SteveShannon

Yes, you can put the vertical base antenna on the same pole as your TV antenna, especially if you have several vertical feet between them. Your TV antenna is probably a log periodic antenna, which is directional and covers a different band. I would try that first. If you don’t watch TV while you’re transmitting you probably won’t even know it. If you do transmit while someone is watching TV, run some tests to see if they get any interference. Make sure the mast is grounded. If the attic is much easier try that, but getting it higher makes more difference than having more power.

Yes, it’s a sound card and tablet used for digital communications on ham radio, such as Winlink using VARA FM.

I would expect the tail time to be a repeater setting, not in the Pi. I certainly could be wrong.

I understand, but I was under the impression that the person in the photo I posted was higher up than the cannon fodder convicts. Can you tell me what the overlay near the microphone says in this photo?

You asked a question. It was answered succinctly by @marcspaz and exhaustively why by @Lscott. You don’t need to worry about the extra thickness of the rubber. What additional help would you like?

Well, I’m not interested in a comparison to ham radios, but it is funny that a group of professional mercs uses Baofeng radios.

I just watched a video of Wagner Group in Ukraine. On one the microphone clipped to his vest appears to be a Baofeng.

It’s too bad the Motorola flyer didn’t show a side view.

Yes. Exactly.

Yes, many people remove their stock antenna and attach a cable leading to an external antenna. That would make more difference than having a higher powered transmitter. Comet, like @MichaelLAX mentioned would be nice. There are also longer antennas for handheld use. Probably the most well known is the Nagoya 771G (tuned to GMRS frequencies), but there are others also. Just make sure you match the gender of the integral connector.

It is pretty amazing isn’t it? They learned to make the most of their antennas and the capabilities of HF. NVIS is intriguing to me. Looking at the link that @axorlov posted it looks like that could be it. The side panel of the radio looks similar.

Are you guys done?

An upgraded antenna, especially if mounted high, can make a significant difference.

That’s right. You are required to transmit on the channels established in the regulations. Tune step is meaningless for a compliant GMRS radio.

Make sure you don’t have any tones set on receive. Some places simply have much more activity than others. This map illustrates where repeaters are concentrated:

Most handheld radios have the ability to automatically scan through several channels looking for a signal. The channel switching and pausing when a signal is detected is automatic. For some you have to create a “scan list”. Some others simply scan all channels.

Premium members can download a list of all repeaters. Maybe I should put those in Arcview. ?

Maybe I’m misunderstanding your comment. This site does have a U.S. Map of repeaters. You have to zoom in for detail of course.

Under your Chirp folder is a sub-folder called "stock_configs" It has all of the generic channels that you can import for any radio using Chirp. It is full of CSV files. I'll attach the one for standard GMRS/FRS channels. If you put your file into this format (not an IMG!!!) and place it into this folder, you might be able to simply import it into Chirp. Have Chirp set for the correct radio in the first place. Then see if you can upload it to your radio. I do not believe you can move IMG files from one radio type to another. I think all file migrations must be done using CSV files. US FRS and GMRS Channels.csv

See if this page doesn't help you get where you're wanting to go: https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Beginners_Guide In particular look at saving to a generic file.

Also, at that point when you are hearing the input channel, some radios allow you to scan for tones.

Maybe a link to a previous post will help:

So are you hearing the repeater courtesy beep and wanting to get rid of it? Courtesy beeps aren’t held in the same disdain as some hold Roger beeps. http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9509075.pdf

No, you’ll have to import it as a CSV. You might have to massage it in excel if it’s not in the right format. I would import it and see how it looks. Don’t upload it unless it looks perfect.

@KekistaniRefugee I’m sorry, I had to go to bed. I’ve got a full day tomorrow too, but in the afternoon I’ll check to see how you are doing. Hopefully, you’ll get on the repeater by then. Don’t worry about asking questions. We were all beginners once. And I really don’t think Notarubicon picks on honest questions based on lack of experience, but rather “know it alls” or “experts” who don’t truly contribute anything. A lot of us enjoy his videos.