SteveShannon

Exactly!

You are misunderstanding me. I have no problem using my ID or requiring an ID on a service which requires licensing. What I’m saying is that when you are transmitting at the lower FRS power levels on one of the frequencies that an FRS radio is allowed to transmit on, nothing is accomplished by requiring a call sign if they’re using a GMRS radio but not if they’re using an FRS radio. Nobody listening can possibly discern which type of radio they’re using.

The wording specifically allows “operation by remote control.” When you are transmitting on a station, you are operating that station. When you press your “push to talk” switch on your handheld and speak, your radio signal enters the receiver of the repeater, breaks squelch, and causes the transmitter of the repeater to re-transmit your signal. You have operated the repeater. 95.1749 specifically allows you to do that using a network connection: § 95.1749 GMRS network connection. Operation of a GMRS station with a telephone connection is prohibited, as in § 95.349. GMRS repeater, base and fixed stations, however, may be connected to the public switched network or other networks for the sole purpose of operation by remote control pursuant to § 95.1745.

I agree. We should all care. Bad rules weaken respect for rules overall. For that reason we should all point out bad rules so that good rules, which I do fully support, are obeyed. Any rule for which noncompliance cannot be detected is a bad rule.

How many people use non compliant digital modes on GMRS now? I live in a GMRS desert so I have no idea.

Understandable? No, it’s a waste of regulatory authority, creating a rule for which a violation cannot be detected and which causes no problem. Here’s the scenario: Rick the radio guy has a commercial handheld that’s type 95 certified. Using CPS he configures it to transmit only on the FRS frequencies and only at FRS power levels. Does he have to have a GMRS license and use his GMRS call sign? I’ll check on the answers tonight.

I understand the regulation. It’s stupid.

The problem with quotes is that they don’t always reflect context. My statement was intended only to address transmitting on the FRS channels at FRS output levels but using a GMRS radio instead of an FRS radio.

The greater the current the more the voltage drops. Transmitting would consume more current so it’s possible you see a drop when transmitting. A battery doesn’t put out the full voltage that the alternator does, but testing with the engine off does get rid of the greatest source of RF noise under the hood ?. I think Midland stuff is probably as good as anything other than commercial radios. It’s certainly good enough. As you progress you might decide you want something else, but for now just enjoy it. Chasing that last watt or two can make you crazy without really being too meaningful. I would just make sure that your radio works well enough to converse with the people you want and reach the repeaters in your neck of the woods. I would be a little concerned about electrical noise on the power line when the engine is running. I think that you’d hear it though. That radio shop technician will know much more than me. Best wishes!

1. Make sure you’re using test equipment that’s high quality and accurately calibrated and appropriate for the frequency and power level you’re using. Make sure you’re testing at the specified voltage (13.8!) and using power cables that won’t cause voltage drop. It might help to visit a local radio shop. 2. That can depend on a lot of things. Is your power wiring noisy? How high quality is your coax? When it comes to antennas, everything affects everything and a noisy power cable parallel to the coax could cause problems.

It’s because Your antenna is tuned better on the 467 MHz repeater frequencies than the 462 MHz simplex frequencies. It’s still good enough as BoxCar explained.

All masts should be grounded and all fixed location antennas should be connected through a lightning arrester where they pass into the house. A lightning arrester grounds the shield of the coax and also helps protect the radio from static electricity buildup.

In these forums there have been a few of those SW-102s which reported output power incorrectly from the factory. I would check it against a known good meter.

1. For any given antenna, SWR changes with frequency. A graph of SWR vs. frequency often looks like there’s a sharp dip at the resonant frequency. 2. Where are you measuring the output power? A dummy load will appear to the transmitter like an antenna that has a very low SWR at every frequency. Also, was your Jeep running and putting out 13.8 volts or were you on battery at a voltage of 12+ volts? On battery power the output power will sag slightly. Or it might just have been the radio you received. Many things can affect output power: input power, antenna cable, antenna, ground plane, etc. 3. Pretuned to center channel probably means that it’s tuned to midway between the 462 (used for simplex communications) and 467 MHz (which you transmit to a repeater) frequencies of the band, or about 465 MHz. 4. Tuning the antenna to have a lower SWR might get you more transmitted watts, but honestly a few watts isn’t detectable in actual use. I recommend either leaving the antenna alone or tuning it to the frequency you transmit on most often. A higher frequency means a shorter antenna element, but if you shorten it too much it’s hard to undo.

You might want to review @OffRoaderXconclusions about using two KG1000 units. He has spoken about it here. I think he now uses a commercial repeater.

In a sense it happened when you had to provide your call sign to join this site and it was verified against the FCC database before you were given full access. That’s one reason why the database exists and it’s also why we don’t need to carry our licenses with us.

Another inexpensive way to listen to air frequencies (or just about any other frequencies between 25MHz-1750MHz and any analog mode) is to use one of the USB SDR dongles. https://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/sdr-receivers/nesdr-mini.html

There are places in the USA that stock NanoVNAs. Based on reviews on the Ham Radio 2.0 YouTube channel, here’s where I bought my NanoVNA. I got it in less than a week. http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=142&osCsid=fu3f0ql3nieitil9ir623bmcb6 I’m a Volunteer Examiner for my local ham radio club. We’re part of the Laurel VE organization. We (three VEs grade each test) do in person testing and then our VEC (Volunteer Examiner Coordinator) submits the scores electronically using an online portal set up for that. Usually a person has access to their license file within 24 hours. I have a friend in Seattle who is also a VE. His group does virtual examinations. Except for using video conferencing software to watch the person taking the test, it’s the same process. Three VEs watch each person and grade their test and then their VEC submits electronically. I didn’t even know that the test results could still be done snail mail. It’s funny what you said about biometrics. When I was working, my boss (who was a very nice lady much younger than me) thought it would be “really cool” if we had fingerprint scanners to enter our secure facility and suggested that I look into it. The group I supervised managed the access control system. A cybersecurity auditor explained to me that they prefer not to see biometric forms of ID verification adopted because once someone has the ability to spoof your biometrics, your biometrics are worthless as an ID. You cannot easily change your fingerprints, facial structure, retinal pattern, etc, like you can a password, pass phrases, PIN, RFID chip based token, etc. So, we avoided biometrics. Do you use them for identification somewhere? If not, the data captured from a Zoom call probably isn’t a threat. Hopefully your license will appear in ULS at any moment.

Check your FCC online record. VEs work with VECs, who typically submit electronically. Also, the FCC doesn’t send anything to you via snail mail. Your license file is accessed electronically. You are responsible for printing it.

I hope you love it and feel a greater connection to your dad!

I absolutely understand, but many clubs now have a barebones website (thanks to WRTJ887 for posting the link) and use Facebook for their announcements and conversations. Hopefully you’ll have a great time with them.

The Oklahoma GMRS Facebook group has 470 members and seems somewhat active. https://www.facebook.com/groups/338406913899977/?ref=share Also, Repeaterbook lists two GMRS repeaters in Tulsa: https://www.repeaterbook.com/gmrs/location_search.php?state_id=40&type=city&loc=Tulsa

Great point!

Congratulations! I think you’ll enjoy it. This thread by another forum user makes the Tram 1486 antenna sound good: It really depends on how you want to use your radios. If you only want to talk between work and your house, a directional antenna like a Yagi, on a mast at your house and pointed at your place of work might be just what you want. If you want to be able to travel in any direction around your house, you’ll want an omnidirectional antenna like the Tram. People even use magnetic mount vehicle antennas on steel pizza pans. Half the fun is figuring it all out.