MichaelLAX

I still get thrown at all of the "Novice" Ham callsigns I hear in California these days: KN6xxx [former Novice: KN9FKA]

Remember, this repeater will reverse its input and output frequencies, such as to work with bubble pack HTs.

That does help; thank you! Looking at the section of Part 95 you quote, it is clear to me that a fixed station can communicate on simplex with another fixed station on these so-called repeater input channels. Of course, all interference is to be avoided, including using the output frequencies for simplex; and can be easily avoided with a bit of research and experience reviewing these channels for local repeaters. In any event, I think that the word "illegally" is a bit harsh and off base for simplex communications by fixed stations (that do not interfere) on these channels.

I am thinking about installing a GMRS repeater for family and friends to communicate: I would provide them each with a pair of bubble pack HTs preprogrammed to the same 462/467.xxx frequencies (so called Channels 14-22) and flip the repeater to REV (that is: swap the input and output frequencies). [edited for clarity] Then they could transmit on one HT and receive on the other. Comments?

It's not clear to me (as it might be to you) that this is a "modification" that invalidates its type acceptance, since the change can be accomplished with the programming software or by keyboard, as it was supplied to the FCC for Type Acceptance. In any event, I get much more sleep at night than I use to, when I used my Baofeng UV-5Rx3 for GMRS!

I used a semi-professional to purchase and install my 80-6 meter Hygain and the tr-band Comet, so I have sent him an email to see if he kept track of which models he purchased for me!

I am just amazed how good the reception and transmission range of my Anytone AT-799UV retail at $99 (and I got it discounted from Let's Get Ready as a PAPA System member): I am able to communicate with a very interesting crowd on 446.86 in Santa Clarita to the Northwest and the Keller Peak 2 meter repeater from my Comet on my roof!. The Santa Clarita repeater was actually once a GMRS repeater than he converter to Ham 70 cm and the owner is amazed that I can get in. I may have to buy another Anytone to stop bringing it in and out my car (my first mobile rig in 60 years of being a Ham!)

What exactly do you mean by "illegally?" How would you know if we are using 467.xxxx simplex or simply as the input to a repeater that you cannot hear?

Anytone AT-779UV (Amazon $99) a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G (Amazon $129) comes with software that opens up the Ham 2 meter and 70 cm bands in addition to its GMRS capabilities. The same menu can be accessed without a computer by: 1) Turn off the power. 2) While holding down the V/M button, turn on the power. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change from the GMRS setting on the display to 136-174 MHz; 400-470 MHz and now power down. 3) When you power back up licensed operators can now transmit on the GMRS channels and the 2 meter and 70 cm Ham bands.

Some Operational Tips for the Anytone AT-779UV a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G: Open up the Ham 2 meter and 70 cm bands to transmit on the USA version: 1) Turn off the power. 2) While holding down the V/M button, turn on the power. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change from the GMRS setting on the display to 136-174 MHz; 400-470 MHz and now power down. 3) When you power back up licensed operators can now transmit on the GMRS channels and the 2 meter and 70 cm Ham bands. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Giving a Channel an alphanumeric name without using a computer: 1) Go to the appropriate Channel 2) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 29: DSPCHANNEL and using the Up and Down arrow buttons, select NAME. Push the FUN button to exit the Function menu. 3) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 12: CHANNEL NAME. Using the Up and Down Arrow buttons, scroll through the list of 1-0, A-Z and a-z to find the first letter. When you do find it, push the MON button to confirm that character and move to the 2nd position. Repeat as necessary until up to 8 characters are entered. 4) When finished push the FUN button to exit the Function Mode. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Programming a repeater channel without using a computer: 1) Switch to VFO mode (from Channel Mode) using the V/M key 2) Using the number keys on the mic, enter the repeater's output frequency 3) On the mic, push FUN then 9 repeatedly until the proper split (+ or - or blank for Off) appears above the frequency. 4) Press the FUN key on the Radio and use the V/M and Main keys as an up/down to get to function 10:Offset. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to set your offset split, such as 5.00000MHz or 0.60000MHz (you can hold down the Up or Down key to have it continuously change). Once you get to the proper offset, push the FUN key again. 5) Press the FUN key on the Radio and go to Function 01:T-CDC and use the Up and Down keys to find the proper transmit PL Tone. Use the same method to optionally set the proper receive PL Tone, if necessary, on Function 02:R-CDC (or Function 03: RT-CDC if both tones are the same) 6) You can rotate through High, Medium and Low transmit power using FUN and 0 (zero) on the mic. 7) Save to the first open channel by pushing Fun and UP on the microphone (or then use the UP and DN keys on the mic to scroll through the available channels, with empty ones saying NULL Save to this channel holding down the "MON-*" key on the mic and you are done! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Use DCS Digital Tones: Go to desired channel Press FUN on mic Press 1 on mic Go to menu 1 using V/M or Main key on mic Press number 1 on mic to cycle to 000 N display for menu 1 Use up and down on mic to scroll to code corresponding to desired DCS code. List is in the instructions. Use V/M or Main to go to menu item 2. Repeat selection process Press DIL on mic to exit. _________________________________________________________________ New Radioddity DB20-G CPS software V2.02 1. Change the default bandwidth from Narrow to Wide. 2. Address the bug that "when repeater TX frequency change, RX frequency automatically match" ---------------------------------------------------------------- Also, In anecdotal tests in my shack with my Comet try-band vertical on the roof, I have been able to "hit" repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm that I cannot hit with my Yaesu FT-857d with the same Comet!

[moved to other thread]

UPDATE: OK, I now have version 1.13 of the Anytone D578UV software installed in Windows XP (Presumably Win 10 will also work). Go to the Model menu and go down to Model Information There are two Model choices: D578UV and D578UVII Under Frequency's, you will see there are either 11 or 12 pull down choices for each model. The applicable one is probably Amateur US Mode 000007; try this and see if you can transmit on the GMRS channels as well as the Ham bands. If not, keep trying the other Modes and report back your findings. As a last resort, Amazon sells the AT-779UV for $99 and the Radioddity DB-20G for $129 and I find that it out performs my Yaesu FT-857d on both 2 meters and 70cm! And I love being able to scan all my favorite GMRS and Ham Repeaters (and simplex channels) all at once!

My Anytone AT-779UV a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G, transmits on Ham 2 meters, 70 cm and GMRS. Let me download the 578 software and see how similar they are.

So far the only radio I have come across that will work Ham 2 meters, 70 cm and GMRS is the Anytone AT-779UV a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G. Amazon has the Anytone for $99 and the Radioddity for $129. I have the Anytone in my car as my first ever mobile radio and I am really enjoying being able to scan all my favorite repeaters on all 3 bands at once and jump into a conversation, as desired. It operates so efficiently in the shack connected to my rooftop Comet tri-band vertical that I am thinking about buying another one for the shack. It is hitting repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm that I am unable to hit with my Yaesu FT-857d, when connected to the same Comet! Anytone also makes the AT-D578UVIIIPRO mobile, which is 2 meters/70 cm and DMR, but I have no experience trying it out on GMRS.

So far the only radio I have come across that will work Ham 2 meters, 70 cm and GMRS is the Anytone AT-779UV a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G. Amazon has the Anytone for $99 and the Radioddity for $129. I have the Anytone in my car as my first ever mobile radio and I am really enjoying being able to scan all my favorite repeaters on all 3 bands at once and jump into a conversation, as desired. It operates so efficiently in the shack connected to my rooftop Comet tri-band vertical that I am thinking about buying another one for the shack. It is hitting repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm that I am unable to hit with my Yaesu FT-857d, when connected to the same Comet!

So far the only radio I have come across that will work Ham 2 meters, 70 cm and GMRS is the Anytone AT-779UV a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G. Amazon has the Anytone for $99 and the Radioddity for $129. I have the Anytone in my car as my first ever mobile radio and I am really enjoying being able to scan all my favorite repeaters on all 3 bands at once and jump into a conversation, as desired. It operates so efficiently in the shack connected to my rooftop Comet tri-band vertical that I am thinking about buying another one for the shack. It is hitting repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm that I am unable to hit with my Yaesu FT-857d, when connected to the same Comet!

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