GuySagi

Good advice wrak968. I’m too old to get in a tussle that’s for sure. So where do I find plans to build a rhombic?

Well, berkinet's post is sobering. I did, however, want to thank jec6613 for the tips. Great stuff and very educational. I'm not relying solely on GMRS for punching out an emergency message, but reminders like yours are always smart. The more systems I have, the better off I am. And if the jammer is indeed reading this, if he or she actually can read, not all gmrs transmissions are routine work or pleasure related. In my case that repeater could be lifesaving. If you're jamming it when (God forbid) I need it, I will indeed invest in that doppler system, locate your home and engage an ambulance-chasing attorney to recover that investment in gear, attorney fees, court costs and damages—and I've never, ever done something like that in my life, but when deliberate stupidity jeopardizes my family...I apologize to the fine regulars here for my terse tone and promise to avoid doing so again, dang it.

Man, I wish you the best of luck and if someone hasn't said it recently, thank you for allowing use of your repeater (even if it's down now, or inaccessible, thanks are due for your generosity, regardless). There are none within range of my home....dang it. But I do know there are many out there you've probably never heard from who appreciate yours being on the air. My daughter's a quadriplegic who still loves to camp, and one of her favorite sites has no cell service. We haven't been back since I've gotten my gmrs license, but there's a nice tall repeater nearby, and it disturbs me to think jerks like this will compromise my (and everyone else's) ability to punch out an emergency message efficiently.

It's worth the wait, by the way.

4740, and before you ask, my parents saved hard to get me one of those years ago....the one they purchased got trashed in a divorce (don't ask), unfortunately. Yeah, it's old CB and not really antique, but I'm not willing to pay the crazy prices I'm seeing for models that even have a prayer of working. If I was rich it would be one thing, but even then it wouldn't be the same noisy rig that prompted my mom to yell from the kitchen almost nightly, "Turn that thing down." Nostalgia's expensive. Thank you for the tip on OfferUp. I've never heard of it but I'll take a look. I sure hope you have a glorious day, dang it, and a safe one, too.

Thank you for the info...PropertyRoom is an interesting site, though. I picked up a hodge-podge of radios cheap there about two months ago and in a mix of Icom f21s HTs (walkies) I received what looks to be a brand spanking new Motorola XTN XU1100 collecting dust on my desk. That's one of the drawbacks, plus they've entered into an agreement with some electronics vendor that lists new Baofeng's and clones. With shipping you wind up paying more than from a regular retail outlet. Right now I'm lurking in hopes of finding a working E.F. Johnson model I'm sentimental about. With all the expertise that gathers here I thought maybe a few folks might spot something they like a lot, pick it up cheap and breathe new life into it.

Here's a link to a website that auctions off police items and stuff not claimed from its evidence inventories. I learned about it when I was assigned a story on it a bunch of years ago and I've monitored it since. https://www.propertyroom.com/l/arcshell-rechargeable-long-range-radios-10-plus-pieces/14243308# I'm pretty sure these HTs are not certified, and Lord knows if they can be reprogrammed anyway. But I've had some decent luck with the website in bidding on carefully selected gear and at least the profits go to law enforcement departments. So I thought I'd post it. If you bid on this I'm dying to know what you'll do with that many HTs and if you figure out programming.

The replies are always so courteous, patient and accurate around here I sometimes forget I'm on the Internet. Great info folks and welcome to GMRS jjohns01.

Ill second the warm welcome. I’m pretty new too and the folks here are sure eager to share info and tips.....so come back often. I sure do.

I'm jealous on the fishing trip, dang it. I know this forum is dedicated to gmrs, but post a pic with some of your catch....hold an HT up to its mouth and maybe it'll stay on line long enough for me to enjoy. I was once on an assignment on Kodiak Island and the fishing and people were awesome. Your note makes me ready to go back. I sure do hope you're have the kind of blast I experienced.

That is a nice clean installation.....usually more of a challenge for me than getting a solid signal out. Congrats and thank you for sharing the pix. Wish I could come up with a similarly functional approach.

I apologize for being "off topic," but it's neat story about a local ham club setting up a repeater and getting residents on GMRS, where cell towers went down during the wild fires and the order to evacuate wasn't received by a lot of victims. Here's the link to the story....hope it gifts you a smile today! https://www.mtdemocrat.com/disaster-resource-guide-2020/disaster-radio-to-the-rescue/

Clicked on an ad on Facebook out of curiosity. Click technical specs and it indicates FRS, 1 watt ERP. Pretty expensive for FRS radios that look similar in profile to smart phones. https://preparedhero.com/pages/powertalkiex?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=powertalkiex&fbclid=IwAR3z2I8DTeTDVxnL1VA8LoACQK2P63anEZa6T_Bey9NnOKjZYuEfeWmb39E

I can't tell you how effective the roll-up design is, but I can attest to the fact that "base" (same type of design) works awesome. I've owned one his students tuned for MURS and have a GMRS tuned one on my roof right now. They work well, and he's a decent person when he'll send personal answers to my dumb questions. Plus part of the profit goes to underwrite educational expenses of his grad students building the antennas....in my mind those last two points set him well above the other makers of similar systems. Wish I had a more technical answer. I'm extremely confident someone here does, though.

Reading these is awesome and educational, thank you one and all. It's interesting, and smart, how most of the radios see some sort of daily or weekly use, but also serve as emergency backup. Solid investment, rather than something put in a bag, and tossed in a closet just in case the unthinkable happens. Hope everyone has a glorious day, dang it, and if you're in the path of this storm, stay safe. My grandson and I will be on GMRS when it hits here. Since it's already been a busy tropical storm season, practice makes perfect.

Farm just south of me uses the same MURS frequency I set my family up on for emergency hurricane use. Polite folks who know how to use the radios right, and it's nice to know we can get in touch with each other in a pinch. That's all I've ever heard, other than Walmart staff when we head into town or head to a campground.

So you have to let me know how well it works after your next camping trip. I think it looks awesome. Might be one of my next projects. Thank you for posting and I sure hope you have an awesome day.

Great points. Thank you.

Just FYI. One of the rv newsletters I subscribe to ran this article on batteries today https://camperreport.com/rv-lithium-batteries/

Jamboree, of sorts, would be awesome.

I interviewed some of the big wigs at Battle Born batteries for a story a while back. The company also makes/sells LFP chemistry batteries, but specializes in versions for RVs and trailers. Aside from that long as heck warranty the firms can offer and lighter weight there are a couple other things that really caught my attention. Batteries that use this technology take a charge much faster (especially in the initial phase of that cycle, decreasing generator or solar time for people boondocking). Most traditional battery recharging controllers can't take advantage of that, though, hence the nearly universal recommendation for a new one (there are other charge-rate/cycle concerns, too). Off gassing eliminated or gone, allegedly leak proof, which allows the batteries to be stored in virtually any configuration or place (sideways, in a closet...). Compared to traditional cells more usable energy (not amp hours or watts, but the ability to deliver them as voltage drops into the ranges traditional cells quit working and begin to suffer damage). There is one downside, according to what I was told. Temperature. When the thermometer dips too low they get really bad at taking a charge and sharing energy....hence this company recommends installing them in the cab of an RV (not outside) and removing if you're storing your rig for the winter. Don't quote me on this, but I think that was right at or just below 32 degrees. Cells for RVs are also just a bit larger than traditional ones (not much, but worth measuring battery boxes when you order). I'd tell you I love mine, but budget has prevented me from buying one of the $1K batteries...at this point, anyway. It's definitely on my list, but I'd be a jerk if I didn't footnote the fact I'm relaying the company's side of the story, not personal experience. Hope everyone and their loved ones have a glorious and healthy day.

Wow. Hard to believe I was correct in reading the FCC info. I wish it was more user friendly, because the marketing claims on range that appears on packages is identically outrageous, then you read the test results on output required by the FCC and you're really wondering what kind of stuff the advertising department is smoking. Thanks. I will be conducting a test before I decide whether to keep the radio around Berkinet. Hopefully it will surprise me. Radios are a big help when you're fishing a noisy trout stream, that's for sure and the last thing I need is one that can't be heard over a pool holding some nice lunkers. As usual, the folks here are the best.

I picked up an old FRS/GMRS HT (handheld) for my grandson when (or if) we get to fish/camp this fall. I understand the perils/drawbacks of mixing a narrow band with another transceiver that is wide band, which prompted me to look up the HT's FCC certification and emission type. I also understand we're OK going wide on GMRS, but here's the link to the emission type designation for the used walkie. https://fccid.io/Emissions-Designator/5K64F3E Am I missing something, or is this HT twice as narrow than the narrow banding that's gone into effect on other bands? 5khz versus 10 khz? I'm keeping my fingers crossed my wires are crossed.

Great explanation, thank you.

Great advice you guys. Now that the darned driveway is resealed maybe I can get back on it this week! Hope everyone has an awesome and safe week, by the way.