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Extreme

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Posts posted by Extreme

  1. National Net on the Last Sunday of Every Month

    in National and Regional GMRS Nets

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Sshannon said:

    Usually on a net you just listen until called on to check in.  Sometimes it’s very difficult to get in to check in, but there’s almost always a bit of a lull.  

    Once they build a list of checked in people they might go around again, asking for a report, which can include anything from weather to signal reports to type of radio and antenna you’re using.

    My advice is to listen until you feel comfortable. For me that sometimes takes a while. ?

    Ya, kind of what I had planned.  

    Thanks.

  3. National Net on the Last Sunday of Every Month

    in National and Regional GMRS Nets

    Posted

    A pal and I are going to join the Net tonight via a local repeater that I've recently been informed is linked.  No problem hitting the repeater from my easy chain via HT.  I think he's in the same range.

    Should be a hoot.

    Ground rules?  Do we need to ID when we join?  What are protocols?

    I don't want to be that guy and interrupt or break some rule first time actively in (I've listened in via laptop and the Tucson group in the past).

    We're with a bunch that use GMRS and local repeaters for our off-road gang trail runs.  Getting more and more friends onboard with GMRS.

  4. Melowave Shadow?

    in Equipment Reviews

    Posted

    https://www.buytwowayradios.com/melowave-anm-133g.html

    Anyone?  I have the phantom stubby antenna and it works ok but no 'testing'.  I've reverted to 1/4 6" on a ground plane and it also works well but have torn one off in the trees in the past.

    Is the Melowave Shadow (specifically 'tuned to GMRS') really a step up from the Phantom?  I get a lot of stuff from and refer a lot of folks to BTWR.

    Working on an install for a buddies Wrangler JK and considering his rear high mount cargo rack/basket as a place to put a ground plane plate.

  6. NW Montana GMRS

    in National and Regional GMRS Nets

    Posted

    On 4/24/2022 at 10:23 AM, Sshannon said:

    I’m in Butte, so SW Montana, but as far as ham radio there’s a DMR repeater on 70 cm in Eureka. I assume you’re in that area, maybe Troy or Libby.  It’s networked to the Brandmeister network so you can literally talk to people all over the world.

    https://www.dmr-montana.net/radio-site-data/eureka-dmr.html

    Ham radio is much more active than gmrs in Montana although Billings now has gmrs repeaters. 

    Good luck!

    I have some lots in Walkerville if there's interest in putting a GMRS repeater up there.  Not living there now but don't know why it couldn't be done.  Should provide hella range from there, overlooking the valley toward the Highlands, Fleecer Mtn, Pintlar, I-15 corridor and toward I-90 West toward Deer Lodge.

  7. Ground Plane Antenna Performance 1/4 (6") v. 5/8 (15") v 1/2 (31") wave - JEEP

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    20 minutes ago, WRFP399 said:

    I found zero difference  between a 1/4 wave and a 5/8 over 5/8 collinear antenna where I am when talking to a repeater. We have mountains as well as wide open flat area. I go with a 1/4 wave because there is no reason to have a larger antenna if it doesn't do anything better.

    Agreed.  I've been trying to say just this to my off-road buddies who're getting their first mobiles.  A lot of them are in Jeeps with fiberglass tops so that's an issue and they're leaning toward longer antennas to get them above the top.  I was lucky enough to have a perfect spot for an 8 x 8" ground plane for my 1/4 high at the rear of the LJ.

    It is cool that they're getting away from CB and into GMRS.  Better in every way on the trail or hunting in my experience.

    Guess I could take this to the Jeeps & Radios thread.

    Thanks for the feedback and reminding me of radio 101.

     

  8. Ground Plane Antenna Performance 1/4 (6") v. 5/8 (15") v 1/2 (31") wave - JEEP

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    5 hours ago, marcspaz said:

    The best antenna for you is going to vary a bit, depending on where you are going to be using the radio and what you want to accomplish.

     

    On a vehicle, a 5/8 wave antenna is going to show at least 3dB gain over a 1/4 wave, and at least 1dB of actual gain (depending on design, it can be much higher).  This antenna has the least amount of elevation tolerance.  So, if you live in a hilly/mountainous area, this may not be the best option, but it would be good in large geographically flat areas.

     

    A 1/2 wave doesn't require a ground plane and has about 2.1 dB of gain over a 1/4 wave, but it has no actual gain... its straight break-even.  It also has a bit more tolerance to elevation.

     

    A 1/4 wave actually has a loss of about 2/10ths of a dB.  While it doesn't provide as much range, in hilly or mountainous areas, its going to be the best choice due to the very high elevation tolerance. 

     

    Based on this, I actually carry a 5/8 wave antenna that is about 32" tall and about 6dB gain, and a 1/4 wave antenna.  Then I just swap them on and off the vehicle depending on the terrain I am in and the range needed.

    Thanks Marc.  As soon as I read this I realized I'd been taught this here a few years ago when pondering antennas... sheesh.

    My 1/4 is great in the mountains but we do have some extremely long shots with potential for more reach.  I've hit a repeater from 50 miles so don't know what better I could ask.   I might consider a 5/8 to play with.

  9. Ground Plane Antenna Performance 1/4 (6") v. 5/8 (15") v 1/2 (31") wave - JEEP

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    Will I gain any performance (distance and/or clarity) with one of the base loaded  antennas over a 6" 1/4 wave?  Both would be on the same 8" square ground plane on my Jeep.  Wondering if the added height above the roof will be of much benefit.  The 1/4 is working fine, just nit-picking.  Spring loaded base would be a must if I go taller.  The ground plane would remain the same.

    Assuming all will screw onto the existing NMO mount.

    If they need tuning, I'll likely opt out.  Guess I could experiment and be careful to swap to the shorty in the overhead brush.

    UHF High Gain Antennas: Laird TE Connectivity B4503S (theantennafarm.com)   

    5/8 wave is 15"

    UHF High Gain Antennas: Laird TE Connectivity B4505CS (theantennafarm.com)

    1/2 wave is 31"

    UHF Quarter Wave Antennas : Laird TE Connectivity AB450 (theantennafarm.com)

    1/4 wave is 6"

  10. Jeeps & Radios

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    On 3/15/2021 at 5:58 AM, SkylinesSuck said:

    Just testing out Tapatalk with the same pics in my original post.....

     

    And I didn't specify in my original post I'm using above the taillight mounts for both antennas.33d4cf12a0f73ca22d9cdb5f94ac539a.jpg6cc467ff451cbb32909894e44d0adfae.jpg

     

    Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

    Asking for a friend.  Is your tailight mount GMRS antenna working ok?  He has a '99 TJ that he runs topless, has a rack on the back and is asking me about which antenna and mount (hard or mag mount).  Since I run only 1/4 wave on a ground plane I don't have a solid answer for which antenna type and mounting solution might work best for him.  1/2 wave, 5/8, etc., etc..

    I'll continue through the thread from the end backward to see what I come up with.  Kind of talking him out of the Midland and leaning him toward the Wouxux 20w.

  12. Is There A Road Channel For GMRS?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1 hour ago, H8SPVMT said:

    Besides 2 repeater channels all my frequencies are simplex and over three years now I have run my radio in scan when traveling around town and road trips.  Never heard another traveler on the GMRS with exceptions to maybe four truckers.

    Being Jeepers and traveling in small groups we'll talk amongst ourselves over the open road and off, using 462.57500.  Seems no one local even turns their GMRS on or uses SCAN on a day to day ride around town.

    Of course I have to consider that I am dealing with "the ONLY TIME" I am on the road and that may just never coincide with others travel routines  during normal daytime/night travel.

     

    Very near to my experience on/off road with one exception:  a stuck hunter actually contacted us from about 10 miles when we were driving by his general area in route to another recovery.  He scanned us chatting on 16 with his HT, shouted us down, and got himself 'scheduled' to be recovered.  They had walked 7 miles out and had many more to go with zero cell coverage.  We got him on our way back from recovery 1. 

  17. KG-1000g over head install in a jeep

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    On 2/12/2022 at 12:55 PM, austinpa said:

    Hello 

    has anyone successfully installed just the faceplate of the Wouxun 1000g overhead in a Jeep Wrangler? 

    Not specifically, but mounted complete Kenwood TK-8180 on the aftermarket rollbar overhead 'plate' in my LJ and a Kenwood 8180 remote faceplate in an XJ.  Both are apples and oranges for you so no real help.  Just didn't want to leave you hanging.

  18. NEW Midland MXT275 Wideband?

    in Equipment Reviews

    Posted

    On 1/25/2022 at 10:29 AM, bobthetj03 said:

     

    As a fellow Jeep owner, I too became victim to Midland's marketing monster. Having a TJ, room is even tighter than your JKU, and having a radio hanging out in plain sight during top off season made me nervous, so I thought the 275 would be a great replacement for my old CB radio. Being new to the GMRS world, I dove in, got my license, bought the 275, and went to town. It didn't take me long to find the 275's shortcomings, especially since one of our local repeaters used split tones. It wasn't 6 months later that I sold the 275 to a fellow jeeper that just wanted a radio to communicate on jeep runs. I went head first down the rabbit hole, did some research, and ended up with Wouxun's KGXS-20G mobile. 20 watts, so more power than the 275, a very small chassis, so I was able to mount it in front of my console. The mic had controls for the radio, and a speaker in the mic, which proves super handy when traveling with the top down, or a noisy soft top. The dual watch display is super clean and clear, just so many more features to choose from, and room to grow as a GMRS radio nerd to be. And, at $219, while a bit more pricey, if it were to get stolen, I wouldn't cry too much vs. $400-$500 options. I usually just unscrew the mic and toss it in my security drawer under the seat when I'm in a sketchy neighborhood. I liked this radio so much, I bought it's HT brother, the KG935G. It has almost identical features to the mobile, is Part 95e only, no silly computer programming shenanigans to try to make it work as a radio it's not, and the quality so far has met my needs. I now have 3 HT's, 2 different antennas at home and work to use as a base for the HT, and enough coax fittings and coax cable options to choke a horse. I also now host a weekly GMRS net locally to grow community awareness to GMRS, so yeah, I've got the bug pretty bad!

    20211012_153234.thumb.jpg.0614167958708c247c6c693e05c74ff1.jpg

     

    Asking for a friend.  (I run used Kenwoods).  I'm too lazy to read the entire thread so looking for an 'in a nutshell' favorite GMRS only radio for my club's mobile needs.  A few of the guys are running out and grabbing Midlands; if they asked me I'd steer them in another direction (we have repeaters available to us).  One kid is asking now for his rig and with the good luck I've had with my Wouxun 805G HTs I'm leaning him toward the Wouxun brand.

    Right track.  Sound like a good review here.  I'll go over to BTWR and look around but would love some feedback.

  21. "Inactive Repeater" Tab?

    in myGMRS.com

    Posted

    What happened to the Inactive (and the other selection) on the MAP to find repeaters.  My local repeaters and many I use in 3 states are no longer viewable from the map.  I appreciate it costs money so get the Ad Blocker request but did we need to change the capabilities too.

    Thanks folks.

     

  22. Jeeps & Radios

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    If I'm correct, 7 x 7" is minimum for 1/4 wave ground plane.  I had the 8 x 8 x 1/4" aluminum plate laying around from another project so just primer/painted it.  Also, the fiberglass top will not deter RF propagation and unless I run a branch along the top nothing should hit the antenna.

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