SteveShannon

The connectors do not need to match the brand of hardline, but they must be sized correctly. The connector you showed in your picture (L5NF) was made by Andrews. The L5NF is no longer manufactured, but I would think they make something similar. I don't know if it could be reused with the correct preparation, but it looks like it might be an N female, rather than N male. It looks like someone used it with a jumper of coax, possibly something like LMR. I know some people are against using LMR400 for repeaters because it has two different shield metals. If you subscribe to that theory, get M&P Ultraflex 10 jumpers; they are copper for all layers of shielding. So, with the connector you have, with N female on the ends (male thread on the outside, but a female socket on the inside) you would use an N male to N male coax jumper. A short jumper of M&P Ultraflex from Gigaparts will work well.

Welcome, Vince!

Before buying the connectors, see what the manufacturer has for resources for the exact connector you need. The better manufacturers provide training videos. Some (okay, nearly all) strongly recommend using their preparation tools, but once you understand the process you will understand what tools you really need. Here is an example:

As we all should.

There are various reasons not to run the ground directly to the battery. This site explains: http://www.k0bg.com/wiring.html

Yes, the positive side should come directly from the battery. It’s not necessary to run a separate ground however; the vehicle manufacturers provide chassis ground points that you can use.

Thanks very much. WRQC527 was the member with the spur on his Quantar. I’ll pass along your recommendations along with the others this question has received. Meanwhile I’ll research the MTRs.

That’s exactly the kind of input I’m looking for. Thank you!

I peeked. No apologies needed. I overreacted. You’re back on my Christmas card list.

Our ham radio club is looking for a replacement 2 meter analog repeater. I’m kind of interested in a used Motorola. Our current repeater is a Yaesu DR1x that has locked up twice during the winter when we can’t get to it. We want something more reliable. We run at 25 watts now so it would not have to be more. Also, we don’t need digital audio, not DMR or P25. Im interested in suggestions based on actual experience. Thanks!

Me too, then I added him to my ignore list.

I have not, but I’ll be curious to hear how well the “two-way noise reduction” works. Good noise reduction can really help in SSB mode on my ham radios, but I’ve not tried it in FM. Other than noise reduction and IP67, all the other features are typical of most GMRS radios.

It’s no bother. How long of a cable do you need? I can link a cable with the correct ends. If you want.

No, that’s a female N connector. The center is a tiny socket with spring fingers. We already told you what to get: 1. LMR400 or equivalent cable with pl259 on both ends. 2. Adapter with SO239 on one side and N male on the other side. Or call DX Engineering and order a DXE400 cable with an N male on one end and PL259 on the other.

Brent, Where would you plan to mount the bracket? Personally I would get a bracket designed specifically for your model and year of truck rather than a generic bracket like you’ve linked. Alternatively, there are thin steel plates with double sided adhesive on one side that can be adhered to your aluminum roof which then allow magnetic mounts to be used. There’s also a company that makes antenna brackets that attach between your third brake light and the cab. They’re expensive but very well done. Or get a bracket and antenna like you linked.

You mean the person who marked the antenna as 162-167 MHz?

I agree with wrxb215, the connector on the antenna is an N connector. Get a piece of lmr400 or m&p Ultraflex 10 that’s the right length. Either get the coax with a PL-259 on the radio end and a male N connector on the antenna end or pick up the correct adapter. You don’t need the right angle connectors and RG-58 is very lossy at GMRS frequencies.

Which just further makes my point. At least your family has you to help teach them about radios if SHTF, most don’t have anyone. They’ll be trying to learn at the worst possible time. It’s like trying to teach a drowning person how to swim. Similarly, you talked about how you would pick up a ham radio and use it. At least you start with an understanding of how simplex and repeater communications work on UHF. HF is a bit of a different animal. Without some level of HF experience, even as basic as knowing that different bands are active in the morning, afternoon, and evening, or about the different types of antennas needed for the various bands, your chances of success are lower.

I think you and I are in complete agreement then. You obviously don’t fit in the category of the people I mentioned earlier.

I understand, and I think most people feel the same way, but have you actually thought it through? Do you have an actual plan or would you just be transmitting on random frequencies hoping that someone is listening? In real life, many people mistake hope for a plan.

One of the myths around radio regulations is that “in an emergency, nobody needs to worry about licensing.” It’s not true. Every class of license has rules that specify what may be done in the event of an actual emergency. For GMRS, the rule regarding emergencies says that in an emergency a license holder may allow anyone to operate his or her station. The difference is subtle (and perhaps pedantic) but is not the same as saying that anything goes, nor should it be. Having a bunch of people who know nothing about GMRS (or any other service) suddenly start using the service, without knowing anything about the channels, the limitations, and the capabilities, will only serve as an impediment to effective communication.

In a repeater, is the repeater controller that connects a receiver and a transmitter a wireline link?

Based on anecdotal reports here, about 1 in 4 arrives unable to transmit. It’s simply not probable that all of the other three are “great little radios!” Perhaps some are but it’s entirely possible that any of them has an issue that hasn’t been found. It’s a great radio for a gambler.

Perhaps there are some like that, but all the VEs I know are very welcoming of folks who take multiple tests in one sitting. I got lucky and passed all three and they were very positive afterwards. In fact, shortly afterwards the VEC asked me if I would help as a VE.