tweiss3

Does anyone have any experience with the 6 meter version? I know some people are happy with their Woxun, but I'd like to hear from someone that has one and hear about its operation on 6 meters. I really want a Yaesu VX-7R or VX-8R, but they are hard to come by, leading me to do some searching.

I have to recommend Lido as well, I use one for my SDS100, the cup holder version.

2 & 3) check the PiStar website, it lists active P25 talk groups and how to get an ID ( I thin you use your DMR id)

That's the crazy thing, it was extremely wide spread. It covered 20 miles east-west on I90, the same 20 miles east-west on I480, at at least 10 miles north-south on I71. It was also over 1 hour 15 minutes at a minimum of an opening.

I figured I'd share this here for anyone wondering. If you have been around radio for any time at all, I'm sure you have heard of "E" skip or tropospheric propagation that happens in the summer time with 2 meters (144 mHz) and below. The question has always been, well, does it ever happen to UHF. The answer is yes, but a little differently, which I didn't quite understand until yesterday. Now, this was on the 70cm ham band, but could apply equally to GMRS being not that far off in frequency. Yesterday I woke up and had a good drive to a meeting. It was extremely foggy (important) and the 2m repeater I usually listen to was down. I started scanning with my radio, and ended up picking up a pretty good conversation, so I listened for quite a while. Never jumped in, but after my meeting, I figured I'd throw my call out. Luckily I got a response. Had a great 20 minute qso, and figured I was coming through a repeater in the middle of the state (wow). When I had more time, I looked up the repeater, my location and ran a line of site. Now I was in my truck (6' AGL 50W) and the repeater was on a tower (230' AGL 80W). Attached is the line of site calculation. No way in heck to make that 97 miles on a normal day on UHF. So how did that happen? I started reading a bit more, and similar to right before a large storm mass when 2m/6m & 10m propagation picks up, a massive temperature inversion (remember the fog) can provide great bending/bouncing capabilities for UHF. I'm sure I read about it before studying for my ham licenses, but never had the pleasure of expeiencing. How did I confirm it was the repeater I thought it was? I was using Yaesu System Fusion, and it gave me the repeater ID, and checked based on the frequency. The repeater owner, with whom my qso was with, also confirmed on the controller it was an RF connection. Keep an ear out, you may experience something just as crazy. I've had voice contacts overseas with only 5 watts on HF, but UHF at that distance just boggles my mind.

I hadn't really looked at it before, but its kind of interesting. Check this document out: https://kenwoodcommunications.co.uk/files/file/comms/uk/pmr446/PMR446-White-Paper-V6_18AUG2016_JT_KB.pdf So they have 18 analog channels in FMN (12.5kHz), DMR T1 on those same 18 channels, or the dPMR which is 6.25kHz within the same bandwith, which is like the ultranarrow FM that is available on all new commercial Part 90 that came out of the T-Band narrowband/rebrand mandates. They don't have repeater usage available, and they are cut at the knees at 0.5W power. It would be a novelty to buy a few of the radios and play with, but unless you can get them for less than $50/each, I would think its too costly to play with. If I was interested, I'd spend a few more bucks and get something you can use no matter what. Look at a NX5300 Type 2, covers ham, GMRS and will do P25, NXDN, DMR and Analog all in 1 radio, plus 5W power. Then you could put the dPMR and DMR frequencies in there.

Yea, I had to install way in the back. Its setup so I can hotswap between the CS800D and the 400XDR. I did the firmware update, and haven't had any APRS issues. Still fine tuning the settings, I have ambiguity set to 2 places, going to bump it down to 1 and see how it goes. I thought you grabbed general already. My bad, you can still play 10m USB with your tech. I liked the tarheel because it does 6m through 80m, and mobile I will never exceed 100w. Its not cheap, but its not that expensive when compared to others and the performance is supposedly great. I've been troubleshooting the power issue, both on Radio Reference and Groups.IO. I may be calling Yaesu support if the new cable doesn't fix it.

Do you use the stock remote head cable, or aftermarket? After almost 2 weeks on the bench, I got it installed. I used an aftermarket cable because I needed a microphone extension, and the factory cable got a slice in it. I'm now having a random intermittent power issue where it shuts off. I've ordered a new stock cable from DX to pickup today. Hopefully that's the problem. Also, I've come across this recommendation for a screwdriver antenna: Little Tarheel II. Its got great reviews for a screwdriver antenna, and the price is very reasonable. Size isn't too bad either. Figured you might be interested as well.

Did you end up getting this handled? Even with that, I still had to make a bracket to attach the head bracket to the car.

I think there are a few older Kenwood repeaters that have Part 95 acceptance, but I don't remember model number or FCC ID. Other than that, you are right. The only current type accepted repeater available is the Revitis, but the power is extremely low. EDIT: TKR-820 FCCID:ALH9TKTKR-820-1

I'd like to interject, Bridgecom covers the discussion about type acceptance (in this case Part 90) of the 578, 878 & 876 DMR radios here: https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/blogs/bridgecom-tx-rx-blog/how-to-program-an-anytone-in-amateur-or-professional-mode While the radio does have a type acceptance for part 90, and modes can be changed by the software, only 1 mode has the part 90 acceptance, any mode outside of that does not have type acceptance. This is the same for Part 97 GMRS/MURS and even Part 80 Marine. It's also why when in the true part 90 mode, you can't use front panel programming. Also, more recently, the Anytones have been shipping in more restrictive modes and they have made it harder to change the mode. Again, If you can sleep at night, then that's fine, but it is not in compliance with the law.

I was just coming to post this. Here is the actual document. FCC-21-90A1.pdf

No, you are ok. The above power procedure where you press buttons is a form of unlocking the firmware, which is where it breaks the certification. There are a large number of Kenwood and Moto gear that were granted both Part 90 and Part 95 certifications, and using it on commercial, GMRS and ham licenses is not a violation of the FCC grant. As far as I know, the FCC stopped granting dual certifications (90/95), however, the existing dual grants stand.

Any change to operation mode invalidates its type acceptance. Same goes for part 90 radios. Doesn't keep people from doing it.

That's not quite limited to Icom. Yaesu, Connect Systems, even Anytone are all the same way. FTM400 has a head bracket that is useless, connect systems has a method to detach, but you have to configure the remote bracket yourself. In the end, there isn't possibly a way to put a single bracket in the box that would work for even 30% of the users, so they don't.

I just have to figure out how I want to treat bank A and B in the memories, but I have one showing up Monday. I'm going to install in such a way that I can keep the CS800D and swap (in 10 minutes) between by changing the antenna over. I have confirmed at least 2 YSF repeaters can be reached from my house, so this should be fun.

Thats what I mean, fleetsync and other versions are there, they just are not something that another field radio can utilize.

The problem is GMRS is on the LMR side, not the amateur radio side of things. On the side of professional LMR, almost every radio has gps, but it is for dispatch use only, not field user to locate. Yaseu System Fusion (C4FM) does have this type of capability baked in in the Group Monitor feature, but C4FM is too wide to meet emissions requirements and channel spacing of GMRS. APRS works as well with many radios, but it's pointless without the backbone (digipeaters, servers, iGates). There isn't a method to do location via simplex (except for the Garmin units), and lets be real, we don't need another digital mode/method created.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264978469221?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3db1f29165:g:WD0AAOSwc-Ff2XWT&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsStdebXPz4ZTXCT8FI9kPBh0ZYeQpC53FYkNj5Ew5plt67RZntArmc2h4DzEeKtIc85PI9lwBBmpRNHebtbyF3HuqhDpbb7byuA4Jaz2A5cX4Mvd1ZHTWLXUldlvh5MzXM4%2BLNOfdGoMmVX6uCodqkLTNZfFCj5eaxgEyWCuCdkBdoBW8mijFsfyu2VuqHyTAahYHu7YDcdcjKIaU%2B50JItF0NdGknfK3iaFRpsywhWcaTDLEC6Mf45eXJCJxHPbTI810%2B125CCzkUJAzyVv0K59n84w%2Fe6owbhJsFZr9CYVEkufviKLfW16TQ13uwBTNGDDS9%2BAIVf9UKvFNM6iS7bg8leQ8qsgOrerEQQpgckwU5I7XU74TSEr7NEyZEAs2HupaAwupfrbMpQ94F3Kyzmrsd7OeN72slGHEJDqlME7aBf4YlUUwGKEYH4SzrGWj%2B1zJUD19ZT3Za6xhN6pMehB34FDkmPGrdnOucw06iqbbmTX7FrNKrzsZ77FJm5fJjVDcIxDepzJGHAx3Wj%2BgwZOSvhaLLI2u5DmUxNXnZ939k3FTsKK1KKbJ4LQ%2FEfzSiniUix6hpN6vIouyj19wInJ41YiytwdB9oqmAfvgHPW674PmS5KqEe2Zs8Z08U%2Fh1vSg%2FnDJnbNdTo%2BIr4yg5S4wtbGTps4o3dg3EYafkRw3IUcw5Y5sEpryvNXN9SmPsC%2Bot4ATS27U1Kro%2F4ST2J7eT6L2kbyVs%2BuHnSXMlon6W2rjvhORuAL%2Fy3aOdbvtqQX9iuJApLK%2FKir4NdUXT5mLMUQVa7V2gbhMg0nR4VCgOPwBB9uIGNPCTDC9Mb849|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524 or https://www.ebay.com/itm/264622318409?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3d9cb82349:g:ZckAAOSwT6leOHfM&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsStdebXPz4ZTXCT8FI9kPBhzVb1m1M93ovRBkqh%2BbN3co6cuahMD4mMxOtTZyKAi9VgYYri8kio0P%2FmTbqwQJyDCCB0DuRMKyZrMJ%2BPs%2BvYP6MLlatAVcVnEPP%2Fg4otGPXFk1deDkbfUT%2FOY1OJMAUL5X4niO3hUL0ZVANaNcCIFSVy6GlQ7gjo9GvZggdzIBc5Yo739UzmQkmfGlHqZ1d6X1orf15i6fKl7Cg6M0C7hhuNlkuWb%2BCilJOos9Wo%2FraCr%2BaeZ6iDaEQlyMAr242la%2BmZFUeaQE3JIbRxDiSxlEC%2FC6L0m%2BGR3t3CAr72P4bCidIB8BaTuGq973T8vxtF%2FBrqWmjhCYxsIRrcFEDAGg4HZ7A3vaD3cMzLrtlXzbjYt1%2BQDeV2vOMPB4i7VrZw3Dq2qgFduafFEEVd5LpXm88sP%2BqyDeU9NEsLo2vsm%2B6lOtbRmADdFK1dT9SSL%2B0lKBc5dAz96s%2Bn5ZeUNUkAI9yCKGc1%2Fnblocqae06bTGmBoLqvRf%2F7i%2FdjdocH5q7nEAOEtqvcaRwp1pUq5ZWFDfy%2FPORO4urdFZN9u1f48Zkc7QL1hWKl5XFaMMb0%2B1kyV1AJ5imxvloP7hjXi4hh0U42l2dZIoqz88XHUNf2nb6Ox2ZdYxmWGHKi3agi1UKGIgN2Xbive9sQCECy0k%2Bx3okIfBLmOECM4YOY4d%2FDH1n%2BPZzzsgZTMr6TrhkY4yhRhaKPZF2iCilzrwNF0EZA7eGnWRZL5yGof2LURXOcF8Hg0edME3mTCS00Ycdg9RJxwYUp879HI%2F1a%2FvKkjrK%2FDdETceDWj2qLL%2BbzCnw50Wn|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524 Either of those what you are looking for?

Never knew about the APRS Winlink capability. Now I need to understand YSF in order to make up my mind. How is it going with replacing your 10/11 meter antenna?

Can you expand on how you can do Winlink via the touch screen?

I thought i skimmed over an article that the new President Randy has FM baked in it, and it was somehow approved.

I've just been reading between the top 3 IC5100A, D710GA and FTM400XDR and have limited my requirements to dual band, native APRS and cross band repeat. The icom is eliminated, which is a shame, the menu looks the nicest. I just remember you were using APRSDroid and thought you would have more information. I have found you can get a Mobalink to work with the 400 and do winlink and packet. It's not a requirement for me, but is a plus. The APRS on the 400 looks like it will work for me. I have been just reading the messages on my D74, and that's all im looking for while driving.

Do you have more information on this? So technically you can do packet radio with this BT connection? I've actually just become interested in this radio for various reasons, but i'm trying to understand its uses completely.

Garmin already has something like this, its Tread ($800) plus Group Ride Radio ($350) https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/702373#specs https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/705043 It's based on MURS, where this is already allowed. You wouldn't be able to get the antenna to work in its current location with UHF and additional power if without exceeding RF exposure limits or making problems with the electronics.