SteveShannon

Too bad, you’ll get no sympathy from me. But I’m glad you’re getting more and more into it and I hope someday you’ll appreciate how much more Amateur Radio can be besides simply chatting to others.

I use it frequently. dB calculations and antenna calculations mostly, but also things like impedance calculations and SWR.

So don’t study the math part and take the test to see if you needed it. im pretty sure that if you do well enough on all the other part you can pass even with very poor math skills.

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-10-106A1.pdf Here’s what the FCC says about scrambling on GMRS: 20. Recently, several GMRS and FRS radios have been certified with an optional voice “scrambling” feature that purports to add a level of privacy to communications within a particular group of users.35 We believe that voice-obscuring techniques, which go beyond the ubiquitous, standardized tone squelch, are inappropriate for these services. Specifically, we believe that these voice-obscuring techniques could thwart the channel sharing protocols in these services and the ability to communicate during an emergency. To ensure there is no future confusion on this matter, we propose to clarify our rules to specifically prohibit voice obscuring or scrambling in the GMRS, FRS, and CB Radio Service, and to provide that any such equipment with those features will be prohibited from receiving a grant of equipment certification for operation under Part 95 of our rules. We seek comment on this proposal and whether other Part 95 Services should prohibit voice “scrambling. ” We invite commenters to address whether there are alternatives that may allow voice altering features while still addressing the concerns identified above. We also seek comment on how to phase-out the marketing and sales of existing equipment. Should we impose a specific cut-off date or dates? Should the same date apply to the manufacture, import, and sales of devices? Should we allow existing inventory on shelves to be sold or should it be removed? What are the trade-offs of the various approaches?

I have the Alinco DJ-MD5 which is basically the 778 inside. Like the 778 it’s certified for Part 90, for commercial frequencies. It is very easily configured to be used on frequencies that include GMRS.

If I were you, I would contact the nearest ham radio club and ask if they would be interested in helping you identify a source of interference. Or you could ask the FCC, but the ham club would probably be more responsive. It might be as simple as a nearby cheap baby monitor. The fact that it’s ongoing makes it easier to find. Once you’ve identified the source of the interference, let the FCC know.

The beeps are our 70 cm repeater automatically IDing itself on analog using Morse code. It is both a DMR and analog repeater so it’s an easy source of examples of sound.

If you hear any kind of voice tones it’s not DMR. Digital modes convert voices to binary data and send no tones that can be heard on an analog radio. Make a recording and attach it to a post and we might be able to help you identify the modulation.

You’ll have it in no time!! Way to go!

No, but if you have tone squelch (TSQL) on receive turned on on the analog radio you might not hear the DMR.

Pedantically and technically users are required to ID. The repeater doesn’t have to if the only users on it are using the same ID as the owner/operator. So that is the rule, but if I were you I would not do a thing differently. Anyone listening hears the repeater ID; it’s the same as your ID; it would sound stupid for you, your bride, and your repeater to repeat your call sign three times every 15 minutes. Not one person could possibly cite you for it. Sometimes strict adherence to the letter of the rules is bizarre.

We really hear that with new hams but the reality is that there’s nobody out there waiting to ticket you if you never ID. GMRS is intended for friends and family; just talk on it like your phone with an occasional ID if you feel guilty.

Here’s what I hear if someone transmits DMR on our 70 cm repeater: Recording of DMR on analog with call sign..m4a

I’m just on my way out the door but there are a few different kinds of chokes, from adding ferrite slugs to your existing coax to looping your coax through a toroidal ferrite, to wrapping coax around a cylinder. The one you pictured is way overpriced in my opinion.

That is not a choke. That’s an impedance transformer that is at the heart of the balun. For most EFHW antennas it’s 49:1 but that one looks like it’s 64:1.

If I were in the market for a $100 radio, I’d add $40 and get the Yaesu FT-60. It doesn’t have APRS, but it does have a metal chassis and a pretty decent reputation. I don’t have one but reviews are good.

There are going to be many more ham radio towers and a lot of hams are interested and even knowledgeable about Meshtastic right now. But the basic steps to determine whom to contact is to either find a listing for a repeater on this site (MyGMRS) or Repeaterbook and then look up the licensee in the fcc database. Talk to them on the radio or drop them a snail mail letter and see where it leads.

I’m not sure what you are wanting to do. Please explain.

And here’s a look at the spots in data format. I only received tonight:

Here’s just a quick map showing a few minutes of WSPR:

Not voice, it’s simply an automated way to map propagation, and it’s programmed into wsjt-x. The acronym stands for Weak Signal Propagation Reporting. It can be configured to use a single band or to hop from band to band periodically. Because it’s a digital mode Technicians can do it on bands they can’t use for phone. If you already use wsjt-x just go to the mode drop down and select it. There are even relatively inexpensive WSPR beacons that you can buy and connect to your antenna and just let run while you do other things. The goal isn’t racking up contacts but rather mapping signals that you hear and stations that hear you. While it’s running you can even look at the propagation map for yourself or someone else on your smartphone.

I got a spot on Antarctica using WSPR. They aren’t logged like ft8 but they’re still pretty fun to get. It’s amazing how far away 5 watts can travel and how WSPR allows you to see it.

I looked to see if RBN (reverse beacon network) could be used to report calls in phone mode. It doesn’t seem to. It can do CW though so it’s not strictly digital modes.

How are you transmitting your call sign? PskReporter and WSPR both require that you send your call sign using a digital mode so it can spot you and report your propagation.

I hope your deference is not misplaced. I applaud your skepticism.