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PACNWComms

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PACNWComms last won the day on October 9 2022

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  1. Ok, that is pretty funny. Although, in my case I would probably have some three letter agency come at me even for that. I work in a unique clique. Still, may have to buy some of those.
  2. "Take a look at the Motorola XPR "e" series and the Vertex EVX radios if you want to see what a SDR chip coupled with good electronics and a little filtering can look like. Heck, even the older CDM mobiles had great analog receivers with some nice audio." Why I use CDM 1550LS+ (surplus from previous employer) and a XPR7550e for GMRS use now. Great radios that do what I need them to do. And will most likely last for years doing so. Better equipment, and paying attention to detail on coax and antenna means better signal quality, less power loss and more reliable use.
  3. For local Search and Rescue, used FRS/GMRs often in the past (decade or so ago) as many state and national parks tried to popularize FRS Channel 1 for emergency use, but it seems to only be used by little kids asking "hello" now. Even some search and rescue helicopters were equipped with Garmin Rino series GPS/radios.....and a local park claimed that these had been used to find some lost hikers at some point, but possibly just a local anecdote. Unless Garmin's have improved (they have several generations of newer GPS/radios now), they seemed like a great idea but never saw them actually used much for emergency situations. Just good to have if you find yourself in a situation where location is known via GPS, and a radio signal might be heard.
  4. Yes, while the ones in the unit work, I did find several online vendors that have "tube kits" for the SX-24/25, not too bad of a price, ~$65 to replace all the tubes. Might buy a kit just to have when one finally goes. They do get hot, noticed to top hinged cover had some black scorch marks from the tubes that get the hottest.
  5. Wife knows I can find something birthday wise in many larger thrift stores...so she encouraged it and we went for my last birthday to an area with a lot of them. Bought an old Hallicrafters SX-24 with matching speaker. Doesn't look like much but still works (most of my "gifts" were radios from several stores). Not going to hide my purchases, last was re-casing kits for some well used Motorola XPR-6550 handhelds (right after getting the SX-24 and some other older radios).
  6. Have been fighting some sites buying these batteries, to include the Motorola APX/XPR knockoff through Grainger......and wondering why the chargers (Motorola IMPRES) and Cadex condition charging profiles do not work with them. either the batteries get very hot and charging stops, or they all have the same chip/serial number and fail the IMPRES charge/condition charge cycles. Have forced many to do what they should have in the first place, buy from reputable vendors (one's who at least refund you if they sold fakes, or ones that do not meet sales specs). mAh capacities seem to vary a lot, and you can feel it in weight in many cases.
  7. However, my tastes also go the way of Kugellager above, I have a lot of Hallicrafters receivers as well. Most recent acquisition this past week. SX-24 with speaker. Needs to be cleaned up, but is fully functional. The "No!" on the speaker was next to a note card stating that you had to buy the radio before powering it on (I discretely plugged it in, with the volume to minimum and turned it on as the speaker was not connected - wanted to see if all the tubes worked at least).
  8. What sits at my desk at work.....helps me keep tabs on the analog gear. Have several more Realistic/Radio Shack/GRE receivers around as well. Very useful for FRS/GMRS monitoring.
  9. +1 on this. I have found many people that do not even seem to realize there is a difference, Japanese made Yaesu FT-8900 series radios, versus Chinese copy of that radio. Quality is very much an issue, and I have found many of these in state Emergency Operations Centers, often as spares or replacement for the original Yaesu. One person even told me that for the price, they expect them to fail and will replace them with another Chinese knockoff, as they can afford it. (Never mind the time to get another radio, supply chain, procurement, and so on adding to lost time as downtime).
  10. Looks like some of the Subaru's I see around my area, lifted, brush guard, lots of extra lights, and "Overlander" stickers all over them. Then, they have a GMRS (usually a high priced Midland) radio installed. That Camry would be pulled over for the lack of fender's or mud flaps in my area, but it would be interesting to know what that owner was going for. (Hopefully it is not a 4 cylinder with those oversize tires though, and how is the braking)?
  11. I can't say I go "off-roading" just secondary roading.....logging roads and maintenance of repeater sites in areas where logging often takes place. I have an old Blazer and Suburban that get used for this purpose. Blazer for fun and shorter wheelbase, and Suburban when I want to camp or sleep inside a larger vehicle. For work and play, I use either Cobra 29 LTD classic CB and older FRS/GMRS radios, to include: Garmin Rino 120/520/530 radios, Anytone 878 variants, Motorola TalkAbout variants, Motorola Trbo XPR6550's, XPR7550e, and an all in the palm Cobra ST WX 75 CB. As others mentioned, CB is still the "Go To" for many, to include logging trucks and forestry workers....do not want to meet on of those trucks coming down the mountain when you are going up it. GMRS works great in vehicle convoy's, while CB is still more popular in my area and secondary road use. Work wise, my employer requires CB, and another form of radio, as well as cell phones for all drivers. The Cobra 29 series, 75 CB, and cell phones get used often for off roading and secondary road use. However, while the Cobra radios hold up, the microphones are garbage. Quality has gone down a lot over the years, even on older long lived models. Channels used vary by site, trail, road, or construction/logging crew.
  12. Interesting thread I clicked on, only because today I received a call for a lost APX4000 Model 2 on a trunked radio network. I had to explain why I was only going to"Transmit Inhibit" the radio, as then they usually end up at one of our repair shops, when someone notices they receive, change channels, and otherwise appear to function until you try to transmit. Many organizations in commercial radio shy away from stun and kill, and the use of system keys helps keep your radios/programming within your organization. It would be interesting to know if CCR's now have this as well? Some do most everything else as found on commercial radios.
  13. PolyPhaser all the way. Something like this would work for that KG-1000 Plus. https://www.polyphaser.com/type-n-surge-protector-1.2ghz-gas-discharge-tube-098-1013g-a
  14. I should add that these fake batteries are also being sold as replacements for APX900 and APX4000 series Motorola radios as well. Had another site and incident where these counterfeit batteries entered the supply chain as "stores" batteries, spares purchased in bulk across the enterprise, to replace equipment damaged/used/lost during emergency response incidents. This was the battery in question and website for purchase details - I DO NOT RECOMMEND anyone buy these batteries! https://www.grainger.com/product/BANSHEE-Radio-Battery-Fits-Motorola-52XP74
  15. Glad you have the right person....just now seeing this. I am in WA State, but often went to Alaska for the oil industry. My solar repeaters were for use on buoys and for oil spill response. Now, I manage radio networks for a private corporation with fire departments spread across the United States......taking much of my time right now as we are upgrading everyone to APX6000XE and APX8000XE handhelds, lots of work.
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