SteveShannon

If you’re talking to each other through a repeater, you will both tune to the same repeater channel (22-30). Each repeater channel is preset with a transmit (uplink)frequency (transmission from your radio to the repeater) which is in the 467 MHz range. You will need to match the CTCSS or DTCSS tone the repeater expects or your transmission will be ignored. The repeater relays what you transmit by transmitting it on a frequency that’s exactly 5 MHz lower, so if your uplink frequency is 467.550 MHz then the downlink will be 462.550 MHz. Using separate frequencies like that is necessary for full duplex operation, which is what a repeater does when relaying a message as it receives it. The repeater channels are already configured for the offset frequencies. Many repeaters list downlink tones, but a tone is not needed to hear them. If you just want to talk to your friend you would both tune to exactly the same frequency in the 462 MHz range (15-22) which are the simplex channels. 15-22 channels receive and transmit on the same frequencies as the receiver channels for repeaters.

If you’re looking for a GMRS radio, I certainly wouldn’t even consider the Anytone 878. I have the same basic radio with the Alinco nameplate. It’s a fine DMR radio, but you really have to learn how to build codeplugs in order to get anything to appear as a channel for selection. Most of the advanced features of the radio are useless in GMRS. Why spend the extra money? Here’s what’s involved: For analog channels it’s a little easier than for digital. You enter each channel by hand. The radio isn’t capable of the 1/2 watt PEP requirement for some of the interstitial channels, so you cannot cover those channels, at least not in full compliance. Then, after entering the channels, you must enter them into zones. You can have one big zone or multiple zones. You could have a different zone for each different repeater or city or any other way you want to slice and dice. Zones are a bit like memory banks and channels may be included in multiple zones. The CPS has some inconsistencies as well, mostly poor English translations that appear in some spots. In use, you use the up and down buttons to select the zone and then you use the rotary switch to select channels within the zone. I have added both analog and digital channels from the front panel, but it’s not really intuitive, requiring you to be deep within the menu to do so. Scanning is absolutely unintuitive. You can create a scan group in the CPS, but when the radio asks you to select the group, and you do, you’re presented with a list of all the channels within the group. You must also have added the channel to the scan group when you defined the channel. That’s the most frustrating part of the radio. I suspect the same thing is true of both of the commercial radios you have listed; you must use the dedicated CPS before anything appears on the front panel to use. If you’re trying to avoid Chinese GMRS radios, I really like the Garmin Rinos. They’re made in Taiwan, rather than China, and they are well built. Now, you cannot change the antenna because they transmit GPS coordinates. They can also be used to send text messages, to another Rino, but that’s not why I would buy the radio. They are type 95e certified. Honestly, I would just recommend getting something like the Wouxun KG 805 or 905, or even the 935 or the new plus model. By all accounts they’re easy to use, very reliable, and don’t require a background in commercial radios to care and feed. The experience won’t sour you on radio. If you still are interested in either the Motorola or EF Johnson you’ll find they are nearly bomb proof. I don’t have either, but I understand the desire to have really high end equipment. Others can advise you on other type 90 alternatives such as Kenwood TK-3270 etc. Good luck!

I have not. Personally I would stay with a recognized brand, such as Midland, Comet, Diamond, Tram, or for more money, Laird. Are you thinking about putting an antenna in your attic, or on a roof, or what?

First, I need to say that I have no idea how to calibrate it. I have never read the instructions. I assume that you can do that. Second, what values were you reading? Third, what were the readings? Fourth, why do you think they are wrong?

A purely resistive (no reactance) 50 ohm dummy load should give you a 1.0:1 SWR, meaning all the power is forward and none is reflected. It should read 50 ohms, not 49. But it’s difficult to say whether it’s your dummy load or your Surecom meter. Or both.

@WRWM850 - Gortex2 is correct. Eventually you’ll find it’s easier to use a radio that has been designed to use on GMRS. The repeater channels are already established so all you have to do is enter any tones needed. Also, as part of the certification process they are tested to ensure they don’t cause interference for others. GMRS radios must be certified to Part 95e standards. However, the FCC usually doesn’t enforce that unless something bad happens (like severe interference)!and they receive complaints. Even then they would begin with a warning letter. For most people using a radio that’s lacking type certification for the service they’re using, nobody even knows. Just be aware of the rules. The UV5R is a radio that many of us have. It’s flexible in ways that bend or even violate the rules. The original models were very bad at generating off frequency signals. The FCC came down on Baofeng and forced them to tighten up their standards in order to continue selling their radios for the ham radio market. They also have radios for GMRS, including one that’s physically identical to the UV5R. It might be called UV5G. Anyway, we’re glad you got your radio working. That’s a great first step!

I actually do care about the rules. I care that we explain them accurately when asked and that we explain why we have the rules we have. But I don’t like to see us whip them out as a scolding remark to someone who is just getting started and has just asked for help.

Almost nobody truly cares.

You didn’t give us enough information. Does the antenna say “ground plane required?” A ground plane is important for an antenna that is designed to need it. Not all antennas are. But, that lip mount almost certainly provides a connection to your hood, which will serve as the ground plane. You won’t damage your equipment. I would just hook it up and try.

You’re right; I’m sorry for the distraction. The KG-805G, KG-905G, KG-S88G are all three superhet. The KG-935 is direct conversion. I’ve never heard anyone (who actually had one) complain about the quality of the receiver.

Yaesu and Icom have both proven that direct conversion receivers can be very good receivers when cost is less of a factor. But an inexpensive superhet still bests an inexpensive system on a chip.

@nokones Are your grounds (antenna and transceiver) bonded together and then bonded to the service ground? They should be.

When repeaters are linked like that do they also incorporate voting?

Use the one you’ve got until it’s not enough.

The Wouxun is an example of doing the basics well. The BTech attempts to substitute advanced features, such as GPS and the ability to send texts. I have neither, but my observation over the past year is that everyone with a 935 is pleased and many people with the BTech are on the forums asking how to do very basic things like scanning. If I had to make the decision I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the Wouxun 935 plus.

I have one question and one suggestion. First, the suggestion: Personally,I would not do TSQL for 31. I would just do Tone, and leave out the receive tone. Same suggestion for repeater 32. I would leave the receive tone empty. By leaving the receive tone empty you will hear everything transmitted on the 462 frequency you have programmed. That’s helpful for troubleshooting when just starting. Now the question. How is the necessary transmit frequency entered? In the screenshot you included, nothing is entered for an offset. I don’t have a BTech, so maybe it shows up somewhere else, but for each of your repeaters you will need to be transmitting with an offset of 5 MHz, so for repeater 31 you transmit on 467.65000 and for 32 you transmit on 467.70000. Somehow that must be done, whether that’s done by programming a separate transmit frequency or by entering an offset of 5 MHz or by telling the BTech that these are repeater channels.

Do the instructions describe a method of tuning? Maybe a set screw where the wire element inserts into a larger cylinder? Without a VNA it’s difficult to exactly know.

I thought the “and” in this sentence meant that you understood why the amateur radio exam is necessary. I think you were just the victim of a poor choice of phrase. No harm done.

I have a very good friend who paid monthly charges on a Western Electric telephone he had gotten under Mountain Bell. He paid for years because he couldn’t find it. Finally I convinced him to contact the successor US West. They immediately took it off his account and stopped charging him (going forward). Sometimes a person is too close to the problem.

Honest people generally don’t understand dishonest people. That’s one reason scams work as well as they do.

In this instance, the FCC only has one FRN and one license of any kind issued to a Roger de Freitas of Torrance California.

The fact that he has only had this license for a couple weeks May be meaningless. Remember a couple months ago we had a guy ranting on here who had canceled his own licenses repeatedly and obtained new licenses. If a person didn’t trace back to his FRN he might never know it was a serial offender.

I looked, but I don’t see how a person claims a repeater as their own.

That is a good point. Maybe he only had a login for the main site with the repeater directory and not for the forums. I couldn’t find him in the list of forum users and committed assumicide. And I completely agree that the site should not allow a person to assume ownership of a repeater established by someone else without some kind of strict procedural approval, whether accidentally or intentionally.

WRWI949 was mentioned in this other thread as well: