SteveShannon

Measure SWR right at the antenna instead of at the radio to see what it really is.

A codeplug is simply a dataset that’s built with a computer and uploaded to a radio with settings for channels and other configuration information. As i mentioned before your DC meter tells you almost nothing about an antenna or feedline unless it has an intermittent short or open. It’s like hooking a paperback book to your car’s diagnostic port. Most antennas have impedance at certain frequencies due to inductance and capacitance, but that means nothing at DC.

1.48 watts = 31.7026171539 dbm 4.69 watts = 36.7117284272 dbm The difference is 5.009 db Use an online calculator: https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/power/Watt_to_dBm.html

Ham Radio Outlet has several radios set up for people to try. You might enjoy test driving some radios. The IC-7300 probably has more YouTube videos explaining its features and operation than any other radio. It’s a great beginner radio. The Yaesu FT-710 is a direct competitor of the IC-7300, but more recently released. Pricing for the 710 is better than the 7300. Both have direct conversion front ends. That’s not a bad thing despite what some hams would say. Traditional radios were superheterodyne and analog from the antenna to the speaker. Direct conversion radios go from the antenna to an analog to digital converter and then do everything digitally until converting back to analog and delivering to the speaker. The FTDx10 is a hybrid with the HF handled in the analog domain before being converted to a much lower frequency where it goes through an analog to digital conversion. All signal processing is done in digital before converting back to analog and sent to the speaker.

No.

The only person who can address this is Rich ( @rdunajewski ). If I leave my computer on one of the nets I get occasional traffic audio. As far as I know that’s the only traffic there is.

No, and there really can’t be. There are too many variables. The answer will always be: Try it.

Search for “firmware update H-3”

Two of my friends have the FT-991. I’ve spent some time helping one of them. I have the FTDX10 and an FT-891. For a beginner wanting a single full power radio that does HF, VHF, and UHF, the FT-991 and the Icom IC-7100 are about the only games in town. An IC-705 with an amplifier would be another all band option. Gigaparts recently had an overstock sale selling the IC-7100 without mentioning its name. It was about $300 off. If I were advising someone to get an HF radio on a bit of a budget, I would recommend the Yaesu FT-710. If you put stock in the Sherwood Report It’s got a better receiver than anything from Icom. It definitely has a great display, improved ergonomics compared to the ftdx10 (which I have) and can be had on sale from time to time for about $800. It doesn’t do 2 meters and 70 centimeters like the ft-991, but I would probably prefer a second radio for that anyway for the flexibility. There a many older radios out there, but once you’ve used a newer radio with a nice high resolution display of the nearby spectrum showing where there’s activity you’ll be spoiled. The IC-7300, FT-710, and the FTDx10 have really nice scopes on a touch screen, so when you see a peak you want to explore a quick poke and final tuning and you’re there. The 991 has a spectrum scope too, but it’s much smaller and I don’t believe you can touch it to tune. The IC-7300 also has a built in SWR sweep function that none of the Yaesu radios have. In fact the 7300 has the ability to be switched to emergency mode, which reduces the RF output to about 50 watts, but allows you to use the built in antenna match for a relatively high SWR antenna (much higher than the 3.0:1 SWR which can usually be tuned). Each has its unique advantages.

You can get a vanity call sign while a Technician class, but it’s limited to Class C or D https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service/amateur-call-sign-systems#:~:text=There are up to three,)______" will be dismissed.

Look on the repeater page for repeaters near you, then request access to those. There isn’t one single repeater for the forum, just a whole bunch of individual repeaters owned by people. Welcome to the forum.

Here’s a link to the manual. This radio has an adjustable offset that you’ll need to correctly set. CTCSS tones are covered: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/890652/Puxing-Px-888.html?page=13#manual

Do you have instructions for it?

That is true, but doesn’t matter. The “effective” radiated power (ERP) is the product of the power input to the antenna, times the gain relative to a half-wave dipole.

They’re certainty still around, but they were designed around serial communications standards, not analog signals. I don’t know if that’s compatible with the microphone and IDer. I’ll see if I can find a source. It used to be Black Box. Edit: I see you found one.

There are DB-9 switch boxes that accept two different cables and allow you to select which one to connect. I’ve used them for serial devices (20 years ago!)

Just talk through the repeater with a handheld while the IDer is connected.

I disagree. In any serious military action, satellite communications would probably be targeted very early like most infrastructure. They’re one of the most vulnerable assets because they can be taken out either physically (an orbital EMP, directed energy weapon, or simply a missile) or virtually by hacking. I suspect the routines to do the latter are loaded and ready to be used. Military satellites would be more protected of course.

Every station is required to ID once every 15 minutes and at the end of the conversation whether you’re on a repeater or simplex. You are not required to identify as different units when the call sign is shared amongst family members, but you might want to. In reality very few people follow the identification rules and nobody has died as a result.

Welcome! and 73 de AI7KS.

Welcome! Look for YouTube videos on the Notarubicon channel. His channel has presented more GMRS information than any other that I know of. Hopefully, some members from your area will comment also.

Here’s a link to the video:

It really depends on what is meant by SHTF. In my opinion if the shit truly has hit the fan, no infrastructure will be available. The billing department will be the least of your worries. If infrastructure is still available, shit hasn’t truly hit the fan.

Then the other thing to try is to connect a handheld to the antenna cable and see how the antenna works without the repeater and duplexer. I would just keep eliminating things until you eliminate the problem. Is the antenna even with the heavy part of the tree canopy? Maybe it’s just being blocked. Try putting your antenna lower again. Vegetation will definitely block UHF.