SteveShannon

Same mast. No fancy calculations needed, just increase the distance if you detect interference.

Hi Frank, What is your call sign? Sometimes it takes a few days, but I have also seen where people read and input their call sign incorrectly and go for weeks or even months before figuring it out. All GMRS call signs issued in the past several years are four letters followed by three numbers: waaa000 to wzzz999. One person had a call sign that ended in I776 and he kept trying to enter it as 1776, not i776, getting more and more frustrated when the system failed to recognize it in spite of the amount of time since issuance. Most people using GMRS do so to have family communications while doing family activities. That’s what the licensing favors, but there’s nothing wrong with random contacts with people you introduce yourself to online. As you have seen a few people get their panties in a wad over that. Ignoring them is easiest.

Antenna physics are fascinating but I’ve just barely started learning. Every so often I receive an inch thick densely printed periodical called Proceedings of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society. Most of it is so far over my head that it’s indecipherable. The majority of it deals with microwave and higher frequencies up to around 10-11 gigahertz. Almost none of it is written for the frequencies of ham radio, although recently a couple of ELF articles appeared. I struggle to even skim through it. I mean it’s so far over my head that I don’t even know where to start, but there are people who actually understand this stuff!

That one is especially nice because it shorts all of the unused center conductors to the shield (which is typically grounded) and it provides surge suppression for the center conductor of the selected antenna.

Absolutely! Mounting one above the other would help immensely.

Both will affect the propagation pattern of the other. Also, there’s always the possibility of desensing one receiver when the other radio transmits. Other than that no problem.

I sold guns for over 40 years as a side gig, I’ve been an NRA member for 52 years, and once in a while I carried a gun. I think the idea of arming people must be approached carefully. I think it really depends on your neighborhood and the type of risk you might encounter. For many places sending a bunch of untrained armed people out is just an invitation to tragedy. Often times having a gun gives a person false courage that leads to walking towards bad situations rather than calling someone who is better trained.

Great examples!

But @WRTC928, if you do use a coax switch you must keep in mind that one or the other radio (repeater or base) will be transmitting into a very high SWR if activated when the other radio is connected to the antenna. So, when you set the switch to connect the base station to the antenna, I would want to temporarily disable transmit on the repeater. Although it’s unlikely to be activated by a weak signal from another station, it could still attempt to transmit an ID if it was recently in use or perhaps even in response to the use of the base station.

By “Network” do you mean a simplex sched? A radio meeting where people who are available check in at a specific time, either as directed according to a roll call read by a net controller or perhaps in response to a call form net controller for check-ins? If so, there are no rules that prohibit such an activity. Many times such things are done using a repeater for greater range, but the FRS radios wouldn’t be able to.

Exactly right, that’s the natural consequence of constantly complaining. It’s the “Peter and the Wolf syndrome”. There’s no way to know whether they’re just complaining as usual, which is exhausting to listen to and affects all who hear it negatively, or if this complaint is one that’s valid. Those people are far worse to have around than the ones who are quiet when something works the way it should.

Yes, but they differ in two ways. They’re 50 ohms instead of 75 and the better ones ground the center conductors of any antennas that are not selected for use.

There are variants of the 1486, including the -B variant: https://www.amazon.com/200-Watt-Pretuned-Fiberglass-Antenna-Connector/dp/B092DWP4NG Edited to add: I haven’t found a dual band Tram 1486. All that I have found in a quick google search have been a tunable single band (UHF not VHF) antenna that comes with a tuning guide for whatever frequency you wish to use.

Here are the two actual rules: § 95.1733 Prohibited GMRS uses. (a) In addition to the prohibited uses outlined in § 95.333 of this chapter, GMRS stations must not communicate: (8) Messages which are both conveyed by a wireline control link and transmitted by a GMRS station; § 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 know it’s not what you want, but “Staff Opinion” doesn’t seem to exceed the wording of the actual rules.

The OP stated that the damage to the previous repeater and antenna was $2000. They’re only seeking $1,000 in their gofundme. The repeater they’re seeking to purchase is currently on sale for less than $600 including a built in duplexer, which seems very reasonable. A decent antenna plus cables and associated components could very quickly consume the remainder of the targeted funding. This seems like a very reasonable request and a reasonable solution. I would urge that we not get distracted by our reactions to the town drunk.

As Gil said, that’s correct. When GMRS is used to communicate with people you already know an introduction isn’t necessary and nothing in the regulations require using a call sign at the beginning of a call for either GMRS or ham radio. Ham radio operators usually will use their call signs at the very beginning of a contact as a matter of courtesy to introduce themselves but they are simply required to ID at the end of every communication and every 10 minutes. Now, something I don’t honestly know is whether every communication means every time we push the PTT. A lot of times I’ll give a short answer without using my call sign, as do all the other hams I know.

A good adapter would be just fine. If you have the right tools (or buy M&P connectors which require very little in tools) replacing one of the cable ends would be the best option. In my opinion of course.

Look at the Samlex or Astron product lines. There are very tightly regulated and filtered DC power supplies.

Another thing to consider is the voltage input to the radio. Most mobile radios are rated with an input voltage of 13.8 vDC and the output RF power frequently varies with the voltage. Boost your voltage by a half volt (observing the tolerances listed in the manual) and you might see 41 watts. But a variation of one or two watts at that general power will not make a bit of difference in your ability to communicate.

Have you done that?

The only thing the fcc says is that you must ID every 15 minutes and at the end of the conversation and that unit numbers are allowed. § 95.1751 GMRS station identification. Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification. (a) The GMRS station call sign must be transmitted: (1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and, (2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes. (b) The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone. (c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if: (1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and, (2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

They’re only required to use the call sign, but if it helps you to identify each other you’re allowed to use something like a unit number as well. Personally, I like to use first names or familial relationships, “John, this is grandpa.” Understand that you only need to identify using your call sign once every 15 minutes and when you end a conversation, so if you talk for 2 minutes or 15 minutes you’ll only need to ID once. If you talk for 16 minutes to 30 minutes you are required to ID at least twice. Each time you ID it resets the 15 minute clock. So, if you’re concerned about compliance, just throw in your ID when it’s convenient and at the very end and don’t worry about it.

Yes, that’s an acceptable SWR range. Yes, that’s an acceptable power output.

By the way, here is a glossary from ARRL: https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Education/HRLM Online Glossary.pdf Unfortunately “desense” isn’t in the glossary but it is in Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desensitization_(telecommunications)

Desense is short for “desensitization” which is what happens when the very sensitive receiver circuits are exposed to a very strong transmitter signal. Because a repeater must transmit at the same time as it receives the receiving circuitry is overwhelmed and deafened, just like forgetting to wear ear protection when shooting. In a professionally designed repeater the transmitter and receiver circuitry is isolated from each other to prevent desense.