fremont

Repeatedly got error message "error opening serial port" when attempting to read my non-Plus model KG-S88G. It had worked many times before and I was using a Wouxun cable. First issue was that Device Manager was telling me COM port was 23 while software only went to 12. Went and changed to COM12 which did not fix it. Steven from BuyTwoWayRadios suggested that sometimes above COM10 is a problem; he suggested COM8. By using COM8 and running software as Administrator (right-click .exe file to open software), it worked. Hoping this will save some non-Plus users some time.

I'd have to double check but I'm pretty sure it's up to 500 MHz

I was troubleshooting a 25' length of RG58 today that had continuity where it should (hot to hot; ground to ground; no shorts) but wasn't receiving RF. I put on a 50 ohm dummy load and connect to my analyzer and SWR was off-the-charts so into the garbage it went. As a control, I hooked up a 2' RG58 jumper (with dummy load) and saw the expected 1:1 at the lower bands; however, when I tried at GMRS frequencies, it was 1.9:1 with 25 ohms. Helped visualize the coax loss we often attribute to antennas in the UHF band.

Purely anecdotal, but I and a friend have tried MURS vs GMRS in high desert country (no buildings or big mountains, etc), and MURS wins at 2w vs GMRS at 5w. He lives there year-around and had no idea what MURS was until I loaned him my Wouxun KG-805M (and a Smiley OEM antenna). He said "Thanks, I'm buying two of them."

Is it possible to get COR/TOR out of a TK-880 via a homemade cable with a RJ-45 jack? Or, do you need to disassemble the transceiver and solder? This implies the latter but wanted to ask first.

Lots of off-grid outdoor enthusiast GMRS users who would benefit from APRS (e.g., knowing the location of their party, allowing SAR to find them). I personally think APRS (or a variant) finds its way into GMRS.

In addition to the 144.390 "problem"

6 dB is one S unit..... just sayin'

I don't have a permanent installation, but, when camping, hunting, etc, I'll usually put up a Nagoya 200-C as we also like to tinker with MURS too. Or, if I'm lazy, my Ed Fong DBJ-GMRS tuned to 465.

Looks great; however, discontinued. BTWR's version included duplexer + programming. Is Vertex coming out with a new model?

Haven't gotten that far.

In addition to protection from the elements, it's also to try and discourage theft in case someone comes across the site.

Some friends and I are looking at building an offsite GMRS repeater on someone's remote property using solar power*. Two questions were currently pondering: 1. What do people use for a "vault" to secure radios, duplexer, etc? 2. This location can reach > 100F in the summer. I concerned a fan will only blow around hot air. Low duty cycle, though, with traffic picking up during hunting and snowmobile seasons. Any thoughts on temp control in whatever vault we use? * We haven't yet run the math on power needs yet.

I was cleaning up my shop and stumbled across my first GMRS radio, the BTech GMRS v1. In thumbing through the manual, I saw it supposedly offers tone scanning, but I've been unable to get it to function as described in the manual. I'll have an active conversation going on some repeater and I follow the attached directions, but I never get the CT icon on the screen nor does it start scanning through possible CTCSS codes. Operator error I'm guessing, but I'd appreciate a hand if anyone has successfully done it.