mbrun

Welcome to myGRMS. Enjoy the forum. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Dayton has a super high profile repeater on the 462.700 frequency. I use it when I am in town. I can also communicate through it from by base station 50 crow-miles away. The repeater owner owns a number of high-profile repeaters in the region. He is a communications professional and great guy. The owner requires a phone call from you to gain permission. Phone number is with his myGMRS listing. He has one in Cincinnati as well, but different PL. Until recently it was the highest profile in town. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The comet 712 is what is called a “Collinear” design antenna. A collinear antenna is an antenna that is actually comprised of multiple antenna arrayed together that, when paired they way they are, alters the overall radiation pattern and improves the effective gain. In the case of the 712, the gain of the antenna is 9dBi. Its coverage pattern is more like a disc, whereas the basic dipole antenna has coverage pattern more like a fat round donut. The most popular commercial antennas used for high-performance commercial UHF radio installations are also collinear designs. Commercial grade antenna may have reliable service lives of dozens of years. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Welcome to the forum @ShadetreeMechanic . Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Thanks @IanM . I am glad you have managed to get some resemblance of useful DTMF functionality working. I will do some additional experimentation to experience the behavior first hand. I appreciate the detailed steps. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

You’re welcome. Enjoy! Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Glad to learn it is in writing in this case. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The radio should have a factory installed GMRS image already stored within it. However, there is an issue with the radio in that after a reset, the radio does not boot up into channel mode. Instead it boots up into VFO mode. That likely explains your issue. To resolve your issue, activate the Area A radio by pressing ‘Band’. Then press the #6 button 3 times. Then switch to the Area B receiver and do the same. You should be back in business. If these steps do not work, then you radio may not have been supplied with the factory GMRS image. In which case you will need to follow @Jwilkers advise. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I agree. In addition, a manufacturer with integrity would actually publish a maximum value the radio can safely handle, rather than hiding it in their back pocket and pulling it out when they want to deny a warranty claim. If it is not published they are then in a position to move it at will so as to always suit them. Also, a good design would include a substantial safety margin to ensure the longevity of the product under varied typical conditions. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

As the settings affect the transmit characteristics, I adjusted them in the 905G used for Tx and observed the results on two other 905G as well as two other models of radio. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I did explore this, and yes indeed the Tx time per digit and interval between digits can be changed. I made a variety of changes and still experienced unreliable decoding whereas my other radios were always rock solid regardless of which of the few combinations I tried. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Good Day Ian. I have not been able to get any form of useful calling function operational on the KG-905G radio. While I have no current use for it, I do not like a product with menus and apparent functions that do nothing, or at least nothing useful. There seems to be a lot of that going around. The radio does have a ‘Call’ function that can be assigned to the PF1L and PF2S buttons. In the software there is a place to enter up to twenty (20) discrete 6-digit DTMF calling codes. If you enter a number into one of these twenty slots, and if that slot ID (calling code ID) happens to be assigned to the channel you are using, then pressing the corresponding PF button will cause the radio to transmit the DTMF code you entered. While this is all well and good, I have not yet found a way to get the receiving radio to do anything with that code other than reproduce its audio in the same way every other radio does. The ability to assign a calling code in the field does not seem to exist either. It appears that one has to program the code in from the software, which will not be useful in the GMRS world. My view of calling codes is that they need to be field assignable to support the needs of ever changing group outings. There are also menu options in the software for tailoring ring behavior, presumably companion settings for the calling feature functionality. I have tried different combinations in radios none of which has yielded any fruit. Maybe you will have better luck than I guessing. I think what has happened is that when the radio firmware was adapted from the radio is was based on, a lot of balls got dropped and the radio got developed only to about 60% completion. I sure would like to see a firmware upgrade for this radio because there is stuff I like about it. My previous comments regard the decoding where based on the inability of all my 905G to accurate decode DTMF signals from other radios, and the inability of the radio to accurately decode the PTT-ID/ANI-ID of even another 905G. Wouxun has also failed us by not suppling the ability to set the ID directly into the radio as is the case in many other of their models. Wouxun keeps including (theoretically) the ability to use DTMF codes as an alternative to CTCSS and DCS. Not sure anyone in the U.S. does this or will ever do this, and I have yet to test it to see if it even works. I suspect not. If it does, I imagine one would have to use the Calling Code slots present in the software and then assign them to the channels before flashing the radio. Enough for now. No good news on the calling front, but perhaps some useful insight for you. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Welcome to myGMRS. Within a few days after you have had your license, myGMRS should recognize it when you try to add it to your account. At that point you should gain the ability to request permission from repeater owners for access to their repeaters. Enjoy. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

FCC rules changed disallowing the sale of multi-service radios like that. I interpret the FCC intent is to require use of separate physical radios for each communication service. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

No, not that I am aware of. Worth exploring. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

DTMF decoding all my KG-905G is very poor (to the point of being completely worthless), but rock solid on some other models I have. When another radio with DTMF sends out its ANI-ID/PTT-ID (usually 3-6 digits) the radio display should reflect the code it just received. Or, if the transmitting radio has DTMF buttons and sends out characters followed by #, the 905 should display them. If you have two units you can perform a test. Use the software to program two different PTT-ID codes into the radios and enable it to transmit each time you press PTT. So far the uses I have learned for DTMF include: Identification of the transmitting radio, use in some radio calling functions (to alert another radio), to control certain repeater functions, as an alternative to PL codes for opening squelch on another radio, for gaining access to a repeater, for dispatch software recognition of the radio transmitting. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Congratulations on getting your ham ticket. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Admittedly I am not familiar with your radio, but it surely sounds like you picking up interference from either a local electronic noise source or perhaps digital audio transmissions on or off frequency. You may also have a defective radio. I recently tested a radio from another manufacture that exhibited unexplained and unacceptable noises on quite a number of channels fresh out of the box. Although the radio was in-fact using the settings loaded into it from the factory, performing a factory reset resolved all of the noise issues. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

If the cables are poorly shielded, yes, the potential exists that when transmitting you could get some leakage into your over-the-air antenna coax. I would suggest RG-6 or RG-11 quad-shielded coax for your TV coax, the same high-grade stuff that the cable TV utility should be using as drop cable to your home. The bigger issue you may have to contend with if you are thinking of putting both antennas on the same mast, is actually over-the-air leakage from your GMRS transmitter getting into your antenna. If a family member is not watching TV and/or you are not DVRing a show it may not be an issue. I have been known to mess up a recording or two while talking on the radio at my place. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

There is nothing inherently wrong with running the coax inside the pole, be it a metal or fiberglass mast. It is really no different than running the feed line in conduit. It could make for a nice looking installation. Be aware that if the mast is collapsible you must have provisions at the bottom to evacuate excess feed-line when mast is collapsing. Different considerations are necessary if it is a tilt over. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

No, the KG-UV8H will not transmit on GMRS. It will receive GMRS only. The KG-935G is the GMRS equivalent of the 8H. It will transmit on all GMRS frequencies, and receive-only everything else that the KG-UV8H will. The menu system of the 935 is a substantial improvement over the 8H which is very, very clunky. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I have no objective feedback on whether it performs better, but the stock antenna of the KG-935G is definitely longer than the KG-905G antenna. See the image below. Note that the KG-935G antenna is nearly the exact physical size of a Nagoya 701 GMRS antenna. From range testing I did last year on the 771, I concluded it was indeed a higher performer, but through use have also concluded that the nominal addition distance I got (perhaps 5-10%) did not outweigh the consistent inconvenience of its length. I have returned to the use of the more convenient stock antenna. Every radio enthusiast has a dream of obtaining a miracle antenna that will extend the range of their HT significantly. But truly, the only miracle product for improving GMRS range is the one results in your antenna being installed high and above all or the vast majority of obstacles between the transmit and receive antenna. The minor RF gain differences between HT antennas is so small most would not be able to honestly discern the difference (think princess and the pea here). Under the best of circumstances there is perhaps 157dB (+/-) of usable level range between two 5W HTs communicating with one another. If that difference gets eaten in one mile using a stock antenna, how much further are you going to get if that potential difference is increased by a mere 2dB from the use of a slightly improved antenna? To the original poster. You have learned a hard lessen. Simplex range HT-HT is very limited in the real world, and it will very every where you go. Every obstacle between one antenna and another reduces range. Every tree, bush, window, wall, roof, hill, sign, person and other physical obstruction between two antennas contributes to this. So far, in my use in outdoor settings, the maximum distance I have learned I can reasonably count on is only about 1/2 miles using a pair of 5W HT. Beyond that it is a complete crap shoot with decreasing odds. Perhaps 3/4, 1, 2, 3 miles and more are in-fact possible. When at least one of the antennas in a link gets raised to higher and higher elevation the number of and the degree of obstacles between them naturally decreases. As this occurs effective range increases. It is for this reason that repeaters are so prized in GMRS. They are prized when the owner places its antenna high on a tower, atop a building or a mountain top. That antenna is now way above the obstacles and is then free to travel great distances until the horizon of the earth finally stops it. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I agree with you on all counts. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

What specific antennas do you have. Model number’s and links to manufacturer data please. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Do you have any way to measure the signal level coming out of the duplexer destined for the Rx radio while the Tx radio is operating? I am curious to know how much of that 467 signal is actually making it into the receiver. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM