wayoverthere

Given that the exact same lights aren't a issue on the zj, can you bypass the spod to rule out there being some change in the manufacturing on this set vs the other set? If it's still there with the spod bypassed, that points to the lights; if it goes away, that points toward the spod. From there, What is your input power source for the spod, compared to the zj? Is it an issue when the vehicle is running, ignition on not running, or on and off? Thinking of alternator noise vs other noise sources on the input, and ruling out other things besides the spod itself that might be feeding into the spod.

The one I use isn't a fan, even down to not having taut tie-downs in the bed. Upside of the mag mounts is I can just pull them off and toss them on the passenger seat while I go through, and then stick them back up.

I wonder how it defines a "network", given it mentions capacity for 8 networks, and let's you define the wide/narrow on a per-network basis

On the 8180, does it program with "zones"? If so, why not have a normal set of wideband channels, then do another zone of narrowband channels? On the 935, couldn't you do another set of narrow channels in addition to the wide channels, and perhaps exclude them from your normal scanning? Edit: looks like @Lscottand I were thinking along the same line at the same time.

Forgot about the dbr2500 too, good catch.

Think of it as a not too expensive learning tool. While it is a bit feature limited, if it does what you need it to then no need for more. If not, it helps show what features are needed in the next one. I have one as well. It served it's purpose, and it's still on the shelf as a backup now. Power wise, on a good antenna, 15 watts can do quite well. I tend to run the ham mobile on mid power (15 watts), and had no problem getting a "loud and clear" report on a repeater 60ish miles way on a vhf 1/4 wave, while for another closer 70cm, I just run low (5 watts). In the other car, a 5 watt handheld into an external antenna is enough to get by.

While I can't argue their time in the industry,their customer support, or their being pretty much the top on out of the box simplicity, I question the statement about Midland's stuff not being "a modified ham radio or other CCR based chip radio" to be universally applicable. Take a look at the mxt400 and the tyt th-9000d (which also has a retevis twin) for example, as they appear to be hardware twins. I haven't seen a twin to the mxt115, while the 275 appears to be sold down under as a cb...I also want to say I saw something about it being sold under another brand name, but it's slipping my mind at the moment. I suspect with some digging we'd find a hardware twin to the mxt500 as well.

So..mid power showed 18.7 watts into the antenna, and 23.5 into the dummy load. Interestingly, the power drop on high is a bit slower into the dummy load compared to the antenna ?

One small note on the 2x4sr: they don't come with a spring out of the package, but comet does offer a spring kit sized to replace the bottom bit of whip without affecting the tuning. Haven't used mine on MURS, but it's done well for ham and gmrs.

I think the full keypad ones (evx) have that, but I haven't dug into those as much; the basic 4 key VX dont appear to, while one of the full keypad vx, there is a fpp menu accessible by holding a button at startup that allows access to a lot of settings, tones included.

My only gripes are minor...the fan is kind of noisy as a base (one reason it's in the truck...not noticeable with the body behind the seat), and the menu is a little wonky, but nothing insurmountable...kind of get the hang of it. Programming from the face isn't bad,though I grabbed RT software on sale too. I will say shop around for mounts (most are separate) and they vary depending on retailer...the one that has the best price on the radio isn't always cheapest on mounts.

Everything I've heard about the Kenwood has been good, but no direct experience. I have a pair of monoband vertex (vx4207/4204) for my 'base', and an icom 2730 in the truck.

If I were shopping a gmrs handheld now, either the 905 or 935 would be the killer choice. At the time I bought in, the 805g was one of the very few repeater capable 95e handhelds on the market (excluding lmr gear)

Personally, the 805g is a good level of customizable, though adjusting power would be nice. I have a couple repeaters in range on the same channel but with different tones; the wouxun lets me assign each its own memory slot with the appropriate tones, while still keeping the channel numbered slots free for travel use. It's also free to adjust tones from the display, no keypad needed, if I'm travelling and want to use a new repeater. With the btech 50x1, I have to remember and swap tones in the hard coded channel, since it doesn't allow programming any more tx channels. Some of my lmr stuff, i cant even change tones from the faceplate, it's computer only.

I know the Wouxun kg805g will let you have all the transmit channels you want up to the max it can hold, within bounds for gmrs. I believe the 905g and 935g will as well. Jumping over to the LMR side (there are some part 95 Motorola and Kenwood models, I believe) opens a lot more freedom, but limits what you can do in terms of changes through the front panel, versus having to connect to a computer and reprogram. Pricing there varies, and it's a matter of getting good used gear, or $teep prices for new.

The map (https://mygmrs.com/map/) would be your best bet for finding a repeater in range; I see a couple on the west and south of Louisville that are listed as open. I also see one to the east (Backbone - Eminence) that indicates it's part of a linked system, so it's quite possible to have heard traffic from closer to Cincy, depending where other repeaters on the system are located. On programming the 50x1, while it can be helpful for monitoring, they don't allow you to add any more transmit channels, so it's kind of limited in usefulness. Setting up for a repeater can be done from the menu, it's just going to the menu (t-ctcs or t-dcs) and choosing the appropriate tone for the repeater. You can set a receive tone too, if you want.

I think 19.9 is just the "max" it can display...I got it a couple times checking handheld antennas with no ground plane. Touching the connectors changed the numbers noticeably, depending how and which ones I touched.

I have the same issue with my BTech 50x1. Lots of free channels, but they're all rx only. I seem to remember reading something that indicated that level of lockdown made the certification process easier and/or quicker. I appreciate wouxun's design allowing all the tx channels you want that are in-bounds for gmrs.

It's a Midland 5/8 wave whip, mag mounted on a 12"x8" piece of sheet metal and tucked on top of a bookcase. Not sure how well the current placement will do for simplex, but it does fine for repeater work

incidentally, i have both the SW33 (the small inexpensive one) and the SW102 (the slightly larger, slightly more money, full display model). The SW33 did not come with a plate, though i don't think the enclosure being solid metal hurts...it DID include a 5 watt rated dummy load. The SW102 included the plate. I did a couple quick tests to see if RF affected the readings, though i used GMRS since i don't have anything approved for MURS. With both meters and my KG805g HT, I used channels RP21 (467.700 tx) and simplex ch 3 (462. something...the number slips my mind at this second). SW33 said 1.05 and 1.02, while the SW102 showed 1.0 for both. Then, I freed up some slack in the cable, and held the HT up within a foot of the antenna, and tested again with the SW33. Same 1.02 on Ch 3, RP21 actually dropped slightly, to 1.03. At least for UHF, it seems pretty unaffected...I can try to retest with a different handheld and VHF this weekend..will need to switch antennas and try messing with the ground plane and see if goes that bad.

Given it's a mobile antenna, rather than a handheld, and an swr that high, I lean more toward either a ground plane issue or a short in the cable. Handhelds are definitely wonky with handheld antennas (again, ground plane), but it shouldnt matter for a mobile antenna; it should be getting it's ground plane via the mount, not the ht.

I would have sworn there was something on midland's site previously mentioning it. That said, their authorization for the 275 DOES allow for it: https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/tcb/reports/Tcb731GrantForm.cfm?mode=COPY&RequestTimeout=500&tcb_code=&application_id=o9gcpY0BMlKQKr%2FMaUSLGQ%3D%3D&fcc_id=MMAMXT275

Into the antenna will be in the ballpark, but you need the dummy load to be as accurate as possible. Mine is due any day now, so I'll try to get some back to back numbers between antenna and dummy load and see how much it changes. (On mid power...radio issues)

The other tell will be if you're picking up interference. I haven't found gmrs to be super prone to interference in my truck (older ranger clone), though I've heard more issues in jeeps. Power wise, that sounds about par with other reports on the mxt500's. @marcspazhas some direct experience in this thread:

Not sure what's up with the ghost; I havent seen a lot of good reports, and it's always seemed like a step down from their previous 3db option, the 5/8wave whip. That one (mxta10) is a little taller but still reasonable at around 12", and I've managed 60+ mile reaches to a repeater with it mag mounted indoors on some sheet metal. Sportsmen's appears to still have some in stock, too: https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting-gear-supplies/radios-and-weather-stations/handheld-2-way-radios/midland-micromobile-mxta10-3db-gain-antenna/p/1476042