SteveShannon

Regulations prohibit certifying a radio for GMRS that’s capable of being easily programmed for ham frequencies.

I would consider carrying a Spiderbeam mini 7m pole. It’s 23 feet long when extended, light, and collapses to 28 inches.

The battery is in the box and because it’s only a 20 watt radio it doesn’t use much current. He also has a solar panel but I don’t think he used it at this event. He used it all day.

As much as I have downplayed the Ed Fong antenna lately, this is the perfect application for his roll-up J-pole. Or, a friend of mine made a go-box in an ammo can. He simply sticks a mag-mount quarter wave antenna to the removable lid and places the lid a little ways away.

Don’t confuse bandwidth with deviation (if I understand you correctly). The two things are addressed separately in regulations: § 95.1773 GMRS authorized bandwidths. Each GMRS transmitter type must be designed such that the occupied bandwidth does not exceed the authorized bandwidth for the channels used. Operation of GMRS stations must also be in compliance with these requirements. (a) Main channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(a)) or any of the 467 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(c)). (b) Interstitial channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz interstitial channels (see § 95.1763(b)) and is 12.5 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 467 MHz interstitial channels (see § 95.1763(d)). (c) Digital data transmissions. Digital data transmissions are limited to the 462 MHz main channels and interstitial channels in the 462 MHz and 467 MHz bands. § 95.1775 GMRS modulation requirements. Each GMRS transmitter type must be designed to satisfy the modulation requirements in this section. Operation of GMRS stations must also be in compliance with these requirements. (a) Main channels. The peak frequency deviation for emissions to be transmitted on the main channels must not exceed ± 5 kHz. (b) 462 MHz interstitial channels. The peak frequency deviation for emissions to be transmitted on the 462 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed ± 5 kHz. (c) 467 MHz interstitial channels. The peak frequency deviation for emissions to be transmitted on the 467 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed ± 2.5 kHz, and the highest audio frequency contributing substantially to modulation must not exceed 3.125 kHz. (d) Overmodulation. Each GMRS transmitter type, except for a mobile station transmitter type with a transmitter power output of 2.5 W or less, must automatically prevent a higher than normal audio level from causing overmodulation. (e) Audio filter. Each GMRS transmitter type must include audio frequency low pass filtering, unless it complies with the applicable paragraphs of § 95.1779 (without filtering). (1) The filter must be between the modulation limiter and the modulated stage of the transmitter. (2) At any frequency (f in kHz) between 3 and 20 kHz, the filter must have an attenuation of at least 60 log (f/3) dB more than the attenuation at 1 kHz. Above 20 kHz, it must have an attenuation of at least 50 dB more than the attenuation at 1 kHz.

Whatever you do, save the original configuration so you can always get back to it. As @WRUU653 said, it all depends on personal preference and how you use your radio.

Scanning can absolutely help you determine what tones are needed, but remember that if you leave your receiver channels open, with no tones set and tone-squelch turned off, you’ll hear everything transmitted on that frequency.

You want 50 ohm. That’s basic.

You asked a question that results in a very specific answer. As soon as you use the word "best" without defining what qualities are important to you and as soon as you said "least amount of signal loss" you boxed in the people who might suggest something. You probably don't really mean "best", although I cannot possibly know for sure. Most of us cannot truly afford the "best." You also probably don't truly mean "least amount of signal loss." Again, I cannot possibly know for sure. Perhaps you should provide additional information. Do you have an unlimited budget? Then by all means lean towards Hardline. What's your actual communications situation?

That's ideal. ?

I'm not familiar with his GMRS antenna, but I assume it's like his other antennas. I would note that he doesn't specify gain in one of the usual frames of reference: dBi or dBd. Instead he says: Gain: 5 dB over reference ground plane Without knowing what gain the "reference ground plane" has with respect to either an isotropic antenna or dipole antenna, that's meaningless. Look closer at the DBJ-2, of which the commercial model covers the same frequency range. Here's what he says: 2.1 dBi, which is exactly the same as a dipole. In other words it has 2.1 dB gain over an isotropic antenna, which is a theoretical antenna that has no gain. That's what the 'i' stands for in dBi. It's just a reference. Another reference is dBd, which means referenced to a dipole. A dipole has 2.1 dB gain compared to an isotropic antenna, all other things being equal. A yagi might have 9 dB gain compared to isotropic (9 dBi) or 6.85 dB compared to a dipole (6.85 dBd). Then he goes on to say that's 6 dB gain over a 2 meter J-pole used at 450 MHz, that's impressive, right, but it simply means that it doesn't lose as much power as the J-pole used at a frequency it's not intended for:

https://www.radioddity.com/collections/consumer-radios-frs-gmrs-radios/products/radioddity-db20g

Hmmm, is anyone else having problems with the file? I’m on a different device than I used to upload it and I can click on it and see it. I can screenshot it and post it again as an image.

I apologize. This slipped my mind. Here's the specifications page from the manual: Specs of MFJ-884.pdf

Which network will it be connected to? Brandmeister is the most well known but there are a couple others. Will it be dual mode, meaning capable of Digital and Analog? If analog mode is allowed, what PL or DPL tone is required to access the analog repeater? Which tone should the analog repeater transmit? Which static talk groups for each of the two time slots? Here are the specifics for one in my area (I do not own it or have anything to do with operating it, but I do use it. All these specifications are openly published.) Repeater particulars: 444.000 MHz, plus 5 MHz offset Analog FM access: PL encode/decode 100.0 Hz DMR admission: Color Code 1 DMR Radio ID: 313018 Operational mode: Dynamic Dual Mode (analog FM or DMR digital on-demand) Networking: DMR: Brandmeister Static talk groups: Time Slot 1 3130 Montana Statewide, 31301 MPRG1 Mac Pass Repeater Group Time Slot 2 31303 BGV Bozeman Gallatin Valley Dynamic talk groups: Time Slot 1 All BrandMeister talk groups Time Slot 2 PLEASE DO NOT USE TIME SLOT 2 for dynamic talk groups

Probably... QFT (Internet slang) Initialism of quoted for truth (used after repeating the text of a previous post one agrees with)

https://www.clearskyinstitute.com/ham/stats/index.html Although these data only include through 2018, they don’t indicate a reduction in hams. Here are two of the graphs:

You’re wrong and I already responded in the thread you started.

I looked it up earlier this year and there were something like 13 thousand more active ham licenses last year than the year before. That doesn’t point to it going away. Basic testing is necessary in order to ensure that people have learned the bare minimum regulations and a small amount of the science. Many of the most basic questions that people ask when they become involved in radio are those things that a person learns while studying to pass the Technician test. Not only that but the questions are all publicly available. Eight year old children pass the test. Some ham clubs even have one day cram and test days where a person goes through the material for a while and then immediately tests on it. The test is truly not a barrier unless a person is unwilling to put forth any effort at all.

I’d like to suggest that you provide a new screenshot of just the dialog box. The resolution on this one is not legible even when zoomed in. Someone intimately familiar with the software might be able to answer your question without referring to the dialog box, but for the rest of us that would be great.

Just another thought: see if there’s a local ham radio club (I bet there is) and attend one of their meetings. Many of the members of my club are also GMRS members. They exist to help others become hams.

No, just molded in thick heat sink fins on the bottom and back. You might have to point a fan at them. How long do you transmit at a time anyway? Or are you hoping to buy two and make a repeater? Based on past forum posts I’ve read that doesn’t seem to be a very effective way to put up a repeater.

I agree with Gortex that asking the repeater owner before creating a net. Be sure the net has a purpose that will keep it going, because otherwise it will eventually die on the vine. If you are just doing it to have someone to talk to, you might want to consider becoming an amateur radio operator. There’s more of that in ham radio.

Pi’s are much easier to get now. I got two of them at the right prices (not scalpers). But you can only order one at a time. First, watch rpilocator to see when they come in. Second, sign up at the official resellers like Adafruit to be notified when the models you want are in stock. You’ll get one notification; order it immediately. Do not dilly-dally. Quantities are limited. I got another notification just a couple days ago, but I don’t need any more.