gortex2
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Posts posted by gortex2
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I installed a back rack on my new JT as its a soft top. It has the bracket also. It works OK, but not as good as my F150 with a drilled NMO with same 1/4 wave antenna. I mostly talk simplex and it is noticeably different although both sweeps show the same on a VNA. Its the only solution I have on the JT so it is what it is. I would prefer a roof mount NMO. In regards to the NMO mount get the good sealed mount. I run the Larsen thick mount as the standard NMO wont fit the steel plate. I got mine from antenna farm - https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-nmokhfcxthk-1161
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While shrink tubing is waterproof itself, water can wick in through any exposed ends. So, should you ever have to remove the antenna, you might wish to reseal the connection by smearing some silicon caulk inside the shrink tube before you heat it. Or, try something like this adhesive lined shrink tubing.
The heat shrink I got is the stuff with sealer used for underground well lines. The glue is pretty tough. I have used it in the past and it works really well. Made by T&B. Hopefully mine is only up until spring and i start my tower install.
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Only 1 question... rodro123 lives in Wisconsin, where there is actually winter. Being metal and a lot of nooks and crannies I'm wondering how the DB404 will perform with snow/ice/wind loading?
I lived in upstate NY (Tug Hill area) for most of my life. All my NY GMRS repeaters run this antenna and all my SAR repeaters run the DB224 (same design) and never had an issue. I have one antenna that is about 20 years old and yearly PM checks are always fine.
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I just ran into this on my Diamond antenna I got for my APRS Digi. I went to Home Deport and purchased heat shrink that would fit over the center section and put that on. It shrink well and did not appear to affect the SWR at all. My hopes is to never remove the antenna unless its being replaced.
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Vertex Standard, Motorola and Yaesu are all the same company.
That is not 100% accurate. Motorola Solutions purchased Vertex Standard. Since then all amateur was sold to Yaesu and spun off off Motorola. Motorola does not have any amateur radio equipment branded by them or Vertex.
To the topic on hand. I have had multiple ICOM radios over the years and SAR in NY still uses man of them the F6021 is based on the old F221. It is a solid performer and is a goto for SAR folks due to the price and reliablity. Scan is a bit quirky to get set right but once done it works well. I use the serial cables on all my ICOM stuff, but i know a few folks have had good luck with USB.
I prefer Motorola gear for my GMRS and the last radio I purchased was the CM300 for my fathers truck. It is small like the M1225 but new. USB programming cable.
YMMV
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The DB404 has always been my go to antenna. I run the DB408 on all my repeaters. I actually have 2 DB404 in my garage i use for portable repeaters when needed. They hold up well. YMMV
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Not to drag this topic further into further CCR bashing there is one important item to consider. The desire to get into radio is something many dont do any more nor have any interest. So the good thing is some people still want to. The issue with the Baofeng or any CCR is the performance as many he mentioned. The performance can impact the users "taste" of the hobby and many times they loose interest cause it doesn't do what it should. I have had this happen in the SAR world and also Amateur world on top of my GMRS repeaters. 90% of the folks that buy those complain they can't hit the repeater or are so broken up and unreadable more folks tell them its junk. This causes them to loose interest and leave the radio world.
For me I started grabbing cheap good radios when i have extra cash and leave them sitting. When i get a person who wants to use a baofeng I hand them one of these and let them use it side by side. Normally 2 days later I get "hey can i buy this from you". There is alot of good radios out there dirt cheap that works well for GMRS. I recently picked up 6 HT1000 portables for $50.00. Threw some $20.00 batteries on them and programmed up for GMRS. I have one left in the box.
If your truly interested in radio get a reputable radio or your expectations will not be met.
JMHO
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This has me thinking on a simplex repeater.
This is a store-forward unit.
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AS a few have said I'd look to increasing the performance of the current repeater. A good pre-amp and filters will go a long way. I am fortunate that I run a split antenna on my repeaters thru a combiner and multi-coupler. That allowed me a DB408 on RX and a DB404 on TX. The 408 gives me a bit better RX then adding in the pre-amp and filtering I have portables that can get in but can't hear the system. Its all about balance. I'm glad to see you have your power at a low level. Many think more power the better but thats not always the case.
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So in theory yes it would work and I have done similar for SAR work. In actual use it didn't work well at all. Most simplex repeater modules receive the audio, record it then re-transmit the audio. The issue we ran into is that delay time. If in an area where others can't hear the input of one use they don't know you are talking and you don't know if they are due to delays. While it did work ok for general messages "CREWS REPORT TO COMMAND" it was almost useless for routine conversations and use. At the end of the day we built a small pelican case 5 watt repeater that does what we needed.
Guess it really depends on your needs. If you plan to have conversations I don't think its efficient. If its for a "i need help" scenario then its probably going to be OK. The other possible solution would be to put a small but efficient repeater at your future in laws house. Done right its not going to look bad and would work well.
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As other stated it depends on the use. For a antenna used as a control point i have had great luck with the PCTEL Fiberglass sticks. I run the MFB4600 on my motor home and also at home. If your talking to mobiles or another base only then i use my DB404.
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Been, done that, got the empty bases to prove it. I've ripped off 3 of them so far, and most of the guys have lost at least 1. So far, I haven't noticed any real performance difference......but it's hard to say in the mountains.
What 1/4 wave are you using. I have always run the Motorola whip and have had ambulances come in with the whip bent completely flat but still in the chrome nut. I know of a few folks that run VHF on a side by side and run the same 1/4 in VHF. I just can't imagine ripping a 1/4 wave off without other damage to the quad.
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Well first thing to do is swap out that hocky puck antenna for a 1/4 wave. A standard whip is only 6" tall and will increase your range dramatically vs the puck antenna.
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NMO27 on the roof is your best bet for your application. Its easy to remove and cap when not needed or in garages. Flexible and works really well. Heck 90% of the time on the interstate i run a VHF 1/4 wave on my CB for RX only. Works fine for 1-2 miles around me. If i need more range i throw the NMO27 on the mount. (run the vhf for car wash)
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APRS is essentially automated packet radio system. Think of a TNC as a modem for your radio. You still need access to a 20 or 70cm repeater that has a connection to the internet to send a package out.
There are commercially available aprs units with GPS that are really small and used by hikers. some are even connected to the satellites. Others can text and send emails as well as some limited functions with a subscription. check into the earlier congestion of spot.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Actually APRS is not dependant on either 2mtr or 70cm repeaters. In the US the primary channel is 144.390. There are many places that APRS actually does work that a 2m or 440 machine may not. One advantage is you dont need to change the frequency. The new Vertex FT2D radio has built in GPS and is ideal to hike with. I have the FT1D and use it specifically for APRS while hiking or traveling. Granted there are still holes, you still need good batteries and a decent antenna but its another tool in the tool box.
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I have a small mobile duplexer in my motorhome repeater. I have it tuned for the center channel (625). I can go up or down and not affect it to much. I rarely change it more than one channel away as not many folks are on the channels when i am.
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Interesting to hear Corey, I would think that would still cause distortion in the RF signals when they hit the antenna. I know combiners exist (That is after all how trunking systems work) but I didn't think a duplexer would be able to do the same job.
I do the same thing at one of my GMRS sites. I had a commercial LMR system (452.xxx) and combined our .650 repeater via a duplexer and isolators. In all reality if you look at a real transmit combiner all it is is a filter of some kind, alot of times the same exact filter that a duplexer is made of.
My RX combiner is the same as I filter 457.xx and 467.xx only.
- Radioguy7268 and wqzw301
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I think Corey hit the nail on the head. You get what you pay for. I see this in my field for work daily. Customers put in a radio system on cheap then complain. It doesn't matter if it a garage GMRS repeater of a full blown countywide TLMR system. If you cheap out on features, option, subscribers, shelters, etc stuff will not meet your expectations. I have some cheap GMRS mobile radios and use them for what they are, being a cheap radio I can throw out. My go to radios cost over $5000 each but I use them for public safety along with my hobby stuff. There are alot of reasonable priced part 90 radios on the market and with some education can be very nice GMRS rigs.
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I run a Larsen NMO27 on my work truck. If done properly it will outperform most antenna's. I have a 4' fiberglass on my personal vehicle and the Larsen is night and day. Its an NMO mount and done properly will last for years.
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Corey is dead on. I spent many thousands of dollars on each repeater system i have online and have money sitting in new repeaters waiting for towers. It is not uncommon to spend upwards of $10,000 if buying all new gear. My last repeater that went online was a MTR3000 ($6500.00), Duplexer ($1800.00), 7/8" Hardline (175' @ 2.50'), DB408 - ($800.00), plus connectors, hangers, cable pulls, ground kits, ground wire. Yes we can all do this stuff for a lot less but it really depends on what you want out of the repeater.
If you start your post with "Currently running on two Baofeng 5R with limited range" then its not a repeater that we should be putting in a database nor one that will benefit you or others. The goal is to have a repeater that is beneficial to the end user.
Since I moved south I have 2 repeaters, antenna's and hard line. Neither are up yet as i want it to be worthwhile. One is waiting on a tower for my house and the other will be on a 400' tower if i can ever work out an agreement with the owners.
- roberttosa and WRVL973
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It seems to me this has come up a few times over the last year . I always used the donation approach. I have alot of money invested in repeaters, antenna and cables. If folks want to donate great, if not its on me to cover the costs. I didn't put them on the air to make money, I put them there to use. If others can use it and can afford to help with electric or repairs great. If not its up to me. What your proposing is a LMR system. I for one dont believe in not letting folks use it if they can't afford it.
- coryb27, RCM, quarterwave and 1 other
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I've said it before and I'll say it again, you can't do a vehicle-installed repeater. Repeaters must not be capable of operating while moving, and cannot have a mobile operation mode. It's written in the Part 95 definition of a repeater station. They must operate at a fixed position. The specifics of what defines a fixed station is a question I'm trying to raise to the FCC's attention.
So I'll throw something out on this topic. I agree the rules say not moving, etc. I have a repeater in my motor home. Its not used while i driving down the road because there is no need, nor do i have an antenna system that can stay up. Once i get to the campground or race track I set up my fiberglass stick, fire up the generator and i am on the air. To me this is a fixed location. Back in my early SAR days we also did a similar setup in our incident command post. While that had a mobile antenna for ease it also was only used once we got to a mission. Both my applications allow a decent install and to date i have had no issues with radios, power supplies or duplex failing me. SAR has since moved our repeater to public safety channels but is still used.
So as you said what is the definition of fixed ? A non moving repeater is fixed in my case.
- RCM and Elkhunter521
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ICOM Model IC-F221 UHF Mobile Radio
in Equipment Reviews
Posted
The 221 is a rock solid performer. I have many of them in SAR and also for GMRS. Other than one display that went bad on a 4 wheeler they seem to tick away.