PACNWComms

In my area, I recall when Cert (Community Emergency Response Teams) bought blister pack Motorola Talkabout FRS/GMRS radios, and taught people how to use them in their community, along with having a survival (then a 72 hour kit). I now see many Baofeng radios, and dollar store or thrifty survival kit items, of course new in the wrapper. My inject here is to go camping, or without power for a day, and see how the gear works. Can you stay warm, hydrated, fed, and sane. The local public utility replaced a transformer and there was a known 2 hour outage, and one neighbor of mine ran a generator the entire time to watch football. (No health issues or medical devices that need power, just wanted that TV). I know people that need that television, or latte, and any interruption could be a problem for their survival.

I have experienced the scrounging, budget conscious builds as well, mostly when making portable repeater "flyaway" kits during hurricanes: Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005. I also swore that I would never buy a Chinese Baofeng radio, untill all of my Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood amateur, and Motorola and Harris commercial radios failed and parts were no longer available. Then I went to work at Zetron, a division of the JVC/Kenwood Group at that time. There was EF Johnson, Viking, and some interest in Tait, with affiliation with Harris for a few months, until they went of to find another affiliate to collaborate with. Icom America was right across the street. New Zetron engineers with little to no radio background (Zetron also makes call taking systems for Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP's) and SCADA equipment as well), often bought Baofeng radios to get into the radio hobby. Then they would buy something better once that radio failed, or they realized it performed like a cheap radio. This appears to be happening again now, and even with those on this site, more are coming into the fold due to cheaper hardware, even if it may not last. This state EOC could have bought slightly used XPR4500 mobiles, one VHF and another UHF (about $600) instead of buying the $250 DB25-D Anytone, and maybe they will at some point. Another issue I have experienced, was an Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) site that put all Motorola radios in a van as a mobile communications suite / radio van. However, they also put the same 800 MHz antennas on the roof, connected to 800 MHz radios, as well as the VHF and UHF radios. They spent the money on great hardware, but messed up the final execution. In the end, anything is better than nothing, but I will strongly recommend that if life safety is involved, spend the money and do it right. If it is for fun and hobby use, do whatever you want.

May benefit from adding a counterpoise (rat tail) as well. https://baofengtech.com/improve-the-performance-of-your-rubber-duck-with-a-rat-tail/

Recently toured a state Emergency Operations Center communications room. Having taxpayer funding, of course there was the generator, UPS, and redundant power supplies....spare parts and radios, and stashed food and water. What I did find interesting though, was the infiltration of TYT/Anytone/Radioddity radios, augmenting the Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood amateur radio gear. There was a DB25-D set up for DMR VHF and UHF use. Right next to a Costco sized contained of animal cookies and bricks of coffee.

As for the idea that FCC regulations do not matter if they are not enforced, some of us use GMRS for family use,but also have other FCC licenses that could be impacted. Annoy a federal agency that can and often does impact professional situations, and you then lose your source of livelihood. In another life, working radio networks for the oil industry and anti-pollution work, many of us were impacted when oil companies had spills, and the FCC monitored everything, checked licenses, and then imposed fines and directives based on the poor decisions other corporations. Like ripples on a pond, throw a stone and it may still have ripple effects on many others. I know a few P25 system administrators that lost their commercial licenses for what would have been minor infractions for someone that only had an amateur license. It does happen.

I saw this thread here on this site from 2018, has discussion of FCC regulation and discussion of this subject, just by searching a bit. "Responsibility of Repeater User vs. Repeater Owner."

Good point on every city thinking they are the hub and prime target. Reminded me of the target list released by the Russian Federation a year or so ago, where a VLF radio station at Jim Creek MWR Station in Washington State was listed as target number one, for being a communications hub for ballistic missile submarines. From my own work in the nuclear triad, that is somewhat realistic, but less likely than the threat of both apathy and entropy. Apathy has meant that many people do not prepare for anything, thinking the "government" will save them from disaster. In the 2016 Cascadia Rising exercise in Washington State, the Emergency Management mantra was changed from "Three Days, Three Ways" to "Two Weeks Ready" when it was realized how a large earthquake/tsunami could cripple the region. For others it is entropy, the collapse of infrastructure, morals,the economy, whatever. From my own practical experience in war and emergency management, most people would do well to have their: phones, radios, and medical alert devices and hardware charged, programmed and ready, as heart disease and medical emergencies are still the most realistic threat.

Kenwood ProTalk TK-3230 and TK-3302 models can be added to the list for Part 90 and 95. Dealt with some of those while working for the JVC/Kenwood Group (Zetron) as well. This topic seems to come up in every radio related forum and website eventually. Every few months on another forum as a matter of fact.

I am a bit outside of Seattle, but go there for work. When in Seattle, it is usually the Seattle #6 Repeater (462.675 MHz), and then I work on many UHF commercial sites in the area. My employer had to have a shield room built, so we could test UHF radio equipment in the Seattle area, as there are so many FRS/GMRS and other UHF users, we had trouble testing licensed frequencies at that location. For internal company use, we use Motorola DTR, 1 Watt 900 MHz frequency hoppers to minimize interference. I now also run SDR# (SDR Sharp) software and a USB dongle to check for other users on all frequency bands that need to be tested. Which repeaters do you use in the area? I would have to get permission to use any of the others in the area.....still need to ask, but not sure which ones are active, unless they all are.

I liked the catalytic converter part, as it reminded me of a neighbor that mentioned that the crazy local rumors about my own radio equipment on vehicles and house. That, and being dropped off by people in a "tank" (camoflaged HMMWV, retired military) a few years back. MDC1200 does tend to keep people away, or cause them to wonder, as it has been all over shows like "Cops" and "Real PD" etc.

Commercial wise, many Motorola Trbo XPR5xxxe/7xxxe series and APX7/8xxx APX series radios have voice announcements for more than just channel selections. APX radios made for law enforcement use have ViQi (Vicki), to assist in settings and changes. However, I am not aware of a specific mobile or base-station that would have this. However, when connecting an Icom PCR-1000 receiver to an old Windows XP computer, the settings for the visually impaired included some features that worked well with that black box receiver. Might be a way to go, using the computer for the interface and voice instead of the radio.

Project 25 (P25) was an offshoot of Project 16 (3600 baud data and common air interface etc.), setting standards for public safety radio. P25 began in 1989 with 9600 baud data transfer, common air interface among manufacturers, and the requirement for individual radio ID's, with analog conventional or FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) trunking. 2012 led to Phase 2 with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) trunking. To affiliate with a P25 network, there is a need for a System Key, which there is generation software out there. As you mentioned, it is possible to have a non-affiliate scanning radio, and the XTS-5000 is a good one for that. Key Loaders can be software or hardware, and there is a need for appropriate hardware and software, Motorola calling it a "Flash" with specific options. Keys can then be loaded via a Key Variably Loader (hardware), or via Over The Air Rekey (OTAR) if hardware, software, and network configuration is correct and appropriate. Have fun with Kenwood and Motorola equipment, it can be fun, and educational.

902 MHz is quiet in my area as well. I use Kenwood TK-941's, as I used to work for Zetron, then a division of the JVC/Kenwood Group and could get surplus cheap to free. My current work involves a lot of XPRxxx/e's, and while a great radio, the fun factor goes away working with them and then using them as a hobby. I also have to tie P-25 Phase 1 and 2 radios to Trbo networks, and bang for the buck Trbo is great, for professional and amateur use. UHF is very popular in my area, and my XPR6550 gets a lot of use, but an Anytone 878 is also beneficial for VHF/UHF use, and as a weather radio. I can see how antenna connectors are an issue, many people use handhelds in a mobile capacity and being able to connect to a roof mounted antenna is beneficial. Thank you for the response.

Very nice. Was an Army brat myself, but was also the only person in my family to retire from the Air Force.....in Air Force Space Command before the whole Space Force part. Worked in nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, then satellite control, then ground stations and last Land Mobile radio and radio networks. Starting young helps and it will be a constant growth area for employment for a very long time. Radio and wireless technology is ever present in command and control, to include utilities, critical infrastructure and other areas of our technological society. Thank you for sharing the PDF.

I currently use Aeroflex 3920 Radio Communications Service monitors for many types of digital radios. I also hear at work how some radios are junk because of cost, name or function. Some say the Kenwood 5300's are junk, others Motorola Trbo series radios, and many Icom, Yaesu, Wouxun, Baofeng, etc. Then there is the buy American crowd, where I pull out my personal Harris Unity XG-100P.....that I use for both FRS/GMRS. Recently, I bought both a Radioddity GM-30 and DB20-G. Virtually everything made in China is "sloppy" specification wise, because it is made to a cheaper price point. If everyone had to use a Harris XG-100P/Motorola APX8000, or something high dollar a lot less people would be in this hobby, and possibly profession.

If it was digital TDMA (Time Domain Multiple Access) in use that you heard, you would heard the flutter on nearby AM radio. I often demonstrate this with an AM Citizen's Band radio (Cobra 27 LTD Classic) with the volume turned up, and key up a UHF DMR radio nearby. You will hear the flutter of the time slots back and forth, rapidly switching between two effective channels (I use an older Motorola XPR6550). In many cities FRS/GMRS and digital DMR radios are often heard, and it can be fun to listen to analog radios with a cheap old scanner.

Always nice to see the younger generation join in. Radio is not going away, as many in my profession have said numerous times over the years. There is actually an ebb and flow of shortages, with another one coming in the next 5 years or so as the current generation retires. When possible, I always recommend amateur, and General Radio-telephone Operator Licenses as that opens more doors to employment. Great job and good luck in your club.

Thank you for sharing. May get another DB20-G myself. Bought one a month ago and it works great. Really does put out 20 watts, and works very well on both VHF and UHF. GMRS use has been great. Being so small, it fits newer vehicles well too.

If it was 100 or even 50 feet then that would be another thing......a few extra feet is usually left in vehicle and vessel installations by the pro's for repairs and new connectors. In many cases testing is done on a yearly basis, and connectors get broken, corrosion may require a few inches of coax to be cut off, and some extra is necessary in that case. Do not worry, as others have mentioned about a few extra feet. 6dB gain in the antenna will easily compensate for some coax line loss. An isotropic (perfect antenna) would mean a spherical radiation pattern, 3dB would be more like a doughnut, 6dB more like a pancake, and 9 dB more like an LP record.

I have been watching both of these potential changes for a while now on another website. Administering a large radio network with semi tractors equipped with both Motorola commercial radios, FM and 40-50 Watts, and 5 Watt Cobra CB radios that are built as cheaply as possible, the FM CB idea may help with voice clarity and overall usability. AM has forced technicians to make a clean and efficient install, and users to bring them in for a watt-meter test when they suspect a problem. As for location on GMRS, I have wanted this ever since taking a Garmin Rino 120 to Afghanistan in 2004. Many of us bought them for augmenting the Rockwell PSN-11, being careful about the location sending feature. Garmin's first series of Rino radio/GPS receivers were in many people's pockets, as they had a map, and were even olive drab green in the 120 model. That location feature helped a lot as well in certain situations......adding this to a higher power GMRS and mobile radio would be great. Hope it happens.

I have been in this position for a while now, having a Technician class amateur license and Restricted license (as well as GROL) for vessel and aircraft......keep wishing I had stayed for the next test. However, where I took the test,I did not exactly want to stick around much longer.....there were definitely some "personalities" at my testing location. I run into some of them from time to time, me working in commercial radio, with a little public safety related, and many amateurs wanting to assist but not wanting to put the time in for organized drills. Good luck on your tests, and actually using radios. I know many that have the license that never transmit, they just wanted a piece of paper to put on the wall.

I went and got my GMRS license on the basis of cheap Chinese radios being available that were small enough to fit in the cubby holes of the daily driver car. My previous car had stacked Vertex VX-3200's (VHF and UHF) in the dash. New vehicle just does not have the room for Vertex or Motorola commercial mobiles. Then ended up going full tilt and using both a CDM1550LS+ and a XPR5550e for GMRS base stations. As another said above, watch out on the specific CDM series model you buy, for output power and flash (applies to XPR Trbo series as well). Noticed some people bought CDM1550LS+ as they have a full keypad on the faceplate, but some only have 16 conventional channels and the auction may have mentioned 160 (in trunking mode), or some other sale pitch. Buyer beware. But great for GMRS.