mbrun

I have extensive experience with the 935G and have put its menus through its paces quite hard. What specific menus are you perceiving issues with? If you are new to Wouxun radios, there is a bit of a learning curve. One such nuisance is the fact that the ‘Menu’ key doubles as the ‘Enter’ key. If you do not press it after making a change, your change will not be saved. So your sequence is always [Menu], navigate to your desired menu function, then [Menu], then make your setting change, then [Menu] again. Also if you press [Exit] at any time, or if you wait too long before pressing menu again, your change is lost. Also, the TX CTCSS and TX DCS are mutually exclusive, as are the RX CTCSS and RX DCS. If you press [Menu] when any one of these is selected, it clears the one that is not selected. So NEVER press [Menu] when any of the these is active unless you are intending to store what is currently displayed to clear its mutually exclusive counterpart. Every Wouxun model I have ever played with behaves exactly the same. The amateur version of the 935G, the KG-UV8H, is not as polished. It also has an issue with the DTMF [1] button in that it will only chirp. It will not produce a DTMF tone for the duration of the press, perhaps making it useless for you. While the models look the same and have the same internals, the 935G provides the superior user experience. The UV-8H’s menus are more cryptic, and not as well organized. Enjoy your radio. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Welcome. Enjoy the forum. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Welcome to myGMRS. Enjoy the forum, learn, then pay it forward to the next members. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The nuts are either brass or a some other brass plated metal. If plated, the base could be aluminum or steel. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

As a general rule you do not need to have an SWR meter when purchasing and using a purpose-built antenna like the Ed-Fong and a number of others. However, as you will learn, having some basic test equipment in your radio tool box can be incredibly helpful when installing a radio and antenna system, confirming operation and when trying to diagnose problems. In the consumer radio world, the SWR meter is probably the simplest and most fundamental of all radio tools. In my view however, you should plan to get one, and learn how to use it. To second question, the SWR is checking exactly what? I could give you a detailed explanation, but I thing I will defer you to youtube and google as there is far more out there that will do your question justice then any simple answer I can give here on the forum. In a nutshell, the SWR meter is used to gives you a sense of how well you antenna system matches (is tuned) to what the radio is expecting to experience on the frequencies you’ll be operating on. If it is not tuned well or is defective your radio could perform poorly or perhaps even be damaged. Google ‘What is SWR’. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Scan-Mode (function 15) has three settings. One setting aborts scanning when a signal is detected, one pauses for 5 seconds when a signal is detected and then continues, one pauses until the channel has been clear for 5 seconds and then continues. Try the different settings to determine which one works best for you. Regards, Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The CW requirement was the dominant reason why I was delayed 40+ years getting my ticket. I had much of the other knowledge and skills. It was only after meeting and talking with a local ham that I met on my street and learning CW requirement as dropped that I final tested. If not for that chance encounter, I still would not have it. Had CW been something you learned after becoming a ham, ARRL would have been receiving my membership dues for all those missing years. I do appreciate CW and respect those with the skills to master it, I also know first hand that it serves as a barrier to entry. I imagine during my retirement years I will force myself to learn it to make more brain connections. An old dog learning new tricks. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I use the ALINCO DM330MVT. When operating radios at 50-watts and less ( I have not viewed the PS signal on a scope so I cannot speak to the actual noise on its output. At VHF and UHF frequencies however I have observed no perceptible difference in receive audio quality between power supply and battery operation in the shack. For over a year I have been pleased with the power supply performance. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The only thing you can actually do to ‘avoid a direct strike’ to you antenna is not put one up at all. You have no control whatsoever on whether you will you will or will not get hit, so I suggest dropping that idea completely. When you install things per the NEC, it is all about life safety and property protection improvements. When you follow the NEC you are improving your odds. If you choose not to comply with the NEC and other professional recommendations, that is your choice. There are those that simply don’t know better, and those that choose not to know better, and many have survived unscathed. Others not so much. If your tower were completely off-grid powered with no coax running to the house and no AC power running from the house to the tower, you could make an argument for not bonding your tower ground to the home’s earthing system. After all, your home and your neighbors homes are not bonded together. However, as has been said, if you run power from your home to the tower either to power the equipment or to serve as utilitarian power, you’re still connecting your home’s ground to the tower, only now doing it poorer manner because you are now using the small ground conductor in your small 120v power cable, rather than using an appropriately sized bonding conductor. Doing it correctly merely brings the potential between tower ground and home ground closer to a zero potential under a wider variety of conditions. Zero potential is what you want. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Congratulations on passing your extra. That is a big deal. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Looks like have made great improvement. Can’t speak to ‘1.01’ being as low as the 33 can go, but 1.00:1 is lowest theoretically possible value you could possibly achieve. Looks like you are getting some good numbers now. Enjoy. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

@Tyke I strongly encourage you to ground and bond your system correctly. If you have any cable from an antenna system entering your home, you really do want it grounded and bonded to your main electrical ground. But it must done properly. Done improperly, or not at all, you could at times have a very unsafe voltage potential between things in your home and the shield and/or center conductor of your feed line. Doing it properly is not difficult, but does come at some added expense. Also, if you are insured, take a hit, and have a savvy insurance company, they may not cover you if they can deduce that at least the NEC minimum requirements were not followed. Good luck on your project. I look forward to seeing the appearance of your final installation. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

@fremont on your 935 you can readily create separate memory channels that hold narrow-band versions of all frequencies. If you name the channels FRS-01 through FRS-22 that should be clearly identifiable for you. Your channels named with GMRS prefix would be wide-band, FRS prefix would be narrow-band. As far as your mobile unit, I would image you could do the same, but I am leaving that to those familiar with your particular model. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

@WROZ437 your getting good advice hear. You only need as much power as you need to reach the parties you trying to communicate with, and no more. As has been said, antenna and antenna height are more impactful that raw power. A 1-watt radio connected to a well placed antenna will outperform a 50-watt radio with a low poorly placed antenna. A shift from 5 to 50 watts will push through some obstacles a little more, your effective real-world usable distance will only increase slightly. So there is nothing wrong with 50, but also nothing wrong with 15 or 25 either. Personally, on my base and mobile radios I frequently operate at mid and low power until or unless I need the added power to improve my audio level to a station I am communicating with, if they are receiving a low signal from me. I am not on high-power all the time. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Wanted to start a fresh thread for the purpose of capturing key facets of programming this radio. While some information may be covered elsewhere, I thought it would not hurt to repost and consolidate here. —— Duplicating an Existing Memory Channel Configuration 1. Put your radio into channel mode. The active receiver area of the display should display a channel number (e.g. CH-014) in the upper right corner of the active receiver area. 2. Select the channel you want to duplicate. 3. Press [Menu]+[3]+[8]+[Menu]. Some channel number will appear. 4. Scroll to (or direct enter) the memory channel you wish to receive the configuration. 5. Press [Menu]+[Exit] to commit/save your selection. You now have duplicated an existing channel configuration. 6. Scroll to (or direct enter) the memory channel you just added. 7. Press [Menu]+[3]+[7]+[Menu] to activate the channel naming function. 8. Enter your desired name for the new memory channel by using the channel up arrow to scroll through all available characters and symbol choices, and the down arrow to scroll through each character position. Once the name is as you desire, continue to next step. 9. Press [Menu]+[Exit] to save and view your final name appearance. 10. Change the CTCSS and DCS codes on the channel to suit. —— Creating a new Repeater Channel from Scratch. 1. Put your radio into VFO mode. No channel numbers (e.g. CH-014) should appear in the upper right corner of the active receiver area. 2. Scroll to (or direct enter) the repeater frequency you wish to use. 3. Press [Menu]+[4]+[Menu]+[1]+[Menu]. This tells the channel to operate duplex for use with a repeater. 4. Set the CTCSS and DCS codes to suit for the repeater you’re using. 5. Press [Menu]+[3]+[Menu]+[1]+[Menu]+[Exit]. This sets the radio to Wide-band to work best with the repeaters. 6. Press [Menu]+[3]+[8]+[Menu]. Some channel number will appear. 7. Scroll to (or direct enter) the memory channel number you wish to receive the configuration. 8. Press [Menu]+[Exit] to commit/save your selection. You now have a fresh memory channel created and available to use. 9. Put your radio into channel mode. 10. Scroll to (or direct enter) the memory channel you just added. 11. Press [Menu]+[3]+[7]+[Menu] to activate the channel naming function. 12. Enter your desired name for the new channel by using the channel up arrow to scroll through all available characters and symbol choices, and the down arrow to scroll through each character position. Once the name is as you desire, continue to next step. 13. Press [Menu]+[Exit] to save and view your final name appearance. You have now created and named a completely new, from scratch, repeater channel for your radio. If I have misstated any steps, private message me and I will update this post to keep the thread on track and more beneficial to future readers. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

@HCCFCA I have some seriously good news for you. Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks? This old dog just learned one! What is it? There is indeed a way to create new repeater channels on the KG-1000G on the fly! Why did I miss it? Blinded by behavior expectations derived from past experiences. You can build a repeater memory channel from scratch, you can copy an existing one into new memory channel, and you can completely overwrite and existing one with a new one. WooHoo! First the reference. On Page 40 of the owners manual you will find some supporting information. Lets start with an easy one. Duplicating an existing channel. Lets say you have an existing repeater channel that works on a 550. Now lets say you encounter a need to add another 550 repeater, only with different codes and name. 1) Activate the existing memory channel on your radio that you wish to duplicate. (The next steps will copy its settings into a new memory location). 2) Press [4] on your keypad. 3) Enter the three digit memory channel location you want to want to receive the current channels settings. (Make sure you enter all 3 digits). 4) Press [Menu]. You just duplicated the configuration, all except the name and the new channel becomes the current channel. 5) Press [Menu]+[2]+[2]+[Menu] to enter channel naming mode. 6) Enter a name for the channel using your keypad. (Refer to page 50 of the manual for how to do this). 7) Press [Menu] when complete. Whatever name appeared on the display at this time is now the name of your new new channel. 8) While keeping your new channel the active channel, customize its CTCSS and DCS settings to suit. You’re now done. The hardest and most time consuming part of the above is channel naming. Other than that, pretty simple. This next sequence is for creating a repeater memory channel from scratch. 1) Put your radio into VFO mode. 2) Enter the Rx frequency. 3) Press [7] key multiple times until only a ‘+’ symbol appears above the displayed frequency. 4) Press [Menu]+[4]+[Menu]+[0]+[0]+[5]+[Menu]. (This establishes the 5 MHz offset frequency). 5) Complete entry of your preference of CTCSS and DCS codes. (Refer to owners manual). 6) Press [4] on your keypad. 7) Enter the three digit memory channel location you want to want to receive the current settings. (Make sure you enter all 3 digits). 8) Press [Menu] to commit the number. You just created a new memory configuration. 8) Switch radio to Channel Mode. Your radio should be on the channel you just created. 9) Enter the channel name as described in the steps described earlier. An there you have it. Fully field programmable. * An important note. You must move pretty quickly through the steps otherwise the radio times out and returns to normal operation. You will find yourself repeating steps if you do not move fast enough. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

And by example, the 700 repeater in Dayton Ohio, which is operating at 10w, reaches me typically a full-quieting from 50 miles away, frequently equal to and better than its sister repeater located 24 miles away which is operating at a full 50w (7dB more power). Just another illustration how elevation is more impactful than raw power for terrestrial comms. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

By repurpose, I mean you can change the name of the channel and any codes (CTCSS and DCS) as needed. But you cannot change the frequency of a memory channel. So what I was trying to say earlier, is that you can create a bunch of memory channels preconfigured for certain frequencies, but without codes. Then, when you have a new repeater you wish to configure you grab one of those spare ones you entered in advance and add the codes you need and rename the channel to suit. For example, on my radio, I have a number of configured memory channels for 700 repeaters. These have a useful name, and correct codes. I then have about 6 additional spares already created for more 700 repeaters. These have no codes and are simply named with generic names 700-A, 700-B, etc…. If I happen to need to add another 700 repeater channel while in the field, I repurpose one of the existing spare ones (like the 700-A). I will then give it the correct codes and then name it something like ‘700-CNVL’. Done. Hope that is more clear. BTW, RT System software is fairly easy to use. It has a good help file, and they offer tech support. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

If I am interpreting you correctly, it sounds like there is a dead short between the center connector of your NMO and the exposed metal portions of the NMO and vehicle metal. If that is what you are conveying, that is not good. You will need to track down where that short is occurring. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Not clear. Are you measuring this between the center lead of the coax and the exposed metal portion of the mount? If possible, could you post a picture that depicts where the ohm meter as connected? Want to make sure we are all on the correct page. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I believe there to be a defect/oversight in the production firmware that prevents building a repeater memory channel completely from scratch using the keypad. You can reconfigure and rename an existing one, but you cannot create it from scratch. It’s weird because the function menu needed to make it possible exists, only it is not functional like it is on the 935G. I have worked around this in all my GMRS radios by creating a bank of preconfigured memories without CTCSS or DCS codes for every repeater pair. That gives me the ability to use the keypad to finish configuring it in the field on the fly. It has proven priceless for me. I am not aware of any Mac software for programming the radio. I personally use RT Systems software. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

From everything I have read on this forum from uses of other brands and models, and from what I have personally experienced with every Wouxun model, Wouxon has the greatest number of user-definable fully-configurable memories in a production Part 95e radio. All of their models, except the 805, is firmware locked down to comply with the rules. All memories in all radios can be simplex or duplex (repeater), and with any combinations of codes you desire. So long as you enter valid values in the Tx frequency field of the software you can transmit on it. It it is not valid, you can still save it, but it will not Tx on it. The radios will even let you use VFO mode and the rules will still be enforced. Wouxun radios are, in my view not toy cheap, but neither are they new commercial Motorola expensive. It is reasonable to expect more when you pay more, and less when you pay less, at least when comparing current generation production products. Given that the limitations of Midland, BTech and other radios has been discussed so much on this forum, it is interesting the surprise folks still experience when using these brands of radios. More interesting is that the manufacturers have not taken steps to remove the limitation. As it has been said, it’s only software (or firmware). Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

That alarming sound is an indication that the radio is programmed to either not transmit on those channels, or that it is has been programmed to transmit on a frequency that is not an actual GMRS frequency. The 935G will transmit only one 1 of the 30 GMRS frequencies, and at no more than FCC allowed power. Any attempt to transmit on other than these frequencies will result in this load annoying tone. If the radio is brand new, reset to factory defaults and try again. If you have programmed the radio yourself using external software, double check the values that are present in the transmit frequency column. If the value is empty, then there is your issue. If the frequency is not a valid GMRS frequency, then there is your issue. If you would like to see what the offending frequency is without hooking up the radio to the computer and using software, do this: - Turn your radio on. - Set your radio to one of the offending channels. - Press the MODE button multiple times until your display shows a channel number in the upper right corner of the active area of the display (e.g. ‘CH-017’) and it also displays a frequency (e.g. ‘462.6000’). This mode is called ‘CH-FREQ’ or ‘Channel Frequency’ mode, which can also be set directly using function 36 on your radio. - Press and hold the PTT button. While the PTT button is pressed in CH-FREQ mode, the actual frequency the radio is programmed to use for the active channel will appear on the display. If no frequency is listed, or the frequency listed is not a valid GMRS frequency, no transmission will actually occur and that annoying tone will be heard. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The problem with allowing 50 watts on 1-7 is that each of these interstitial frequencies actually overlaps and shares bandwidth with two adjacent main GMRS frequencies. If you start operating 50 watts on these you are going to interfere with the two adjacent main frequencies, so now you adversely affect two frequencies instead of just one. If we did go down that route it would then become mandatory that we switch from wide-band to narrowband. Current usable distances and audio quality would suffer as a result…but also inevitable. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I know we all like things free, but I have no problem with even the current $70/10-year license fee, so long as that fee is being used for the constructive benefit of the radio community. Paying for the purpose of ‘covering adminstrative costs of issuing a license’ makes no sense. Paying for enforcement efforts, authoring of technical criteria, organizing the bands and the administration of efforts that end up benefiting the masses are appropriate and should be expected. I agree that the GMRS license is a good personal value since it does cover you and your immediate family members. However, I do not however see how GMRS is ‘gonna be better than the ham’ unless the sole comparison is the average number of body’s covered per license. Ham radio exists for public service and to provide the spectrum for the technically inclined to experiment and innovate. GMRS is for short-distance local communications with family and friends. A ham license affords the user much greater chunks of spectrum and virtually no bounds in terms of what technology can be used, including technology the user develops themselves. That is not going to happen and should not happen on GMRS. As a GMRS user you expect to buy equipment, turn it on and it just works. I agree that the pandemic has perhaps caused more to get their GMRS license. But I suspect that is the case for amateur license as well. I obtained my first GMRS license 15-20 years ago. I finally obtained by ham license during the pandemic. While I have not looked up the numbers, I suspect both services have seen an increase in licenses during this period. As far as increasing the power from 50 to 100 watts (3dB). I truly do not see the practical upside to such a minuscule increase, and downsides if it was increased substantially more. Given that GMRS is already line-of-sight communications and takes very low power to go long unobstructed distances, and given that 3dB is lost very quickly through a sequence of obstacles, the benefit of the added power is really negligible. However if it was increased substantially, up from 50 to say 1000 or more, the effect on existing services operating on adjacent frequencies could suffer. The FCC has a fine balancing act to perform when it carves up the spectrum and establishes the technical criteria for each service. Even a bigger challenge when some new technology comes along that has different RF requirements. Just one man’s opinion. Regards, Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM