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Riktar

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Posts posted by Riktar

  3. dual-head radio question

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    18 hours ago, WRCQ487 said:

    One draw back is that you can't change channels from the remote area, it's not really a problem for me because I use it for family communication and not really bouncing around simplex or local repeaters channels. 

    That should not be a problem since I have a specific set of mixed (repeater and simplex) channels that I seldom change. The ability to set volume control for either speaker is paramount to this project.

  4. dual-head radio question

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    43 minutes ago, gortex2 said:

    I believe if the speaker is hooked to the head and not the deck it will allow individual volume control. Its been some time since I had a 90 series in a vehicle but our ambulances had them and we could control back to no volume while front is talking. 

    Thanks for confirming the volume question!

    7 hours ago, WRCQ487 said:

    So I do that very same thing with my Motorola CDM1250. They have a jack in the back that allows for a second mic and speaker.

    I never considered that possibility. I will check the back the manual for my TK-8180 and see if the back ports have that same capability!

  5. dual-head radio question

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    If I am running a KRK-6DH with a TK-890 head unit (Single radio controlled by 2 separate control heads) is the volume able to be set independently from either control head? Or does changing the volume level on control head "a" also change the volume level on control head "b"?

    Reason for asking is for the consideration of having one radio service the upstairs and downstairs of my home.

  6. TK-8180 not powering on (speaker makes slight popping sound when powering on & off).

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    Aside from putting 13.8 to the yellow wire you also have to provide the same 13.8 volts to the red wire.

    Have you taken the front faceplate off and (gently) checked the ribbon cable that connects the faceplate to the radio body? The reason I ask is that one of the TK-8180 radios I purchased was listed as non working. Which it was until I checked the ribbon cable and found it wasn't inserted fully into the body. I surmised that someone previously had the KRK-10 remote kit in use and when converting the radio back, they did not fully insert the ribbon cable back in.

    Just a thought. Good luck!!

     

  7. Can 2 yagi antennas be combined with a phasing harness for different directions?

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Wyoduner said:

    You cannot realistically combine two yagis that are pointing in different directions.  Even if you were to properly phase the feedlines, the antennas themselves are out of phase - you would do more harm than good.  When you combine two yagis they need to be looking in the same direction and be the same distance electrically (via spacing the yagis or delay line in the phasing harness) from the signal source.

     

    2 Yagis, 2 coax and  A/B switch is how it must be done.

     

    Brad

    Then how does the DB-404 work? It consists of 4 folded dipoles which are combined by what appears to be a phasing harness. And they are not pointing the same way. Or is that because the folded dipole design allows that while the Yagi design does not?

  8. Can 2 yagi antennas be combined with a phasing harness for different directions?

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Riktar
    added content

    1 hour ago, wayoverthere said:

    I found this article with a quick Google...haven't fully digested it yet (it's deep for reading on the phone), but it looks like it has some information in the ballpark, and makes it look like the idea isn't totally out of the realm of reality.

    How far apart are the two compass points?

    Pretty close to 150 degrees.

    I did some searching on how to make a phase harness. If I understand the theory I need 2 75 ohm coax feeds to the antenna(s) and a 50 ohm feed that get connected to a coax splitter/combiner of sorts which is then connected (via the 50 ohm coax) to my radio. All the sites I found that mention how to do this are referencing VHF frequencies for the math and measurements. Still looking for someone who has done the math in the 462-467 range.

     

  9. Can 2 yagi antennas be combined with a phasing harness for different directions?

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    It wasn't the $$$ amount of the DB404 that was the egads part. It was the cost of the splitter I was commenting on.

    And yes on the 2 yagis. I do have a coax switch already from a prior setup. I just thought it would have been convenient to have both antennas "on" at the same time without having to remember to flip the switch on the coax switch.

    But for that price, I will bear with the added effort of flipping a switch.... ?

  12. GMRS Simplex Network

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Fascinating idea! It would definitely take some advanced planning to make it practical.

    I think the 1/2 mile hops that were mentioned earlier were in reference to people using bubble pack HT's.

    My experience has shown 4 (Suburban) - 12 (Rural) mile simplex range between my base (TK-8180) and my mobile (TK-8180H) radios.

    Now this has been achieved by listening to all the advice and experience of this forum's members as well as doing A LOT of reading on the subject.

    Anyone in SE Wisconsin care to try setting something like this up?   

  13. Radio shielding when close to an antenna?

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    Thanks for the replies.

    Since I didn't mention the cable type I have run the following:

    Started with 50 feet of LMR400 and later found a 30 foot length of FSJ4-50B with N connectors already install that made a noticeable difference. 

    So for the sake of seeing what would happen if I went "cableless" to the antenna I considered this.

    I did not consider the ground. Is that to say I should ground the antenna itself aside from the grounded power supply to the radio body? 

  14. Radio shielding when close to an antenna?

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    I am considering moving my TK-8180H radio right next to the antenna in the attic since I have a spare KRK-10 kit which would allow me to put the head unit right on my desk. And it would eliminate any power loss from using 30 feet of coax cable I am currently using.

    Would there be any need to shield the body of the radio from RF since it would be right next to/below the antenna?

    The antenna I am using is a Commscope DB404-B.

     

  16. Aluminum tape usage on DB-404 antenna

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    I will be changing my DB-404 antenna  from Omni to Elliptical and according to the manual I am suppose to use Aluminum backed tape to resecure the antenna feed cable to the mast when done with the procedure. 

    They mention using Scotch #425 as an example.

    I am having trouble sourcing the tape locally and was hoping to finish my project this weekend.

    Has anyone done this and used an alternative aluminum backed tape that specs out like Scotch 425 that I could find at a local Menards/Home Depot/Lowes/etc?

     

    Thanks for any advice.

  18. TK-8180 30 pin ribbon cable availability

    in Technical Discussion

    Posted

    Thanks for the reply.

    I have taken the faceplate off and compared the ribbon cable in the radio to the 2 listed on Pacparts website and neither matches the numbers/specs I have on my existing cable.

    This is why I am not confident in ordering either.

    I suppose I could just order both since they are only 6 bucks and change for each.

    But it would be nice to just order the correct one and be done with it...

  23. Coax Cable Suggestion

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I am going to be moving soon and the potential residence will be the upper portion of a duplex my daughter/son-in-law are purchasing. Looking over the layout I was going to (initially) place my yagi/rotor setup in the attic which would put it about 27' above the ground level. I am guessing I can get away with a run of 25' at the most depending on position of the antenna in the attic and the radio placement in the living area.. I was even thinking of using the KRK-10 accessory to put my TK-8180 body within 10 feet (cable length wise) and then utilize the 23' cabling to place the head unit in my residence.

     

    So if I am talking a run that short (25 - 10 foot) for the coax would there be any measurable distance between the 400 or the heliax?

     

    On a side note: the previous home owner had a 40 foot tower (was probably for a tv antenna) on the side of the house and left the mounting base and the lateral support near the roof still attached. I am already working on obtaining another tower. The daughter isn't so keen on the idea but you never know. But that coax cable question will be another post.

  24. Midland GMRS Product updates

    in Equipment Reviews

    Posted

    I know this has been said before, but why pay twice as much for a Type Approved/Certified radio, just to reprogram it, nullifying the certification, making the radio non-compliant/illegal?  I don't endorse it, but if you're going to run an illegal radio, there are way better and more affordable radios out there.

     

    I completely agree with you from the standpoint of making the decision to purchase the MXT400 on the basis of being able to overcome it's (factory) limitations. There are better radios (TK-8180 just as an example) available on the used market that can be had for 1/2 the price (possibly less) of a MXT400.

     

    That being said, the information is well receieved for those who already have a MXT400 and find it not completely useable due to the lack of split tones that some repeaters use.

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