H8SPVMT

With GMRS, what is one wave lenght?

With the issue of burning my hood with the MXTA26 antenna a conversation was started by Midland wanting to know if I had used the "isolator" on the base of the magnetic mount. I informed him that I had, I think. The only item that came with the antenna base was a very thin soft rubber cup for the base to rest in. Because this rubber component was easy to tear I asked for another to be provided for replacement when I could no longer use the original. ALOT OF discussion took place between the Factory Outlet store personnel that was benting over backward to find the part number I requested so I could continue ordering this item as it worn out. I finally received another isolator, free in the mail! Well, maybe but is isn't the part that shipped (rubber cup) with my antenna. Instead I received a plate steel labeled MXTA38 professionally packed and with some double sided sM tape on the bottom. It is id'ed as a "Metallic Base for Magnetic Mount". I simply don't understand what an isolator is then, I guess so, I ask, "What is the isolator that is provided with the MXTA26 6dB gain antenna supplied with the magnetic base? Anyone know?

Mine burned the paint on the Jeeps hood but I have no way calculating the resonant point for mine on a NMO magnectic mount.

Very good point for us newbies! I have found repeaters not listed here, but local in the area. I figured that the repeater owner would not hear me trying to locate the CTCSS until I had found the correct code to get tone or, no static. I am on the very outer edges of two repeaters AND ONLY HAVE LIMITED time in areas that I can make contact in the mobile situation I am in. But I have found one owner that now listens for me every Weds morning as I pass thru an active area where we can chat. Hes happy his equipment is reaching the far and I'm a happy to know my rig is actually working as designed too.

What caused the burned paint? I don't rightly know. Bubbles appeared between the clearcoat and base paint while shortly transmitting over a two day period at 40 watts. I am a newbie to all the technical aspects antenna efficiency. I used the antenna isolator to prevent scratches in the paint as it is a new vehicle. Maybe the isolator has reduced my reception and TX when it was on the hood. After manufacturing a separate plate to set of to the side of the hood (with a ground strap) it seems to TX slightly better. I have no way to officially measure that tho. I did use the antenna to speak to a friend while he was on a HT in his hotel room and I on the mountain. Yes I would recommend the antenna for your use. 11/1/2020 Midland contacted me today to see about getting to the cause and a resolution.

OK, thanks for the compliment but, I am just a newbie thrown in here with the rest of our crowd and trying hard to get a gripe on this GMRS comms like you. Go the Repeater Map here, on this site. Can you identify the repeaters within 30 miles of you? (Montco West Contact owner) or (First State 550 , Shepard 675) These two appear to be private. If so, it might be one of the listed repeaters but you can't bank on that being the case. I don't know that they have any special code except for the CTCSS or DCS code set to, "To Open" the repeater. Repeaters use these codes to filter out transmissions (TX) not meant for them. So, in order to get your TX heard, you have to use these codes to get the repeater to "Hear your TX." More importantly, you have to be within the range of your radio, to reach the repeater. You may hear a reapeater but, that doesn't guarantee the repeater can hear your transmitted signal. "Radio transmission Range" is subjected to alot of issues. Besides the limit of the radio, the land, trees, buildings and atmosphere and contribute to reduce your radios out of power to a point well below the advertised capabilities. Like I mentioned above in my post you might want to test and see if you are in fact, reaching the repeater. -Find a time the repeater isn't being used. -Set up your radio on the repeater frequency. -Set the first CTCSS code on that frequency. -Turn off the squelch to the point you hear constinct static Now Press the TX button briefly and release Right after releasing the TX button, what did you hear: just instance static or a dead space (complete silence) for 1.5 - 2 seconds? Most probably static - Keep at this until you hit that complete silence and or you hear that trail tone with the next CTCSS or DCS code... If you went thru all the codes, you are too far away from the repeater or you need a better antenna.

Listen and get their ID information as best you can. Run their callsign thru the call sign lookup here (Control Panel) on the Repeater page and see if you can ID it that way (for contact infomation). Sit on the frequency and key the mike very shortly using one CTCSS code at a time until you hear the trail tone (if there is one. I turn the squelch off for this) after your transmission (but you may only get a signal of clear space too). Then you can ask for permission to use the repeater. When this doesn't work I just for a signal report and wait for replies. For the most part GMRS is dead around here so reports are hard to come by. Use your call sign slowly too for the owner to hear it they are nearby and I guess they may reply.

700 REPEATER SYSTEM SAN PEDRO, California Covers from San Pedro to Santa Monica. You're right in the middle and should be able to hear this on your MTX275 just fine. It is listed on the repeater"MyGMRS.com Repeaters sectionfor more information like CTCSS codes etc... Just thought I'd take a look as I was stationed in Long Beach back in the early 1970s... a lifetime ago. Link: https://mygmrs.com/view?id=4176

There could be other GMRS repeaters than what is listed on the map too. Some may be private or, just haven't listed their equipment for the public to find easily. These are found by actually listening to scans of the channels over time wnd hearing them if/when they ID themselves. So far as a newbie, the SCAN MODE has been my friend in locationing two such repeaters while traveling local and afar.

I would be "careful" of that NMO antenna especially the 6Db gain with the magnetic mount. My experience; it burned the paint on the hood of my Jeep even with the so-calleded isolator (thin rubber cup) installed. Your mileage may vary.

I have found a repeater about 30 miles out that I can reach, and receive a squelch tone from indicating it has received my signal. I was sucessful in getting a signal report as well from another GMRS operator that made my day! None of that would have been possible without the information gained here from people willing to answer questions. Thank you! I now know my equipment works to it's described capabilities. This, "Learning Curve" has taken me to the highs and lows of human abilities when it comes to the operation of privately owned equipment (repeaters) and the endevor to keep it running. I'm guessing us newbies don't know (appriecate) the struggle of what it takes to actually get a repeater up and running for consistant use. Repeater owners are another part of the American fabric that help on their own free will, to make our society a better place when trying to communicate. Again, THANK YOU ALL. P.S. All this didn't sink in many, many years ago as a sailor in the Navy. We once used ham radio stations to talk from Asia to my wife in Hawaii.

I purchased a MXTA26 6Db gain for use on my Jeep with a MXT-400 FRS/GMRS. Initially it burned the paint on my hood in at least two places. I was (am still) using the isolator (rubber cup) that waas provided for the magnetic base. I thought the cup was supplied to prevent scratches to the paint, not burning. The antenna has performed well up close on the highways between autos as well as off-road in caravans. I have managed to talk as far as 34 miles to activate a repeater and talk oneway with a friend. I say, "oneway" as he hear me but could not actuate the repeater to talk back. I manufactured an shelf for the antenna to ride off the side of the hood and not damage the paint.

Well I can give a better understanding on the Midland now. Drove to Kentucky for a JJAMUSA event with a buddy and we had great comms with our radios. My MXT 400 and his GPX 1000 never missed a beep (pun)! He ran one hand held radio all day every day and never got off but one bar/cell of power. Five days of chit-chat and we always had comms. Before I left for the trip I found a repeater between us. I learned how to activate the repeater and while he could hear me, he could not activate it (not close enough). So the morning of our departure I discovered I could get 34 miles on the repeater and he could hear it whith me talking. Effectively reaching 50 miles. Now, we used CB radio's on the off-roading for the primary comms for the 17 Jeeps and it worked well too. But we used the FRS between us.

I found that while I could received the signal from a repeater I was too far for my radios signal to reach the repeater, in the beginning. The repeater ID'ed itself as a GMRS repeater so I knew then I had to try my best, I presumed it may have my transmit signal was stronger on one side of my vehicle than the other. Playing around (driving in somewhat large circles) I began to grt that silence tail and then the beep, from the repeater. Then I knew, I was getting the acknowledgment from the repeater that it heard my transmition. I also positioned myself very near an open area as well. I ID'ed myself and asked for a SIGNAL REPORT. Almost immediately a person responded with what I sounded like coming through the repeater. (Could have been the owner) We chated for a short time and explained my newbie situation and he responded that it was nice to heard from 34 miles away. This whole thing had taken a couple days but I was persistant as I have a friend nearby that repeater location I wanted to talk to eventually. While he could hear me well, I had to coax him closer to the repeater so his radio would make contact with the repeater. Takes some practice and persistance bat first, but it is fun. Best wishes!

I am learning a bunch here with this possible programming stuff. No, im not getting ready to spring for the cable and programs. But there is a confusing discussion going on, on FB about this as well and seems to me I have learned the difference between bandwith and frequency at least watching this conversation! I don't think many understand the concept between narrow and wide band. Thank you all for the education! Happy with my narrow band transmissions for now. Edited to add: In looking up the Part 95 (DATA GMRS) I see we are only allowed 20 kHz bandwith (on specific frequencies) and not 25. Seems I have seen 25 as a popular number here. So I would think IF the program changes the bandwidth to 25 kHz that would place us in jeopardy with the FCC.

I recently talked on a repeater approximately 34 miles from my location in the Jeep with my MTX 400 with a 6db gain antenna. Was sitting still in a very good sized ball park parking lot, at the time. GETTING A SIGNAL REPORT I was told I was clear with static in the background. My reception was very good with light static behigh the other person. This was my first time speaking on the (any) repeater tho I had heard it anounce itself several times thru the week. It was not listed on the MyGMRS site so I think it is a relatively new location along the interstate for now. This was also my first conversation with someone I didn't know and had never been able to get a radio report till then. I had used my mobile for Jeep rides once in the forest with others we knew. I did have to ping the repeater one CTCSS code at a time until I heard the repeater respond.

SWR Stands for "Standing Wave Ratio"

Midland has joined up with Jeep Jamboree USA across the country and FRS/GMR will be the required communication system next year. I think that might be a driving force too, not sure. This was mentioned on the Gateway To The Cumberland's event page on Facebook earlier this year. I jumped onboard to learn the ins & outs ($249.00 for the basic MXT-400 ) before the required changes and had been interested a couple years anyway. Personally, my CB works fine for the communications I need on the road and in the woods. Edited to add price

I manufactured a plate of 3/16" thick steel just to mount the magnetic antenna to as it was burning/bubbling the paint on the hood under the magnet. It is just a bit larger than the magnetic base but not 6"s. Why 6"s if we don't need /require a ground plane? I checked the ground and it is good but, I do like the suggestion of a grounding strap. Eitherway it will happen, thanks! I added the grounding strap/wire as well. It hasn't increased performance but has made me more confident in my equipment.

Well there is a good reason for that low antenna. Keeping it out of the branches while off-road keeps it from getting broken as most are constructed from fiberglass. And as you know, better made antannas aren't cheap. Adding a spring just whips the antenna back into the body or top and either scratching body components or again, breaking the antenna. Many new off-roaders (first time radio owners) see and try to emulate others without understanding why their gear isn't as effective on the roads as in the woods.... It is a trade off they don't understand right away and like you say, might complain about their setup ignorant on why they can't reach longer distances out in the open. My CB antenna is as low as I can get too but I understand the SWR and reduced effectiveness and live with that as it serves the purpose I need it for. It's OK if you snicker at me when you see me driving down the road with my low-riding antenna but; don't try following me where I go, you won't make it. So far my GMRS setup isn't as good as my low riding CB either. In the rain traveling down different roads we got better distance and clearity out of the CB's than we got from GMRS radios. But I am on my own and new to this so I can't snicker at anyone while I am still in the learning phase... Not all that wander are lost!

And now JJAMUSA recently stated the FRS/GMRS radios will used going forward in 2021. That is why I got into this.

I would like to report that Midland did respond to an email and are looking into this issue. Sent them pictures today.

Using the Midland MXT400 I can say that mine does not have "that feature" if, that is what you might want to call it. I recently purchased this radio and am in the process of learning it's operations. Having recently pinged a repeater I do understand the situation and can't understand "why" anyone would want to do that.

Thank you! Don't think I am ready for that move yet but it does have my interest.

For us Newbies I think this is part of our problem, at least for me, as an example: I see a repeater (let's say channel 15) I want to talk on so I first get the necessary permission (if required) following the procedures read in the MYGMRS. Using my MXT400, I scroll thru the Menu and set my REPEATER selection to "ON". Now, scrolling thur the channels I can clearly distinguish between the lower frequencies (by channel numbers) and the added, higher ones that only display the "rP" symbol now on channels 15 -22. Next, I need to select channel "rP-15" and add any CTCSS/DCS frequency to channel rP-15. All well and good now, the transmit (TX) channel is all set on rP-15. I have been wondering lately, do I need to also add that CTCSS/DCS tone to the receiving (RX) channel 15? During my failed attempts to talk with a reapter, I have not added the tone to the lower channel frequency assuming the radio did it automatically. Now the repeater channels appear on the screen with the "rP" (with "+") allowing me to manually select the repeater I want to use and I can now add the necessary tone. I have now added the CTCSS tone to the receiving channel as well. Will that help? In following this thread I believe this may explain the lost mystery to many users. I may have actually been talking to the repeater and getting thur, but not hearing the reapter TONE transmission back to my radio.