wayoverthere

I guess we'll see on the stability. I feel like the groups that go to the effort of linking are likely to be mlthe more stable, less likely to jump to the next cool thing, but who knows. I've been keeping an eye for some p25 mobiles; most of what i see is Motorola, but a lot of that is 700/800...I've seen a couple "p25 capable" icom, but looked like actually getting the capability would run in the $600's. Interestingly, there's more p25 repeaters in my area than D-star and Fusion combined. Haven't actually looked into DMR, though I probably should, as I think the EVXs I have are capable. For back to back testing, I have jumped back and forth between the p25 and the analong on the same channel, and it was minor but detectable better on p25.

It really depends on the repeaters, to be honest. It looks like a number of the p25 machines on my area are linked, either smaller local stuff (n6lye), down state (KERN), or to the coast (w6dxw, which has some both here and on the coast). Maybe linked is just a bigger thing in CA with the fires and quakes. I won't say there's nothing with talkgroups yet, but I haven't gotten that far into it to say one way or the other. Will have to see what I can find online.

Good point(s). I'm just still a little boggled why they felt the need to throw that limitation of no combining anything with murs.

Interesting that they'll allow dual certification with gmrs, and other services requiring certification, but murs specifically disallows certification for any of the other part 95 services. Otherwise, gmrs/Murs in one radio would be a no brainer. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.2761

Thoughts... On #1 and 2, it'd likely be trivial at this point to filter repeater status (open, etc). Should they be marked "open" if they're react/club only, or not open to public usage? #3, the repeater listings are available without logging in, so the basic functionality shown presents no more issue than the site already does. I'd agree not to include input tones unless it can be integrated on the site to require logging in to view the tones. I will also mention that the current version of Repeaterbook's Android app does include a filter for gmrs repeaters (along with the other Band filters) though their database is lacking for actual listings...gmrs being a semi recent addition there. Edit: new post while I was typing addresses most of this...the links are a great way to address the access control issue.

I've had good luck with bluemax49ers on ebay, both for cables and a source for software for my vertex gear; the antenna farm also has some listings, and used their cable with one as well. Most of the bluemax stuff I have was in the $25-$30 range, software included.

Agreed. I think it's a couple vendors that are working with wouxun and going the extra mile to get user feedback and get that incorporated into updated/future products. I know I see buytwowayradios active in r/gmrs, and fairly sure I've seen someone associated with bettersaferradio active as well.

I would guess it boils down to being easy to do with existing hardware and be first to that market, rather than developing something from scratch. Repurposing existing hardware with firmware tweaks seems to be wouxun's thing, really, and they seem reasonably willing to modify an existing product to a vendor's specs, probably with a minimum order quantity. It seems like buytwowayradios and bettersaferradio both have pretty much one-off wouxun products, no? No disagreement that making it small would make sense, though the remote head capability the 980/1000 chassis brings is something rarely found in the smaller radios, and may make the actual size of the unit less of an issue since you can stash most of it in the trunk or under a seat.

Good point. I do wonder how long it will take manufacturers to jump on new capability....who will be first to take the plunge? That said though, I wonder how far off some of the stuff they're selling on Amazon as 10 and 12 meter ham radios actually is from meeting the new standard...could it be just a few software/firmware tweaks to get the power level and frequency range in line?

Those that really want something license free, but better sound quality than cb? Maybe they'll find a niche with truckers to talk to the crews at Walmart when they make their drops?

I don't know what's out there specifically for the FJ, but I've seen the clamp style phone holders used semi regularly to hold a HT. Lido makes a variety of mounts aimed at amateur radio, that may be a good bet : https://m.lidomounts.com/hamradiomounts.html

There's a lot of factors that affect the answer, so it isn't quite an easy yes or no. With no obstructions, a lot further is possible, but gmrs (and UHF as a whole) is very much line of sight. Getting a good antenna up where obstructions are minimal will help, as will power to some extent (especially with the foliage part of the equation). Big hills may be problematic, though, and some areas are more restricted than others about setting up antennas. In relatively clear air (antenna in my attic) and 50 watts, I can reach a repeater a little over 60 miles out (that sits around 3000 ft up in the foothills) and another 30 or so miles the opposite direction at 5000 ft. The ratings shown on a lot of the "bubble pack" radios represent ideal conditions, which is why they include "up to" in the small print when they talk in miles of reach.

That sounds like you have everything in line settings wise; how is your antenna setup? The small antenna that comes with isn't the best, but it should be okay for a few miles. Given it's size, having a little bit of metal around it (which acts as part of the antenna, or the ground plane) is semi important for a good signal. As @mbrun mentions, what the repeater has on its end (both in terms of antenna and height) is often a big unknown. I'm fortunate to have a couple high level ones in the foothills around the valley I'm in. Aside from that, it's a distinct possibility that activity is minimal (in which case you may at least hear a quick transmit back after you unkey), and just no one listening at the time to come back to you, or it may be an out of date listing for a machine that isn't currently active; there are some of those out there, where it may be down for one reason or another, but they owner didn't bother updating/removing it from the list.

The 924 was what I used in the truck (with an adapter cable and mag mount) for 70cm, until i picked up the 824 (which is similar, but not as tall)...think I need to adjust the mic gain on the 924 or something, though, as I tended to get reports of low audio, even with the noise reduction mode turned off. Not sure which one you're looking at with that split; mine is a 400-470 MHz split (g6) version of this one: https://www.twowaydirect.com/vertex-standard-vx-924-radio-512-channels-uhf-vx-924-g7-pkg1/ Finally have something in the truck with a little more pep than an HT though.... got a deal on another vx4207 (which is 95a/90, 400-470 band split)...did the programming during the week, and installed it today. double checked swr on the browning mag mount today, dead on 1:1 on 445 MHz, and 1.04-1.05:1 in gmrs. Still tempted for some more p25 stuff though. There's some Midland stuff that comes and goes, both vhf and uhf versions, and a nice vhf vx-p829, but spendy. I've toyed with the idea of either d-star or system fusion in the truck, but there doesn't seem to be any repeaters with either in my area, strictly dmr with a little uhf p25.

Hi Marcus, It would help to know what radio you're working with (I may have missed it if it was discussed in another thread). That said, DPL is also known as DCS (while PL is equivalent to CTCSS), so look for where to find the DCS menu item for your radio; midland groups both codes under one menu item, and all but the newest models (and the older mxt400's, with programming) set the same code for both transmit and receive. The latest model Midlands, and most radios above the off shelf "bubble pack" type (such as Btech and Wouxun) support different transmit and receive codes. One other thing to check(if you haven't already) is the channel you're on; midlands generally come out of the box with repeater channels disabled, which means enabling them in the menu. on other models, they may be labeled 19R or Rept19. These channels will have the required transmit offset (+5mHz) for repeater usage.

Yikes, so it isn't just vertex; maybe i should do the spreadsheet thing too. Half the reason I grabbed the p25 I did (vx-p824) is it was cheaper due to lacking battery, antenna and charger, but it takes the same battery, charger, and programming cable I already had for a vx-924. Had already been planning to grab an Antenna for one of the evx's anyway, so what's one more? I do want to get at least one more of each of the two battery types though. One other nice bonus is discovering the 12v plug I bought for the wouxun base is the same polarity and voltage as the base for my yaesu ht takes edit: here's the screenshot: https://imgur.com/ey3uf4K

I think I remember a hex/Dec setting in one of the cps, though I forget which of the four or 5 it was... my one gripe with vertex is almost every model of radio requires a different version of the cps, and some versions won't install if others are present ? most of it is on a stick of, but the p25 version had to be somewhere else, so it's on the laptop.

I suspect this depends how the repeater is set up; the couple I've used didn't require a unique ID, though one would prefer you request one from them, and provides you a list of other users on the network when they give you one. The two I've used, it was pretty much just setting the frequencies, mode (both are mixed mode) and NAC, as far as I remember...I'll try to post a screenshot of the CPS later today when I can jump on the laptop. (One, the network had a better-sited analog machine for use from my home location, so I tend toward that one...the other, the repeater is pretty dead most of the time).

I know it's slightly different tuning, but I grabbed a 701c (before they came out with the -g versions), and didnt really notice a difference vs the stock antenna (other than its flexibility).

This one I definitely have too, though it shows up on 2m. Noise level is definitely lower at night, though the inverter box is on the other side of the house. Getting that antenna up and outside should help some, at least. If it's at that level of annoyance, I'd say time to just set a Rx code on channel 3 to block it out till you have the patience to start chasing it again. I'm still trying to think what else could fall in that range that'd be continuous and regular.

There have been instances of people buying those imported baby monitors and issues resulting..could being slightly off frequency cause it to manifest as interference?

Is it intermittent or continuous? Older tech, but I know when I had Cingular as my cell provider, I'd pick up some buzzing him occasionally via headphones or my telephone headset at work if the cord was too close to the phone...don't know if that's still a thing moving onto 4 and 5g now. The on and off on a multiple-month cycle makes me think it may be something seasonal, though the fact That it's there both at home and mobile kind of leads me to think it's something you're bringing along, but outside of a cell phone I'm not sure what.

The bit I found intriguing is that the mxt275 mic appears to have an input for their headsets, but getting the better half on board with the intercoms was a stretch in itself.

The only radio specific helmet headset I know of off the top of my head is Midland, though I don't believe their plugs/wiring fit the Kenwood standard. The snowmobile or off-road arenas may have something though. Outside of radio, we have used the cardo intercom sets (g4, q3) a fair amount, with reasonable short range comms and decent sound..not concert quality but fine for voice. The noise cancelling Is good enough for a call while underway with the person on the other end unable to tell I was on the bike (even with aftermarket pipes). Freeway speeds are generally doable with reasonably clear copy. That said, I don't know a way to have it get along with a radio; Our cardo do have a 3.5mm input for mp3 player use, but that doesn't sort the mic & ptt issue.

Check for nearby noise sources, first. I know my wouxun picks up static on 3 and 6 if I set it too close to my Samsung lcd monitor. Turn off as much as possible and see if it goes away, or move around/outside to see if there's an obvious source (my solar system has some noise on 2m also) If you absolutely can't track it down, and you aren't planning to listen on 3 anyway, set a receive ctcss or dcs code on that channel, and that should keep it from stopping on that channel.