tweiss3

I've got a XTS2500 for 900 P25. I'd like to eventually get up a 900 repeater, probably a quantar setup for both analog & P25, but that is a whole different battle.

This is VHF, recorded direct to SD card. P25: P25.WAV NXDN: NXDN.WAV I need to find a way to record DMR on one of these radios, I only have 1 that has the SD card recording entitlement.

1) I will rate them in according to my preference on audio quality: NXDN - P25 - YSF - DStar - DMR. This does not indicate my preference for the mode overall, just how it sounds. Let me explain a bit more. Lets be honest, turning the volume up too high always makes received audio sound badly. This is often exacerbated by a quiet room/office and some auto reflecting off walls, ceilings, desks. Take that out of the equation, walking around the house, a shop, outside, or even in the car on the go, the above is how I think they sound. And it is not using a hotspot, though PiStar supports all 5, but using them either simplex, or via repeaters on local use (of local talkgroup). NXDN and P25 are very much almost the same great sound, I just can't get over the bandwidth use of NXDN very narrow, which also pulls it's lead ahead. Keep in mind, this is based on use in amateur radio, which also has other factors. Don't get me wrong the $15 radio has it's place, and it has helped a more wide spread support of DMR, but it has also ruined DMR at the same time. That being said, if I were to get business licenses, DMR would be one of the emissions types I would have on the application. It has it's place, but the cheap stuff people use is just not setup correctly, and ruins the experience. 2) I use these on amateur radio, and their use is nearly identically as DMR, but with some minor differences, and maybe 1 or 2 major. Forgive me if this is too broken down, but I'll explain. As you know DMR uses a color code (CC) as it's squelch (like CTCSS), has 2 timeslots, and you must pick a talkgroup. All 3 must be programmed for DMR to work. It's not that difficult, but yes, you can get lost pretty easily if you don't understand how and why. NXDN & P25 (conventional, we can only realistically use conventional in amateur radio) do not have timeslots, there is 1 voice path. If you are using a repeater that is based on PiStar, similar, or even a hotspot, both require talkgroups to be chosen. Same as DMR, chunk a TG and it gets linked, chunk the disconnect TG, it clears. The really cool thing about these two modes, the repeaters (if a true digital commercial repeater) can do mixed mode, meaning it can use both Analog/P25 or Analog/NXDN, and change on the fly based on signal received. There is a repeater northeast of me that I get in range every once in a while. In P25 mode, using my 5w HT, while driving, I cut a conversation short at 16.8 miles because I wasn't sure when my range dropped out, but the gentlemen I was talking to said I was clear the entire time. The other positive is when programming the radio, you can put in a NAC (P25) of F7E or RAN (NXDN) of None and it acts as carrier squelch, so you can listen to all digital traffic on that frequency and not need to track down or log a NAC/RAN. NAC/RAN is still needed on transmit if set on the repeater, but for listening to other stuff, digital CSQ is wonderful. The license is not much for DMR. If you really want to know, PM me, and I can point you in the direction I got my entitlements and approximate costs. P25 is the one that hurts. And FPP isn't exactly cheap, but worth it on VHF (and UHF if you need to change digital stuff around). But yes, once you add an entitlement to a radio, it is permanent to that radio serial after 72 hours. No need to re-enable it. You would switch by loading a new codeplug. If I remember correctly, the NX1200/1300 requires KPG-D3N, which is interesting.

I have D-Star, YSF, NXDN, P25 and DMR, each is covered in both VHF/UHF with HTs and Mobiles. Current daily carry is NX5200 with P25 & NXDN and NX5300 with P25 & DMR. I have a dual deck NX5700/5800 ready to go in with identical programming as the HTs.

How do you plan on carrying this "field kit"? If it's in a trailer and you have room to mount large coils on the wall or in a drawer? The reason I ask, my HF kit for the field has 20' of RG-8x, which is pretty bulky if you are going to carry it. For UHF, beyond having the radio connected directly at the push up mast, you will need at a minimum LMR400, and probably hardline, like the 1/2" LDF mentioned above. Going to 1/2" hardline reduces your loss at 100 feet from 2.7 to 1.5, which is huge.

Motorola's R56 is often referred to the tower bible on how to set things up to reduce failure and meet/exceed the NEC. It will be way more than 99.9% of users will meet, but it's a great goal to move toward.

Correct, being that the exact allowed frequencies/bandwidths and power levels are directly outlined, it's must simpler than amateur radio. The point of the Part 95 rules for type acceptance is so that the average joe can buy the license and purchase an off the shelf radio and be within the rules. While the concepts are identical between ham 70cm and GMRS, there is more responsibility on the operator in amateur radio. This includes coordination of repeaters/operating frequencies as well as RF exposure evaluations. The idea of GMRS is that frequencies are not overlapping/spaced too closely, and the FCC has already done the RF exposure evaluation in a general sense. Not saying there won't be someone trying to use a 45w mobile with antenna attached directly to the radio placed 4' from the user, but they did a good job simplifying it.

I was referring to the "Typical 1 mile range" in the specs. Much better than the typical "up to 25 mile range" I'm used to seeing.

On another board, i saw someone mention that 1.13 FW completely blocks SFR with a "not supported in MISC mode" message.

That is the first time I've seen a manufacturer not largely embellish the specs (range).

I use GMRS out with the family unit all the time. Be it car to car, or handhelds out and about at events. I have had a few "rag-chew" conversations with a friend (ham and GMRS) who's neighborhood was using GMRS as a way to check on each other, and we were having a conversation to get his neighbor more comfortable being on the air. I do know what @marcspazmeans though, I've run into a few grumpys on the air that were just not pleasant to deal with. One was while I was driving a part of the state I was not usually in, but had repeaters programmed. I was trying to find any repeater to talk on. One I could key, and clearly hear the other goober yelling at me because he couldn't hear me. I tried at 5 mile intervals for a while, and he was just needed to turn up his hearing aids (presumed) because there is no way I could have heard him as clear as I did for as long as I did without making into the repeater clearly at some point. I have also run into some people that were just not a pleasure to talk to on GMRS, but I've learned quickly, not worth the time and I just move on.

Wow, I ended up with one. I didn't pay for it, it was just an extra in a box of a radio I bought. Same serial, last 4 of above the barcode is ATNT. Makes sense why I won't charge.

Rotate the antenna 90 degrees and see if it reaches. J-Poles are a bit directional.

Now that I think about it, I have one that I haven't used, but I put on the charger and it keeps going into a conditioning cycle immediately after it completes charging. I'll look at it tonight if I remember.

Also, remind them that anything said or done on the radio isn't private, anyone can hear it. That usually brings some perspective.

I remember the "change" about 6 months ago. The site now refuses to run ads (other than the scannermaster banner) and there might have been a few changes that came along with that. To be honest, most of the stuff doesn't have input frequencies. Unless the submitter also includes the input frequency from the license, most of the time they can't hear the users on the input. As for the rest of the stuff, I only listen to the Calls platform when I am trying to follow a single incident, or listening to all the snow removal crews from my commute route.

What is paywalled now? I provide a feed, so I don't notice. I thought you could always get to the database, but "downloading" the information required the subscription.

Does the 935g do weather alerts? If so, when on it stops scanning every 10-15 seconds to check the weather channel for the alert tone, and it isn't actually stopping on the channel it shows.

@marcspaz Is this the one you used: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/part-107-remote-pilot/ I thought about it 4 years ago, but at that time, the rules changed about once a month, and I never followed through. We've thought about it for the office, maybe I just need to do it.

Also unplug the microphone from the repeater and see if that changes anything.

Proper use of scan lists and you can watch way more than 2 frequencies. The XPR7550e is a wonderful radio. I've been jumping between it and a Kenwood NX-5300.

The internal oscillator on the VXR7000 never turns off, it is always on when in repeat mode. This helps reduce keyup/warm up time. Get a few hundred feet away and see if you are still experiencing the same "issue". Your HT will always pickup the internal oscillator if you are in close proximity to the unit.

You can use this to get a good estimate https://extapps.commscope.com/calculators/qvisolation.aspx Keep in mind, even a cheaper mobile duplexer can achieve 70db isolation, better on decent mobile duplexers, and you will likely need greater than 60 feet vertical, one directly above the other, to get it working anywhere close to the performance of a duplexer.

Well, the state system is on 700/800 MHz P25 system which may cover some of the dam/lock operations. It also appears that there is a bunch of VHF FM stuff for the dam and lock operations, but there is also UHF stuff for on ship and ship/ship. Other ships may use unknown UHF frequencies and/or 900MHz DTR radios, that no scanner/radio will pick up. You might be better off with a Scanner that can do close call and sit close to the river and log what it finds.

Look at adding a scanner instead of another radio. Uniden BCT15X can be found for about $100 and can scan better than any radio. It has a coverage of VHF low down to 25MHz, as well as up in the GHz ranges, and will scan much quicker than a radio can. Also to be completely transparent, note that in all technicality, programming of marine radio frequencies (eCFR Part 80) in a radio requires a GROL license. I'll just leave it at that. Many of the radios don't require Mars/Cap to listen out of band, only for transmission. The Motorola softwares are now free as long as you sign up for a Motorola MyView account. It's not terribly hard, just time consuming and requires following up with Motorola via phone. The Kenwood software can be found. The most current stuff you need to find the correct dealer that will talk to a ham/GMRS radio guy. Some will, some won't. Before I found the right dealer, I called a local shop that I know, and they wouldn't sell me the software. And I know one of their head techs, I have lunch with him an a handful of other professionals in the RF industry every few months.