dwmitchell61

The MXT-400, if you buy the DBR1 cable and ask Midland support for the programming software download, has a few options that can be changed. 1) On power up, mine displays my call sign 2) I have the four local repeaters programmed into CH 8-11, they were empty due to unused FRS not permitted by FCC. 3) You can program display names into your channels. 4) Bandwidths that can be programmed into the channels are: 12.5kHz (narrow), 20kHz (medium) and 25kHz (wide). The factory had the repeater channels set for 25kHz on mine. 5) I can also program the repeater frequencies for which no repeaters are in use in my area for "talk-around" operation as a preset. The MXT400 isn't very versatile in programming from the front panel. I think I am going to try one of those Wouxon KG-1000G's. I'd like to try one of those old rigs, Kenwood or Motorola, if I can get the software legally and it is 95A certified. I have a deep respect for Motorola products, but I don't want any risks in getting on the FCC's bad side. I get a ticket EVERY time I do more than 5mph over the speed limit... It's like they're just waiting for me to make a misstep!

Unhook the antenna cable, DO NOT TRANSMIT! But listen under same conditions with antenna cable unhooked... Still there? Put one of those BIG capacitors across the power wires as close to the radio as possible. I think they do that for those BOOM-BOOM amps the kids put in their Hondas.

If only the US offices based here selling the Chinese, Singaporean and Malaysian radios would just bring the manufacturing back to the US.... SMH.... I know everyone says use a Part 90 reprogrammed... Plentiful and low priced used units. I would love to. But at my age, with cancer, a year in jail for doing so is just too expensive, and with my medical conditions having a $10,000 fine would be impossible for me to pay... So I just bought a Part 95A/E unit. I am the guy that gets a ticket EVERY time I do 5mph over the speed limit. So I live with the FCC rules and buy an overpriced CCR radio. They seem to do okay for me. My ears don't hear too well either, so intermodulation hasn't been detected by them and "hi-fi" wideband FM is a waste with my hearing. I have a Wouxon KG-805G handheld and the Midland MXT400.... I am tempted to get a couple of these CCR's and a duplexer just to see how well it works. I know for some, it is like a religion and they are very devout, something like the whole Chevy/Ford debate in the auto discussion groups, it is getting like the whole left/right political environment... Everyone just seems so passionate and devoted to a singular view with a closed mind approach. It actually makes me want to duck out of here. SO.... I think I will just talk about my home brew antennas... They are made in the USA... LoL

Forgot to click "Attach this file..." button.... Ugh

I made a home brew antenna today. I built a 1/4-wave ground plane with 6 ground plane elements today. The SWR is a tad high at the higher repeater channels/frequencies (467MHz). The 462MHz channels/frequencies run a low SWR. I will try making the angle on the ground plane elements a bit steeper first. Then I will try trimming the element lengths, bit by bit. This will be one of my "go box" antennas. I may try a commercial made antenna with a ground plane kit I bought from here. I broke one of the ground plane elements, so will replace them with 12AWG copper wire. The quagi long-beam I built to use for reaching a distant repeater had very high SWR. It was scaled from a 440MHz antenna design. I need to rework the quad loops on it to match it. Another project I want to build is a cubical quad "go box" antenna. So many projects, so little time... Trying to fix up our home to sell at the same time.

I was just wondering if you actually went through the menus. The MXT400 has a menu option to turn off the transmit function, thereby making the unit a receiver.

It should.... And will have NOAA channels as I understand. My MXT400 came from the factory with the repeater channels set to 25kHz (wideband), contrary to the rumors circulated by those with a bias against Midland radios that it does not support wideband. It is simply amazing that those who do not own one make all these claims as though they are the "gurus" chanting the mantra from the mountain top upon which they seated themselves. It will also do 20kHz if you like. It can also be software programmed to do split tones, CTSS and DCS even, on same channel. You must buy the DBR1 cable from Midland and they give you a limited-life link to the software download when you call them. I programmed mine to display my call sign on startup All my simplex channels are programmed as wideband (25kHz). . I programmed the four local repeaters into the empty channel slots that were empty for the 0.5W FRS channels, displaying the repeater names OR CITY, TABOR, OVRLOOK and GRESHAM when they are chosen. Someone also said programming the radio invalidates the certification. Midland denies this. The radio was certified under Part 95A and as such, is grandfathered under the new parameters specified under Part 95E. As long as the radio is still operating within the Part 95E specifications when programmed, you are fine. It does what I want., and I am satisfied with my purchase. It doesn't have 10 billion "bells and whistles" to clutter up the menus and programming like some other radios. It doesn't have FM, but my car and my Sangean WR-11 and ATS-909 take care of that.

Maybe we should go back to tube units manufactured before the FCC came into existence? I was looking at the Kenwood TK-880 and Motorola CM-300 and the labels state they are made in Singapore and Malaysia, respectively... Can we add CSR and CMR to the "cheap" list? Buying E-Bay goods is risky at best... What mods have been done? Are the finals fried? I just bought a used RS HTX-202 (Icom design) and it doesn't receive/transmit..... I did get my money ($10) worth in the accessories that came with it for the other working unit I have. Caveat Emptor....

One word.... FIGURES! LoL... Probably change for the worse in the next ten years. BTW, studying for my Tech exam, and I guess they are going to charge fees for licensing in the amateur arena... Ugh!

Thank you, Sir!

Radio Line of Sight Calculator for use on VHF/UHF Ham Bands (hamuniverse.com) I use this after looking up the two addresses on the Google maps and getting the coordinates from the URL for each.

Is this an example of "SDR - Software DEFINED Radio"? All having the same PCB and circuitry, just different firmware program loaded and different externals to fit the regs?

Right?! Danny Chen may be jeopardizing the KG-805G certification with that letter. Ugh....

This website you are referencing is not the FCC certification grant search database. The proper link to the actual FCC database is: https://apps.fcc.gov/tcb/TcbHome.do I would search for the FCC IDs there and get the REAL information on them. Just saying....

Mine came from Midland with the repeater channels set to wide band (25kHz). The simplex channels were set to narrow at 12.5kHz. We have a repeater in my area that is operating narrowband and with my radio set for 12.5kHz it sounds just great. I programmed the repeater pairs in my area into the 8 channel slots that are unused due to FRS (8-14) and set them to display by name (OR CTY, GRESHAM, TABOR, OVRLOOK, and PORT1). But the bandwidth, spilt PL tones and reverse offsets cannot be entered through the front panel. That is true. The radio does the job for me. I rather like my radios simple in user interface... For bells and whistles and gadgets I have my cell phone.

Might get away with "building bounce" some say.

I bought an MFJ cross needle from DX Engineering... But am not sure of the accuracy. The manual it came with states they are calibrated at manufacturing. But then again, I bought a NEW Dodge Dakota in 2001 that had only one side of the engine properly bolted down... Manufactured across Christmas break... Go figure...

I believe he was asking if there is a manufacturer that makes the two radios to fit a single bracket, if I am correct... Which is quite legal... The FCC doesn't mind how one mounts the radios, but the way in which they are operated (once again, if I am correct).

25-3/4" sheet metal disk atop the roof, properly grounded, and under the antenna mount will provide a one wavelength diameter ground plane for optimal operation. The ground plane "mirrors" the antenna element to create the second element of a "virtual" electrical dipole antenna.

I notice Gman1971 is SELLING a lot of items... I guess it doesn't hurt to advertise for a yard sale. Is he giving up on GMRS or did he get a notice of noncompliance from the FCC? Just curious...

Incorrect. https://mwgmrs.com/forums/topic/midland-mxt400-programing/ They also come programmed as wideband on the repeater channels and all the other channels as well. I love all these "LMR/GMRS old guy" myths that never die! LoL

I think the frequencies have to be in the 400MHz range for the KG-805G... NOAA is down lower in the 100MHz range, if I am not mistaken.

That is what I thought I had read..... §95.1773 GMRS authorized bandwidths.Each GMRS transmitter type must be designed such that the occupied bandwidth does not exceed the authorized bandwidth for the channels used. Operation of GMRS stations must also be in compliance with these requirements. (a) Main channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz main channels (see §95.1763(a)) or any of the 467 MHz main channels (see §95.1763©). ( Interstitial channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz interstitial channels (see §95.1763() and is 12.5 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 467 MHz interstitial channels (see §95.1763(d)). But I even had a vendor claim that was a misprint.... Odd. There is a frequency that was in error in the CFR, in accordance with the FCC specifications. This is why I was asking. I read somewhere that someone had discovered their Midland was set at the at 25kHz in the repeater frequencies.

I see where some say the wideband GMRS is at 25kHz? Is that right?