SteveShannon

This page explains the dependencies for Chirp Next on Linux. https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/ChirpOnLinux

100 feet of rise in 525 feet of run is a 10.78° angle above horizontal.

I’ll do it for you if you tell me the horizontal distance and the rise in elevation.

Contact @rdunajewski, the administrator. He’s the only one who can do it.

Trigonometry. But unless there’s a repeater or someone you’re trying to reach at the top of the ridge it might not matter. A radio signal that is aimed at the ridge will keep on going in a straight line, not curve back down where someone on the other side of the ridge will receive it.

For a service that has a very limited number of frequencies and that is intended to be an easy way for friends and families to communicate with each other adding a bunch of crap like that is a non-starter. I disagree that “the people” are asking for either scenario you posted as #1 or #2. Saying “the people” implies there’s consensus but there just isn’t. Very few people who use FRS even know about #1 or #2, much less ask for them and only a few of the more serious GMRS folks who have their toes also in ham radio or commercial radio continue to propose such things.

You’re right, but planting a repeater on one of the few repeater frequency pairs and then telling people they cannot use those frequencies is also a form of interference. No repeater owner owns the frequency pair. If the repeater is quiet, anyone else can use that pair.

The 97S model has an extra port which can be used for an external mike or an IDer. But I absolutely agree about just mounting it to the top of the mast with a short piece of good cable.

First, make sure you select a repeater channel. They already have the correct frequencies programmed in. Then set the transmit tone to whatever the repeater expects to receive. At first leave the receive tone out (or set it to TONE, rather than T-SQL. Then push the PTT button and identify yourself and ask if anyone can hear you. Welcome to the forum Alejandro.

If your mast is strong enough mount the repeater box closer to the antenna and make sure you select one of the “ultra-flex” types of cable. M&P is fine. Both layers of shielding are copper, unlike Times-Microwave’s LMR400 which has aluminum and copper.

Let’s use correct terminology. It’s not true to say that dBi is always greater than dB. A dB is a relative unit of measurement. It’s never correct to say that an antenna has X dB of gain unless you also specify what that gain is relative to. That’s usually done by expressing gain as dBi, dBd. dBi is relative to an isentropic antenna, a theoretical antenna that consists of a single point radiating exactly the same in every direction. dBd is relative to a dipole, which is a very real antenna. A dipole antenna has 2.15 dB greater gain in certain directions, than an isentropic antenna. That also means it radiates less in other directions. There’s also the term dBm, which is not used to characterize passive antennas but to characterize electrical sensitivity, such as receivers.

Ahhh, here’s what’s going on. It’s not just “turning on the speaker.” It’s mute logic and there’s a setting for when to un-mute. Here’s what the manual says: Speaker Turn On (SP unmute) Speaker will be turned on when the mobile radio receives communication signaling. Opening conditions can be chosen. 1. Press FUN, MHZ/SET key in turn, then rotate the coding knob to choose menu number 59 (UNMUTE). 2. Press MHZ/SET key and rotate the coding knob to choose PTT ID types: QD (default), Q+0 or Q-0. QD: Speaker will be turned on as soon as CTCSS/DCS signaling is right. Q+0: Both the CTCSS\DCS signaling and the optional signaling (DTMF or MSK signaling) must be correct to turn on the horn. Q-0: Turn on the horn whenever one of the CTCSS\DCS signaling, optional signaling (DTMF or MSK signaling) is correct 3.Press MHZ/SET key to save settings, or press any other key to cancel. 4.Press any other key to exit menu mode, except MHZ/SET key.

I don’t have an answer. I’ve never had a radio that required turning on the internal speaker. If you download and look at the channel list in software, is there a per channel setting for internal speaker?

No problem. And for anyone else who has a similar issue you can always report your own post.

I have reported your post.

I would agree that your power appears to be noisy. Whether it’s the ground or the positive or both is difficult to know from here. My conclusion is that you’re doing all the right things!

What does the Surecom say is your reflected power? What does it say is the SWR? Where is the Surecom in the transmission line (coax), at the antenna or next to the radio? What kind of coax are you using? Welcome to the forums!!

Here’s what I can report from my personal experience: The FT-891 works very well. It doesn’t have a sound card built in so if you’re interested in digital modes like FT-8 or VARA HF (email sans internet), you’ll need a sound card interface. I used a DigiRig and it was very easy. You end up with three cables: 1. one USB A to USB B that runs from your computer to your FT-891 for CAT control. 2. one USB A to USB C that runs from the computer to the DigiRig. The DigiRig serves as an external sound card controlled by the ham radio software you choose. 3. one special cable that has a 4 conductor plug (Tip Ring Ring Sleeve) on the DigiRig end and a mini-DIN that plugs into the FT-891. A few different YouTube channels (especially N4HNH) have really good videos about settings for the FT-891. I have a private playlist that I can make public if you like. I don’t have mine in a vehicle. I got it to use in a bag or box for portable operations. I also don’t use scan. I’ll be very curious to hear how you like the RT Systems software. I loaned mine to a friend while his FT-991a is on its way to Yaesu for warranty repair. That has given me an opportunity to hear how it sounds to others. My friend lives 5 blocks away and he and I both tune in to the LSB phone Montana Sheepherders Net on MWF at 10:30 MST on 7214 kHz. It sounds good when I hear him transmitting and he has had no problem being heard by others on the net, from Washington state to Canada. He has figured out the menus well. He uses websdr to provide a full-color waterfall since the FT-891 radio doesn’t provide one. He likes that feature on the FT-991A. I like it too on my FT-DX10. It’s not a QRP rig. Although it can be turned down to 5 watts output, on low RF power it is not as low electrical power consumption as something designed for QRP, but at higher power output it’s just fine. I think you’re right to use an external speaker with it. I think it will sound better.

I haven’t built a repeater from two transceivers. I know people have and I also know that desense must be overcome for some transceivers. To me it’s a waste compared to a purpose built repeater because you end up with an unused transmitter on one transceiver and an unused receiver on the other transceiver. If you have access to transceivers that have the capability built in it’s easier. The GMRS Wouxun KG1000 and its ham radio counterpart the Wouxun KG-UV980 are sold with the capability incorporated and a 15 foot cable to connect two of them. i would recommend starting a separate thread. I predict you’ll have a popular thread.

It’s not a repeater, at least according to the first post. It’s just a radio station.

Because a company controlled by the Communist Party is better than company a Democrat heads?

The people who are dead set against CCRs will never acknowledge anything right with them, but the fact is that they are a large reason why a lot of people get into playing with radios. And once you learn about radios, if you can afford it, chances are you’ll get something better.

So do like Randy suggested and sign up with HamRegistry. Here’s the official response to your concerns: https://www.fcc.gov/managing-director/privacy-transparency/privacy-act-information

Nothing extra needed. They use analog audio.