krvw

So, I started my personal GMRS and ham journey in January of this year for reasons that are not relevant here. Among my goals was to be able to have simplex RF comms with my wife at her office. (2.1 miles as the crow flies, through suburban northern Virginia. Small rolling hills, but plenty of RF interference along the way.)
 
Frankly, I was disappointed by the limitations of HT<-->HT around here. I was lucky to make it 3/4 - 1 mile. Clearly, line of sight matters enormously.
 
I got a simple j-pole antenna and tried that at home from my attic. (HOA issues.) Still HT to HT, but no luck.
 
I got permission from the HOA to put up two 5 foot j-pole antennas and got them up yesterday. (See attached photo. Both are Ed Fong designs. One ham and one GMRS tuned.)
 
Simultaneously, I got a 50 Watt (UHF) / 40 Watt (VHF) mobile radio.
 
This morning, I ran a quick and informal series of quick tests with the mobile radio set up in the ham bands (70 cm and 2 m) as a cross-band repeater. (I use a 70 cm simplex channel to my home mobile, which then repeats it on 2 m out to my local repeater (W4AVA).)
 
In short, VICTORY! The repeater connections had several flat spots for me. They're 99% gone now. I can trivially tx/rx to my wife's office location with 5 by 5 audio signal on a simplex connection.
 
I know many folks here dismiss the Ed Fongs, but I have to say those reviews are not consistent with my experiences. In particular, the Warrenton GMRS repeater that is some 40 miles from here was completely out of range for me in the past. With the Fongs on the roof, I'm getting 5x5 signal reports consistently on that repeater -- which serves a vast footprint of NoVA and MD. YMMV.
 
So, yeah, I'm pretty happy with where I am on my personal journey. 
 
Cheers,
 
Ken van Wyk
WRFC318 / K0RVW
 

I am barely 3 weeks into GMRS and as impressed as I am with the performance of the GMRS radio over my prior use of CB MANY years ago, I am even more impressed with the community!
 
Between the help I have gotten on these forums and the suggestions I have gotten while talking on the radio, I now have a system that FAR exceeds my initial expectations.
 
So to everyone here and on the air:
 
THANK YOU!
 
Note to self: Try to leave well enough alone for now. Enjoy what you have before you "over tinker..."   

So, I started my personal GMRS and ham journey in January of this year for reasons that are not relevant here. Among my goals was to be able to have simplex RF comms with my wife at her office. (2.1 miles as the crow flies, through suburban northern Virginia. Small rolling hills, but plenty of RF interference along the way.)
 
Frankly, I was disappointed by the limitations of HT<-->HT around here. I was lucky to make it 3/4 - 1 mile. Clearly, line of sight matters enormously.
 
I got a simple j-pole antenna and tried that at home from my attic. (HOA issues.) Still HT to HT, but no luck.
 
I got permission from the HOA to put up two 5 foot j-pole antennas and got them up yesterday. (See attached photo. Both are Ed Fong designs. One ham and one GMRS tuned.)
 
Simultaneously, I got a 50 Watt (UHF) / 40 Watt (VHF) mobile radio.
 
This morning, I ran a quick and informal series of quick tests with the mobile radio set up in the ham bands (70 cm and 2 m) as a cross-band repeater. (I use a 70 cm simplex channel to my home mobile, which then repeats it on 2 m out to my local repeater (W4AVA).)
 
In short, VICTORY! The repeater connections had several flat spots for me. They're 99% gone now. I can trivially tx/rx to my wife's office location with 5 by 5 audio signal on a simplex connection.
 
I know many folks here dismiss the Ed Fongs, but I have to say those reviews are not consistent with my experiences. In particular, the Warrenton GMRS repeater that is some 40 miles from here was completely out of range for me in the past. With the Fongs on the roof, I'm getting 5x5 signal reports consistently on that repeater -- which serves a vast footprint of NoVA and MD. YMMV.
 
So, yeah, I'm pretty happy with where I am on my personal journey. 
 
Cheers,
 
Ken van Wyk
WRFC318 / K0RVW
 

You'll get yourself all twisted up trying to find "Legal" Part 95a radios with Type Certification.  Especially if you want a certain standard of actual (not just advertised) performance.
 
Take a deep breath, and go searching the FCC violations for ANY instance where a user was fined specifically for using Part 90 radios in GMRS.  You'll search high & low without finding a single instance.
 
Your options for good (and relatively inexpensive) radios increases dramatically once you take the step over to Part 90 equipment (which meets or exceeds all Part 95 technical spec's.)
 
I am not a lawyer, your mileage may vary. Caveat emptor, etc.

Wow, my HOA approved my plan to put up not just one but TWO j-pole antennas!
 
I’ll be mounting a tuned GMRS and a ham antenna shortly.
 
This, in northern Virginia, no less.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken

This probably helped.
 
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter22/section15.2-2293.1/
 
Ken

Being convicted of a felony doesn't mean you can't get a Amateur or GMRS license. The question is asked because, following a conference with the FCC and the NCVEC, the government and community at large are looking to make the community safer. The character of the applicant is relevant, as licensees represent the US government and the citizens.
 
Some examples that will get you denied are convictions for pedophilia, weapons or drug trafficking, human trafficking, acts of terrorism, etc.
 
If you have a felony 'hit and run' or aggravated battery from 25 years ago, they probably wouldn't flag you.
 
What I find amazing is, they ask on a radio license application, but someone thought it was a good idea to make it illegal to ask if you are a felon on a job application. SMH

Hey folks,
 
In addition to my GMRS license (WRFC318), I passed my ham technician exam yesterday, so I'm now a ham (but waiting on my official call sign).
 
My journey is only at is very beginning, but I'm looking forward to it.
 
GMRS remains a higher priority for me for family comms, as I'm likely to be the only one willing to go ham, but for sure I'll use ham for hobby and emergency comms. There are many ham repeaters within range here, and where I vacation often (OBX and Kaua`i).
 
Oh, and I got my Ed Fong GMRS j-pole over the weekend, so I'm looking forward to some experiments with that in hopes I can get simplex mode between me and my wife at her office, 2.1 miles away.
 
Fun challenges to work on.
 
Just thought I'd share. I've really appreciated all the advice here from those of you with far (!) more experience than I.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken van Wyk
WRFC318
 
 

I went through something like that here in my area.  I just got on the repeater a few times a day, at common 'commute' times, and called on the repeater for the owner.  After a few days (about a week iirc) he answered. 
 
I introduced myself and we spoke for awhile.  I asked if it was okay for me and my family to occasionally use the repeater.  Not only did he say yes, but he was happy that someone was going to benefit from using his machine. 
 
In my experience, most owners are fairly friendly.  Just be mindful that its someone else's property and you should do okay.

Good Morning Ken,
The following is a listing on very good qualty equipment listed on ebay new and great price and he or she is still selling them. I listed this some time ago. This is the link to the post I made. 
 
https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1685-this-is-a-deal-on-vx-2200-uhf-45-watt-89-ea/

You are good to go with the antenna. Its pre-tuned.
 
Just be sure the negative side is properly grounded, add a ground strap from the hood to the top of the inner fender and the common ground under the hood or the negative side of the battery. You will see improvements with CB performance, too.

FYI, the Nagoya 771 will actually reduce your transmit abilities on GMRS frequencies. It’s meant for 2m/70cm and the antenna itself is tuned to operate up to I believe 440 MHz. GMRS is 460 MHz, and outside the optimal frequencies for the 771 antenna. You’re better off with the stock antenna or a 701.

Hey Ken, what berkinet posted is a great resource. Myself I usually will just give the callsign that way they don't have to worry about it. I'll simply call them by their name rather than a unit number. But either or is acceptable.

Check our this topic... https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1136-on-the-air-id-requirements/

My personal use-case is mostly caravanning, much like what CB would be used for in decades past.  Just this last weekend, I had an hour-long conversation while driving on 22-22 (channel 22, 141.3)
 
I also plug radios into my hearing protection when doing something loud ever since a couple hurricanes ago (chainsaws are loud!).
 
But generally, lately, I favor FRS radios for the occasional around-the-house or around-the-store thing now, because they're smaller and easier to carry than GMRS or MURS radios I own.
 
One of these days, I'm putting up a Ventenna and setting up a home base radio doing 40-50 watts and/or a garage repeater, but that's pretty niche utility for me; scanning on handhelds produces basically no traffic around here, and I'm not super hopeful of reaching my neighbors.

Regarding rooftop antennae?
 
www.ventenna.com

Okay, I'm hooked.
 
I was walking out to our local crop share pickup today when a neighbor texted me and asked if I knew what the huge plume of smoke is rising from near Alexandria, Virginia. Nothing (yet) on the news.
 
I had my radio with me because I was doing a couple of antenna/signal tests anyway, so I hopped on the local repeater and asked for anyone nearby to provide a visual situation report. Within a minute, I had 3 separate responses.
 
Turned out to be a huge construction fire, now at 5 alarms.
 
The local news story hit their web site and alert system > 30 minutes later. (See https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2020/02/massive-fire-engulfs-fairfax-county-construction-site/)
 
No big deal, I suppose, but I will add that from my vantage point, the smoke was along the glide path into DCA (Reagan National) airport. I'm the son of a retired 747 pilot (and fighter/aerobatics RAF team), so big plumes of smoke near airports have always made me uneasy, since long before 9-11.
 
Anyway, LOVE my GMRS comms now that I've learned about the world of repeaters out there. I'll be taking my Ham technician class exam in a couple weeks as well.
 
I'm hooked.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken (WRFC318)
 

The points that make this Laird Antenna atractive are:
▪ Long tuning ferrule allows for greater freedom in frequency  adjustment without trimming
▪ High performance mobile antenna operates on a  no ground plane (NGP) requirement
▪ Straight stainless-steel corona ball stays on the rod  – no dissimilar metal interaction associated with competitor designs
▪ Easy installation with NMO mountable ▪ 100% tested on a network analyzer
. 5 year warrantee 
Laird Antenna's are commercial Quality
 
You can order the mag mount and Antenna for $60 free shipping from Arcadian inc
 

I have used VOX on my FRS radios with an in-ear (under helmet) speaker/mic to talk to my spotter while on road course race tracks.  It's good to have comms with a spotter to tell you if you have panels coming loose, high body roll (wrong suspension tuning), smoke/liquid coming from the car, missing an apex or brake zone point, etc.
 
I also use GMRS and FRS when we go 4-wheeling, to spot drivers or to get a spot while rock crawling.  Many times, the terrain we are driving through is so complex that tire placement needs to be accurate within a few inches.  Drivers typically can't see the tires and rocks under the vehicle.  So, they need a competent driver/spotter to provide guidance on exactly what to do with the vehicle.
 
 
 
That is just 2 examples.  The opportunities for radio to make life safer and more entertaining are endless.

Hello everyone,
 
Name is David.  I just recently got my GMRS license.  Hoping to learn from you guys, as I am completely new to GMRS radio.  Got it for the intended purpose of communications while out wheeling, and also for when my family travels.  Sometimes depending on what we're doing we use more than one vehicle to move around, and although I have a CB, there's a lot of random stuff that my kids don't need to hear, and also from what I read, GMRS seems to be a better performing option over CB.  Again, I hope to learn as much as I can from you guys.  Take care.

Okay, I'm hooked.
 
I was walking out to our local crop share pickup today when a neighbor texted me and asked if I knew what the huge plume of smoke is rising from near Alexandria, Virginia. Nothing (yet) on the news.
 
I had my radio with me because I was doing a couple of antenna/signal tests anyway, so I hopped on the local repeater and asked for anyone nearby to provide a visual situation report. Within a minute, I had 3 separate responses.
 
Turned out to be a huge construction fire, now at 5 alarms.
 
The local news story hit their web site and alert system > 30 minutes later. (See https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2020/02/massive-fire-engulfs-fairfax-county-construction-site/)
 
No big deal, I suppose, but I will add that from my vantage point, the smoke was along the glide path into DCA (Reagan National) airport. I'm the son of a retired 747 pilot (and fighter/aerobatics RAF team), so big plumes of smoke near airports have always made me uneasy, since long before 9-11.
 
Anyway, LOVE my GMRS comms now that I've learned about the world of repeaters out there. I'll be taking my Ham technician class exam in a couple weeks as well.
 
I'm hooked.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken (WRFC318)
 

I have a UV-5R plus and can say from personal verified experience, the 771 is not as good an antenna for GMRS use as the stock antenna. It’s optimal TX frequencies are outside of GMRS ranges. I can hit repeaters 13 miles away from downtown Columbia, SC with the stock antenna that I can’t hit with the Nagoya 771. The only thing you gain with the Nagoya is reception due to its length, but that length actually hinders performance across the GMRS frequencies. The 771 is a dual-band amateur radio antenna optimized for use on 2m and 70cm. GMRS is outside those frequency ranges.
 
The 701 is probably better than the 771 for GMRS but it will not get you anything more than you get with the stock antenna.

Hi Ken
I have a repeater here in central WI that is linked to another one about 40 miles away. The 2 repeaters get very little use. There is however a bigger linked system in southern WI that is tied in with about 10 other machines that gets used everyday. But not to the point where it can't be used pretty much when you want. So i guess in answer to your question, i would say in some areas its holding its own. And in other areas there is very little use if that helps. 
 
Take care
Jeff

Inspired by https://www.scadacor...-line-of-sight/, I decided to run another test quickly. Grabbed a ladder and climbed up into the attic crawl space. Sent a GMRS check to my wife.
 
In the past, it did not even rise above her squelch level, but this time she at least got a staticky signal.
 
Hoping the improved antenna will clean that up further so that simplex comms are workable.
 
Plus, having the antenna better placed, I'm hoping for more hobby time on a couple repeaters in my area.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken

Glad I could help.  I had tried different things and was having trouble and when I plugged in our locations, the root problem became clear to me.  Forums are my go to also