WRKH870

Thank you Michael. When I had the antenna at about 14’, I had the same lightning arrest, about 30’ of the LMR-400. So the LMR-400 made up all of the coax I used. The only difference when I raised the mast to 32’ was the MPD-400 that ran from the antenna to the lightning arrestor and the PL-259 connector I placed at the end of the MPD-400 connecting to the lightning arrestor. MPD Digital Installed the PL-259 connector on the top end that connected it to the antenna. Hope I’m explaining it clear enough. Thanks for spending your time to help. Lee

I’m sorry. Yes MPD-400. As you can tell I’m new at this. Yes the braid was well into the top of that portion of the connector and I tried not to disturb the braid while screwing it on.

I’ve been trying to build a base station. Bought a HYS UHF Yagi Portable Installation Outdoor Antenna Base Stations 9dBi UHF 70cm/UHF 400-470 MHz, and LMR400 coax. I have a telescopic mast and originally put everything together just to see what kind of range I would have with the antenna at 15’. My SWR reading was at 1.5. I only bought 30’ of LMR 400. When I pulled the mast out I had almost 35’ so went online and bought 50’ of what I thought was going to be LMR400. When I received the 50’ of coax, it was MFD-400 which I can tell is slightly smaller in diameter and more flexible than the LMR-400. So I decided to use it anyway. The MFD-400 runs from the antenna to the wall..then a lightning arrestor...then LMR-400 runs through the wall to my radio, BTECH GMRS 50x1. The antenna was raised to about 32’. I plugged in my Surecom SW102 and my SWR reading is 2.95 on two different frequencies. The only thing I did to the new cable was cut it to length and solder the tip of a new PL-259 connector. The one thing that stands out to me is that I’m using two different types of coax. Could that be my issue? I did not mess with the tuning adjustment on the antenna since the original SWR reading was 1.5. Any ideas what my problem is/problems are?

Thanks Michael

Btw, I appreciate you guys taking time out of your day to respond. I know these are probably dumb questions to most of you but I really am trying to study, research, and learn as much as I can.

Ok, I checked to make sure the CTCSS/DCS were turned off. I then tried another FRS frequency and saved them both to channel 40. Then turned both radios to channel 40 and the hand held will transmit to the car radio but the car radio is not communicating with the hand held.

Thanks for replying. Aren’t CTCSS/DCS tones for using repeaters? I’m just sitting in my truck holding one radio and trying to communicate with the radio installed in that truck over an FRS frequency. As far as my radios not being GMRS compliant...the BTECH GMRS 50X1 radio in my truck has the FRS, GMRS, and those frequencies outside GMRS licensing. And where I am able to hear transmissions on those “unlicensed” channels, it will not allow me to broadcast on those channels. As far as the Baofeng UV 5R, from everything I have read and listened to as long as I don’t broadcast on the “unlicensed” channels I am not breaking any laws.

I am new to the GMRS world so I have more questions than answers. I became involved in ham recently to better help my family survive if things go bad. I first bought two Baofeng UV 5R hand-held radios then a BTECH GMRS 50X1 50 Watt radio for my truck. Then acquired my GMRS license. I have been able to get my two hand-helds to communicate with each other but haven’t been able to communicate between the two hh’s and car radio. I input the exact same FRS frequency into both radios and I’m getting nothing but crickets. Can anyone help? I’d greatly appreciate it. WRKH870