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jsouth

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Everything posted by jsouth

  1. Do you have a good driver for the cable and select the correct port?
  2. In my limited experience, UHF, including GMRS and 440 is a +5 MHZ for your TX frequency.
  3. I use the red wouxun cable to program my UV-82s all the time, with Chirp. I used the same cable to program My Retevis RT76P as well.
  4. Recently purchased a Retevis RT76P. Programming is a bit buggy but it does work (split tones) and radio seems to be tough, as it seems to take a beating ok. I got mine off Amazon for $35. Read some of the recent activity on this site about it before purchasing to make sure you know what you’re getting.
  5. In answer to your question, I agree with Citizen, it will be easier if you have another radio rather than changing channels. If it helps, I do like the Wouxun KG-805G as it receives a bit better than a less expensive radio but you will pay more.
  6. Hello and welcome! Glad to have you on board. Unfortunately most midland radios are unable to do split tones. I learned this the hard way myself. The MXT400 will do split tones if you buy a programming cable and find software for it. Keep in mind that you only have seven slots available to make custom stations on the 400. If you do a search on this site, you’ll find many topics and discussions about this very topic.
  7. Got an extra 12volt battery hanging around? I keep a small 16ah battery on my bench just for that reason.
  8. Sorry to hear about the troubles. Ive owned a 115, 275, and 400 and never saw anything like that. Hopefully Midland has an answer for you. Let us know what the fix ends up being.
  9. Have you tried using a different antenna and or checked your SWR on a meter to make sure you don’t have a short somewhere?
  10. Mbrun is correct. The Midland micro mobile units have very limited custom capabilities. When one privacy code is selected, that’s what you get in and out. He is also correct about the MXT400 but there are only 7 frequency slots available to program split tone or custom frequencies. Midland makes great radios but they are also made to be as simple as possible. I recommend these to people that don’t want to learn anything about radios - just want them to work when they’re needed. For the rest of us, I recommend something else so you can make them work the way you want.
  11. Yes - HT or walkie talkie. I like to purchase radios to see if they're worth recommending to family and friends. I've tried several of the Baofeng radios and they've all worked pretty well, for the price. I've seen a lot of buzz about the Retevis HTs and ordered one. I initially had the same issue as most folks were complaining about, where they were unable to change CTCSS codes from the front keypad on the unit. Without playing around too much, found a firmware update that seems to have changed the radio into a dual band ham radio. I was at least able to test it and it seems to be working fine, even in the GMRS range but now can program VHF and UHF frequencies. I'll be reaching out to Retevis this week to see if i loaded the wrong firmware. The Retevis software works ok. Can't download from the radio but can easily upload the config that is created. The radio itself, so far, seems to work about the same as any other low cost HT. TX and RX seems a tid bit better than Baofeng. I love the size of it, as it feels a lot bulkier than other HTs ive used. I noticed the antenna is removable but it's a male connector, unlike the Baofeng's. If you want a better one, make sure you do your research. Not sure if all my rambling helped your decision but let me know if you have any questions.
  12. I recently picked up a Wouxun KG-805G and it’s works pretty well. It receives much better than any Baofeng I’ve tried, especially with a Nagoya 771G antenna. I’ve also used several Midland micro mobiles and they’re solid but the only one that can be programmed is the MXT-400 and there’s only 7 channel slots available for programming. I just received a Retevis RT76P yesterday but so far programming has been a much greater learning curve than other radios I’ve used. Hoping to do some testing tomorrow. Hope that gives you some help in your search. Best of luck!
  13. There are a few threads on this site with MXT 400 software and programming. Try this... https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1837-midland-gmrs-product-updates/?p=17118 I’ve used the software that’s available in that Dropbox and it works. Need a USB to 3.5 cable to program. This is the one I purchased... https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/USB-29A-Programming-Cable_p_748.html
  14. Hello and welcome. I personally like to keep a few bubble pack radios on my bench for quick testing. That way I know that a new radio I purchased at least transmits and receives. Best of luck to you.
  15. I second the Browning BR-450 (if for GMRS exclusively). I’m using on an NMO mount on my Jeep JK. Can hit a repeater 50 miles away, completely open air line of sight. It works. I trimmed it a tiny bit and it really did the job. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0043310ZO?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
  16. As Berkinet recommends, check the link he posted. I just posted my experience with it there.
  17. I purchased one so I could recommend to family to get one/keep cost down since I can’t convince them to purchase a micro mobile. So far, so good. I carry in my work truck and scan from time to time and have had a few conversations. I like the removable antenna and will occasionally hook it up to my home antenna and can easily hit a repeater 30 miles away. Full disclosure... the repeater is perfect line of sight on top of a mountain. From my backyard, I can reach my Mom 6 miles away on her Midland MXT-115 base station.
  18. In response to your attic question... I installed one in the attic and one outside because I was extremely curious to see the difference. With my home where it is, I don’t see much difference but I’m also on a hill and have line of sight to just about any one I talk to. My advice is to try and see. I am crazy that way as I like to figure out how and why things work. If it helps, I recently moved my MXT-275 to my Jeep with a 5/8 wave antenna and from my driveway have to punch through 2 houses before traveling down the hill to my moms house and although we can communicate, it’s very staticky.
  19. Midland keeps things extremely simple. Just enter the CTS code on the repeater side of the dial and it takes care of it for TX and RX.
  20. I’m currently using an MXT-275 to do exactly what you want to do. I talk to my Mom, who is 6 miles away, and she has an MXT-115. We both are using Ed Fong GMRS antennas in our attic. Very cost effective for what we get. Her setup was near flawless. I had to install ferrite magnets on my feed line just below my antenna to hear her. After the magnets, it works great. We do have a 500’ elevation difference, but live in a fairly dense suburban area.
  21. The antenna does seem to work fine. I just find it odd that I got that result. I have asphalt shingles, no metal on the roof, and a UHF TV antenna that’s about 10 feet away. It’s also mounted very high as I have a steep roof pitch that allows me to get it up as high as I can reach. I just like knowing how and why things work. Thank you for the input.
  22. Gmrs - 467 and 462 MHz. 467 is where the readings are high.
  23. Recently installed a Browning BR-6146 in my attic. I used 1/2 heliax 55 feet and Belden 9914 as the jumpers to and from the heliax. All connectors are N except at the radio(PL-259 for Midland MXT-400). SWR is great across the board (never more than 1.07), until I get to repeaters. Then the SWR jumps to 1.35 and almost to 1.95 on higher power output applications. The reflected power is high as well. My question is: is this a result of the installation being in an attic? Or is this Browning some type of Jpole that needs ferrite magnets or a coil of wire at the antenna to remedy?
  24. I purchased a Surecom SW102 on Amazon for about $50 and it seems to work ok. Since I’ve never used anything else, I can’t compare it with other models but so far I’m happy with it.
  25. I've been thinking a lot about antenna grounding. I don't live in an area with a lot of lightning but it does happen from time to time. I've been reading on the interwebs about some that say it is absolutely critical but others say that they never ground their antennas because grounding them acts as a bullseye for lightning strikes. I would love to hear from those that are for and against, if possible. If I decide to ground it then what are the best ways to do so and how to keep it budget friendly. My antenna is an Ed Fong encsased in PVC and mounted directly to the side of my house at the roof line with 2 metal U-straps. Thank you in advance.
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