tweiss3

Well, few weeks use impressions: 1) OEM Harris battery with 208 cycles on lasts a "work" day listening, and that is about it. I do have a TAC1 4100mAh battery and charger on the way. I'm also on the hunt for a VC4000 charger for the car. 2) The radio isn't as heavy/big as I expected. I do have a Harris leather holster for it, it definitely is better than the belt clip when running around. 3) I didn't intend to use it as a listening device, but it does it extremely well, and is easy to program. Enhanced CC for those that know. 4) The 48 channel (ABC switch) "capacity" is annoying coming from the NX-5k infinite channel selector. Not the end of the world. 5) Bluetooth is a bit finicky. I can do programming over BT, but sometimes it doesn't want to work for some unknown reasons. I have also yet to find anything bluetooth that works with the radio for listening. Annoying but not a deal killer. I may have to invest in the bluetooth Pelator headset before long. Long and short, I agree above with WRKC935's assessment. Its a great radio, and a great option.

I've had some rough/missed/damaged packages from all of them, and it only seems to be getting worse the past 2 years. I did just have a package delivery date move up a full week today. I'll be happy if it does come tomorrow like it says.

I too have the SRH320 on my D74

The "license free" stuff is under the ISM (industrial scientific & medical) licensure and is restricted to 1W maximum. All devices must be type accepted, and may have other things like fixed antennas required. For amateur radio 902-928, same band, but you can do much more stuff. I have some Motorola 900MHz radios I use on amateur that do analog and P25. HT is typically around 3W and mobiles are 30W. Like UHF, 900 is extremely line of site.

Front end overload is a thing. Unless you have experienced it, and observed it side by side with different radios, you likely won't understand or care. The better radios have much better filtering to prevent this. Also, along side better filters, it also creates better selectivity. Also better accessories are available, and audio quality. These are just a few.

The programming isn't hard, but there are extra steps vs some of the other things. It almost follows the line of Astro25 Portable/Mobile process, but with a few extra steps. It looks like zone scan is going to be ideal. I did have to figure out the best way to program my zones like I have my other radios, and I'm doing 1 frequency set for 1 "system" for each zone I make. Anyone know a way to edit the .cv5 files in excel/notepad?

The expensive part is past........ Now I'm looking at building mission plans. Any idea if a frequency can be mixed mode?

So I found one that I was willing to part with my money for. This will be interesting. What batteries are you guys using, OEM, aftermarket?

There has been a ton. This week we had a station come in full quieting at just about 140-150 miles on 2 meters. I've also noticed receiving strong signals from adjacent coordinated repeaters (shared frequencies). This temperature swing has been something.

I rarely hear much when driving during the day. I do hear the brunswick and lakewood repeaters identify on schedule, but never heard another user. My repeater is down due to a broken antenna, but never reaches that far either. We really only use GMRS for family events and trips, being we can often be out of cell phone coverage, and its a ton easier to hit PTT and get their attention rather than pull the phone out and attempt a call. I know some neighborhood groups use GMRS to keep track of each other, especially during long power outages.

I'm not sure about the MTS2000, but the other M stuff in 900 I've played with required hex edits to program in the 902 ham band, but did not use different software.

Is it the 25W or 40W version? Either way, its a great UHF radio that has the capacity for 128 channels to be programmed. It will work well for GMRS if programmed correctly, however, it should be noted that it is not type accepted for GMRS. Do what you will with that information.

I wonder if he is hearing MDC1200 IDs, which aren't technically permitted over the repeaters, but are permitted on simplex.

This is typical Vertex Standard issue. There was a wideband revert package to roll the radio back. You then have to use older versions of the software to program in wideband.

It depends. "Federal" Kenwoods are built in Japan, the rest are currently made in Malaysia. I have a NX-5300-F6 sitting right here that is made in Japan, and the NX-5200-K3 says made in Malaysia. I believe something similar with Moto's APX series.

You are rather misinformed. If you use a PL tone on receive, you are only going to hear transmissions that have the matching PL tone. Also, keep in mind, FRS shares all channels with GMRS, so you may be hearing construction works goof around. There isn't anything in the world that will stop those transmissions.

Use a PL tone and never hear him again?

You mean one can be licensed in multiple categories by the FCC and carry multiple call signs? /scarcasm

Who says linking requires internet or telephone connection?

@kidphc Long term impressions? What about battery life? I've still got an eye on these.

This can already be done with any digital mode Fldigi has. There is a mobile version for android phones, and it works pretty well. Our ARES team uses it weekly after the net to send all the announcements in text format using MT63 with a 2000 pass band.

I don't remember reading about this portion of the 40m band last time I went through Part 97. In relation to Voice & Image privileges for 7.075 thru 7.100, read 97.305(c) with footnote 97.307(f)(11), and then 97.301(e). Hawaii, and likely part of Alaska, technicians get 40 meter privileges within the CW portion of the band. I likely glossed over this previously as it doesn't relate to me. I may still turn the radio on to see if I can hear them, though I would not be permitted to respond.

The real reason is an attempt to "stupid proof" the services. They want to force you to deliberately make an effort to transmit on the service you intend to use. If you had a mismash of frequencies from multiple service scanning at once, the chances of you responding to the wrong service with the wrong call sign is very high. If you have 2 different radios, you deliberately grab the GMRS microphone and transmit on the intended frequency. Now, it has happened to even the experienced operators, grabbing the wrong microphone and using the wrong call sign. Are there good best management practices that can be used to minimize the cross use of services, and tossing out the incorrect call sign? Sure there are, but how many new licensees have enough trouble understanding how to program a single repeater, let alone run zones/scan lists/etc. Now toss in inexperience, and difficulty reading the rules directly from eCFR. It is much easier to say separate radio for each service than to try to write BMPs into the code as hard and fast regulations.

I'd call Rohn and talk to them about your specific site constraints. With all the rock, they might be able to help you with a matt foundation that would work for your loading scenario. It would still be reinforced, but would be wider than the standard foundation, and much shallower (maybe 2'), and could be placed directly on the bedrock, however deep that is (assuming its barely under the topsoil). I would buy a new base for imbedding in the concrete unless you want to use the bottom section as your base.

I have a feeling they are looking at the $1500 Garmin Tread with Group Ride and realize they aren't going to beat Garmin at their own game, but also realize they they currently have a market with deep pockets (jeep guys) that are likely to spend similar money if they get some published advantage over Garmin, even if it's actual implementation isn't seamless.