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So I learned something interesting today. Per QC-II help hints in the HT1000 RSS I learned that you can set both tone A and tone B to 1050 Hz, then enable the auto reset timer (I don't know how you edit that though). When the reset timer expires, it will reset the radio and return the radio to QC-II mode regardless of a present signal or not...which is what is needed with a transmitter that never unkeys.

I have a for profit that qualifies me. (Zapped Communications) CCRs are cheap Chinese radios. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's NXDN though… I'm a P25 and DMR guy…maybe that's why I'm the only Simoco dealer within 300 miles of Texas. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CCR's aren't capable of some of the more prevailing signaling methods… Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They actually are. You have to dig up the service manual (it's online) and remove a zero ohm resistor on the back of the control head board and then enable the function in the software. Then and only then can FPP be used.

I never was a fan of the ID-O-Matc IV. The III was awesome but the additional price of the IV with some of the features you just didn't need if you were just looking for an IDer (plus your time spent assembling it) just wasn't a valid trade off to me versus a ComSpec ID-8 or a NHRC-μ if a full function controller was needed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Personally...I'd move the GR1225 to GMRS (since the repeater can actually disable PL on ID) and switch the Kenwood's in place of the amateur repeater (assuming they are all UHF). The GR300s are okay, just a pain to deal with versus the Windows programmable R1225 module and the Kenwoods.

There may also be a cable you can get from Tecnet USA that uses the same pinouts on the rear connector. Don't need an IDer if you want to save some hassle.

So there are some things that need to be understood first. GMRS is a UHF service. Therefore it relies on Line of Sight (LOS) communications. LOS may be self explanitory...it may not be but basically if the antennas can see one another (no obstructions) then they can communicate. VHF (as defined by us) is LOS +~20%. VHF as defined by the US armed services (VHF-Low band to us) is LOS+40%+ depending on the day. HF of course, is non-LOS. That being said, if LOS is limited, coverage will be limited. While 30 mile radius is doable (especially with a good location), it's easier to accomplish that with mobile radios over handhelds (that doesn't mean hand helds won't, there is just a higher chance of success with mobiles). So for using them with the quads, handhelds would be a decent option. Better option would be micro-mobiles but those are either limited in function or expensive currently (no matter what band) and if you get off the quad to go and check something out they don't go with you. Driving around...mobiles would be the best option (more power, better antennas, better receivers, etc). Private channel...not gonna happen. You happen to live in one of the most heavily RF populated (polluted) states in the country (20 kHz channels was a Pacific Coast thing long before the 12.5 kHz commercial mandate came in). So getting a channel no one else has...in the country is highly unlikely. Now finding something someone isn't montioring or that isn't active might happen. GMRS is a open service in the terms no one is assigned private channels. Now if privacy is a concern, commercial licensing with encryption is the answer...but not for under $800 per radio (new pricing). If both parties have LOS to the repeaters, you should be GTG. What makes a repeater though is having a good location. Location really is key for this kind of stuff... Now you have a realistic idea of what you can be provided...how does that fit into your POU?

Depending on your technical knowledge there are several options. A company called Bridgecom builds a "turn-key" Part 95A repeater. Just needs the antenna side figured out (separate versus duplexer). Icom makes a NXDN/analog repeater on a mobile chassis that is in the $800 range (no power supply, duplexer, etc) last I checked and I believe it is only Part 90 accepted. If you want to get technical, you could take something like a Hamtronics R300 series receiver, a surplus mobile radio and tone controller and build a nice little repeater for around $600 and you'd be able to get away with a mobile duplexer setup (even in a fairly high noise environment) for another $100 and spend the rest on feedline and antenna. Or you could do the strap two mobiles together method and approach other factors accordingly.

So you are more or less going to be limited to repeater use anyway. What I'd do is invest in a UHF HT capable of running 430-512 MHz (or something in that range). I say that because NYPD, NYFD and some of the city comms are still running on an analog T-band system (470-512 MHz). UHF tends to outperform VHF in an urban environment so I wouldn't worry too much about not having VHF. If interested in amateur radio, its also not that uncommon for small city wide coverage UHF repeaters to be tied into larger coverage VHF repeaters though I can't really speak for NYC. There are also some digital options that come into play if one is interested in that as well.

APX-7000. Or Harris Unity. Both are in the multi-thousand dollar range. Personally I think a dual band HT is a bit of a novelty really. Pick a radio for the mission. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

XTL's can have a range of different heads on them...often another factor when selecting the cable (one is backwards compatible with the older Astro Plus line).

You can do the programming yourself if you would like to. The XTS3000 has been EOL'd by Motorola so the software is out there (P25.ca is a good source for that kind of stuff). The cable is simply that of a Jedi series radio (HT1000, MTS2000, JT1000, etc) and can be found in a simple $20 ribless variant.

What's the budget. We can direct you to an extremely high cost, high performance combo or we can help you piece together stuff to make something that works reliably. FCC doesn't need any info at this current time. Basics of a repeater are receiver, transmitter, controller (of some sort) and antennas.

If you wanted to work every channel on GMRS, then you'd need less than 5W of output as the 5W interstitial limit is 5W ERP (most dual banded antennas have gain of 3-6 dB on UHF). That's why many of us completely ignore the interstitial channels...50W is the RF ouput max (not no listed ERP). However, the rules to state that an antenna can be no higher than 20 feet above the item which it is mounted to (which would suggest a practical ERP limit provided by a DB413 at 1200+ W ERP).

What is the surrounding terrain like? What is the budget? What is the purpose (i.e. half-duplex or full-duplex, just GMRS or are commercial/amateur bands of interest as well)?

Those were left over from when fixed stations (and repeaters) had to be registered (pre-1988). There are a few legacy (businesses) operating under those licenses so the definitions remain in the rules. Repeaters are subject to the same 50W (RF) power limits that mobiles are (notice, no defined ERP unlike the interstitial channels).

Only problem with that is that there are actually regulations in place that dictate that a two way radio can not be used as a primary to a pager. That is one of the reasons it took Motorola 20+ years to allow MDC and two-tone decoding on the same personality. Wasn't much of a point in it. That being said, check out the Swissphone s.QUAD Voice. Small little guy, battery lasts about a week (or a month for the POCSAG model).

If not using trunking, could also get an analog scanner and add a discriminator tap with DSD or DSD plus. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Most 800 MHz systems are trunked to begin with. Even if a Baofeng could go up there it wouldn't be able to follow the trunking controller. P25 is just more insult to injury (especially if the department of interest is in a Phase II migration).

4W versus 5W doesn't make a difference it's less than 1 dB of signal difference. I've never messed with the RDX series.

I'd dremel the box out smaller than the mounting holes of the heat sink. Drill the mounting holes through the box. Get an epoxy or silicone and run the edge (make sure to cover the mounting holes) then put the heat sink in place and pop rivet in place. Then use some thermal paste to thermally bond the radio heat sink to the external sink. Just remember, steel if a poor conductor of heat compared to aluminum and then copper. So if the heat on the radio is aluminum, your heat sink needs to be either aluminum or copper to keep the heat flowing away from the PA. Sent from my Venue 7 3730 using Tapatalk

It's not simultaneous. In GMRS, repeaters have an input 5 MHz above the output frequency. The output frequency happens to be the same frequency used for dummies only communications. The handheld/mobile radios are programmed to listen to the output (which if also the simplex frequency). When they are keyed they shift up 5 MHz. When talk around is enabled, they receive and transmit on the receive frequency. True FPP if punching in the frequency, shift (if used) and PL manually from the keypad on the display. Sent from my Venue 7 3730 using Tapatalk

Nothing wrong with LMR400 in a half duplex environment. If you do some research online, you'll find guys complaining about noise in full duplex operation.