coryb27
-
Posts
422 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
66
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Classifieds
Posts posted by coryb27
-
-
Been around two way for a long time but some of the newer stuff has passed me by, can someone give me the cliff notes version of GMRS on the Zello network and Node 200. Thanks
Some local groups have interfaced Zello to a repeater or group of repeaters. The Zello channels are members only and require gmrs licence for access. I have no idea what Node 200 is and I have and operate nodes and servers on the myGMRS network. This website hosts a network of GMRS repeaters that are linked using VOIP. You can se emore here. myGMRS Network
-
Hi Corey, appreciate your wise advice on making smart moves.
Okay, I'm a new GMRS user (WRKS279) in Maple Grove Minnesota. I have a little Wouxun KG-805G. A nice little handheld with 5watts of power. Still, I'm not hearing much as I leave it on scanner mode. Sometimes it stops and I hear a partial conversation. But if I try to call out on that channel (usually Ch 15)...nothing. I just got a Nagoya UT-72 antenna for it, with the adapter to use with my Wouxun. I just have it sitting near the window inside my little home office. I'm still not hearing anything. Today, I was practicing calling out to see if I could connect with someone ("This is WRKS279, Whisky Romeo Kilo Sierra 279, beaming from Maple Grove Minnesota on GMRS band 15. WRKS279, CQ hello? Listening" variations repeated multiple times ). Still nothing. So, I'm wondering if there are just so few people using GMRS? Or, is my reach still so poor I cannot connect with those who do? Thoughts? Do I need like a Harvest BC200 mounted outside? Would it help to get a 50 watt mobile for my home shack?I'd like to participate in the Midwest Net, but I don't know if I have equipment that would ever allow me to connect with the closest midwest repeater (169). Supposedly, the "Metro 4" repeater run out of the University of Minnesota covers out to my area in the suburbs. Would I use that to connect with the Midwest net 169? If so, how? Thanks for any help you can give!
Hello,
Well this is a lot to take in. so lets start with the hand held. At best your going to be limited to users within a mile. This also takes into account most of the bubble packs you hear have a PL or DPL programed on them so they will never hear you. I live in a condo and was lucky to get second floor with attic access. I run several commercial UHF and VHF antennas in the attic and am able to talk simplex 25 miles with other base users. As far as repeaters, I can work 11 from my house with my attic antenna and 50W radio. You can purchase a Motorola CDM1250 in the GMRS band for $100, Power supply for $50, a good mobile antenna in the GMRS band with mag mount $50 and a 16" round pizza pan $10. Try to get the antenna outside for best result. This would greatly increase the chances you will contact somebody simplex or finding a repeater you can access with humans using it. I am not going to lie this is exactly how I get into GMRS, a TYT UHF radio, laird antenna cut for 460-470 a pizza pan and recycled power supply, look at me now...
-
Back in the 80's I charged $8/foot for a climb plus any hardware I supplied. I carried a $2 million dollar liability policy.
I currently pay $100 an hour for my climber under 500'. I supply everything required for the install, the ground crew, hard hats for the ground crew and a set of quality HT's for tower to ground coms. Climber comes with all his own gear, cable tools for grounding and connector installs, ropes, safety equipment and the key Insurance. No commercial tower operator is going to let an uninsured person climb a tower so if somebody tells you otherwise its most likely not true. I can asure if something goes wrong you will most likely get a trespassing citation as I am sure Crown Castle or American Tower did not wave the insurance requirement.
-
I stand corrected, it is saying connection failed, rather than connection denied. My node has been up for about two days now, so I'm not sure what the next step is. Is it correct etiquette for me to attempt to connect to the Illinois hub rather than the midwest hub or does it matter? Thank You.
Connecting to the Midwest Hub would be the proper way. I recently added the state hubs to allow us options as we have a lot of traffic. I am talking to Rich about the connection issue, not sure whats going on.
Corey
-
I was going to toss this out on the air!
- rodro123 and roberttosa
-
2
-
I have 4 repeater sites and I think it is time to network any info will be helpful thank you and looking forward to your discussion. I am interested in equipment out of the box or home brew.
Thank You
kd4ysh
km4mnc
wrde282
https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/repeaters-and-accessories/products/repeater-linking-bundle
- mainehazmt and shaine
-
2
-
My house is an old tri-level, so the roof height is just about 4-5' less than a standard 2-story. 10' on a tripod sure seems like a lot of potential weeble-wobble in the wind, but this is why i pose the question to the experts. I do already have a 5-element yagi, and plan to try it out first. Then possibly option for a 12 or some variation of yagi higher than a 5. I know that Buddy Moyer uses a 5-element on his tower to hit the local Indy 550 repeater with no issues whatsoever. But, his yagi is also 70' off the ground, mounted to his repeater tower there in Greencastle.
My concern is that i get it right from the start, whether that is 2 antennas or 1. I've already accumulated quite an array of mobile antennas with various testing and i don't want that expense or hassle when going roof top. Ideally, i want to set the track in motion and know that i'm going to have decent success with the investment.
Appreciate the response and all you guys out there making this fun for the rest of us.
-jb
I would try that beam you have, feed it with some LMR400, A 10' mast in a 3' tripod is only 7', point that beam toward Greencastle see what you get. I have had great success with 10 foot, inch and a half electrical conduit, its cheap and strong for smaller antennas. Stop wasting your money and mobile antennas you will never get good results.
-
Looking for opinions on a gmrs base antenna setup.
Currently using a mobile nmo 5.5db whip on a mag mount, on top of my furnace chimney. Plenty of steel ground plane and it seems to work OK, but not great. 12' of RG58 with the mount and about 20' of RG8x to complete the feeder. This puts me around 3.5db loss in the coax. I can just barely pick up 2 different repeaters, each about 40miles away on a clear day with the monitor/squelch wide open.
Not the most ideal situation and i want to improve it.
First consideration is that i need 2 different antennas, a yagi (12-element PCTEL MYA45012) on a rotator and a 9db gain omni (Comet CA-712EFC), both on a switch. Seemingly, this would give me all the options I'm looking for. Long range sniper antenna with the yagi and good around-town simplex with the Comet. I will be improving the feeder lines significantly with lmr400, 600, or maybe even 1/2" hardline. All 'N' connectors and 'N' ported switch to keep loss at a minimum. Both would be mounted on separate masts (yet to be installed) on the roof, about 15' apart from each other.
My question is.... would a DB404 be equal to or superior in hitting the 40mile away repeaters? And if so, is the DB404 really all i need? From what i have read of Corey's DB404... sure seems like thats all i would need. However, I'm concerned with my urban location in the swamp of Indianapolis, lack of height on my roof, and trying to break a signal out of the trees as well as the lower lying swamp ground that is my neighborhood.
The price for the 2 antennas and feeders will end up costing about the same as just going with a DB404 out of the gate.
Thoughts?
(no wifey-poo considerations and i could care less what the neighbors think)
-jb
wrey478
If you use the beam I would go with less gain on the yagi for a more usable beam width. I had a 5 element on a rotor and was able to work repeaters 45 miles away at my last house. Yet again a DB-404 30' off the ground in my attic with 45 watts gets me into my chain o lakes repeater 35 miles away full quieting and I have talked simplex to other base stations 25 miles away. How high can you go? A 3' tripod and 10' mast on roof may just do the trick.
-
Its fairly informal around here. I won't call CQ... but I'll give my call and say Listening or Monitoring. If I don't get a reply, I will say it again. In a minute or so, but add "for any station."
If I'm really board, staying in a small area and no adults are around, I'll use the lower channels and a lot of little kids love talking. Its actually pretty entertaining.
I scare the kids that are using the GMRS repeater outputs on simplex, I bet my XTL5000 base is the sound of god with its desk mic. I have even had some parents yell at me for freaking the kids out.
- Elkhunter521, gortex2 and marcspaz
-
3
-
I tried an Ed Fong j-pole in the attic 6 years ago and it went in the trash 10 min later, worthless as far as resonant, basically a nice dummy load. Several years ago I purchased an Andrew DB404 for my base, still 30' in the attic but I am able to hit my repeaters 35 miles away. I regularly talk simplex 25 miles without an issues. As with anything, you get what you pay for.
http://mwgmrs.com/mygmrs/uhfbase2.jpg
-
This raido uses a VCO or voltage controlled oscillator, its tuned by setting the voltage into the VCO. Its an easy fix but requires a multi meter with a 5 place decimal and a spectrum analyzer. This is not done in the programing software. Did somebody use a magic screwdriver trying to get more power out of this radio? If not changes in the VCO voltage could be from the power circuit that feeds the VCO. Lots of variables to look at, if its programed properly the issue is in the reference oscillator. PM me if you would like to arrange tuning with an Agilent 4401A Multimeter and Areoflex 2975 service monitor.
-
1. Toward the topic of linked repeaters. It would be nice if there was a note as to where the networked repeaters are located prior to clicking on the link. There is no way to tell what state or city the linked networks are in if it's not in the name and there are many to click on only to find out that there are plenty in Texas, but none near me.
2. Perhaps a way to add a repeater that you do not own but have found. There are several in the area that I come across while scanning the GMRS frequencies, but can't find on the website to get a tone for or permission to use because I don't know who to contact. If someone could add, for example, " Found: 550 repeater near Center City Philadelphia. Tone 141.3"
-
How about some how to, or tutorials, on basic topics. GMRS is mainly aimed at non technical people who simply want a good means of communications and don't have much interest in the theory or radio as a hobby. For that there is Ham Radio.
For example one wants a mobile installation. Basic info on how a mobile radio should be wired up for electrical safety, battery connections, fuses etc. What type of coax cable to use, cable connectors, antenna location and antenna mounts. Recommended mobile radios, antenna manufactures and models. Some sample photos of other people's installations for ideas to go along with the written material.
Another would be for portable radios. Recommended manufactures and models. Issues with using a portable radio in a mobile setting, speaker microphones, heat sets, battery types, battery eliminators, cable adapters from the portable radio to mobile antenna. Again some sample photos.
Repeater operation. What are they used for. What specific channels are reserved for them. Explain why there are two frequencies used and in general how this is programed in to the radio. Explain what a "PL" tone is used for and why it's typically required.
The how to's should be kept at a low simple technical level. The idea is to help somebody setup a functional radio installation without getting mired in a lot of theory. After the system is up and running there is plenty of time and people who can provide additional info for those that have the interest.
I hope to write some of these at some point, just waiting for the site rebuild
-
I think I've found 2 viable candidates for an antenna that will suit my needs (attic configuration due to HOA):
- Comet GP-1
- Diamond X50A
Any first-hand experiences here with either, good, bad, or otherwise? Price is similar. Diamond is a little longer. Both seem to get excellent reviews.
One other deployment option is to run either antenna outdoors on my deck using a pole I can extend during emergencies. If I keep it low, but still outdoors, the HOA won't be able to see it and I won't need to worry about them.
(To recap, I'm in northern Virginia in a fairly suburban setting. Terrain is largely flat with a few rolling hills. Primary goal is to be able to reliably hit a repeater in Alexandria, but my secondary goal is to be able to communicate in simplex to my wife at her office, roughly 3 miles from home. I can reach her now via repeater only. I can reach the repeater from home, especially if I step outside. Hoping to improve indoor coverage as well as simplex to wife.)
Thanks.
Cheers,
Ken van Wyk
i posted this a while back, the DB-404 is an amazing antenna for the attic. Living in a CONDO i know all about the HOA as I am the president of ours. I am able to work simplex 15 to 20 miles and repeaters 45 to 50 miles away. If you scroll down I included some photos. https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1367-antenna-for-base-in-apartment/
-
-
Whats the chance we can get a chat room? Is that even a thing anymore? I like the idea of ad supported, and yes I would pay 5 bucks a month to not see them!
1. Expand our repeater linking project!
- miko1428, gortex2 and rdunajewski
-
3
-
I’m currently running a Midland mxt115 in my truck and am using the stock mag mount antenna which is about 6” long.
I’ve considered moving up to a longer 6dB gain antenna but I don’t want to drill holes in my roof to mount it. I have my CB antenna mounted on the side of my tool box using a right angle bracket. I’ve got my SWR on the CB down to about 1:1.1 with that setup.
Would I gain anything from moving up to the 6dB antenna with it mounted on the opposite side of the tool box? And how would this affect reception and transmission versus the small mag mount antenna on the roof?
As others have stated the best option is to ditch the stock antenna and replace it with a good laird or comparable antenna and mount. The stock antenna has the worst coax I have ever seen on a UHF radio. I personally am a fan of 1/4 wave antennas if you are in an urban area or operate within 25 miles of your local repeaters but only if you can install a thru roof NMO mount. I never had great luck with mag mounts, even when I bought my new GMC it had holes in the roof before it had a 100 miles on it. If GMRS is something you plan to stick with drill the hole!!!
-
https://community.allstarlink.org/t/concern-about-gmrs/15549/73?u=n2dlx
He started with his nonsense over on the Allstar forums. I felt the need to do a little damage control since these loosey-goosey networks are doing all kinds of stuff that can reflect poorly on GMRS linking in general.
Behavioral health is not an area I have expertise in, but this guy definitely seems to have some serious problems.
After reading all of it I am shocked that anybody would even think about getting involved with either of these 2 quacks. One is dreaming and telling a grand story, the only radio licence this guy has ever held is a GMRS licence. His rantings and babbling is in every forum and every group, hes combative and confrontational as well as arrogant. The other guy knows only what hes learned from YouTube, he treats GMRS like an experimental hobby and risks the GMRS community at large by his total dissreguard for rules and standards. If people and groups are left to continue to operate as these individuals GMRS will pay the price.
-
(moved from the "So you just got your GMRS license and now you want to set up a repeater" thread)
So..a little pie in the sky thinking on this topic; hoping to draw on the collective knowledge and experience of the community (i know there's a bit of general radio, antenna/repeater, and ham knowledge out there) as to how realistic the idea is, any ideas on potential costs, and possible pitfalls. That said, onto the idea:
- How feasible would it be to repurpose an existing site as a GMRS repeater?
- There is a site not far from me that was previously used as a base site for commercial radio (roadside assistance dispatch); the licensing shows cancelled in 2018 from what i can find.
- the antenna and mast appear to still be intact. from what i can find, they were on 452.600mhz and 152.920mhz from this site, with 75 watts output. From what i can find, it'd be a stacked folded dipole setup (found a similar photo online, added below) with a total height of 75.5 ft. i realize this isn't exactly GMRS bands, but is it close enough to be usable?
- Given that it was most likely a dispatch site, repeater hardware probably would probably be needed.
- From the design/permitting/licensing side, how much of previous work could be carried over, since the structure is already in place? Any educated (or wild) guesses on how willing an organization like this might be willing to work with/lease for something like this?
- My area is pretty sparse with repeaters according to the database; there's a couple "permission required" that don't appear to be responding to questions on the listing, and one open that doesn't appear to be operational; the listing hasn't been touched since 2009, and questions posted haven't been addressed. There's a couple others around, but appear to be out of range as well. with that in mind, setting up open repeater initiative compliant is a thought as well
all thoughts and opinions welcome.
http://www.starantenna.com/images/home/Stacked-Folded-Dipole-Omni-Directional-Antenna.jpg
I agree this is VHF. I see you mentioned this was some stock photo you found, can you get a photo of the actual antenna? Most UHF dipoles will cover 450 to 470 so if the actual antenna is UHF it would be usable for GMRS.
A UHF Dipole will have lobes like this
http://mwgmrs.com/mygmrs/attic/uhfbase2.jpg
-
-
If the vehicles (factory) ground strap from the battery to the engine block fails, the radio acts as the negative side for the whole vehicle. The radio might not like seeing all the current of the starter motor. I have seen equipment fail this way, the end result is the junk pile or needs repair table at the next ham fest....
Yea I'm am back from my forum break
-
A legend in his own mind, a super hero to all GMRS users and radio extraordinaire
guys nuts, I trolled him for about a year, I know more about this guy than he does himself.Mr. Becker
Just so you know who I am, I'm a 66 year old individual who spent most of my working life (over 30 years) within the two-way radio communications field as a dealer, service center, tower owner, designer and mobile data public safety systems provider. Plus I have also applied for and was granted more licenses by FCC than you will probably ever be in your life time
William R Howell,
GMRS License Call Sign: WQYX489
CEO, USGMRS Repeater & Users Group Association- gortex2, Elkhunter521, marcspaz and 1 other
-
4
-
I just have to ask, why would you set up a repeater if you have no idea how to program it or how it works? I highly recommend reading my post here. https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1402-you-just-got-your-gmrs-license-now-you-want-your-own-repeater/
- Elkhunter521, jimndfw, berkinet and 1 other
-
4
-
Okay... so, sounds like you have a defective radio.
BTech / Baofeng folks at the SD location are good people. They should be able to take good care of you. They do care about the customer experience, which is pretty cool. I had a problem with a radio that I returned and they snail mailed and apology letter to my house.
Please keep us up to date... and welcome to MyGMRS.com!
I have seen 3 of these radios, one with this issue, the TX frequency was so far off the repeater ignored it. These radios seem to be hit and miss with quality and the components do not match from unit to unit.
Corey
Slim Jim Newbie
in Technical Discussion
Posted
Don't rule out a 1/4 wave on a magnet mount in the center of a 18" pizza pan.
Believe it or not this will talk almost as good as a mobile if you can get it in front of a window.