gortex2

The Puck antenna is ok for repeaters and LMR systems. It is about useless for any simplex operations. If you have and use a good repeater system they can e ok but thats about it. A good quality 1/4 wave will be fine in car washes and other places.

Nice clean install. Sure it will do fine.

You don't mention the antenna cable you use at home on your 40' antenna. If that isn't LMR400 or larger you probably don't have much power at the antenna. As others said the radio your using to test is also not the best option for your plans.

Id try to keep the antennas 16 inches apart. On my Motorhome I removed my AM/FM and installed a NMO mount there with a Larsen mutliband antenna. I then use a diplexer to pull UHF and VHF to each unit. For my scanner I just used a glass mount. 99% of the time i am listenign to the local P25 trunking system anyway. On my ladder is my Larsen fiberglass stick for my GMRS repeater. Its about a foot high so still lower than my SAT dish.

THis may help... https://www.slideshare.net/GustavoAdolfoTapasco/motorola-r56-2005manual

I use MURS alot. Both in NY and now in VA I rarely hear anyone on it. Granted I am in the country. Its an excellent option especially when FRS/GMRS may be active in a certain area.

Thanks for the reviews. I guess next week I need to order one for my Motor home. This will be an ideal setup vs the GR1225 for dry camping. I can see other uses as well. I already have a small fiberglass stick i use on the motor home.

We are getting off topic here. GMRS does not have to ID. Period. Per rules. None of mine ID. Commercial Part 90 Repeaters must ID per rules. Alot of Part 90 repeaters ID with no PL/DPL tone so if you have a scanner with PL/DPL enabled you will never hear the ID.

Correct. Unless your using pretty old programmable gear most stuff on the market supports both NM and WB. My radios are all programmed with both for this reason. Just know what is in your area and what you want to talk to. Knowing the gear you are buying is a plus. Most of the decent used gear that programs with windows does NB. There is still alot of old gear (GE MVS<MLS< Motorola GM/Maxtrac) stuff thats out there but normally a PITA to program so folks dont grab it like they used to.

Just order a UHF NMO 1/4 wave UHF on a magnetic mount. The ghost or phantom antennas only work well with repeaters and good repeaters. I use them on my county TLMR system but we have 15 sites in one county. For GMRS I run a 1/4 wave.

All in all this is a good idea. Could they save money by going used part 90 gear. Most likely, however this is exactly why Midland is selling like it is. Its easy and simple and you can go anyplace to get a radio ready to roll. When my father bought his first one i cringed. After learning the issues and how i could help fix it it does the intended purpose. If someone wants to add a second or third they jump online and order another. I have one repeater specifically in NB just for some friend that have the midland gear. I am actually in the process of switching my repeater in my motor home to NB as well being I take it on some Jeep rides and more folks are going to GMRS in the off road world. I still use my part 90 gear (APX and XTL) for most of my communications but having something that works for these folks and others is a good solution. JMHO JS

As stated here it can be what ever way you want it. It really boils down to what subscriber, radio you are going to use on it. If your plan is part 90 radios go wide. If they plan to by midland radios use NB. I have a mix of both due to the users on each.

Also connectors ? N ? Adapters ? What cables are on the duplexer inputs from the repeater ?

I may of missed this but what area in VA are you talking. I have multiple GMRS repeaters sitting looking for locations. You can PM me for details if your interested.

Rich, Any update on your end ? Have you had time to test one of these ?

I think the only reason the 1/4 wave is better is it is more wide band than most gain antenna's. I actually run 1/4 on my work vehicle for this reason. I can go from Ham to T Band without much difference. I wouldn't say its the best solution but worth a try to see.

Also check for splitters in the house. Way back when i worked for Spectrum we would get calls with similar complaints. Alot of times we found splitters with 2 cables and 1 or empty ports with no terminations on them. As others said check the COAX. Anything less than RG6 shielded can cause the issue. My motor home would block on on multiple channels when my GMRS repeater (in the MH) would transmit. Found alot of connections (rg58) with crimps looking like they used a pair of pliers. I replaced all cable in the MH with RG6 quadshield and all my issues went away.

No. The issue he most likely saw was a bad antenna install. I run a 110 watt APX in VHF and a 45 watt APX in UHF on my JK with no issues.

I use the same mount on my JK but with a 1/4 wave UHF whip and see barely enough reflected to worry about. the one thing I did do when installing was grind the paint from the bottom of the bracket as the NMO was not even getting a ground prior. Check with a DVM to see if you have a good ground. I did try a gain style antenna but like the short whip.

You are correct. Repeater does NOT need to ID. Its up to the user. I had one tower owner require a call for mine, but it was not required by the FCC. Rich - Keep us posted. I see value in this box as a quick deploy repeater for some situations and think it would be a good entry level box for some of those looking to get something online for a small area. I would like to swap out my GR1225 in my MH.

All preference. I have both. I use the HHCH in my Jeep and the other radio in my Motorhome.

I have mine setup the same way at a couple of sites, for the reason of the illegal users that were continually using the repeater both unknowingly and knowingly. After 6 months of trying to keep the bubble pack and other folks off the repeater I changed to a DPL and PL mixed configuration. All my commercial gear allowed this and it stopped interference. I spent alot of money on a repeater, tower, hard line, antenna, electric and other associated costs to be at a tower. Its for me to decide who get to use my repeater. On similar subject I have another repeater that was at a county park. I got tons of complaints on how it worked. every time I did a PM it was rock solid. One of the complainers was a ski patrol guy from a mountain nearby who liked to use that cause there radios didn't work. after 3 trips to the repeater and doing all sorts of testing I asked to meet him and look at his radio. He had the midland mobile (dont remember model) and a handful of bubble pack radios. I explained to him this was indeed the issue and as i explained that also realized other than him no one else was licenced. I attempted to educate him on the issues with the "junk" he bought however could not convince him.I volunteered to leave him one of my older HT's to use that weekend. Everything was fine. The following week when i picked up the radio he said he planned to get one..until he found what it costs. He was bewildered he had to pay $100 for a radio to use the repeater when he could buy a 2 pack on amazon of some other radio for $35.00.....At this point I gave up. Repeater has since been removed due to said group of non compliment users,. Sad part was this was installed at the county park for users of the park. At my new house I have 2 repeaters. I specifically have one in NB mode as my parents have a Midland radio. Its still not ideal but it works for them.I run my channel in WB and still use my commercial gear. In the end its what works for the users of the system, and who maintains the system.

The CAT5 should not be causing your issues. What duplexer and cables are you using ? Did you buy the LMR premade ? Did you put a watt meter on it yet ? It really appears your are getting RF someplace it should not be.

Nice gladiator. I have been looking at the Tazer for mine but have not been able to justify the cost as there are only a few things i need to for. I tried to order each option i wanted and needed one mine so i didn't need a programmer after. Only thing i really want is LED tail lights now.

I actually run 2 of my 6 repeaters in NB and most likely will be switching another to NB in the near future. For those that run the Midland gear it does help those radios. I still like my WB stuff but i use what makes it work best for the users on the system. As you said its all whats best for the repeater owners and users. I wouldn't want the FCC to say you MUST go NB cause i would be unplugging half of mine.