tweiss3

To avoid taking over the other thread (more than we already did), I know a few have this radio @marcspaz @Sshannon. Mine is going to be mobile in the car, using my Little Tarheel II and the Tunematic (891 pigtail is on the way) for 6m-80m. That being said, any tricks/tips on programming and use? I picked up RTSystems for it to get it programmed more easily. I still have to look into the memory groups thing again.

I wouldn't worry about the connector. If you really are concerned, then don't disconnect the cable from the antenna. You have to coil the cable anyways when the pole is collapsed, keep it attached. You are correct, you can use a base style antenna as well.

https://www.arcantenna.com/products/laird-mbcn-nmo-to-nfemale-antenna-adapter-ground-plane-radials-vhf-uhf Mounts to the pole no problems, then use any mobile antenna you want; quarter wave, half wave, 5/8's, all will work well.

It is emitted along the entire radiating element. Look at the average location, which would be the middle. Ideally you want the base as close to meeting the elevation of the roof line, then you won't get any shadowing from the body of the truck. FYI, when modeling antennas for range over topography, you use the base of the antenna, if that gives you any indication on how important it is to get the entire antenna above the car body.

There was a thread where the jeep owner mounted the antenna over the spare tire on a plate. Personally, I would prefer a 1/2 wave in a similar location (perhaps the base could be nearer the roof line) over the front bumper mounts. My understanding is that the AUS version of CB is UHF, and I can't explain why they all mount in that location other than "it's always how we did it". Keeping the coax out of the engine bay and away from other electronics, and putting the antenna as high as possible, with as much ground plane as possible would be my priorities.

If my wife asks, I'm blaming @marcspaz for the 891 showing up on my doorstep.

Each connector adds approximately 0.1db of loss. Other than the fact that at 50' you already have 4.4db of loss (64%) in power and sensitivity, the connector not a concern.

You may be better off getting a handheld scanner. They typically are much better on receive in the airband than any radio, plus scan much faster. In fact, I used to listen to airband with my FTM400, but since switching radios, I haven't missed it, and use a handheld scanner full time in my truck instead.

Unfortunately that antenna location leaves your feedline open to interference from noisy injectors/computer hardware. What cable is used between the radio and mount? Is it a double shielded? You could try to wrap the cable in the engine bay in aluminum foil (and add a bond strap to the body) and see if it helps. Another thought is check the grounding strap between the block and body. I've heard of that coming loose/corroding out and causing RFI issues. Next steps would be to start throwing money at it to bond everything, ground everything, etc. You likely will be better off drilling the hole and roof mounting the antenna.

Ugh, now you guys have me looking at 891's again. And why are people asking over new prices for used with 1 accessory? Tunematic cable is only $25, so that's easy, but I have to find room for the head and another speaker..... my wife is going to hate me.

I think I paid about $60/ea on average for VX-800U radios, GMRS certified, Yaesu's great filtering, and the screen position is good for looking at while on the belt.

I just bought a RigExpert Stick XPro that does antenna analysis DC-1000MHz as well as cable testing. For the form+features it was worth the money. As for an inline meter, I think its pretty unnecessary to leave in place full time. The only ones that stay in place are on repeaters, and those are Bird inline meters.

Yea, I've used my 705 at 10W to get 250 miles or so into a "local" net on my way home on 80 meters, which I think is pretty impressive. I just don't know if I have the space for another deck tucked away.

Too bad the KG-UV980 only does 10W on 6 & 10. It's also a shame those two bands are so forgotten, especially since they can actually use a decent size whip on mobiles and be effective. I've long thought I'd like the Yasesu version, and even thought of getting the TYT monstrosity many times, but other things pull me away. Honestly, I won't get 6m in my truck until the NX-5600HB is unlocked for 6, and at this point, its probably a better idea to grab a FT-891 permanently installed and get the 6 thru 40 on the wife's car.

TKR850 has it built into the firmware/software. Most commercial repeaters have it included in their software, just have to enable it.

Which they seem to have abandoned on the VP8000. Other than the Quantar/Quantro having built in MDC decode, any other hardware or external controllers that are currently in production that can handle MDC? I was looking just to point of researching it, and haven't found anything.

You can't have the radios right next to each other, desense from the transmitting radio overpowering the receiver. Try to get 10 yards or more between the radios.

DX Engineers 400MAX is equivalent to LMR400 superflex

RG8x may be a start of your problem. Assuming cable length of 50' (you mentioned the pole is 30'), that 4db loss in the cable vs 1.35db in same length LMR400. Add in the no ground plane on on a mag mount antenna, and you have a severely hampered receiver.

Must be one of those with a stopwatch that jumps in at 10 min 3 seconds to yell at other about identifying. Must really drive him nuts that FRS has no obligation to acknowledge GMRS rules.

This is true, but considering 95% of my family's traffic is actually simplex, not using the repeater, we use the corresponding output most of the time. The public use of my repeater is pretty minimal as well. Overall, I don't see it as a problem. It's EVERYONE's responsibility to minimize interference with other users as much as possible. Unless you are at a large amusement park, its pretty easy to find an unused frequency.

Personally, its not that I don't want others to use my repeater, but I do want to know who is using it. It also helps if I have to make a change, that I have a list of people to notify.

Depends on what the measurement is for. If you are modeling the RF horizon, you go from the bottom of the antenna. If you are dealing with zoning, then top of the antenna.

VHF Lo may not be a bad thing, there is 1 itinerant in VHF Lo.......

I thought I saw one thread on cobbling together an amplifier/filter set on RR. I'm not exactly interested in transmitting though, but if VHFLo was available to listen, I would like too listen. If only someone had a way to expand the VHFLo to 6 or 10 meters.......