wayoverthere

Paul, Glad the community could get you going in the new pursuit, and introduce you to an even wider community and hobby.

I'll have to give it another try...the g7's were my first forays into the world of commercial CPS, so lots of learning curve. I have some inconsistencies between the two that I want to iron out anyway, and maybe try to get the g6 more consistent in buttons and lighting. I have the startup messages programmed with call signs and range label (g6/g7). Also done a vx924, and now a p824, and each version has its quirks...I've fiddled with the button/switch settings a bit on the 924 a few times, if I'm honest.

First, for repeater use, you want the channels with the RP suffix, on those the offset should be preset. If the channel is just XX, you're on the simplex channel. You do have to enable them in the menu, then the channels will count up to 22, then 15rp through 22rp. Second, good catch WyoJoe....625 and .675 should be channels 18 and 20. Third, it sounds like you got the codes set successfully before, it sets the tone for both tx and RX (as you mentioned, no separate setting means no split tones.), And you get the game of cross referencing the tone to midland's corresponding code. If .625 and .675 are the frequencies in use, set the tones on channels 18rp and 20rp and check again.

I suspect mine are from that overlap period...the evx's all say designed in Japan, assembled in china, while the vx's (925 and p824) say made in Japan. The mobile, I can't get at the label but I think some of the paperwork with it referenced yaesu. On a side note, I realized today that the g7 evx's actually came with Motorola batteries, rather than vertex...little more capacity than the vertex one with the 3rd (2200maH vs 1800, if I remember right). Given they came with 2 chargers and a vertex speaker mic, not a bad deal.

Haven't honestly dug into whether there's encryption going on or not; I started from a blank codeplug for the g6 (400-470), added frequencies, and tried to load, and got a message similar to 'frequency out of range', and nothing loaded. After a few tries I read from the radio and discovered they were g7 (450-512) and filled with that accordingly, which it took first try. Unless there's somewhere I'm missing it, there isn't a place to fill in the range;even starting with a blank template it's a choice of vhf, 400-470, or 450-512, and given how the picked it up when I read from the radio I suspect its built into the firmware. Truthfully, I kind of just accepted the limit, loaded them with gmrs and some public safety stuff, and moved on from messing with those 2...soon after picked up others that cover the lower range I want (more vertex gear).

I'll have to check the version a little later, but I believe it's CE151 (I have the later display models). And no decryption, just straightforward load with the cps

On the 50x1: I haven't tried renaming the hard coded repeater channels. You can add more with customized names, but they are receive only. If you can find a commercial surplus that fits your needs, grab it ?my current base is a surplus vertex standard that is 90/95a certified (under the old set of rules), though it's acting up related to the tones, and almost seems like it's a hair off channel. To be honest, I never felt like the btech came up short on power, though. With a small 5/8 wave antenna on a piece of sheet metal up in the top of a closet, I can reach a repeater around 60 miles out up on the hill, plus a couple more closer in.

Your understanding is correct; the btech will meet all except that last bullet. For occasional changes, I don't know that I'd have an issue; changing tones is pretty straightforward in the menu. My case with 2 repeaters in range of base on the same channel with different tones....was a little more frustrating. Given that's one of your big wants, the extra time and money may be worthwhile, and that's my only major gripe with the radio.

Kind of depends on your VE and how they submit; I did mine electronically via GLAARG. Tested on a Saturday evening (they use the hamstudy.org system), and had an email from hamstudy Monday evening with my callsign, followed by an email from FCC just after midnight Monday night/Tuesday morning. I understand GLAARG submits electronically. Some sites take longer.

While it's a little limited feature wise (no split tones is the biggie), and a little low on power (trade for that small size), the Midlands are still decent little radios. If size is an issue, the mxt275 may be another option, with the display in the mic while the main body can be tucked away.

On the tones, the menu settings you want are t-ctcs and r-ctcs..make sure you're on the correct channel, then press the channel button (or the menu button on the mic) to get into the menu, roll through and press again to select the menu item, roll through the tones to 100.0, and press once more to confirm..them roll to the other and repeat.

no firsthand knowledge, but that looks a lot like the baofeng/kenwood/wouxun plug pattern. i'd be tempted to grab one of those and try reading from one of the radios; on software, Titan appeared to have a link to their programming software in the listing for their $75 cable

Start? They already have been ?

we were out walking the dogs yesterday, and there was a gentleman going the opposite direction walking solo, and talking on the radio (was across the street, so no guess on brand or band)...kiddo commented that that'll be me when i get older

that explains something then...mine were both the same email, but slightly different passwords between the main site and the forum. the one i had saved for the forum no longer works, and now the one for the main site works on the forum.

So...on tones...ctcss is more common, and usually expressed in hz, almost always with a decimal. 141.3 hz is a common one. Dcs will be 3 digits, often with a letter N (normal) or I (inverted). Either will get saved on the channel you're using, and these are effectively the "key" into the repeater, working kind of like a filter....signals with the right tone get through, and others are ignored. (If your radio is set with a receive tone of 141.3 hz, you'll only hear signals from someone using 141.3 hz as a transmit tone, for example) On programming (disc and cable), it isn't a necessity, but its useful, especially with one that lets you receive such a wide variety of bands, you may want to add things like local public safety, or pre agreed presets (channel/tone) to use with family. At least on the kg1000g, you can likely accomplish the same manually via the menus (not 100% on that, but others that own one may be able to confirm). Hope this gives a little bit of clarity.

Following as well. Unlike kenwood, vertex seems pretty solid about not letting you program out of the listed bands. I was trying for something in the 440's with a stated 450-512 setup (evx539's), and it just errored and didn't load anything

Midland makes you enable the repeater channels in the menu first...there's a recent thread on the same topic here: https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/2673-new-to-gmrs-got-a-midland-mxt275/?fromsearch=1

Not personally, but there have been similar issues on the west coast...Here are a couple threads: https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1984-seattleport-angeles-repeater-owners-ix-from-nxdn-idas-equipped-yacht/?fromsearch=1 https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1971-san-diegola-600-repeater-owners-ix-from-nxdn-idas-equipped-yacht/?fromsearch=1

Yeah, I'll admit that already having compatible batteries and borrowing an antenna from the 924 definitely played into going for it. I keep telling myself that's enough used stuff.

Sounds like you got some steals! Yeah, I've been curious to try out p25, and have a couple repeaters in range with the capability. i can't say it was cheap...found a seller with a bunch of the p824's for $150, radio only, which was a bit less than most anything else. The one I got, the antenna was pretty much wrecked, and the battery is pretty much toast. New antenna is inbound, and I have a spare battery as I bought 2 for the 924, which takes the same battery. 824 can also use the same cable and charger, so I'm already set there, though I may grab a couple more batteries, though waiting to order till I see the state of the last 539 (might want one for that too)

I will caveat that that fcc.io has some...glitches. it lists the fcc ids for my vx-p824 and vx-924 as part 9, when searching the actual fcc.gov database shows them as part 90. My g7's were kind of a live and learn thing...I didn't look closely enough (or ask) pre-purchase. The (different) seller I got the 924 had mislabeled one spot on the listing as g7 instead of g6 (it's a g6), and he messaged me prior to shipping to make sure g6 was what I wanted...cool of him to do

Agreed with this. While some brands are known to allow programming a little out of band (such as kenwood) other simply won't (my evx539's), so if it you're after both bands, watch the splits on what you buy carefully, and double check against photos if possible when going the ebay route. Not sure if it's used with other brands, but for vertex ive found g6 designation is often the 400-470 split I'm after, with g7 being 450-512.

Not so far. My part 90 HTs don't cover into ham bands, and the stuff that does isn't approved (one shows as part 9...typo in the db maybe, as that refers to 911 services, 2 are baofengs). Have one on the way that should be 90 or dual cert (evx539) and cover both, but it'll still probably be sparing...lack of travel means family is glued to cell phones, and I have mobile radios in the truck and at home that I use instead.

Seconding....I need to stay off of ebay. I haven't even finished my shack/mobile setup yet