mbrun

I have yet to hear anyone report that Midland has upgraded the radio. I contacted them by email expressly about this about 4 weeks ago and they have chosen to ignore my inquiry. I would imagine they would make a big deal about it on their website once they have upgrade the radio or chose to release the upgrade as a new model. I personally anticipate two radio purchases in my future, one for home, one for car. I will not be purchasing a Midland until/unless they support wide band, separate RX an Tx codes, and expand the radio to include the capability to store many combinations of tones to go along with the available frequencies. Michael WRHS965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hello Danny. Congratulations on getting your license. I too am a KG-805G user. It is good etiquette to obtain permission of the repeater owner to use it, particularly when the repeater is listed in database like MyGMRS as private, permission required or a fee is involved. If it is advertised as open, and the code is published on a web site like myGMRS, it would seem that the owner is implying public permission to use. Yes everyone can hear your conversations when using a repeater. Everyone with a 22 channel FRS radio, a GMRS radio, a UHF scanner or a UHF ham radio can listen to the conversation. And, if the repeater is connected to the internet, people may be able to listen to it using an app on their phone or computer. The CTCSS and DCS codes are tones or digital signals your radio sends while transmitting that receiving radios (including repeaters) can use to determine if they want to pay attention to or ignore your signal. A repeater uses this tone or code to determine whether it is going to rebroadcast your signal. Give it the right code and it will rebroadcast it. Give it the wrong code and it will ignore it. Welcome to GMRS Michael WRHS965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I recently configured my HT to accommodate a variety of local repeaters. I am using the Wouxun KG-805G Radio and it has 128 memory locations. The radio requires software to add frequencies to the memories, but CTCSS and DCS codes can be changed via front-panel controls on the radio. I chose to program the radio with 8 memories for every available repeater pair (64 total). I then named them as 550A to 550H, 575A to 575H and so on. This sets me up to be able to store 8 different code combinations for any given frequency. Then, I added tones for local repeaters to the first one, two or three memories in each range This leaves me with the memories ready to receive tones as I see fit when I am traveling, without having to change my local ones. Perhaps this will be useful to you. Michael WRHS965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That is really great input on your part. Thank you. It would be nice to have a couple of premium radios to contrast and experience first hand the difference. You know the phase “seeing is believing”? “Hearing is believing” is appropriately applicable in radio. 73s Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I personally would like to see us stop using all the proprietary and manufacturer specific names such as PL, DPL, QT, QC, etc... and instead just use generic terms such as “Squelch Tone” or “Squelch Code”. They are actually more descriptive as to what they are and do. I would also favor of all manufactures just displaying the code value rather than the proprietary number they assign to it. YMMV Michael WRHS965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You may wish to check out one of Ed Fong’s outdoor GMRS antennas. You could remove the dish and mount this to the existing dish pipe. Ed is a professor of RF technologies at a california university and holds the patent for this design. https://edsantennas.weebly.com I own two of the roll-up version of this antenna and they work quite well. You could also make you own. A couple of weeks ago I built my first 1/4 wave ground plane antenna and performance was very respectable. Here is a link to a video of one similar to what I made. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am with Steve and Marc. A conversion is needed. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I use Tapatalk exclusively for many forums. In general it works pretty good for browsing and reading. I have however resorted to crafting my messages outside of Tapatalk and then pasting them in to my posts because Tapatalk has, dozens of times, closed the editor window unprovoked and discarded my message. For short responses i use the editor. Anything more than sentence or two I craft it elsewhere then copy and paste it in. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Voice can be turned off on the KG-806G. It is menu option 7 titled ‘Voice’. Once ‘Voice’ appears, hit Menu again and then use the up/down buttons till you reach ‘Off’, then press Menu again. Michael WRHS965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I own multiple KG-805G, and it does not support NOAA. The radio does support programming of 128 Rx/Tx frequency-tone combinations but they must be must be GMRS frequencies. Memories can be used for hold UHF Rx-only frequencies within a limited range +/- away from the GRMS ones. For example, I have 432.0000 programmed in mine, just for kicks. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

While search the web for applicable laws in the state of Ohio, I found this for the state of Connecticut which outright prohibits the prohibition of amateur radio handhelds while driving. “AN ACT EXEMPTING AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS USING HAND-HELD RADIOS FROM THE PROHIBITION ON USING HAND-HELD MOBILE TELEPHONES AND MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE DRIVING” Here is the link to the government website. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/SUM/2012SUM00067-R01SB-00061-SUM.htm Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Wanted to do a follow up post regarding the radio. I performed power measurements on my radios using setup depicted in the following photo. Based on this configuration, I tested TX output power on all 30 GMRS frequencies. I used the factory stock battery, freshly charged, but rested for 24 hours. My results were as follows: Channels 1-7, 15-22, R15-R22 output power ranged from 4.99-5.15 watts. Channels 8-14 ranged from .62-.63 watts. Using a fresh-off-the-charger battery, the output peaked at 5.44 as shown in the image. These numbers seem to suggest that the radio is performing on par with its advertised ratings. The manufacturer of the meter does state that meter accuracy is not as good when power drops below 1/2w. We seem to be above that. Thought perhaps those of you considering getting this radio might appreciate these findings. Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks for the response and forward thinking Marc. I have read your other post. Looking forward to additional replies in that thread. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That is very interesting to learn that. Was their a case that decided this, or is there specific exceptions written into the law for this? Does the ARRL have information about this for the various states? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good Day Marc. This weekend was a weekend of more tests. I even made my first 1/4 wave ground plane antenna. I mounted it on top an 11’ pole and walked around the neighbor hood. I looked like Moses, but I digress. I took delivery of an entry level SWR/power meter (SureCom 102) and dummy load so I had at least something of my own to use. I have also started to make friends with a local ham who owns some additional test equipment. He was the one that inspired me to go for my tech license. Using two different power meters (with dummy loads) I now know that my radios are outputting 4-5+ watts on all but the 7 mandatory low power FRS frequencies. I confirmed the SWR of my Comet 712EFC and Midland MXTA26. Both antennas measure less than 1.10:1 across the whole GMRS spectrum. This was done with two different meters with consistent results. My local ham friend also supplied a small digital antenna analyzer that scans the antenna system. Pretty cool! (Similar to an audio band impedance and acoustics analyzer I own). The output graph was nice and smooth and the resulting SWR measurements were substantially consistent with what was obtained with the SureCom. At least no gross anomalies observed. I am starting to gain confidence that equipment is working. I have also purchase some 1/2 wave Nagoya 771G and 1/4 wave 701G antennas for HT use as well as some Ed-Fong antennas to use. The arsenal is growing fast. Michael WRHS965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just wanted to pass on some information regarding my Comet 712EFC. This past weekend I received my new SWR meter and wanted to see how the antenna faired. I rigged the antenna 11’ above the ground on a PVC pole in my back yard away from buildings and trees. Added 10’ of R58 to connect it to the meter, then connected the meter directly to the radio. On the 462MHz frequencies the SWR was in the range of 1.08-1.10:1. On the 467MHz frequencies it was a consistent 1.0:1. I then had a local ham friend use his meter as a means of validating mine. The results were effectively the same. So in the end, it is good to know that the one I received was very well tuned at the factory given it is not easily field adjustable. Curious to know yours fairs. Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I own a couple of the 805G also and it is a nice radio. I am not ruling out at least one of the KG-UV9G in my arsenal because of the talk-around, reverse split, tone-scanning and NOAA support features that the 805G does not have. I currently own a KG-UV9P Ham version and regularly use it for scanning GMRS and HAM frequencies. One clear thing the 805G has over the KG-UV9 series radios is a display that can be used outdoors. The display on KG-UV9 series is completely useless outdoors, except at night. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So then the obvious question to me is. “What make and models of repeaters manufactured today are certified and truly legal for use in the GMRS?” Certainly there has to be more that just the Retevis personal repeater. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Next step is to wait for the repeater owner to respond with tones necessary for accessing it. That is the approach I have taken and recommend. Remember, most repeaters are privately owned and maintained and public use is at the the owner’s discretion. Once they respond with the codes for access you will want to program them into the radio. You can do that using the radio directly, Chirp or the manufacturers software. For Chirp, take a look at the screen shot in the post that started this very thread for some insight into what the settings look like. Also, there are loads of YouTube videos with step-by-step instructions for programming your model of radio using Chirp. Be aware that when programming your radio for repeater use you may need different codes/tones for Tx and Rx. The repeater owner should let you know if that is the case. Welcome, and have fun. Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good evening airchaplain. If you’re seeing them on myGmrs.com and you see permission required, you may find a link that will pop up when you click on the repeater on the map. That link will allow you to email them and ask permission. That is what I did. I waited three days I think before I heard back. The link does not give you their email address as I recall. I think you just enter a message and MyGMRS.com forwards it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

OK. You’ve got me thinking. I started going through linked items and thought to myself. “What the heck. You just got off work and its time to let the mind rest.” Anyhow, On a related note I found this little diddy that relates to the topic. It as part of this stackoverflow post: https://ham.stackexchange.com/questions/3692/is-free-space-path-loss-dependent-on-frequency The study of RF propagation in air is new for me so I am going to need some time to digest. It sounds like this is something you are really passionate about. What seems to make perfect sense to me is that if you radiate a given amount of power from a point source in space that the intensity of that power at some given point a given distance away would be the same, regardless of frequency. However, when considering the physical size of the capture device, larger wavelength devices feature larger capture areas thus the amount of power impacting the antenna would be greater. Using microwave dishes as an example, the dish is quite large compared to the wavelength. The dish provides a large area to capture the radiate signal to reflect, redirect and focus the energy onto a small wavelength antenna. So, because the antenna is physically small, some means is needed to capture more of the available energy. Now that I am entering the ham world more seriously I imagine I studying more things like this. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

BTW, I have ordered a pair of the new Nagoya 771G 1/2 wave and 701G 1/4 wave antennas to try with my KG-805G radios. I have also ordered the Ed-Fong GMRS roll up. Going to be doing some more range testing around me when they arrive. I am also look forward to winter around here, not because I like cold, but because the leaves will be off the trees and I am really curious to see how range improves in the absence of the leaves. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I don’t live in NY but am curious how repeater communications fair in the Big Apple. Given that many repeaters are on top of tall buildings and there are so many tall buildings, how well does a mobile rig or HT work when in between all those buildings? Never tried so I don’t know. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have experienced the URL pasting issues in the past too. When I do have such an issue I past the URL in text editor, add quotes around it and then just pasted the quoted text. Quoted text often times prevents the automatic hyper linking. A pain? Yes! But sometimes necessary. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Here is FCC Definition of ERP. https://apps.fcc.gov/kdb/GetAttachment.html?id=fzlsGm%2Fe68Ymx58IAmzNbw%3D%3D&desc=412172%20D01%20Determining%20ERP%20and%20EIRP%20v01r01&tracking_number=47469 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk