dwmitchell61

I have my Midland MXT400 set to use the 20kHz bandwidth on the channels on which it is allowed by Part 95E. I also have the local repeaters programmed into the slots meant for the channels reserved for the FRS handhelds. The software and cable (DBR1) is available. Cable - https://midlandusa.com/product/dbr1-dual-band-radio-programming-cable/ Software - https://www.dropbox.com/s/eibap1ve5nnl5ju/MXT400_Setup_1.05.exe?dl=0

He is saying you can set the bandwidth to the legal Part 95 20kHz from the 12.5 that Midland ships the rig set to using the software.

I believe the FCC addressed this in: §95.1761 GMRS transmitter certification. © ... No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. Huh... Doesn't seem to get any plainer that that, I guess.... LoL

Are the Part 90 radios TRULY legal to use under Part 95, not being certified FOR Part 95, but being programmed to Part 95 specifications? Seems everyone finds THAT acceptable to all here, but altering the settings in a Part 95 certified radio and still being within the Part 95 specifications is NOT acceptable? The FCC says this: §95.335 Operation of non-certified transmitters prohibited. Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no person shall operate a transmitter in any Personal Radio Service unless it is a certified transmitter; that is, a transmitter of a type which has obtained a grant of equipment certification for that service, pursuant to part 2, subpart J of this chapter. Use of a transmitter that is not FCC-certified voids the user's authority to operate that station. See sections 302(a), ( , and (e) of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 302(a), ( , and (e)). §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. §95.1773 GMRS authorized bandwidths. (a) Main chanThe 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)). I thought I had read in the FCC rules that using a radio NOT certified in that part is unacceptable, and I didn't find ANY reference to Part 90 being acceptable, reprogrammed, for operation under Part 95. It just sounds like a double standard to me... Advocating using a reprogrammed Part 90 certified radio under Part 95, but telling someone it is illegal to use a Part 95 radio, reprogrammed to operate under the Part 95 allotted bandwidth of 20kHz. Maybe someone can clear it up so I am not confused about the legalities? $10,000 in fines and a yanked license seems a tad more expensive than a $250 price tag on a radio. Confused in Vancooterviile...

That is very interesting, WRAK968... I had a supervisor in the military that had said, "If you don't learn something new each day, you've wasted that entire day." I learned something new today. Thank you, Sir!

I have found that my KG-805G HT transmits a DTMF sequence when once activates the "Alarm/PF2" button and the siren sounds. I had inadvertently bumped the button, the siren sounded and my scanner picked up the transmission the channel I had selected At the time. I downloaded a installed a DTMF app on my cell phone in an attempt to determine what the DTMF message being sent was. All it came up with was a "101010" pattern. So, be forewarned that a distress message in DTMF IS being transmitted on the current frequency when the alarm is activated.

Be aware that the built-in "siren" alarm function ALSO TRANSMITS a DTMF tone sequence on the current selected frequency.

Ok... I'm going to off these two radios that suck and start using my 2m Icon handy talkie, since the FCC doesn't enforce anything anyways... Sounds good. I won't need that Tevhnician license. LMAO... I just didn't realize it was such a joke and everything has become CB now...

Why are we recommending a Motorola XPR7550e for GMRS? Are we advocating bootlegging and risking a $10k fine using a radio not approved for a service by the FCC? I am not interested in becoming a pirate station. Thanks anyway.

Why are we recommending a Motorola XPR7550e for GMRS? Are we advocating bootlegging and risking a $10k fine using a radio not approved for a service by the FCC? I am not interested in becoming a pirate station. Thanks anyway.

My cucumbers better than your zucchini... The Motorola T800 (let's be comparing apples with apples) is most likely a CCR made across the street from the "Wouhon"... I'd rather have a 1964 Chevy Nova than any,of the foreign produced 2020 Chevies of today, too. Looks like everyone is discussing the obvious here. Question is, how are we as customers going to convince the corporations to move production back to the states, when they have cheap Chinese labor? The argument here is nothing more than stating the sad current state of affairs the US has got itself into...

https://www.fcc.gov/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs says: In 2017, the FCC expanded GMRS to also allow short data messaging applications including text messaging and GPS location information. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=a8ff8601ce1729c24a12cf2f3ec179f6&mc=true&node=pt47.5.95&rgn=div5#sp47.5.95.e Title 47: Telecommunication PART 95—PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES Subpart E—General Mobile Radio ServiceSubpart E—General Mobile Radio Service§95.1731 Permissible GMRS uses. (d) Digital data. GMRS hand-held portable units may transmit digital data containing location information, or requesting location information from one or more other GMRS or FRS units, or containing a brief text message to another specific GMRS or FRS unit. §95.1751 GMRS station identification. ...The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone... This is all I could find on the topic

I always over-engineer... It allows for later expansion without buying EVERYTHING all over again. If you don't plan on doing anything but the one radio, by all means, go as light as you can.

Thank you all for the information. I haven't heard of the Golay code/algorithm.... I will have to look that up. LoL.... I am acquainted with Gray code, BCD code, and binary coded octal.... Used to work with come navigation equipment that was nearly as ancient as I. The telemetry monitoring unit we used during preflights had nixie tube displays. We used thumbwheels to dial in hexadecimal addresses to display. Some outputs were in octal and we had to convert the octal numbers to decimal forms of radians and then convert the radians to degrees.... Good ole days...

Update: I managed to get mine to work... Had to push real hard to get it to make connection in the jacks. Not sure whether the radio's jacks are the issue or the PC interface cable plugs are the issue...

Dude! I'd like to know how you got the cool blue coloration... and where did you get the whole pirate looking sea trunk corner protectors and handles? I like it!

https://www.samlexamerica.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=100 https://www.samlexamerica.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=5 With a deep cycle battery is what I am setting up for my radio station.

It appears DCS requires on-frequency between receiver and transmitter. DCS requires more FM bandwidth... That I found that interesting. DCS is subject to distortion, also. Found this article: https://blog.retevis.com/index.php/differences-ctcss-dcs/ Interesting read...

I thought the DCS (digital) would be less susceptible to noise than the CTCSS (analog tones). I know why they are used, just curious as to why the two different standards came about, and if there was an advantage of one over the other. Or is it a case of engineers demonstrating their cerebellar prowess?

Sub-audible tones (CTCSS) or digital (DCS)? Which do you use and why? Is one better than the other? is the digital coding more reliable than the sub-audible tones? I see that the repeater operators seem to always use CTCSS. I am hoping this isn't one of those "Which engine oil is best?" topics? I am trying to determine what channel and method of squelch to use between my base and the HT. Thank you in advance...

I always prefer a power source capable of at least 150% of the load. Closer you come to the load capacity of the power supply the greater the odds of noise and ripple being induced in the power supply output. The creation of heat within the power supply increases with operation near capacity, also.

Midland says stay more than 23" away from the antenna when transmitting on the MXT400, and it is a 40W radio.

There are TWO PC interface cables for programming it. Watch the video on programming. I bought the cable "Rick" did not recommend, because the website DID infer it was the one to buy (PCO-001). All I get is "Failed connection." message when I try to read from or write to the radio. I have to call Monday and see if they can get it to work for me. The cable says it is for WIN 10, I installed the driver. WIN 10 says it is working properly (Silicon Labs UART) in device manager on COM4. It appears in the Devices listing with no errors, but won't communicate with the radio. I changed the software to use COM4 (it defaults to COM1), then tried setting the device to COM1 in the driver settings. I am a retired IT guy and can't find the issue. Trust me, buy the OTHER cable, the one Rick mentions in the video...

I may have gotten Lowe's last MXT400VP3, it went zero balance when I looked it up the next day.

Mad Max....