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wayoverthere

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  1. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from TrikeRadio in Radioddity DB25-G QuadMonitoring Question   
    Looks like it's listed as option 0 in the menu, on pg 21 (reading it in pdf from radioddity's site). The menu item is called "TMR", and you tell it which ones you want to monitor (a, b, c, and/or d), and then used the abcd button to cycle through the 4 lines and set each one to the channels/frequencies you want to monitor. If I understand it right, it treats whichever one you have selected as the "Main". I tend to set a channel I might want to transmit on on main.
    The setup and functionality seem similar to my btech 50x1, which makes sense because it the db25g looks to be based on the btech 25x2 and 25x4.
  2. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRXB215 in Serious Question About Profile Info   
    In the past I've referred to it as 'ham lite' or 'frs plus', depending how it's treated in a given area...not intended as a dig, just GMRS can be a bit less complicated way to play radio, and some areas have just as much enthusiast involvement as ham, while others it's really a "stick to your group" crowd .
  3. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to Lscott in Serious Question About Profile Info   
    In the end you use the service in a way that best fits your needs.
  4. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in Serious Question About Profile Info   
    In the past I've referred to it as 'ham lite' or 'frs plus', depending how it's treated in a given area...not intended as a dig, just GMRS can be a bit less complicated way to play radio, and some areas have just as much enthusiast involvement as ham, while others it's really a "stick to your group" crowd .
  5. Thanks
    wayoverthere reacted to WRUU653 in KG-935H power results.   
    I received the new KG-935H yesterday and ran test on high power this morning with a fresh battery using my Surecom SW-102 and a *dummy load, here is what I got. I posted my KG-Q10H at ultra high setting results for comparison. I have not had a chance to take it out in the world as of yet.
    * I mention this because obviously MURS and GMRS are not type approved and MURS output is way high at these settings. This is only a test, if this had been an actual emergency you would have heard screaming 😂
    KG-935H
    2m - 8.8 watts
    1.25m - 4.6 watts
    70cm - 8.4 watts
    GMRS - 6.8 watts rept, 7.4 watts smpx 
    MURS - 9.7 watts
    KG-Q10H
    2m - 4.5 watts
    1.25m - 2.9 watts
    70cm -  6.5 watts
    6m - 1.1 watts
    GMRS - 5.5 watts
    MURS - 4.6 watts
  6. Thanks
    wayoverthere reacted to WRUU653 in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    Results posted here. 
  7. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to tweiss3 in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    Same, considering I just bought another HT, maybe 3.......
  8. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    Well, the 935h is here. Grabbed it from the post office tonight, and started working on programming.
    Had to put it aside for tomorrow...had the program open once, doing something else, and hey, I thought I minimized it, not closed it. Reopen....spend awhile working on the code plug...program disappears and loses all the work I've done. Tab and arrow keys in the program are a bit wonky.
    Initial impression of the radio itself is solid, good feel in the hand, and lots of options in the menu. Programming to be continued, will probably run a small adapter to use a diamond triband antenna k have in lieu of switching out the two it comes with (one 2m/70cm, one 2m/1.25m). Battery charged fast, got a 2nd and had that charging via USB-c.
  9. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    Yeah, lesson learned 🤦‍♂️ The instability is new to me, and makes RT Systems' software tempting when it shows up.
     
    I do the multiple versions as as well, radio model and date, and save new versions as i go.  I do also save base code plugs before i start editing for the first time.
    I was working from the latest codeplug for the vx7r, and just skipping the 6m items, but in the end went the spreadsheet route; exported it all as a CSV, and installed Open Office on that computer so i can open it.
  10. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to SteveShannon in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    Two features I wish RT Systems would implement are automatic saves and automatic versioning. 
  11. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from SteveShannon in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    Yeah, lesson learned 🤦‍♂️ The instability is new to me, and makes RT Systems' software tempting when it shows up.
     
    I do the multiple versions as as well, radio model and date, and save new versions as i go.  I do also save base code plugs before i start editing for the first time.
    I was working from the latest codeplug for the vx7r, and just skipping the 6m items, but in the end went the spreadsheet route; exported it all as a CSV, and installed Open Office on that computer so i can open it.
  12. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to Lscott in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    That's when one learns their lesson to save their work every 5 minutes. It sucks when you spend hours building a big code plug just to have it go POOF in the blink of an eye.😵‍💫
  13. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to Lscott in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    Oh, I also save ALL my prior code plug versions for a particular radio series by model type and date.
    Example:
    NX-1300DUK5_BAS15_ARC4__20241118.dat
    If I totally bugger up the code plug I at least have the prior one saved I can use to recover from. Normally there are only minor changes from the previous version.
  14. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to WRYZ926 in Comet CA-GMRS antenna anyone?   
    I hae no experience with the CA-GMRS so I can't comment on it. I do have several Comet antennas and I have been very happy with all of them. I have a GP-9 and CA-712EFC base antennas along with a SBB-1 and 2x4SR mobile antennas. I don't think you will go wrong with the CA-GMRS if it is anything like the Comet antennas I have.
  15. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to tcp2525 in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    The moral of the story is you can blow $25 on things a lot worse than quality software. I never had a negative experience with RT Systems.
  16. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to WRYZ926 in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    Using a VM or Remote Desktop is always an option. But I would rather have Mac native software when possible. It is just easier to deal with. I have never had much luck with Wine or other emulators on Linux or Mac.
    The Apple ecosystem has spoiled me a bit since it is so much easier to deal with when you have multiple Mac's and Apple iPads, etc.
    I am currently running Mac, Linux and Windows on separate computers. The Linux computer basically runs just one program for me which is HamClock. The Windows 11 computer is currently running WSJT-X, TQSL, and Grid Tracker for running digital modes, along with my Windows only CPS programs.
    Anyway, I'm glad that RT Systems has come through for the AT-779/DB20G and it is working well for everyone.
  17. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to SteveShannon in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    As @Amaff said it is user specific whether the software is worth it. The software worked fine with the cable provided with the db20g, so the cost for me was only $25, about what a UV5R costs and much more useful to me. 
    But I suspect that now that someone has cracked the nut Chirp will add the radio soon. RT Systems proved the concept; it’s no longer an iffy proposition. 
  18. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from SteveShannon in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    Factory software, in this case, is functional but a pain too...little things like copy and paste not working, tab not working in an expected pattern through the form...
    There's definitely a balance of cost vs convenience, though I know how that balances is a little different for everyone.
    Definitely considering it, since chirp seem to have stalled on these.
  19. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from amaff in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    Factory software, in this case, is functional but a pain too...little things like copy and paste not working, tab not working in an expected pattern through the form...
    There's definitely a balance of cost vs convenience, though I know how that balances is a little different for everyone.
    Definitely considering it, since chirp seem to have stalled on these.
  20. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    Factory software, in this case, is functional but a pain too...little things like copy and paste not working, tab not working in an expected pattern through the form...
    There's definitely a balance of cost vs convenience, though I know how that balances is a little different for everyone.
    Definitely considering it, since chirp seem to have stalled on these.
  21. Haha
    wayoverthere reacted to tcp2525 in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    Let's break this down, even if you only have one radio:
    Cost -- RT Systems @ $25 vs. Chirp (Free) vs. Supplied Software (Free)
    Convenience and Time savings --  RT Systems @ Very quick and easy to configure allowing you to save multiple profiles if you travel or have different needs.
                                                               Chirp @ If available for your radio is okay, but not as efficient to use.
                                                               Front panel @ Just an unnecessary pain in the ass.
    Ultimate overall savings -- RT Systems vs. Two bean burritos from Taco Bell, Pepto Bismol, toilet paper, and missed time from work. Everything considered, it looks like RT Systems is a real bargain.
     
     
  22. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to WSEZ864 in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    I see your point of view, but I look at it from another metric beyond radio value: How much of my own time and aggravation does it save?
    Usual answer: "A lot!"
    It is SO much easier to program radios using external software than it is to input all of the minutia via a keypad and multi-layer menu.
    I buy RTSystems stuff for every radio I own that allows software programming and consider it a very worthwhile investment. Not only do I get RTS capability, but the cable facilitates use of CHIRP, VX7 Commander and other aftermarket programming software. For most of my radios each software provides slightly differing ability to make changes.
    Your comment about having multiple radios IS spot on. I have a few duplicate radios and it's nice to be able to make changes in the computer, save the file and then just dump the changes into the radios at 30 seconds each.
  23. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    along with those of use that are just straight up using it as an inexpensive ham radio
  24. Thanks
    wayoverthere reacted to SteveShannon in At Last! RT Systems for AT-779   
    Well, I tried it.  It worked exactly as expected, finally making it possible to create channels based on frequencies imported from RepeaterBook or other online sources. I inserted channels and that worked.  I think I tried every menu.  There were no surprises. 
    The radio I tried it with one of my two Rdioddity DB20G radios.  I read from the radio first and saved that as a working file.  Then I did an import from RepeaterBook of all the 2 meter and 70 cm repeaters within 100 miles of my zip code.  I created a new file with those channels, then inserted a blank line at the top for our club's simplex channel.  I programmed that channel and discovered that when creating a new channel it defaults to Low Power, which is about 6 watts for this particular radio. I changed that to High and wrote to the radio again.
    Everything worked exactly as it should. For me the lack of decent CPS was my only complaint (well, also how they labeled the FUNC button). After reading their cautions about using the AT779UV software with similar radios and their comment about having to correctly plug in the programming cable I had a tiny bit of trepidation.  Neither of those things presented a problem.  It worked with the driver that i originally got from Radioddity, using the cable that shipped with the DB20G. I did nothing special a far as plugging in the cable.  Load the driver first, before plugging in the USB end of the cable.  Have the radio turned off when plugging the radio end of the cable into the microphone socket.  Of course the radio requires a power source.  It does not get its power from the USB port. I used a battery.  I also connected a dummy load so I had no fears about transmitting.
    For me it was definitely worth the $25.
  25. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in Best gmrs handheld radio?   
    I fight the urge with the Vertex stuff...there was one I had my eye on, but apparently software and cables for that are NLA, along with a p25 mobile that only seems to be available in 450-512, not 400-470...
    (Edit: it was the vxd-720, which looks to be a near twin to the moto xpr6xxx series)
    i did give in on a Midland P25 handheld, though. something new to futz with. Have it in hand and it's a nice solid little device. Haven't had a chance to dive into programming yet.
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