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wayoverthere

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  1. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to SteveShannon in Another Newbie With Antenna Issues   
    Could you show us a picture of your multimeter.
    For an open circuit it should read something like OL.  Of course if you’ve got a probe in each hand it’s measuring the conductivity of your body and all bets are off. 😄
    For a continuous conductor it should read in some tenths of an ohm. 
    End to end - shield:


    End to end - center:

     
    center to shield - open circuit (my probe slipped while I was trying to hold it one handed to take the picture but you get the idea). It shows that it’s an open circuit (OL) and it is on the Megohm range:

  2. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in Another Newbie With Antenna Issues   
    If you have a multimeter, disconnect from the radio and antenna/mount and check continuity on the outer connectors end to end, the center pin end to end, and do the center to outer.  First 2 should have continuity, 3rd should not.
    Same story connected to the mount...center pin on the mount to center on the cable, outer threaded to connector on cable.
    I tried one of those Nagoya ground planes and didn't see good results, but that 19.99 is saying a broken connection or short to me too
  3. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WSFX665 in Another Newbie With Antenna Issues   
    If you have a multimeter, disconnect from the radio and antenna/mount and check continuity on the outer connectors end to end, the center pin end to end, and do the center to outer.  First 2 should have continuity, 3rd should not.
    Same story connected to the mount...center pin on the mount to center on the cable, outer threaded to connector on cable.
    I tried one of those Nagoya ground planes and didn't see good results, but that 19.99 is saying a broken connection or short to me too
  4. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to SteveShannon in Is Radioddity DB-20G 20 watt mobile radio good?   
    Unfortunately, you cannot transfer a configuration file from a radio with one frequency selection to a radio with another.  Nor can you change the frequency selection on the radio you’re programming and then import a configuration file from the same radio when it had a different frequency selection, even if all of the frequencies are compatible.  That’s the most aggravating thing I’ve found about this radio.
  5. Thanks
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in Looking for available repeaters near Delano,CA   
    There's a couple listed near Auberry, but you have to have the "show stale repeaters" toggle turned on (this is the case for the Park Ridge machines as well, which are both listed as open. 
    Auberry 575 is listed as open, while Sierra 2 is listed as permission required. Both listings have the same frequency and tone, though, so I'm not sure if it changed hands and an old listing wasn't removed or what. I also found a new listing for the Joaquin Ridge machine with the "stale" option turned on.
  6. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to MozartMan in Is Radioddity DB-20G 20 watt mobile radio good?   
    @Frdbronco8
    Like amaff said. You need to match model. I have AnyTone AT-779UV, but it basically the same as Radioddity.
    Here is what I have in the radio and the software.
     

  7. Thanks
    wayoverthere reacted to WRKC935 in New to GMRS questions and programming radio for a repeater   
    Be aware that the 'coverage map' on the mygmrs.com web site is NOT a generated heat map like the one displayed above.  It's a simple circle around the TX site that gives an average expected coverage based on path loss across flat ground.  Meaning, if you look at the map for Johnstown675 on here, it ain't right, or even close, depending on the direction you are from the repeater.  The map of my repeater (WRKC935 / Johnstown675) shows coverage in Pataskala, Newark, downtown Columbus, and several other area's that I have no coverage in.  Those coverage holes are caused by the topography of the area.  Case in point is the Granville ridge.  I have good coverage on 161 / St Rt16 going east right up to the point you cross where Granville is and St Rt 16 comes in from Pataskala.  After that the coverage stops for a time and then picks back up closer to Newark and continues out to St Rd 146 and further.  Same thing happens going West,  Works great until Little Turtle exit off 161.  Then falls off getting on the 270 outer belt.  But if you continue west on 161 it's good most of the way to St Rt 23 (High Street) in Worthington.  Then it falls off until you get west of Columbus and then picks up until you are out to St Rt56 on I-70.  I have talked from the Honda plant Northwest of Marysville, From Mechanicsburg, and from London (42 / I-70 ) from a portable.
    So my point is that you should NOT have an expectation that all area's in the green circle are going to work based on the mygmrs.com maps.  And you are further limited due to using a handheld radio.  The power is lower and the antenna's do not have the gain that a mobile or a base station would have.  I say all this based on the programming that you have in your radio you posted the codeplug of.  If you have the Pataskala repeater programmed, I know that machine has limited coverage in that area due to antenna height.  If you are in the Pataskala area, and are having coverage issues getting into the Johnstown repeater, that's why you are having issues.  I can't talk to it from Pataskala with a 50 watt mobile.  The coverage just isn't there.
     
  8. Thanks
    wayoverthere got a reaction from SteveShannon in New to GMRS questions and programming radio for a repeater   
    (i'll note i wrote most of this on sunday, but somehow forgot to hit "Post"...i think it mostly still works...)
     
    Thanks for the screenshots.   Given the success with your Ch 10, the radio is working, and i went through most of the listings for the repeaters listed (except that last one), and it looks like your programming is pretty spot on with the listings.
    Under normal usage, as @SteveShannon mentioned, you won't normally be listening on the 467.xxx to hear if you have  something coming back from the repeater. It IS a good way to at least confirm with another radio that your transmitting radio is indeed transmitting.
    To rule out a tone issue, i'd probably switch all of them from tonesql to tone, and use transmit tones only, unless you're SURE there's another repeater in range that you'll want to filter out, then test again. 
    From there, the other main possibility I can see is range.  I do see the bit of variance between the reported ranges of those repeaters, so i do wonder how accurate they all are...I know the mapping just draws a circle based on the range estimate entered, but real world sometimes varies.  @WRKC935 is quite active on here, and could likely say better than any of us what the actual range and pattern are like for that one. 
    This map is an example from one of the ham systems here in CA, mapping signal strength through the region (in fairness, i'm not sure if this is modeled or on the ground tested), and note how signal strength varies based on obstructions.  there'll likely be a bit less variance in pattern in flatter regions of the country, but not usually a 100% circle.

     
  9. Thanks
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in New to GMRS questions and programming radio for a repeater   
    (i'll note i wrote most of this on sunday, but somehow forgot to hit "Post"...i think it mostly still works...)
     
    Thanks for the screenshots.   Given the success with your Ch 10, the radio is working, and i went through most of the listings for the repeaters listed (except that last one), and it looks like your programming is pretty spot on with the listings.
    Under normal usage, as @SteveShannon mentioned, you won't normally be listening on the 467.xxx to hear if you have  something coming back from the repeater. It IS a good way to at least confirm with another radio that your transmitting radio is indeed transmitting.
    To rule out a tone issue, i'd probably switch all of them from tonesql to tone, and use transmit tones only, unless you're SURE there's another repeater in range that you'll want to filter out, then test again. 
    From there, the other main possibility I can see is range.  I do see the bit of variance between the reported ranges of those repeaters, so i do wonder how accurate they all are...I know the mapping just draws a circle based on the range estimate entered, but real world sometimes varies.  @WRKC935 is quite active on here, and could likely say better than any of us what the actual range and pattern are like for that one. 
    This map is an example from one of the ham systems here in CA, mapping signal strength through the region (in fairness, i'm not sure if this is modeled or on the ground tested), and note how signal strength varies based on obstructions.  there'll likely be a bit less variance in pattern in flatter regions of the country, but not usually a 100% circle.

     
  10. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to AdmiralCochrane in Something to think about   
    This.  You have to buy radios and use them or there is no traffic on the band.  Be one of the few - next thing you know, you will be one of some, then one of many.
  11. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRYZ926 in Something to think about   
    Kind of a chicken and the egg...less use because of less equipment, but less equipment because of the double whammy of less traffic and NA being the only market for 220.
    Edit: this gave me the nudge to go ahead and email BTWR about future availability of that UV920p. 🤓 Maybe if we can show some interest we'll get another run?
    Edit#2:heard back from BTWR, indicating the 220 version is discontinued 😣 the remote head would be a big win. Too bad the uv980 can't trade 10m for 1.25
  12. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from AdmiralCochrane in Something to think about   
    Kind of a chicken and the egg...less use because of less equipment, but less equipment because of the double whammy of less traffic and NA being the only market for 220.
    Edit: this gave me the nudge to go ahead and email BTWR about future availability of that UV920p. 🤓 Maybe if we can show some interest we'll get another run?
    Edit#2:heard back from BTWR, indicating the 220 version is discontinued 😣 the remote head would be a big win. Too bad the uv980 can't trade 10m for 1.25
  13. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in Something to think about   
    Kind of a chicken and the egg...less use because of less equipment, but less equipment because of the double whammy of less traffic and NA being the only market for 220.
    Edit: this gave me the nudge to go ahead and email BTWR about future availability of that UV920p. 🤓 Maybe if we can show some interest we'll get another run?
    Edit#2:heard back from BTWR, indicating the 220 version is discontinued 😣 the remote head would be a big win. Too bad the uv980 can't trade 10m for 1.25
  14. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to WRUU653 in programming   
    I appreciate where Ken is coming from and you as well Steve, I’m just trying to put some perspective of the guy who’s trying to figure it out and needs a hand and had the guts to ask after only joining moments before. He may or may not be here because he’s into radios but he needs the tools to work for his situation. It’s all good. Coffee is on me this morning ☕️
  15. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from SteveShannon in programming   
    If you're using the preprogrammed repeater channels, they *should* already be using the correct offset (worth checking in the software though). The other piece of the puzzle is the transmit tone; many of the cheaper Chinese radios call it t-ctcss or t-dcs, some repeater listings call it PL. (if there's a decimal, it's likely ctcss/PL, if it's straight 3 digits, maybe with an N or I, that's dcs/DPL). Needs to be set to the appropriate tone for the repeater to hear you.
    The final consideration is range...are you close enough for the repeater to hear you? The limits here will depend on the repeater's antenna, and surrounding terrain.
  16. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in programming   
    If you're using the preprogrammed repeater channels, they *should* already be using the correct offset (worth checking in the software though). The other piece of the puzzle is the transmit tone; many of the cheaper Chinese radios call it t-ctcss or t-dcs, some repeater listings call it PL. (if there's a decimal, it's likely ctcss/PL, if it's straight 3 digits, maybe with an N or I, that's dcs/DPL). Needs to be set to the appropriate tone for the repeater to hear you.
    The final consideration is range...are you close enough for the repeater to hear you? The limits here will depend on the repeater's antenna, and surrounding terrain.
  17. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WSFM396 in New to GMRS questions and programming radio for a repeater   
    You're on the right track with repeaters, for the most part. With linking declared "not allowed", you and the other station would both need to be in range of the same repeater. Previously, it was allowed to connect repeaters to each other across the internet; if you were in Maine in range of a repeater that was connected to another repeater in PA, you could talk to someone in range of the PA repeater and vice versa.
    On your tones, you'll want to set the tone mode for that repeater to 'tone' rather than 'tone sql'. That way you send the tone on transmit, but the radio isn't expecting to receive one back (opening the squelch).
    Think of tones as a filter.  Tone squelch only lets through signals with the right tone, be that hearing your buddy across the field, or that other station over the hill via the repeater. If the sender doesn't use the tone the receiving radio is expecting, it doesn't get past the filter.
    In the same vein, even for the reoeaters that do have an output tone, you can choose to run without a receive tone (known as "carrier squelch). You'll hear all signals on the frequency above whatever threshold your squelch is set to, since you effectively have no filter in place. If there's no other traffic on that frequency, no issue, but it can be nice to sell which signals are simplex traffic and which are from the repeater, since the repeater output frequencies are also simplex channel frequencies.
     
    (Sorry that turned out longer than intended, hope it helps.)
  18. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRYZ926 in Something to think about   
    That's one of the big things that kept me from getting a triband mobile. I have a couple handhelds that do, the wouxun is 5 watts, 2m/1.25m, and the yaesu vx7r does 300mW, iirc (220 was unadvertised for that reason, from what I read...it also has the standard 2m/70cm, and 6m.
    I kick myself for not grabbing a uv920p (wouxun) when they were available, as there was a 2m/1.25 variant with 50 watts each. But for the amount of activity, it was hard to justify the cost of that or the Alinco, plus an antenna. 
    The less expensive route I went was one of the Btech amps, to kick the power out of the handheld to 30 or so watts.
  19. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in New to GMRS questions and programming radio for a repeater   
    You're on the right track with repeaters, for the most part. With linking declared "not allowed", you and the other station would both need to be in range of the same repeater. Previously, it was allowed to connect repeaters to each other across the internet; if you were in Maine in range of a repeater that was connected to another repeater in PA, you could talk to someone in range of the PA repeater and vice versa.
    On your tones, you'll want to set the tone mode for that repeater to 'tone' rather than 'tone sql'. That way you send the tone on transmit, but the radio isn't expecting to receive one back (opening the squelch).
    Think of tones as a filter.  Tone squelch only lets through signals with the right tone, be that hearing your buddy across the field, or that other station over the hill via the repeater. If the sender doesn't use the tone the receiving radio is expecting, it doesn't get past the filter.
    In the same vein, even for the reoeaters that do have an output tone, you can choose to run without a receive tone (known as "carrier squelch). You'll hear all signals on the frequency above whatever threshold your squelch is set to, since you effectively have no filter in place. If there's no other traffic on that frequency, no issue, but it can be nice to sell which signals are simplex traffic and which are from the repeater, since the repeater output frequencies are also simplex channel frequencies.
     
    (Sorry that turned out longer than intended, hope it helps.)
  20. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from SteveShannon in Something to think about   
    That's one of the big things that kept me from getting a triband mobile. I have a couple handhelds that do, the wouxun is 5 watts, 2m/1.25m, and the yaesu vx7r does 300mW, iirc (220 was unadvertised for that reason, from what I read...it also has the standard 2m/70cm, and 6m.
    I kick myself for not grabbing a uv920p (wouxun) when they were available, as there was a 2m/1.25 variant with 50 watts each. But for the amount of activity, it was hard to justify the cost of that or the Alinco, plus an antenna. 
    The less expensive route I went was one of the Btech amps, to kick the power out of the handheld to 30 or so watts.
  21. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to WRYZ926 in Something to think about   
    The problem with most 50 watt tri-band radios is that they will only do 5 watts max on 1.25m. And HT's will be more like 1 watt or 2 watts on 1.25m. That's why I will not buy a tri-band radio. And right now the only two mono band 50 watt 1.25m mobile radios available is the Alinco DR-CS25T or the TYT TH-9000. And there is the 30 watt Bridgecom BCM-220. But none of those three radios get the best reviews, especially on e-ham.
    It's a darn if you do and darn if you don't thing with 1.25m mono band radios. The big 3 manufacturers don't make them because there is not much of a demand. And no one wants to use 1.25m in most areas because no one makes a good 1.25m mobile.
    I would use a tri band if we could get at least 20 watts on 1.25m or even a mono band radio if a good quality one was available new.
  22. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to WRUE951 in Please help   
    couple years ago my grandson went on a week long fishing trip with us near and around Mammoth Lakes..  I always set up a portable GMRS repeater when we go camping and of course he ended up with one of my spare Baufangs..   Today he is 22 years old and now holds a General and studying for his Extra.  He doesn't even mess with GMRS anymore,, He's into 80,40 & 30 meter stuff..  Occasionally he will ping into my GMRS repeater to say hi..   I'm proud to say, i gave him the bug  😅
  23. Thanks
    wayoverthere reacted to Lscott in Window mount   
    I would not recommend that one. I have something similar, but with a BNC connector on the end.  There is no ground plane resulting in a bad SWR match. The crappy coax shield is used as the other half of the dipole.
  24. Like
    wayoverthere got a reaction from WRUU653 in License not populated yet   
    Generally, it's within a day or two of showing up on ULS that it will hit this site's database to allow registration.  Occasionally there will be a bit of bad data in the "feed" coming from FCC that requires admin intervention, which can take a little longer.
  25. Like
    wayoverthere reacted to SteveShannon in License not populated yet   
    It’s an extract, not a live lookup. You can’t speed it up. It could take anywhere between a day or two to a week.  
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