true dual receive, crossband repeat, and a single frequency repeater in DMR... which is awesome, so you can use a single frequency to link multiple radios... nifty little toy. You can have the audio come from the microphone, rather than the radio body, which is very nice too. So for my velomobile I can hide the radio and just leave the microphone. I will probably link the radio to my helmet Senna Bluetooth intercom, see how well it works. (haven't tried that yet)
 
Radio is fairly small, when compared to the XPR5550e this thing is a little radio; while not as short as the EVX-5300, its about the same width and height. fan is dead silent. No faceplate relocation kit as of yet, but it seems it might be coming since its just a ribbon cable with a small GPS micro coax connector, similar to the XPR radios. The included Bluetooth PTT is super nice, but requires disabling the single frequency repeater, not sure if this will change down the road. In my TYT8000E the Crossband repeater mode allows for using the radio as well, so not sure why the radio won't transmit on the band its selected.
 
There were a couple of bugs on the software that crashed to desktop, but other than that, the software seems to work well, wish it was as versatile as the Vertex CE142 CPS for some of the input stuff. I had the codeplug made from the 878 I tested (and returned) a few months ago.
 
I changed the band mode to allow for GMRS operation, with no front panel programming, nor VFO. Want to keep this like a commercial radio.  However, if need be I can re-enable that functionality back with the software, but needs a PC to do that.
 
For GMRS is probably a bit overkill, but for ham and/or commercial usage its a great radio. Wish it had airband too, and there is room in the PCB for a third receiver, which is unimplemented ATM, but when that happens I will be selling both my TM-v71A radios... listening to airband is the only reason why I am keeping those Kenwoods around. Being able to hear all the Mototrbo traffic from nearby business in both VHF and UHF is super cool; can't do that with the TM-v71a anymore... most of the stuff I hear around my house is all DMR these days... 
 
G.

Maybe I should take another look at the 629's.

Thank you. qrz.com is a good place for info. Maybe I should sign up there...
 
G.
 

You might want to Google for: ​"review" anytone AT-578UV  and look on the forums at QRZ.com. There doesn't appear to be any major issues with the radio, but several little things.

Nice find!! Balloon would work too.... 
 
Altitude is certainly king when it comes to higher freqs like VHF... 
 

never thought about the drone but wanted to try this some day just for fun  (Balloon Experiments with Amateur Radio) http://bear.sbszoo.com/

Yeah, I've heard them too, but in the past, nowadays MURS is pretty dead around where I live. I've done some data telemetry with packet radio, fun stuff... 2W with a good antenna will reach ridiculously far if placed at the right location... my record was 30 miles, but one of the radios was strapped to a drone... so I guess that doesn't count...
 
G.

I am glad you're happy with the GD77s, but if you really want to see mind-blowing performance then you should get yourself a pair of XPR7550e and see...
 
Also, if you are using the GD77s on DMR then it is not legal. GMRS is FM ONLY. Also, to be 100% compliant then you should be using 20 kHz wideband, and because I know that the GD77s won't do 20 kHz, then you should be using 12.5 kHz instead. If you're using 25 kHz then it is not legal either.
 
You speak like people here in the forum don't know what they are talking about, they are called CCR for a reason. Don't mislead people, dude, grocery store could be 1/2 miles away from home. That is hardly mind-blowing. One radio sitting on a 10 floor building to ground level, not really mind blowing either. I've reached 30 miles using a 2W VHF MURS Ritron portable... does that mean the performance was mind-blowing? Certainly not, why? b/c the receiving radio (a TYT8000E with crossband repeat) was strapped to a drone flying some hundred feet up in the air in the middle of nowhere.
 
Also, for the GD77S, at 75 dollars a pop you are being ripped off, man. If you want cheap, try the Baofeng DM-V1, which is basically a GD77s, except its 25-29 dollars a pop. The DM-V1 will also do DMR if you really want to have DMR (not legal in GMRS). Then there is the Baofeng BF-1801, 45 dollars a pop and its a GD77 clone, with a REAL screen. However, at the price you paid for those overpriced CCRs you could've bought a TYT MD380 UHF (single band, not the dual band), with a color screen and, IIRC a real superheterodyne receiver too... and have a better than mind-blowing performance over the GD77S... I think paying 77 bucks for a CCR without a screen is a ripoff, fortunately tho, it is great to know that, at least, the performance is mind-blowing. You could've achieved the same kind of mind-blowing performance with a pair of BF-888S, except for 18 dollars, and have enough cash left to purchase a used Vertex Standard EVX-531 on eBay, maybe 2 if you look hard enough.(since you seem to like no-screen DMR capable radios)
 
Also, I didn't make this post b/c I am brand name snob that just wants to bash on CCRs for the heck of it, so, without further delay let me introduce you to my extensive CCR collection, and the reason why I made this post.
 
-15 BF-888S, yep, at 9 dollars a piece, they work great for my house intercom, and if anybody destroys one, guests kids, anybody, be it by throwing it the toilet, smashing it with a hammer, etc, etc, won't be crying over it. Receiver on those is BETTER than the GD77s.
-10 Baofeng BF-1801, basically a GD77 clone. Those work great as intercoms on both DMR and FM with the signaling stuff.
-5 Baofeng DM-V1 (which is basically a GD77s, but UHF only, can be modded to do VHF, but haven't tried to do that) Great for store floor intercom, and at 25-29 bucks a pop, its hard to argue with that.
-2 GD77, I got ripped off twice before I found out that the Baofeng BF-1801 was the same radio, at HALF the price. The GD77 is a ripoff, get the BF-1801 instead.-4 Alinco DJ-MD5 DMR/GPS. Not exactly a CCR at 189 a piece, but these are usually our carry around radios, one for each member of the family (old enough to use a radio) Good balance between features and RF performance, for the price, of course.
-5 Baofeng GT-3, (3 dead now) those were the radios that got me into FRS then into GMRS.-4 TYT 8000E.
-1 Anytone INSTG8R
 
Forgot to state what I no longer own but that was also extensively tested.
-1 Retevis RT52, one of the worst, if not the worst radio front end I've ever benched, returned.
-3 Anytone 878UV. Too big, I liked the Alinco MD5 beter, returned them all.
-2 UV-5R. All dead.
-2 UV-82. Gave them to friends.
-2 UV-3R. All dead.
-Ailunce HD1. Very poor performance, returned.
 
I've tested all these radios in nearly every possible scenario you can think of, with several types of ducks, high gain antena, etc, and with the exception of the Alinco DJ-MD5/Anytone 878 (which seems to have better front-end filtering that all those CCRs) none of these radios can compete in terms of range and overall performance to my commercial grade gear, especially when operated in crowded RF areas, which is pretty much anywhere where computers operate these days. Inside a mall the difference is night and day.
 
 
G.
 
 

G, here is a good link you can use. It will help you understand how a horizontal quad loop works, why its omnidirectional, and why there is such good natural noise reduction in the design.
 
I am building this to scale for 80 meters, but you can easily build a VHF version. My friend has his fed with ladder line in the corner closest to his house and its 35 feet off the ground, due to the frequency its being used on.
 
You cut the ladder line to length for tuning the SWR, as the ladder line is part of the antenna design.
 
http://www.caarc.ca/articles/horizontal-quad-antenna

G, what dictates polarization is size in wavelength and physical orientation. A full wave is omnidirectional.

Hey, G... Do you have a meter that can read 0.XX μV scale?  I thought you told me you have an analyzer and the voltage was low.  Is that correct? If so, what is the voltage reading going into the radio from the antenna transmission line, without the preamp? 
 
The filters help eliminate noise if you have poor selectivity, but the preamp is to help poor receive sensitivity or high line loss.  Most good receivers will have a receive sensitivity of 12 dB SINAD on a signal that is 0.25 μV.  Some are 12 dB at 0.20 μV or better.  If the voltage on the antenna line (at the radio input) already meets or exceeds the radio requirements, the preamp won't do anything good.  They are typically for signal loss due to high loss lines or signals filtered/trapped excessively.  
 
 
 
You may be better off with a 5/8 wave.  Do some research on the antenna takeoff angles of specific antennas you are interested in.  In the same way that high gain antennas are more narrow with regard to their usable frequency, some antennas tend to radiate up and out instead of down and out.
 
Also, have you considered a vertical dipole?  Or a loop?  They are very easy and cheap to make... so you can experiment.  Full wave loop antennas are true omnidirectional and fantastic with regard to receive sensitivity.  I am about to build one for 80 meters after seeing a friend of mine a few miles away from me have full-quiet conversations with people I almost could hear at all.

What does the local terrain look like around the site?
 
Another point to consider is very high gain vertical antennas have a narrow radiation pattern perpendicular to the antenna. General reciprocity antenna theory says the RX and TX patterns should be similar.  Anyone close in will have a hard time getting into a repeater like this since the antenna is deaf if you're not in the RX pattern. Commercial broadcasters and some repeater installations use antennas designed so that the narrow radiation pattern is not perpendicular to the antenna but has a small "down tilt" angle of several degrees to compensate some what for this condition.
 
A lower gain antenna has a wider RX and TX pattern perpendicular to the antenna. The gain fall off is less severe. That's why you read about people claiming that a simple 1/4 wave on UHF gave them better results in hilly terrain verses using a high gain antenna where other stations are at different elevations relative to each other. 

My chrome colored pointed hat is on, and I have my noise toys. HONK!! HONK!! rattle-rattle-rattle-HONK!-rattle-rattle. Happy New Year!
 
Oye Pablo! Mas Cerveza por favor!

I was thinking that was too big to fit anywhere in my car, but then I drive a Nissan Juke.  I don't have room for a cigar box.
 
Also, I wasn't thinking about the noise in between the GMRS split, but you're right.  For instance, that MED-9 repeater that I had to fight with on the 444.475 tower.  That is just above GMRS, at 462.950/467.950.  I guess the only way to filter that might be with additional P/R cavity filters, and those add more loss per each can.  These Olds filters could certainly be designed to block out all of the other business and public safety stuff in the 450-460 MHz and 470-512 MHz ranges, as well as all that UHF TV stuff near you.  Once you lower that noise, the other stuff in-band around 463-465 might not bother you as much.
 
Also, the fairly wide bandwidth is a feature of these Olds filters. The ham version allows you to work the whole 430-449 range without having to worry about re-tuning anything.

I don't see any reason why they wouldn't work in a mobile installation, other than size restraints.  The UHF one is about as big as a cigar box, but if you have room to stow it, it should certainly work.  Of course, you wouldn't want to use one of these on a dual-band radio, unless you have split UHF/VHF transmit ports, and split antennas.
 
I think they would really shine in a mobile installation (or base station) where you had a 70cm Ham rig, and a separate GMRS rig, with close-mounted antennas.  If you have one of these tuned filters on each radio, you should be able to transmit on GMRS without blanking out your 70cm rig, and vice-versa.

Wow, those look super nice. Thank you, Jones!
 
Looks like those could be the answer for a mobile environment too!!
 
G.

This is most likely a repeater site ID'ing - while repeaters on GMRS are not required to identify themselves at regular intervals like other radio services, many do this as a courtesy to let other users know that there is an active repeater on that channel/frequency.
 
 
The "travel tone" refers to 141.3 Hz, which is commonly used by GMRS operators on repeaters and/or simplex.  Here are some relevant links that explain in further detail:
 
Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System
Digital Code Squelch (DCS)
CTCSS and DCS Tones -- What's the difference?

Wow, just noticed how I spelled Waterproofing in the subject line. Maybe my next post will be about proofreading.
Cheers