SteveShannon

It has been a while since I looked at them, but there’s also a way to use existing coax rather than dropping your headliner and pulling in another cable:

I would look at what Kenwood sells.

Here’s the gps antenna replacement I mentioned in my edited earlier post: https://www.l-com.com/nmo-mount-combo-28-db-gps-glnss-vehicular-antenna-nmo-mount-sma-connectors-ll195-cable-hg-gpsglnmo195-sma?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ns-nsNx68a39JmpChg0pu-IwbE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUsk2dsrso9-Jaurjo8QZROWHV8p4mL-ixUhIR51gPVsTpMz_sSN9MsaAprNEALw_wcB

Does your Escape have a gps antenna on it? Maybe you can use this and route the cable through the existing hole https://www.l-com.com/nmo-mount-combo-28-db-gps-glnss-vehicular-antenna-nmo-mount-sma-connectors-ll195-cable-hg-gpsglnmo195-sma?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ns-nsNx68a39JmpChg0pu-IwbE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUsk2dsrso9-Jaurjo8QZROWHV8p4mL-ixUhIR51gPVsTpMz_sSN9MsaAprNEALw_wcB

I understand the hesitance, but we’ve all seen hundreds of vehicles our entire lives that have permanent antenna mounts in their roofs. They look better than having a cable laying on the roof. Why not get full enjoyment out of the truck for as long as you own it? It’s like suffering with cheap cupboards, worn out flooring, and an inefficient furnace for 30 years and then fixing up your house to sell it. None of the comments I’ve seen from people who sell or trade off vehicles with permanent NMO mounts make me think the value is affected. I don’t know if you’ve looked into the Bulletproof Diesel third brake like mounts, but that might be another option. Finally, there’s a company that makes replacements for the factory GPS or satellite roof mount antenna that provide an additional two way radio mount. If you’re interested I’ll see if I can find them again. I’m not certain what models they cover. I would compare the strength of self adhesive steel disk trick on top of the roof to the large magnet under the roof liner. I’m not certain that two magnets on either side of an aluminum roof will have as much attraction. Try both methods and let us know, please.

How about drilling and mounting an NMO mount in the center of the roof?

I’m not worthy!

I checked yes, but that’s too simplistic. A lot depends on the licensed people in your town. A postcard announcing the presence of a repeater with assurances that no further contact will be forthcoming unless the recipient wishes might be appreciated. A lot of people get into GMRS with no interest in repeaters. Let us know how it goes.

No hurry and I’m perfectly happy with just the thought that there’s a beer in Florida waiting for me (or bring something back from the country you’re visiting). Have a good work day!

Actually that’s a valid regulatory point rather than “sad ham.”. Broadcasting is when you transmit one way,not expecting a two way conversation. Some radio services (like GMRS) prohibit it except in specific instances for emergencies.

Yes! Truly your choice! I like them all. The only kind I’m still getting used to are IPAs. I like some of the Hazy ones, but some are just too bitter.

I’ll send you mine. I would not want to contribute to anyone else’s vices! But I would rather drink a beer of your choice. I like to try different beers that are locally made.

Good luck on the test!

Let me run a little test. I just changed my name to SteveShannonTEST. Let’s see how it works. Looks like it did. Did you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the profile edit page and click SAVE PROFILE?

Good news about the surgery! I have a friend who gets turned upside down trying to understand the inverted relationship between frequency and band wavelength. I keep trying to figure out how to make it click for him.

Now that takes me back to my younger days!

And don’t be surprised to receive a stupid answer; I do it all the time.

50th

Some people like to follow regulations. Using a certified radio makes it easy to select a channel and be sure it’s programmed to the right frequency, with the right offset (if any), at the right output power, and using the right bandwidth to avoid interfering with other channels and services.

CCR is Credence Clearwater Revival if you’re my age, but around here it is shorthand for cheap Chinese radio. As @OffRoaderX said it’s intended to denigrate. There are a few other abbreviations that you’ll run into: PL is short for Private Line, which is what Motorola marketed as their implementation of CTCSS. There are other abbreviations for this as well. CTCSS keeps your squelch closed (radio audio output silent) unless it detects a specific audio tone included in a transmission. DPL means digital private line and is the same thing except with a digital code instead of an audio tone. It also has several other names such as DCS and DTCSS. Neither DTCSS nor CTCSS provides any security but they do serve to reduce interruptions.

You can use an SWR meter, but the dummy load won’t do anything to hep you determine the SWR of the antenna. WRYZ926 is correct when he says that an analyzer (or a NanoVNA) is much easier. An analyzer will show you the SWR over a range of frequencies. To get similar results with an SWR meter you would have to transmit on a range of different frequencies and record the SWR for each frequency. You’ll have to do that at a power level that is high enough to register on the SWR meter, not only for forward power but for reflected power. At lower power’s some SWR meters simply don’t register the reflected power and show an artificially low SWR. The dummy load is useful if you need to test transmit on your radio, but because it replaces the antenna you can no longer see the reflected power coming from the antenna. With most decent dummy loads you simply see an SWR of 1.0:1 full range. If you do choose to use an SWR meter to analyze SWR across the entire GMRS range, be aware of the fact that power output changes for different channels on a certified GMRS radio and that the frequencies are not spread evenly or ordered according to channel number.

The data looks right. Do you hear anything at all when you just listen on 462.650 with no CTCSS or DTCSS? If not, maybe the repeater is down. Tune your other radio to 462.650, no tones or codes, and give it to a friend or family member. Have them go to the other end of the block while you transmit. All they need to do is listen. If they can’t hear you on the repeater, maybe it is down or you’re out of range.

I doubt that it’s broken. I reported your post to the owner. He should be able to help you. Good luck!

Shit happens.

Thank you! That shows me how I was wrong. Damnit. Edited to add: wrkc935 was right!