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Danny

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Posts posted by Danny

  3. Coax Cable Suggestion

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Yes, FSJ4-50B 25 feet. PNMNM . Its about the same thickness of LMR400 and its fairly flexible compared to the LDF4 heliax, which is basically like wrestling with an anaconda...

     

    Attached is a picture of LMR400, left most, FSJ4-50B heliax, center, and LDF4-50A heliax (mini anaconda)

     

    G.

     

    EDIT: What length do you need?

     

    Probably 75' or even 100' to be on the safe side

  4. Coax Cable Suggestion

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Yes, absolutely.

     

    I did the same thing when I replaced my 25 foot LMR400 UHF-UHF feedline with FSJ4-50B N-Male N-Male, same length. The heliax I got was factory made. I got mine from eBay as a NIB New Old Stock, I paid 35 bucks for 25 foot with 2 preinstalled trimetal N-male connectors, which are like 29 bucks a pop.

     

    To give you quantitative figures: The antenna feedline connector at the base now reads a near perfect 50.03 Ohms impedance, and the return loss is -38dBm... as expected range now is measured in tens of miles, too, as opposed to the LMR400 which had an impedance of 43 Ohm and a -28 dBm return loss, while not bad, range was at best 10 miles.

     

    There are people here who can also make these cables. I just wanted a factory cable with the datasheet and sweep chart to ensure I wasn't getting a dud.

     

    The keyword on eBay to find a N to N heliax is "PNMNM" if you type that you'll get every cable on eBay that has N-male (NM) to N-male (NM)  There are a ton of listings, just look for FSJ4-50B.

     

    G.

     

    Thanks. I will look on Ebay for this cable. 

     

    I did a keyword search for PNMNM but didn't find FSJ4-50B in any of the 55 results that returned. So I will keep searching each day to see if one appears.

     

    Is this the cable you use for your base antenna? Is yours a 1/2 or 7/8?

  5. Coax Cable Suggestion

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    FSJ4-50B is the same diameter as LMR400... and it won't suck after it gets exposed for a few months. Been there done that.. I used to have spools of the USA made LMR400, all gone now.

     

    G.

     

    Do you suggest the FSJ4-50B over the LMR400? 

     

    Where can I go to look at pricing and to purchase? Thanks!

  7. Coax Cable Suggestion

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Will come down to as mentioned above. How long, how flexible and budget. Nothing like spending $$$ on a high gain antenna to lose all the gain in the feedlines.

     

    For short jumpers, where you may want flexibility i go with RG400. Not to be confused with LMR400. I would like to run at least LMR400, but it does not like to be twisted into "s" or other odd shapes.

     

    Note the losses on this chart for 450mhz per 100. This isn't even with connectors which can add up.

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/chartsguides/d/dxe-400max_ks.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj2-4GO8MrsAhV5l3IEHYysDnoQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw105dYs19Vh6HLaokTPN5i8

     

    NOTE: these numbers are with quality know coax. Not some crap you find off of Amazon.

     

    I personally recommend Rfconnection.com up the street from here. Price is competitive, owner is a ham who has operating the shop for 40+ yrs. Stands behind what he sells.

     

    I paid $171 for 100' of LMR400 the same crimp kit on dxengineering and 4 pl259 connector with tax. 100' was 69.00, about $.20 cheaper then I could find anywhere else and is LMR400 equivalant spec'ed.

     

    Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

     

    My run will be around 75ft. The run is a little flexible. My budget is around $150/$175. The thing is I am willing to spend more for a better coax with best performance. 

     

    Does someone have a link to a good coax that I can buy?

  12. Power Supply and Antenna Suggestion

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    You have many options for a power supply. Get one that outputs between 12 and 15 VDC, 13.8VDC being ideal. Most allow the voltage to be adjusted so you will need a meter. The amperage should be at least 10% greater than the transmit draw of your radio. In watts, that's volts times amps. 

     

    For an antenna, I would look at a J-pole or one that doesn't need a ground plane for use in your apartment. Once you get in your house, whatever you can both afford and get away with. With radio, height is king so you need your antenna as high as possible as it directly affects the range you will have.

     

    Thanks. What power supply do other users have? I read in another thread that a user suggested a Alinco power supply.

     

    So search for J-pole antenna for GMRS. I will install a roof antenna once I get a house. 

  15. What radio do you have for your car / truck?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Good point. Although, in some cases that may be a feature. One specific case is users who want to program more than 8 logical repeaters*. Many of the certified GMRS radios limit the number of logical repeater channels and also restrict them to specific memory locations (aka radio dial channels).  Also, given the apparently complicated front panel programming procedures, I am not sure an application based configuration system might not be better for many users.

     

    Still, as you note, one more important thing to consider when selecting a radio.

     

    * A logical repeater is a unique combination of frequency (GMRS Channel), CTCSS/DCS, and other access setting(s), bandwidth (wide or narrow), and power.

     

    I did find a good walk through video on how to program the radio for the TYT TH-9000d. I'm thinking it's going to be the exact same for the Retevis RT-9000D. This way I can program all the GMRS channels into the radio. 

     

    I ordered this radio from Amazon and got a notification that it was shipped today via DHL from Hong Kong. Interesting...

  16. What radio do you have for your car / truck?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Just remember none of the radios mentioned other than the Midland is ready out of the box. Thats the biggest issue for some folks. Not everyone is able to program a unit or even understands why they need to. I had a guy show up on a saearch a few years back. He had a CCR handheld and mobile and neither was on our SAR channels. When i asked him how it was programmed the answer was "it came programmed".... after the incident i worked with him and it was all out of the box channels. 

     

    Personally I prefer LMR radios and for myself have all APX in my primary vehicles as i use them for public safety also. But for folks like my parents the midland was the best option. Eventually I will upgrade them one vehicle at a time with something commercial. I just installed the ICOM F221 at my guest house (winter home for them) with a base antenna so he doesn't need to leave an HT on all the time this winter.

     

    Sorry for asking a dumb question as I'm still learning but what is the meaning of CCR, SAR, LMR and APX?

  18. What radio do you have for your car / truck?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    There is one other consideration regarding the Midland MXT400: the cost:benefit ratio. The Midland is the exact same radio hardware as the Luiton LT-590, TYT TH-9000d, Retevis RT-9000D, and probably a few others. However, while the Midland costs ~$300, the Retevis RT-9000D is ~$140).

     

    Of course, the radios are not identical. Midland has received FCC certification by modifying the firmware to meet GMRS requirements, mostly regarding operating on non-GMRS channels and power levels on some frequencies. Unfortunately, one of the changes Midland made, limiting the radio to narrowband operation, was included in the FCC certification filing and although the programming software will let the bandwidth be defined on a per-channel basis, this cannot be changed without voiding the certification.

     

    So, if you buy the MXT400 because it is a GMRS certified radio, and then alter the configuration to use wideband operation, you have ended up paying twice the price of a virtually identical non-certified Part-90 radio. Except, the RT-9000D will transmit from 400mHz to 490 mHz, so you get the ham UHF band as well.

    I'm actually thinking about buying the Retevis RT-9000D off Amazon. It's half the price of the Midland and has good reviews.

     

    Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

  20. New GMRS Licensee - Confused about repeaters?

    in Guest Forum

    Posted

    Thanks. I'm watching those videos and I'll order a cable to program the radio.

     

    What I was asking is, repeater channels. Once I find the channel with the correct receive freq; will it transmit at 5mHz higher automatically?

     

     

    Sorry Dan, I don’t believe I understand your last question.

    Here are a couple of videos on the KG-805G that might prove helpful. If you have not watched these already, do so and they may provide further insight.




    Regarding Frequency, the KG-805G always and only displays the Rx frequency. Regardless of whether you are in repeater mode or not. When the radio is in repeater mode you will see a +- icon on the display. That is your way of knowing you are on a channel memory configured for repeater use.

    One thing I can tell you about the KG-805G is that you cannot add frequencies into memory without software if that is what you are trying to do. You can only change between memory locations that have the frequencies already stored in them.

    The KG-805G comes pre-programmed with 22 simplex frequencies in memories 1-22, and the 8 repeater frequency pairs programmed into memories 23-30. To use the radio with a repeater you need to do the following:
    1) Learn the frequency of the repeater you want to connect to, then select that frequency on your radio (typically memory between 23-30).
    2) Learn the CTCSS or DCS code required to connect to the repeater and enter it into the radio under the T-CTC or T-DCS menu option associate with that memory location.
    3) Learn the CTCSS or DCS code required to open the squelch on your radio and enter that too into the R-CTC or R-DCS menu option for your memory location.
    4) Make sure you are in good radio range of the working repeater, then press PTT and announce your call sign. If the Green light on the radio comes immediately after you release your PTT button that is a great indication you have connected to the repeater.

    I hope this helps.

    Michael
    WRHS965



    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  21. New GMRS Licensee - Confused about repeaters?

    in Guest Forum

    Posted

    Thanks Michael.

     

    Sorry for asking so many questions. 

     

    It sounds like I my radio only see's the receiving freq. So I am doing it correctly?

    Danny,

    On an official GMRS radio you generally only see the receive frequency. For GMRS, the companion Tx frequency for repeater operation is always a standard (and FCC mandated) +5MHz above the Rx frequency.

    However, when using software, the software may require you to enter the correct Tx frequency.

    Michael
    WRHS965


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  22. New GMRS Licensee - Confused about repeaters?

    in Guest Forum

    Posted

    I'm doing all this on the radio. Not using external software. 

     

    When I look at the owners manual I see RPT19 as freq 462.650. I don't see any channels with 467.650. Am I doing this wrong? Would you mind if you can tell me the steps to configure that repeater on this radio?

     

    Those freq are for a local repeater on mygmrs repeater map.

     

    You seem to have it backwards.

    For GMRS, the operating radio (your radio) receive frequency is always the lower of the two frequencies. So an HT configured for repeater will use the lower frequency to listen on, the higher frequency to transmit on. (This is what is called a positive offset) The repeater then does just the opposite. It listens on the higher frequency and transmits on the lower.

    If you are using the factory software for this radio, the listen frequency is the always the first frequency the software requires you to enter. Once you have a listen frequency, for simplex operation you enter the same frequency again or, for repeater operation, you enter the frequency 5MHz higher than your listen frequency.



    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  23. New GMRS Licensee - Confused about repeaters?

    in Guest Forum

    Posted

    Thanks I'll look into those antennas.

     

    Am I configuring this correct on KG -805G for this repeater?

     

    Output: 462.650 MHz   141.3 Hz
    Input: 467.650 MHz   141.3 Hz
     
    I went to RPT19, click menu and go to R-CTC and set it for 141.3 and also T-CTC and set for 141.3

     

     

    I purchased a Comet 712EFC 9dBi commercial antenna that I will be putting on my house. The narrower vertical pattern of this antenna is appropriate for me given that the land around me is mostly flat for miles and my elevation is on par with the highest in the area. The measured SWR is better than manufacturer’s spec. No complaints at this time.

    I have an Midland MXTA-26 6dBi installed on my car and use it with the handheld. SWR measured SWR is better than manufacture spec. I have verified that it improves range when compared to all of the rubber ducks I have. I have, on multiple occasions now, worked the Cincinnati 700 repeater while driving between Cincinnati and Dayton on I-75. Best performance so far was about 38 miles with uninterrupted conversation the whole way.

    I also have a DIY 1/4-wave ground plane antenna and an Ed-Fong roll-up J-pole. Currently I use the Ed-Fong antenna indoors hooked up to my HT. Once the Comet gets installed, it will be used for camping and other outdoor events.

    I have had a few weekends where I have experimented with the antennas at my home. From there, I can break squelch on two repeaters with the HT and rubber duck alone, but usually with no usable audio. So clearly I am at the edge. As I switch through all the antennas (rubber ducks, the mobile, Ed-Fong, ground plane, and comet) I get in better and better according to the folks I radio tested with. Since I get in the best with the comet, clearly that extra gain is helpful. Even then, I still need to find an economical way to get the antenna high so I can hit the repeater solid and improve local simplex coverage which is a very small fraction of what I can get with the repeaters.

    Michael
    WRSH965




    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  24. New GMRS Licensee - Confused about repeaters?

    in Guest Forum

    Posted

    I must not be in range of the repeater as I can't seem to hit it. I've been scanning all channels and never hear any talk as well. 

     

    I went and ordered the Nagoya 771g from Amazon. Will see if that improves the reception. 

     

    What do you suggest for base and mobile antennas?

     

    Danny,

    Yes, you would know you hit (and opened) the repeater if when you release the PTT you hear squelch tail from the repeater. Around me the tails seem to vary from 1/2-2 seconds, but always enough to know that I triggered it.

    I have limited ability to hit a repeater from my home with the HT. I have two repeaters that I can break squelch on, but most days my level into the repeater is less than usable. If I put the HT in the car and use the mobile antenna, then I can get it sufficiently to hold a conversation. Repeaters are about 20-26 miles away.

    Early on I was not sure if I was configured right, so I drove much closer to where I believed repeaters to be, made sure I could break squelch on it, opened a conversation and then drove towards home. This gave me as sense of coverage in my direction. Getting close gave the opportunity to change radio settings while in close proximity so I could rule out signal strength.

    As far as antennas, I have a bunch. For direct mount I have the Nagoya 771g and 701g, and the factory supplied one. I have been using the 771g when I take my daily walks because it give me just a tad more range. Maybe 5 percent more? Once I get my base antenna permanently installed at the home, I image I will drop down to the 701G on the HT in-order to loose some of the whip length of the 771.

    Michael
    WRSH965


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  25. New GMRS Licensee - Confused about repeaters?

    in Guest Forum

    Posted

    Thanks Michael. This information is helpful. 

     

    I looked up local repeaters on mygmrs.com and see one here locally that says it covers 30 miles. It does say 'permission required' but when I click on it and read the notes it does say open system. I did go ahead and click request access and filled out that form. I will do that as it's best practice.

     

    How do you know if you are hitting the repeater from the radio? When clicked the PTT button shouldn't you get some feedback from the repeater like HAM repeaters?

     

    Do you use the stock antenna on your 805G?

     

    I'm really looking forward to learning a lot about GMRS!

     

     

     

    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

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