SteveShannon

Just add him to your ignore list. He’s not worth getting worked up about.

I’m not hamming today, but I’d be delighted to add you to the list!

Welcome to the forums!!

When all else fails, read the instructions rather than relying on online comments. Here's the data sheet from Times Microwave: https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/chartsguides/t/tmv-lmr-400.pdf?_gl=1*1hg8kam*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NDM3Mjc4MzYuQ2p3S0NBanc0N2lfQmhCVEVpd0FhSmZQcG9uNzhndGVzUVhZb0V3OE10XzRiYm5nUzZrMENsT0c1cnFaeDRZNllDaEFzTzI5RnpUVlJ4b0NjYkFRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*MTIxOTYzODQxNS4xNzQwNTkxMzk4*_ga*MTMxOTg2NjcwNi4xNzAxNzEzMzMy*_ga_NZB590FMHY*MTc0MzcyNzgyNC42LjEuMTc0MzcyNzgzNi40OC4wLjA. While they do list TC connectors, they also list EZ connectors (third page of the extract) including the EZ-400-UM (https://timesmicrowave.com/connectors/ez-400-um-coax-connectors/). Finally, here is information on the difference between TC and EZ. They do indicate TC for stranded center conductors. I’m sure that’s because forcing a stranded center conductor through the spring fingers probably causes a bird’s nest. Any soldered center conductor should be fine. Personally, I would use the crimp shield and soldered center conductor tip. https://timesmicrowave.com/ez-vs-tc-connectors-whats-the-difference/

I wouldn’t, but it’s up to you.

As long as the center pin on the pl-259 is big enough to accept the center stranded conductor of the cable without a bird’s nest that shorts against the shield, you’ll be fine. You might want to tin the center conductor tip so it slides through the hollow center pin without any strands bunching up.

Lead-acid batteries have measurable internal resistance that will limit the current flow between them. LiFePo batteries have very little internal resistance so connecting two batteries together that have different voltage levels could be exciting when the current between them spikes. I can only assume that some kind of balancing circuit would be necessary to parallel them.

The site went through a stretch where repeaters were inadvertently being duplicated when people clicked on them and chose “My Repeater”. I suspect that is responsible for at least some of the duplication.

@UncleYoda, How about this. I did two different searches. Both for open repeaters in South Carolina. The screenshots are below. One saw 39 repeaters. The other returned none.

Maybe you didn’t read the entire Wikipedia article because it says this: Established in 1970 in Osaka, Japan, it also has offices in Tokyo, Takatsuki, manufacturing facilities in Toyama and Hyōgo in Japan, and one in Suzhou, China.

On the menu above click on either Map or Repeaters and then find the repeaters near Houston. Click on each repeater and either read the details or request access. Welcome to the site!

Is anyone else having issues with the repeater searches?

Agreed. For my handheld radios all of the cheapest ones use female threads and male pins. My expensive ones all use male threads and female center sockets.

To make it worse, SMA connectors have 4 different genders: male thread and male center pin, male thread and female center socket, female thread and female center socket, and female thread and male center pin.

It’s even easier when a person has one device programmed to cover both services. I’ve done it. That’s why I no longer program radios for both.

Take a screenshot of your search and I’ll replicate it. If my results are different than yours we’ll have something to report to Rich. If you’re a premium member you can do a report to a CSV file.

What state? Never mind, South Carolina If I don’t select a repeater type I get 43. If I select an Open repeater type I get 26. If I choose Members Only (free) I get 0. All the results above are with Stale and Offline unchecked.

Open up the advanced search dialog. Sometimes something is set there that you can’t see from the higher level search dialog.

There really isn’t, but there are enough new people here and hopefully kindly experienced people that you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable asking questions. Yeah, there are always some people who attempt to display how knowledgeable they are simply by emphasizing others’ lack of knowledge. Please don’t let them win. Ask whatever you want.

One week ago I attended a four hour course on safety and lithium batteries. We saw some very alarming videos that highlighted how dangerous lithium batteries can be. It was chilling. One in particular showed a young man get into an elevator with the battery from a e-bike. It began smoking and flashed quickly into an inferno that killed him before the elevator doors re-opened. You’re right in wanting to incorporate a charger that protects the battery, but you should also consider where you place the battery so that if it fails it doesn’t destroy your house.

I found this on Reddit, but I have no way to test it:

The Alinco MD5XT that I have says “Anytone” as it boots and in its firmware, leading me to believe it’s made for them in China or perhaps they buy the electronics from Anytone and assembled it to their cases elsewhere. Part 90 certified. It is capable of being programmed for GMRS frequencies.

By misquoting @H8SPVMT you very obviously define yourself.

As @OffRoaderX said, sometimes it works that way. Let’s say you’re hiding behind a rock. Someone 100 feet away is pointing an elevated spotlight towards your rock. At that range the beam spreads out larger than the rock and you can see it reflecting off your surroundings. But you shine a flashlight directly at the rock in the direction of the spotlight and they don’t see you at all. It’s very common for radio communications to propagate asymmetrically.

We got a QSO!