wilbilt62

I feel ya. Those fans can do that. Seriously.

I have a Wouxun KG-805G HT that decided to lose all of its programming every time it was turned off. It would revert to the Chinese factory default with only CH01, CH02, etc. and Chinese voice prompts. I kept reprogramming it and would keep it turned on in the charging stand to prevent this. I contacted BTWR.com and they replied that it sounds like the chip that stores the program info has gone bad, but it is out of warranty, so have a nice day. Just my experience. I just turned it off and put it back in the box.

Thank you for the information in the OP. I have been experiencing loud static interference on all of the GRMS frequencies in a specific location nearby for a few years. It is strong enough to break squelch on my mobile radio (which is usually in scan mode). All 462 and 467 Mhz frequencies are affected. Interestingly, this happens in close proximity to the local Walmart store. I notice it when driving by for a block or so in any direction. I don't actually shop there. Anyway, I filed a "consumer complaint" with the FCC and received an email confirmation they had received it. We'll see. Thanks!

I am not interested in that at all. However, I am interested in using a frequency and tone that I have a legal right to use. That probably doesn't make sense to you.

And that, in a nutshell, is the entire point of this thread.

The issue is that all of the pairs around here are jammed up with "private" repeaters (most of which are mostly silent). Simplex is full of farm worker traffic in Spanish or Punjabi. Of course, they never use call signs or follow any rules in any way. I suppose I could poke around and find a pair and tone that isn't already "claimed". But if you are close enough, you can hear traffic regardless of tone. Would I then be "interfering"?

Of course not. I have been driving for nearly 50 years and am about the most courteous driver you will ever meet. I have never been involved in a collision, although I have avoided many because I was paying attention when others weren't. (I don't refer to collisions as "accidents", because 99% of the time, they aren't "accidents") I received my most recent traffic citation in 1981. And I always use my turn signal because it literally requires zero effort and is the courteous thing to do. I extend courtesy to all others on the road, and I expect the same in return. If I am transmitting on a public frequency and tone, being courteous and following the FCC rules, I am doing the right thing and being courteous. And I expect the same in return. Hell, I even hold doors open for people.

Sure. But you also aren't entitled to park your personal vehicle across a public road, blocking access to others. You own the vehicle, but you don't own the road.

I suppose I could set up a repeater on the same frequency and tone and then claim it is mine. Of course, I wouldn't do that because I am not a di*k, but I certainly could.

Yes, that rule seems pretty clear, although its existence is kind of a mystery to me. The nearest repeater to me (about 10 miles) is a "private" repeater. A few years ago, I came up on that repeater and asked for a radio check, I just wanted to see if my new HT could make that 10 miles. The owner of that repeater immediately responded and tore me a new one for accessing his repeater. I apologized and stated I was just requesting a radio check and hadn't intended to ruin his day. I haven't accessed that repeater since, due to courtesy; but here is the thing...I have that repeater in my normal scan and that repeater literally has LESS THAN 5 MINUTES OF TRAFFIC on it per year. No recurring repeater ID. Yet this guy is sitting on that public frequency and tone, claiming that he "owns" it. It boggles my mind and makes no sense.

Yes, one of the reasons I left So Cal nearly 40 years ago. Too many people in general and a high percentage of those with an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Rural Nor Cal was an enlightening experience for me back then. Friendly people, much less sense of rush. Many neighbors helped us out when we were trying to get established and basically starving. Since then, I have tried to pay it forward. If that means setting up an open repeater on the travel tone, so be it.

I am seriously considering it. As I stated previously, my location is really not ideal for what I am trying to accomplish but it is worth a go. Tough crowd in this room. I am simply trying to help out my neighbors.

I grew up in So Cal (Simi Valley) in the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, the "neighborhood moms" would help you out if you rashed your face on the pavement. My wife and I left there in 1985 and moved up north to the "wild west", we we still are today. Today, my "neighborhood" is about 12-15 miles north to south and about 6 miles wide. Much of the area has very few services. In the southern portion, there are no stores, gas stations or retail businesses of any kind. Law enforcement response was measured in hours or even days until recent years. We are basically on our own down here. Many live behind tall fences and locked gates, because the tweakers will rob you blind given half a chance. BTW, I have some "experience" and don't play that game. In the rainy season, the roads flood every year and we are cut off from anything. In the summer, fires are a constant danger. This is why I would like to establish a radio network for emergencies. There are several established repeaters that easily cover this area, but the owners are all "mine, mine, mine!" centric. It is pretty sad, actually.

A quick update...the 3rd-party cable I had ordered nearly a month ago finally arrived about 30 minutes ago. It was listed as a cable for the AnyTone AT-5888UV & AT-778UV radios. I ordered it because the photo of the pinout on the RJ-45 jack looked the same as the Midland cable I had borrowed. And it works! I can read from and write to the radio. It was $11 on Amazon. Now I can fix my radio if it loses the split tones again. However, I will still be looking to replace this radio.