wayoverthere

I started with a pair of midland gxt1000's, then a kg805g (which is my go to for a GMRS HT, though I mostly use the mobiles). also have a couple of Vertex EVX-539 that cover GMRS (450-512), one that covers GMRS & 70cm, and a couple other models (all part 90 Vertex stuff) that are programmed with gmrs channels, though not my go-to for that.

haven't noticed it on GMRS, as the level of activity here is pretty low. I did notice it on 70cm last night, though...had a good signal, came up to intersection in the right lane and it was like a light switched off...gone. i chalked it up to a physical obstruction, since it was so sudden, and when i jumped over to another repeater (different site, part of a linked network, and there's a uhf and a vhf/uhf site in range), the signal was fine.

quirks of the different forum software i guess, and little variations between desktop and mobile versions. If I want to go back to something on the computer (to write a reply with a real keyboard), i'll switch up the filters from "unread" to "everything" and change the timeframe of posts i want to see to 2 days (which, as frequently as I'm here pretty much always finds what i want). One thing I just noticed is in the list of posts, the time of the last post in a thread is a link, which will take you to the last post in the thread. I do miss the 'mark as read' link for individual posts, and the ability to expand a thread in the search view; sometimes if there was just one new post, i would read it there, then use the "mark as read" link for that thread instead of going into the thread.

i've been using this as well; i don't know if it's something that carried over or what, but i found if i hit that, then hit the number of replies below a thread, it takes me to the latest unread post (or seems to...maybe it's taking me to the last post, since i'm generally here often enough for there to only be another post or two? ? )

Yep, my alinco takes the same one, and I've absolutely used others with it rather than move the one that's all set up.

Thanks for the clarification ?

Same story here...5/8 over 5/8 tram browning uhf on the truck, with a Midland 115 for gmrs, or I have a sma male to so239 pigtail to use with the handheld ham radios. Eventually I'll put an actual ham mobile in...have a dual band comet antenna to go up when it happens).

it's a holdover term from the old radio days...Variable Frequency Oscillator, if i remember right. what this means in reality is the ability to scan through the frequencies freely, rather than being tied to set channels. not familiar with that Anytone specifically, but unless it has the ability to use some form of removable disk/memory card/flash drive, nearly all mobile radios need to be powered up while connected to the computer for programming via the software. if you're working with a laptop you may be able to do it in vehicle, downloading the configuration from the radio to the computer, and then disconnect and work on it on the computer, and later power it up to load the new configuration from the computer to the radio. a 120v to 12v power supply is one way to accomplish this indoors if you aren't able to program in place with a laptop, though batteries can work as well. i've run my btech 50x1 off of two 6v lantern batteries in series for some limited testing, and have run a cb extensively off an old car battery connected to a trickle charger.

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