AdmiralCochrane

The tech test is so easy that not wanting it shows unwillingness to apply any effort. For the average American, it is probably no more difficult than your state's driver's license written exam.

Criticism accepted. The limitations of text communication, it is hard to convey emphasis and tone.

Depends on what the defintion of is is.

I always liked code like this famous open text telegraph message between generals in India during one of the colonial uprisings: "Peccavi in Deum", literally "I have committed and offense against God". The encrypted message was the siege of the city of Sindha was complete. Watching Cal Ripken Sr give encoded hand sign messages to base runners was always fun. He mixed the real message with jibberish. Sometimes the play-by-play commentators would know a coach's signals, but pre-arrainged changes could throw everyone off. I recall one humorous comment about Cal Sr's signing "It's in there somewhere, but I have no idea what it is"

There is no "if"; a taller antenna always helps. Antenna height means more than power output in almost all radio communication.

antenna polarization synchronization, or lack thereof, can decrease range

LOL Marc, the 1:1 should have been the clue.

She is OK if you need it read to you. I look it up for myself.

On a nice high angle pass I have no trouble hearing the ISS with a regular HT. I do compensate for doppler and I do try to keep antenna polarization in mind. I encourage everyone to give it a try.

I didn't think it was legal to "piggyback" other than family members.

I've been considering the same set up. What panel and charge controller are you using?

I think amateur mode puts it in ham mode, not full open mode to transmit on all bands. You have to go out to one of several less locked modes to get the 578 to do ham and GMRS. For some reason, 14 seems to come to mind as the most open setting number.

If you need to ask, you should not be doing it.

This page was better: https://palomar-engineers.com/antenna-products/1-1-balun-kits/how-many-chokes-do-i-need When I was running a J-Pole it was on a PVC mast and the coax never passed by any significant metal to couple with. I agree if you can't avoid a metal mast or aluminum siding, chokes will be necessary. My current 1.25m J-Pole is on a PVC stand-off away from the metal mast with looped coax for common mode suppression, it's tuned for my local repeaters and the SWR is bottomed out, basically 1.11. Or make one from junk they have laying around. It's the appliance buyer mentality. Fong is like Midland, best of marketing.

Why does a J-Pole need ferrites? And why more than one?

I just had a thought about the VFD's I see at work ... they are always completely shielded, they are not standing alone on rooftop equipment the way they are in mechanical rooms. In fact, some Carrier brand equipment has some of the electricals inside 3 layers of RF shielding. Really annoying to take the panels off for testing. Either something inside is very noisey or very prone to receiving noise. Manufactures don't put in an extra screw, much less an additional stamped panel if they don't have to. Now you guys have me wanting to take an SDR receiver into a mechanical room with stand alone VFD's

Since I use my HT's (GMRS and dual band ham) on commercial roofs while I am on break from work and I work on a LOT of equipment with VFD's, I read the article. I have NEVER heard a VFD making noise on VHF or UHF. If I read the article correctly the VFD in question was Chinese JUNK AND incorrectly installed. All of the ones I see at work are Korean, Japanese or European. I have never come across any equipment using the Chinese JUNK in question. Despite this solid example, I think you are much more likely to find solar panel controllers making spurious RF than a VFD. There are numerous examples of solar panel controller manufacturers getting caught distributing crap.

Used handheld scanner

Yes, too far

No, you are simply hearing signals in the fringe of your reception area.

I hear a local hotel staff as well. There are 4 hotels less than a mile as the crow flies, I haven't figured out which one it is yet.

I'm not far away, our area has a lot of repeaters. There might be one on every available frequency within 40 miles of me. Lots of simplex use, some regulars on some of the better located repeaters.

One of my TH-F6's is modified. Hard to find one for less than $300 these days.

I just checked my 805G and it has not run the battery down after sitting for several months (at least 3 months)

I have only made car to car simplex transmissions in the 10 mile range on one occaision.