[What do you all use for antennas at home?]

Using 2 Comet 712 EFC's (one for repeater, one for base) GAP Titan DX, Comet GP6, N9TAX Slim jim and MFJ-2012 OCF dipole. If you look closely, they are all in the photo. I also have a Commscope DB404 sitting in the garage. I replaced it with on of the 712's

[Best Home Basestation Antenna for Either 50 Watt Midland or 50 Watt Wouxon?]

I'm using a Comet 712efc on both my repeater and my base. So far they have been an excellent choice. I actually replaced my Commscope DB404 with the Comet

[ROAST my home station setup!]

The Comet 712efc's are a great antenna for the price. I actually replaced my Commscope DB404 with one, and right now it's up over 50' on 4 of those fence top rails (of course with guy wires)

Sounds like you'll have a nice setup

[Which Is Better Or You Prefer, LMR600 Or Andrews Heliax?]

From everything I've read, the Andrew Heliax is better if you're running a repeater. For just a GMRS base station radio, either would be fine, with LMR600 being a bit of overkill, unless it's a really long run to the antenna. This is just my opinion and my observations

If wanting it for a repeater, this may help a bit https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/blogs/bridgecom-official-blog/how-to-select-feedline-for-a-repeate

[Want a "tower" on a budget?]

Hey, whatever works!! 

Anytime a tower goes up for sale in my area, they get snatched up pretty quickly, so for now, I have been using those 1-3/8" galvanized top rail for fencing. I have 25' on my roof with my Comet 712 EFC (Top of antenna is about 50') and 40' of top rail for my Commscope DB404 (top of antenna is also around 50')Of course I had to add guy wires, but so far so good. This was supposed to be "temporary" but I said that about 9 months ago. So far they survived high winds and lightning

[TXM Super Flex 1/2" Cable - FSJ4-50B]

34 minutes ago, hfd376 said:

I have no experience at all with the TMX cable, and this is just a guess on my part. Perhaps the tolerances for the TMX are different than the Commscope. Maybe the piece that goes between the outer conductor and the dielectric in the backnut was too large or small. Again, just a guess.

Before purchasing, I emailed them and asked if my Commscope/Andrew fittings that work on my Commscope fsj4-50b cable would work on theirs, and they assured me their cables were the the same specifications. On this TXM cable, you just have to be damn sure to to thread the fitting too tightly. I got things working and everything tests OK, but I'll stick with good USA made cable from now on

[TXM Super Flex 1/2" Cable - FSJ4-50B]

9 minutes ago, hfd376 said:

The type of feedline Flameout is referring to does not have a braided outer conductor. How did you prep that cable? Was it done with an all in one prep tool, used with a drill or T handle? If so, was it for that brand and model cable?

I used the Commscope MCPT-1412. It did a good job prepping the cable, it's just when I threaded on the N connector, it tore up that cheap copper. I always use good fittings too. Was using an Andrew F4PNMV2-HC

[TXM Super Flex 1/2" Cable - FSJ4-50B]

 

5 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

One of the differences between coax quality is the amount of braided shielding. Higher quality coax will have more/thicker braids.

Here is what the braided shield looks like on quality LMR400 Ultraflex.

 

 

 

I do have some good LMR400 going to my GAP Titan DX HF antenna. I was 'hoping' that this TXM cable would be similar to the Andrew Heliax FSJ4-50b hardline to use on my repeater. I do have some abs industries 25400f on a repeater and it works great. The TXM sure is nothing like this good Andrew Heliax FSJ4

[Motorola XPR-4550 radios for GMRS repeater, will they work?]

My XPR5550 works great on GMRS. No idea how to use them for repeaters, but I would think they should be able to be configured for it

[TXM Super Flex 1/2" Cable - FSJ4-50B]

After messing around with this coax, I'd recommend to avoid it. It's like the cheap Chinese copper is thinner than the good USA made FSJ4-50B coax. Attaching a connector, it just shredded the copper.I finally got my connectors on and tests are ok, but I'd still never buy it again

[What is the best commercial radio for GMRS use?]

2 hours ago, TheNevilleKid said:

Thanks for the info and I researched quite a bit and Motorola software is not easy to get, I'm also looking into the Kenwood TK880H UHF version2 which seems to be easier to get the CPS for 

I have a few TK880's and some Motorolas. For me, I prefer my Motorola XPR5550e over the TK880's. Of course the 5550 is a bit newer than the Kenwood 880. For my HT, I either carry my Wouxoun KG-UV9Px or my Motorola XPR7550. The 7550 receives weaker signals that the UV9P doesn't, but the TX side is about the same

[TXM Super Flex 1/2" Cable - FSJ4-50B]

Well, I just ordered 50', so since no one here has ever used it, I'll try to post my review of it after I get it installed

[TXM Super Flex 1/2" Cable - FSJ4-50B]

I'd like to eliminate my 2-25' sections of coax (One section is Andrew Heliax LDF4-50a and the other Andrew Heliax FSJ4-50b connected with good N connectors) and searching, I came across the TXM cable, which I have never heard of. The specs are about identical to the Andrew FSJ4-50b but a lot less money so I was wondering if anyone here has used or is currently using it on their repeater setup, and how it's working out.

https://www.txmstore.com/1-2-super-flexible-50-ohm-coax-cable-per-foot-compare-to-commscope-fsj4-50b-spf12/

It will feed my Commscope DB404 from my Motorola Radius GR500 repeater

[GMRS repeater]

16 hours ago, SONOGUY said:

I am trying to hit the repeater WN2XfO and have used the settings listed but do not get a hiss after releasing PTT. Can this mean I am connected but no one is responding or I am too far from the repeater also?

That repeater is about 10 miles from me and I have never been able to hit it (he is the same guy running the DMR gmrs repeater, that I also have never been able to hit). BTW, mine is the Observatory Hill repeater just west of that WN2XFO repeater

[Repeater antenna db gain vs altitude]

I'd try the Comet 712 EFC over the DB404. I was using the Comet on my repeater setup and thought I could improve coverage/performance with the DB404, so I bought one. 

The Comet performs MUCH better than my Commscope DB404

[Recieving only one direction]

3 minutes ago, WRJW518 said:

Even though I think the problem is on his end, I'm going to replace my antenna and go to the LMR400 for a 50ft run. What antenna do you suggest for gmrs? I'm looking at (AYESOK Fiberglass GMRS Base Antenna (462-467 MHZ), 7.2dBi High Gain UHF GMRS Repeater Antenna Signal Booster for BTECH Midland Retevis QYT GMRS Radios HT Scanner Motorola Repeater)

Can't go wrong with a Comet 712EFC. It actually works better than my much more expensive Commscope DB404

[Repeater Antenna Selection]

14 hours ago, WRZM228 said:

Looking good. How many feet total. BTW I use to be in my moms roof and so as friends over 100 times. My new house, I don't think I can do it anymore. Signs of times. I'll probably end up renting a man lift.

 

I have 50' of Wireman CQ1000 running to the Comet 712EFC and for the DB404, I have 25' of Andrew Heliax Ldf4-50a coupled with about 12' of Andrew Heliax fsj4-50b 

I'm still experimenting to see what works best, but with the limited gmrs activity in my area, it's tough to get feedback. 

[Repeater Antenna Selection]

I have both a Comet 712 EFC and a Commscope DB404 and my repeater is a Motorola GR500 (I also have a few GR1225's) I don't understand why, but the Comet is performing better but either of those would be a good choice. Both so far have held up to some good winds. Some gusts over 50mph

 

[Repeater Question]

Have you looked into the older Motorola GR500/GR1225 repeaters? Can usually be found for a few hundred dollars with duplexer so all you need is a GOOD antenna and elevation. 

I actually have a few of them, with one set up in my area. It works good, but gmrs is kind of dead here. I also have a Retevis RT97 that I tried out for a week or so. I tried selling a complete, tuned (.650) lower power GR1225 locally but no one was even interested

 

[Best radio for a Middle School.]

I have no idea of the legalities of using a gmrs repeater in a school/business scenario, but something like a Motorola GR1225 centralized in the school,  with a good antenna seems like it would do the trick and they can be found for a few hundred dollars. Even the lower power r1225 (1w-11w) would probably work for that small of an area. 

[What's a good mobile setup]

My old Kenwood tk880h works great

[Digital Direct Mode (Simplex) on 462 MHz GMRS Channels]

There is a GMRS DMR repeater in my area, but right now I don't have a digital radio so haven't been able to test it out. I do hear weird, loud noise occasionally on the frequency using my analog radio. I'm guessing it's IDing?

https://mygmrs.com/repeater/8051

[This Is Why I Hate Fedex!!]

21 hours ago, catbrigade said:

You'll be lucky if it arrives in one piece. They beat the crap out of anything I have had shipped through them.

I agree. I bought a Motorola GR1225 repeater and they obviously were playing soccer with the box. The front panel was in about 10 pieces and of course FedEx denied my claim

[Mast height for base station]

20 minutes ago, WRZC903 said:

Is that 40ft above your roof or from ground. I utilized Google university and seen were some used collapsible flag poles. 

It's 40' from the ground. That mast/roof line is about 12' and it's also secured to the fascia right at that point.  I would love to get it higher, with a tower, but that's way too expensive right now

[Mast height for base station]

I use four 10' sections of that galvanized top rail used in fencing. It was only meant to be temporary, but so far is working good. Yes, there are guy wires