tweiss3

I'm especially impressed that the hardware is in the $100 range. Though, you do have to be into digital, with the exception of AllStar and Echolink (by my understanding). Do I want to get into digital (DMR most likely), yes. Is it really going to be usable when things fail? I doubt it. With the internet outages, cell phone outages, etc. going on recently, and the other mess of destruction people are bringing, can't count on anything. I have a feeling some of the local repeater towers would last without commercial power, but then you are still stuck to that RF range. I understand one could do DMR simplex, but the chances of finding someone out on DMR in a bad situation that have the same color and talk group programmed on the frequency is highly unlikely. EDIT: What do I know though, I don't even have my license yet (testing next week), so I can't speak on the actual difficulties of digital and linking.

I agree with you that it shouldn't count for your State/Country search, but the fact that you can do it and still technically be on the radio and working on your contact skills is pretty intriguing.

This one? https://www.retevis.com/duplex-wireless-intercom-system-business-calling-device-rt57/ Manual lists Rx in 463.XX and Tx in 409.XX

Look for a used Kenwood that is part 95, I love mine, excellent audio quality.

Your problem might be Midland is narrowband and the Btech can be either. Connect it to CHIRP and you can flip them all over to FMN, you might then get better decoding of the DCS tone then. Narrowband can sound "soft" on a wideband receive and might not be loud enough to decode.

This is because channels 1-22 are the SIMPLEX channels, meaning they go straight from device to device. For example, looking at Channel 15, it transmits on 462.55 and receives on 462.55. Channels 23+ are your REPEATER channels, meaning, they are designed to transmit on a frequency 5MHz higher than they receive. Channel 23 is also know as Repeater Channel 15 (sometimes Repeater 550). It transmits on 467.55 and receives on 462.55. Your Midland device is looking for a signal on 462.55 while your Btech is transmitting on 467.55. The same happens the other way around, when the Btech is transmitting and the Midland is listening. These repeater channels are designed to be transmitted to a third piece of equipment called a REPEATER which then re-transmits the signal for all to hear on the frequency 5MHz below. See the below visualization on how it works from HamRadioSchool: https://hamradioschool.com/simplex-duplex-offset-and-split/#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20talking%20to,and%20the%20repeater%20transmit%20frequency.&text=Repeaters%20operate%20in%20full%20duplex,transmit%20at%20the%20same%20time. NOTE: The frequencies noted are VHF, not GMRS, but get the idea across.

It should also be noted that the radio you have will prevent any transmission out of the GMRS frequencies. You can listen to as many as it allows you to program, but can only transmit on those hard coded out of the box.

That's what I thought. Seeing as I'm not licensed yet (test in 2 weeks) I will just sit back and listen.

I wasn't aware that GMRS was permitted in Field Day. I was planning on listening to the local HAM repeater, but I wasn't going to be able to participate without a license. I may have to leave the GMRS HT on as well this weekend.

All components appear to be excellent choices. 1) So your 10' antenna is on top of a 20' mast, for a total height of 30'? or is the 20' mast on your roof? Many places, houses can be 30' tall and would be blocking your signal. 2) If the seller is offering to reprogram the duplexer, I'd let him give it a look. 3) What frequency are you using? Have you checked to see if there is local interference on this channel? Is there FRS using adjacent frequencies that could be causing problems. All three items could simple or difficult, but need to be addressed.

While my view aligns with marcspaz, I understand where the FCC is coming from. In general, the Part 95 devices have zero field programming on the transmission side (apart from tone adjustment). There are minor exceptions (Kenwood Tactical add-on) that a dealer would only install if they know the operator won't get out of their allow frequencies. Overall, this makes sense, because GMRS is a commercial system, you typically have a group of people operating under one license, such as a family camping trip, the licensee would hand out a bunch of hand helds or program UTVs with the GMRS frequencies and thus a non-knowledgeable kid/family member couldn't screw up and accidentally go to the local FD frequency and get in big trouble. Same could be said for a business, you don't want a crew member going off frequency. That being said, I wouldn't be opposed to addition of an exception to allow Part 90 equipment, either by license rule (if you have a HAM and GMRS), or if you have to apply for the equipment exception. Personally, they way I have my Part 95 radios programmed, while I can monitor the local PD/FD, I did not input a transmit frequency and thus locked myself from a stupid mistake on those frequencies.

I had to email 6 different groups, 2 are testing, 3 are not yet and one never responded. Luckily the closest one is a Laurel sponsored and I was able to get signed up. But, I know the struggle, some are sacared, others are just having trouble finding a place to hold the test. I was told I'm going to have to take the test in my car, but it's happening.

Does your county have a GIS system in place? USGS will get you in the ball park for free, but if your county has a GIS system, you can make your map with county flown topo. Either will work without actually having your area surveyed. I do an incredible amount of drainage design with county information.

USGS: https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#4/39.98/-99.93

If you space the antennas 18-24 inches apart, and run legal power, you shouldn't have an issue. I have both CB and UHF/GMRS in my car.

Must be a local thing. Listening to our local club nets they are pretty laid back. Last night there was only about 5 of the 35 check-ins that used the phonetic alphabet. I wouldn't worry about it on GMRS, and if a ham guy can hear you well enough to complain about the phonetic alphabet you use, well, your message got across anyways.

You probably aren't going to find much random chatter you can join in on. Unlike HAM, GMRS is consider commercial and is usually a a specific user to specific user.

While true, I've found that most do still identify every 15 around here.

If its not listed, you may have a hard time finding one if it's there. You could spend some time listening to channels 15-22, and if the repeater is set up correctly, it should identify itself every 15 minutes, usually by Morse Code, but could use plain spoken English. This identifier should be the owner's call sign, which you could identify and attempt to contact the owner. Please do NOT go up to the owner's door and knock, that's just rude.

Could you possibly have a tone set for the receive frequency? Midlands won't let you separate send and receive tones.

Finally mounted the head permanently. Final Head Location by tweiss3, on Flickr Drivers View by tweiss3, on Flickr

I'm not so much worried about diminishing returns, I just want to make sure if I don't trim, that it doesn't affect performance.

I was thinking a mobile conversion like such: https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-mbc-1649. Maybe get a dual band, or just stick with a 1/4 wave whip. I'll have to pull out the VNA again and do some seaching. I'm not going to touch HF, in fact, if it weren't for more nets being on the VHF repeaters than the UHF, I'd stick with UHF only. Still at 50W max. Another quick question will having oversized ground radials hurt overall performance? It doesn't seem to on a car when the whole car is the ground plane/radial.

The only wiring in my attic is shielded CAT6 for my POE camera system. Roof is new asphalt shingle (replaced 2 years ago). All wire would be kept inside the house, as this antenna would be going almost right above my office. Wouldn't a proper ground plane/radial set keep the radiation from a downward trajectory and impacting the house?

You are right that part 90 radios are technically not listed specifically approved for GMRS. I was talking about a Part 90 certified radio, not an off the shelf ham that isn't certified. Your's is Part 95, and 100% acceptable for GMRS: https://fccid.io/ALH29473110 There is not a restriction, that im aware of, on using Part 90/95 equipment in the ham bands.