tweiss3

How has it been working for you? How is the bluetooth programming?

I've noticed that problem before too, not exclusive to Motorola as it showed up on my Kenwood HT over P25. I think it is more related to the Noise Suppression (or ANR in Kenwood) in low background noise situations. ANR is designed to cancel out sirens and industrial noise like fire truck pumps, and when its looking to remove a loud noise that isn't there, it causes problems.

That's a smoking deal. I'm jealous......

I see this comment/suggestion a ton, or similar. Its a lot more complicated than that. DMR, P25 & NXDN are permitted on amateur radio, however, D-star is not a permitted mode on business/public safety radio. It would honestly be a firmware nightmare. The reason people use commercial digital radios in amateur radio is to get secondary (or primary) use outside of amateur radio. To build a radio that can also do all commercial digital radio, yet acknowledge the amateur bands and permit dstar only in the amateur range will be a pain. You have to realize that besides the few (myself being one of them) nobody is going to pay what they would be forced to ask. Right now, for the NX5000, conventional P25 entitlement is listed at $600 per radio, and DMR is around $100. That would mean, if the D74/D75 hardware is up to the task, the $600 hardware + $600 + $100 + NXDN costs = $ 1300+ radio to be locked down to amateur band. Would you pay that? I wouldn't, and I'm looking at more expensive items as well. Why not make them include YSF as well (this is open source). It should also be noted that the brand new VP8000 is the first radio I'm aware of that actually recognizes GMRS & Amateur radio as wideband out the gate in the firmware/software without additional purchases. That radio is going to cost an individual about $4000, well into IC7610 territory for a handheld. Looking more at this D75, I probably won't get one since I have the D74, unless new features are announced at the Tokyo hamfest end of the year. I'm more excited to see the D710 "replacement" announced at Tokyo than this HT.

No one said it was amateur use.....

Have fun guys, won't be making it this year.

The D74 does have access to the TNC through both bluetooth and usb, I would expect that to carry into the D75

Wait till the official announcement and details this week (could be today when the Hamvention opens) as Kenwood has shown up to Dayton this year. The keypad looks more robust than the D74 (I lost a key on mine). I also hope the battery life is better than the D74. Honestly, I probably won't see any need to get it though. I'm more interested to see if they have a mobile counterpart announced as well.

Yea. In my case, its more beneficial to run separate lines as I might also include a mast mounted pre-amp for better receive.

Yea, I was searching last month for a switch that would hold up at 1200MHz. Couldn't find a single one. Well, if I remember, there is an old bird switch that is NLA, but was about $2000. I decided the project would have better results if I just went and ran individual hardlines for what I needed, and either manual switch at the base station, or physically move the coax between radios.

I did try to get to the ISS again a few weeks back. Using my 9700 and this application https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9WZDNCRDNDF7, I was able to hear it and other satellites, but the time frame is so short, and its such a mess trying to get in, it takes some patience. I also realized I need to upgrade feedline to get better reception on UHF, as the 75' of 400MAX is not excellent.

10, 12 & 15 meters have been killer, even way into the dark hours. I even got one 2m FT8 contact, and 6m has been open more often than usual.

I'm always surprised what can be done with only 5 watts on HF when things align. Since becoming licensed in 2020, I have 93 countries confirmed, totaling 648 grid squares. Lots of Europe and South America. I also got a new Africa station on Monday that isn't in my total log yet.

I have learned on RPM14, you have to be careful when setting up their tables. At times, they want the TX input first, and if you put RX like any other software, it throws "out of band" errors, because you didn't calc the proper offset for the TX. Very different software, can't tell if I am doing anything correctly as I don't have any hardware to test.

So you did or didn't get it programmed over BT?

No, you are looking for something more like an RF sensing disconnect switch: https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-1708b-sdr They also make things called RF limiters. I have them installed on the vehicle scanners to protect the front ends, but they can only handle/block 10W, so a 50W radio + antenna separation it keeps working. Once you exceed it's limit, there is a diode in them that pops and you would have to replace it, so it won't work well when you jump to 50W.

Making me jealous

That is Kenwood's stuff. All the kenwood softwares allow you to program a codeplug without the radio first. BTW, RPM14 from Harris is very interesting. Take what you know about motorola and kenwood combined, and toss it out the window.

Like I said, It's not a need to have, and I have the time to sit and wait. I don't need Phase 2, just U+V without wideband disabled.

That must be missing some features/entitlements, otherwise that's correct for hardware. I paid retail for my 5800 deck.

The NX series isn't hard to get. If you are really interested in the wideband, let me know, I can point you to the dealer I used who was very friendly. He also helped @Lscottwith entitlements.

This sounds almost like early version of Armada (for the Viking series radios). I haven't actually used the software yet though.

Exactly. I'm not exactly itching to buy one, its expensive and a bit outdated. I'm really looking for the $800 range, but I don't have the cash burning a hole in my pocket right now either. It's also pushing the cost towards the line in the back of my head "just get a VP8000", since I have someone to help me with issues, and I've actually held it/messed with the menus.

Yes, I have been looking for a 100P for my collection. I have figured out how to program, but haven't found one to buy yet (for reasonable prices). The problem I see is half of them have Wideband Disabled on the entitlement list, which is a deal killer. Programming is very very interesting, as is having multiple mission plans (having a rotation of codeplugs to swap out on the go without a computer as far as I understand it).

I think you are over thinking how to get to your designated simplex. Look into a pair yagi antennas pointed at each other to use just for the hard to reach family. You will also hear the other much better as well. Look at the numbers: Your 25W into an assumed 6db gain omni antenna = 99W EIRP Take the same antenna, boost the power to 100W and you get 398W radiated, but in all directions, and no improved receive from your intended family member. Take your same 25W radio into a 10.2db gain yagi = 261W EIRP, with better ears and less likely to cause interference to anyone else. There will also be more benefit if you don't have 6db gain on your current antenna. This is taking zero line losses into account. Edit, if you get one of the Yagis that has 12.2db gain, you end up with 414W EIRP with your existing 25W radio.