mbrun

Lscott, I agree with you on the rubber duck having negative gain. However, I still think that because that antenna can be replaced with one that has substantially higher gain then it becomes possible for ERP limits to be exceeded. And since for channels 8-14 the spec is max ERP, that might be why TX power is set so low. Oddly, I have yet to use channels 8-14 for any purpose on these radios yet. I can check them against a couple of different brands/models of FRS to see if there is any notable distance difference. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I own a couple of the KG-805G and currently considering getting more. My take on the .283 watts is that it has to do with the FCC requirement for no more that .5w ERP, not .5w transmitter output power. If the radio did output .5w, then putting a good external antenna on the radio would cause it to the exceed the max ERP rating for channels 8-14. FCC clearly wants these channels left for close-in communications only. Audio quality is fantastic; quality on par with the best audio I hear on repeaters nearest to me and even better than some, plus noticeably better than the 8-10 year old Midland GXT1000 radios I like so much. (BTW, my GXT1000 are the original 5w versions) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks for the input berkinet. When I say low, I believe signal level to repeater is low. My HT are operating Wideband. Local simplex communications between my radios is fantastic and receive audio quality from one of my HT to the other is on par with or better than some repeater traffic I hear. I know I am hitting the repeater sometimes using just the HT and rubber duck. I know this because I hear the repeater’s squelch tail when I un-key my radio. I can hit the repeater with slightly more reliability when I hook the HT up to my Comet 712EFC antenna. Even then, it seems others only hear part of my transmission. I have had a couple of 10-15 minute conversations but I could tell the other party was struggling to hear/understand all my audio. At present however, I have not personally heard exactly what I sound like via the repeater. I have tried listening through one of my radio while transmitting on another, but I think the close proximity might be desensing RX just enough that it does not break squelch until after I un-key the TX. Both radios open to let me hear the repeater squelch tail when I un-key. I think I have a good antenna (the Comet) and I do have good coax to use between HT to Comet (official LMR-400). The Comet is rated at 9dBi of gain. I have also own a Midland MXTA26. It is better than the HT Rubber Duck, and not as good as the Comet. What I do not know for certain is what power the radios are actually putting out (they should be 4w or more). Nor do i know if the Comet SWR is less that 1.5 as advertised. Need to buy or borrow and SWR and Power meter to check both of those. I just may have to try my hand at the DIY one you referenced. My best conversation thus far was has been with the Comet at 41’, but still not perfect.

Oh how I wish there was a repeater near me that I could use with my HT. I hear multiple repeaters perfectly and I have connected multiple times, but my input to the repeater is so low that quality outbound communications cannot occur so I have stopped trying. As best I know, they are all 20+ miles away. It is for this reason alone that even the thought of doing it myself even crosses my mind. I recognize the expense of doing it right and expense is currently a deterrent to doing it at all. Anyone have repeater in Clermont County Ohio I could use? PM me. Until then, my focus is on just trying to achieve good local simplex range. And that too is a challenge. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good Luck. I purchase the Wouxun KG-UV9P as my first ham radio. It can listen to GMRS, scan 7 bands and transit on 2m and 70cm. The KG-805G can listen to some UHF but not all. Let us know how things work out. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What is the terrain and what kind of obstructions between the HT and MXT115 base? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I purchased and received a Comet 712EFC within the last couple of weeks. For me the verdict is still out. Mine has not been permanently installed yet. It has only been elevated in temporary fashion to 41’ so I can see what distance I could get with that elevation and see if it was sufficient to get me through the trees. I used a 4 watt radio + Comet to 4 watt mobile and I was only able to get to 2.3 miles before completely unusable. So either I have some technical equipment issues or the antenna still needs more elevation to get past the trees without loads of power. Trying to figure out how to get it higher in a temporary fashion before I commit to a purchase for permanent installation rigging. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks. It is perfectly ok that you can’t change the offset since no other offset is legal for a GMRS radio. Looks like Chirp is helping guide you properly, which is a good thing. The tone settings sound correct. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have only recently learned of the limitation on the V1. That appears to be one the benefits of the Wouxun KG-805G by the way. You can have load up to 128 different combinations of valid repeater channels and private codes in the radio. One for every GMRS repeater you likely ever need to access. I have a number of them already programmed in mine. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

According to the Chirp settings you posted, you are in simplex mode. You need to set your receive frequency in the far left, then set the value in the duplex column to + and then in the offset column 5MHz. This will cause you to transmit in the 467 range, 5MHz above your receive. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good point on the frequency. I have been testing with 462.7125 (ch 7), wide-band, at the high-power setting which is actually 4w on this channel. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks Marc. I will connect up with someone with the equipment to assist. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hey Marc. Yes I am using an adapter. I have an SMA to N adapter with about 36” of RG-58. What method would you recommend be used to verify loss? I would image using a power meter with dummy load and contrast my radio and cable with a known good cable. I believe I understand the radio horizon issue pretty well now, and certainly understand the net effect of shadowing when dropping down in a valley. I will admit that it did not register how close the radio horizon was from a mere height of 5-6’. I used the web app I posted previously to confirm that my coverage targets were realistic (at least from a terrain and radio horizon stand point). So I do not appear to be fighting that. But I most definitely have the mixture of dense acres of trees, homes and other obstructions you would find in a semi-rural area. Nice additional thoughts in the desense. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

A bit too much for the hobby of an individual I would say. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hello Linus. Curious if you have any further experience to share about your experience with the radios on the bikes. And BTW, where you planning to add antenna to the bike or stick with the rubber duck on the radio? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nice article. Thanks for sharing. WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Here is another website I stumbled upon that allows you to enter two points on a map, graph the terrain between them and then add antenna elevation to both to see what amount of elevation is needed to eliminate terrain blockages. https://www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/rf-line-of-sight/ WRHS965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks. I was using 50’ of official LMR400 cable with factory terminated N Connectors. So my cable loss should only be about 1.5dB. The 9dBi antenna more than makes up for that. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks Lscott. According to the calculator, my theoretical distance HT to Base using 5’ for HT and 41’ for base is 12 miles. So, at least conceptually, my target of 3 mile HT to base does seem quite realistic. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just stumbled across the following link which shows probable distances for a variety of different conditions. http://hflink.com/hfpack/radiorange/ Not sure how they came to these numbers, but it sure looks interesting. Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Over the last few weeks I have been doing some range experiments with my GMRS radios to get a feel for what I can expect under different conditions. All my tests have involved use of a pair of Wouxun KG-805g 5 watt HT. I have done: 1. HT to HT (both with rubber ducks). 2. HT to HT (one with rubber duck, one with Midland MXTA26 on car) 3. HT to HT (one with rubber duck, one with Midland MXTA26 on house roof on the back of the metal trash can serving as a ground plane) 4. HT to HT (one hooked up to a Comet 712EFC 9dBi at 25’ AFG and one hooked up to Midland MXTA26 on car. 5. HT to HT (one hooked up to a Comet 712EFC 9dBi at 41’ AFG and one hooked up to Midland MXTA26 on car. All tests are conducted with one unit at home, the other unit mobile. Every combination results in perfect communications out to 1/2 mile. Beyond that static gradually creeps in at various rates and with increasing usable distance with each. Configuration 5 has been my best performer thus far which was expected but, to my surprise, it was still only a solid performer at 1 mile and then only moderately usable at 2.3 miles in multiple directions. My Comet was jury-rigged as high as I can get it without purchase of a tower or mast. I must admit, at 41’ I was expecting much more solid usable coverage. I live in an semi-rural area southeast of Cininnati and the terrain is a mixture of dense full-grown trees, fields, businesses and homes. Land is mostly-flat to mildly rolling. My current objectives are solid reliable simplex coverage from home to HT out 3 + miles (much more would really be sweet); communication with home via a mobile system in the car from about 10-12 miles out; and hit the repeaters on the northern side of Cincy from the home so I an participate in various GMRS nets and local chats using a radio and not a phone app. OK, so there you have some backfill. So, given the modest distance I have achieved around my home, I am hesitant to go the expense of mast and guy system to get my antenna up to 56’ feet (the highest I believe I can achieve with my Comet and guyed mast alone) since the antenna will still not clear the trees, and the HT will still be near ground level. Thoughts? Experience? Advice? I am wondering if others live in similar conditions and have experienced better results? Also, although I can break squelch on the nearest repeaters (about 20 miles North) with the HT there really is no usable audio in to speak of. Repeater frequently drops halfway through while I am giving my call sign. WIth the HT and Comet there is enough signal to get me in but with inconsistent quality for good useful communications. I have to repeat messages regularly. I imagine (but don’t know for certain) that a 40-50W rig in the home would ultimately solve that. Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have ordered a Comet 712EFC Antenna and some LMR400 cable to begin testing at my place. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just thought I would clarify. The GMRS radio you reference at BuyTwoWayRadios.Com is the KG-805G which is a completely different animal. I purchased a couple of those two about a month back. Seems to be a nice radio. I did see an FM broadcast radio on YouTube related to the KG-UV?, perhaps it was yours. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I recently purchased a Wouxun KG-UV9P radio as I am obtaining my Ham license. During my internet research for better information on programming it, I discovered that Wouxun has a GMRS version of this Radio that is reportedly in process of gaining FCC approval. Information can be found here: https://bettersaferadio.com/bsr-wouxun-kg-uv9g-gmrs-two-way-radio-scanner/ So far, I love the features of the KG-UV9P, but I sure wish the Chinese would hire a person that speaks English natively to write their manuals. Their manuals are awful. In any regards, I like the feature set of the HAM version I obtained. Full-Time dual channel receive capable (radio has dual receivers). Each receiver can scan and receive simultaneously. You can designate primary channel on the unit so that when the unit is scanning it checks the primary channel most frequently. Unit has built in PL code scanner and supports non-standard codes. Built in support for running frequencies in 7 different bands. The number 1 worst thing about the radio is the manual and a close second is the beautiful display. The display is looks nice indoors but is total useless outdoors where an HT should excel. This is true even with brightness turned up all the way. A backlight LCD would have been a far better choice. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Linus, I have been studying for the amateur license myself. Been looking for a place to take it during the next month of so. Have already taken some of the practice exams and feeling very comfortable. An HT has already been ordered and is on its way. That is a cool little adapter you found for adapting the Apple headset for use with the radio. Hope that works well for you. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk