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SteveShannon

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  1. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from WRUU653 in Duplexer   
    Not all repeaters will continue to transmit after you briefly press the PTT button. It’s better to get on and ask someone for a radio check. 
  2. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from JamesBrox in Duplexer   
    Not all repeaters will continue to transmit after you briefly press the PTT button. It’s better to get on and ask someone for a radio check. 
  3. Haha
    SteveShannon reacted to WRUU653 in Questions after I RTFM   
    Instigator... 😂 
  4. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to nokones in Questions after I RTFM   
    Repeater Tones = These tone freqs are in Hertz. A repeater tone is never used in the GMRS world. Some legacy public safety radio systems use repeater tones to select certain repeaters from a mobile or portable, and/or a dispatch control point. The user would select the appropriate repeater tone depending on his/her location based on what repeater provides the best coverage. This repeater tone is in addition to the channel protection CTCSS tone.  These tones are also known as "Single Tones" "Signal Tones", or Burst Tones" usually for one-second in duration on each transmitter key up.  
    Public Safety Agencies used this type of signaling because of the expense and/or the lack of the means for a remote control system (Microwave or Telco) between the remote repeater station(s) and the dispatch control point. This method of signaling is normally used in a multiple remote site system in a very large rural area.
    In some cases, these tones (Usually 1450, 1750, and 2100 Hz) can be constant for use as a function or system status purposes on a remote control system (microwave or telco RTO/Pieceout circuit), behind the scenes to the radio user, and will not be heard, normally if the control circuit doesn't malfunction.
    The 1000 Hz tone is normally used as a "Test Tone" for equipment repair and tuning/Alignments.
    PT-T ID = Is a signalling method to identify the radio user that is transmitting at that specific time. For the Dispatcher the code would translate to the Unit's radio call sign on a display in front of the dispatcher.  A specific code is programed in each radio to identify the specific user. This specific code is audible to all users monitoring the channel. In the old days analog radios like the Saber Radios used by L.AP.D., it was a series of tone beeps heard upon each key up a.k.a. MDC signalling. In the Astro Digital days it became a squawk on each key up now known as PTT ID.
  5. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to back4more70 in Questions after I RTFM   
    You may also want to download the manual of a Wouxun or some other handheld, the procedures/steps in there may be somewhat similar.
  6. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from WRUU653 in Questions after I RTFM   
    Turn your power to its lowest setting and get a dummy load.  You’ll still be able to hear these features, many of which almost nobody use for GMRS, such as PTT ID, repeater tones (not to be confused with access tones like CTCSS/DCS which almost every repeater uses).
    Some of those features are there because business radios use them. They’re baked into the firmware and SDR and it would take more work to hide them.  To most GMRS users they have no usefulness. 
    But the Roger beep, is an extremely important feature that never bothers anyone 😉 and which you didn’t ask about.
  7. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from tcp2525 in 2023 Ford Escape antenna options   
    Eventually it will be older and then you’ll drill the hole. Then you’ll realize how well it works and you’ll wish you had just drilled it earlier and gotten the enjoyment out of it.
    It’s just like houses.  I see so many people who wait until they’re selling their houses to fix them up.  All they’re doing is depriving themselves.
  8. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to WRUU653 in Is FCC considering Digital on part of the GMRS band   
    I don’t see this happening if for no other reason it takes an act of congress to get the FCC to do something. 
  9. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from Sab02r in Questions after I RTFM   
    @WRZB493
    Yes.
    Repeater tones are almost never used in GMRS. Ignore them for now. 
    Try different levels; see what works for you. 
    Correct, VOX is usually left off. 
    TOT - leave it at the factory setting, whatever it is. 
    CTCSS/DCS questions - read the forums and make up your own opinion. But anyone can hear you. 
    ANI - play with them and let us know. DTMF is commonly used for repeater control. 
    Some people scan the channels listening for other people. I don’t. Suit yourself. 
    Very few people (I’ve never met anyone who does) use PTT ID in GMRS. 
    Busy Channel - your choice.
    Auto keypad lock would drive me nuts. Make up your own mind on this one. Like most of your questions, try things. 
    For GMRS the offset is always 5 MHz positive. You transmit to repeaters in the 467 MHz range and listen at 462 MHz range. 
    Try it.
    Try it.
    Try it. 
     
    Whew. 
  10. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to WRXB215 in Setting up a UV-5R to connect with a GMRS repeater using Chirp   
    Those are all different repeaters. You will put each one on a different line/channel. You can give a different name to each to keep it strait. I use the repeater name listed on the website. For instance, I mostly use the Channelview and Memorial Park repeaters. So I have them named as CH VIEW and MEM PRK.
    Apparently all your repeaters use the same tone. Remember, only put the tone on the Tx (467) for now until you have everything else working.
  11. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to wayoverthere in My Repeaters Page - Repeater Details Code   
    So...I still stand by the statement that RIch can best say what that section of the site will and will not accept in that box.
    That said, I created a "Test" repeater listing to be able to poke at the settings (marked it offline, etc).  Still not sure what kind of code it's using, but I did successfully create a link with the little "chain" icon (4th from the top right, in blue in the screenshot).  typed in the text I wanted, highlighted it, hit the link button, and pasted in the url I wanted it to point to.
     

    Seems to have worked:

     
    Hope it's at least a little bit of help.
  12. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from WRXB215 in Is FCC considering Digital on part of the GMRS band   
    Unless the guys discussing it were actually from the FCC, it’s probably speculation. Regardless, I would be against it.  There are a whole bunch of unlicensed people out there who enjoy those frequencies for FRS..Taking nearly a third of the available frequencies for digital service would be bad enough; taking nearly two thirds for digital repeater use only leaves the eight channels that are available for analog repeaters now, effectively ruining the entire service for analog users when all those people are displaced from the first 14 channels to the upper 8 (15-23)
  13. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from WRXB215 in 2023 Ford Escape antenna options   
    Could you take the factory shark fin antenna base off and add an NMO or other small base to it, then remount it. That might allow you to run the cable inside also without worrying about pinch points. 
  14. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from WRXB215 in 2023 Ford Escape antenna options   
    Eventually it will be older and then you’ll drill the hole. Then you’ll realize how well it works and you’ll wish you had just drilled it earlier and gotten the enjoyment out of it.
    It’s just like houses.  I see so many people who wait until they’re selling their houses to fix them up.  All they’re doing is depriving themselves.
  15. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from KBSherwood in Questions after I RTFM   
    @WRZB493
    Yes.
    Repeater tones are almost never used in GMRS. Ignore them for now. 
    Try different levels; see what works for you. 
    Correct, VOX is usually left off. 
    TOT - leave it at the factory setting, whatever it is. 
    CTCSS/DCS questions - read the forums and make up your own opinion. But anyone can hear you. 
    ANI - play with them and let us know. DTMF is commonly used for repeater control. 
    Some people scan the channels listening for other people. I don’t. Suit yourself. 
    Very few people (I’ve never met anyone who does) use PTT ID in GMRS. 
    Busy Channel - your choice.
    Auto keypad lock would drive me nuts. Make up your own mind on this one. Like most of your questions, try things. 
    For GMRS the offset is always 5 MHz positive. You transmit to repeaters in the 467 MHz range and listen at 462 MHz range. 
    Try it.
    Try it.
    Try it. 
     
    Whew. 
  16. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to gortex2 in Duplexer   
    yes
  17. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to neosmith20 in Hub/Node Connection and rpt-cmd   
    I figured it out when I had to reinstall the OS...
    Before running number "8. Run the script with the following command: sudo ~/repeaterfinder.sh" from the section "Configure Your Node Manually" on the page How Do I Join The myGMRS Network
    I had to change "deb http://mirrordirector.raspbian.org/raspbian/" to "deb http://legacy.raspbian.org/raspbian" in the file "/etc/apt/sources.list"
    I had to change this because it was causing an error while trying to run the script, as the old website link is no longer in existence!
    Once I changed it, I then ran the script from number 8, and it downloaded everything correctly. It then rebooted, and I changed my password... I checked the "manage nodes" page, and the node came up correctly. I was able to manage it then, as well as connect my node to a regional node.
  18. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from WRXB215 in Questions after I RTFM   
    @WRZB493
    Yes.
    Repeater tones are almost never used in GMRS. Ignore them for now. 
    Try different levels; see what works for you. 
    Correct, VOX is usually left off. 
    TOT - leave it at the factory setting, whatever it is. 
    CTCSS/DCS questions - read the forums and make up your own opinion. But anyone can hear you. 
    ANI - play with them and let us know. DTMF is commonly used for repeater control. 
    Some people scan the channels listening for other people. I don’t. Suit yourself. 
    Very few people (I’ve never met anyone who does) use PTT ID in GMRS. 
    Busy Channel - your choice.
    Auto keypad lock would drive me nuts. Make up your own mind on this one. Like most of your questions, try things. 
    For GMRS the offset is always 5 MHz positive. You transmit to repeaters in the 467 MHz range and listen at 462 MHz range. 
    Try it.
    Try it.
    Try it. 
     
    Whew. 
  19. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from Sab02r in Radioddity DB20-G   
    You deserve to hear this: you were right and I was wrong. The power indicator rotates through H, M, and L, with no other indication and I completely missed it. 
  20. Like
    SteveShannon got a reaction from WRUU653 in Radioddity DB20-G   
    You deserve to hear this: you were right and I was wrong. The power indicator rotates through H, M, and L, with no other indication and I completely missed it. 
  21. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to back4more70 in Tidradio TD-H8   
  22. Haha
    SteveShannon got a reaction from back4more70 in Tidradio TD-H8   
    And "Double Waiting".
    That might actually be truth in advertising.
    I guess that anyone who buys one of these can't say they weren't warned.
  23. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to OffRoaderX in antenna for MXT115   
    Did it come with the tiny mag-mount antenna?  If so, that antenna works surprisingly well IF you can mount it on the roof of your vehicle.  If you are mounting the antenna anywhere else the larger MXTA26 works great - Yesterday was at Fremont Peak Rd near Hwy 395 in So.Cal, and was talking to a guy on his mobile radio on a hill above Silverwood Lake in So. Cal, exactly 63 miles away, and he was coming in loud and clear.
    You could use any "UHF" antenna, but you would have to cut/trim/tune it before you use it. If you buy a "GMRS" antenna like the MXTA26, you just take it out of the sack and put it on your car, no need for tuning or cutting.
  24. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to SteveC7010 in 2023 Ford Escape antenna options   
    Better to get a 3”x3” square of helicopter tape and put that down on the roof first. It won’t let the mag mount scratch the paint and is easily removed when desired. 

     
  25. Like
    SteveShannon reacted to gortex2 in 2023 Ford Escape antenna options   
    My $70,000 F250 has 18 miles on it when I blew in 2 mounts. My F1150 had 100 miles on it when I dropped 6 mounts in it. If done right its worth doing and in the end will get done anyway. Enjoy the proper install and dont worry about it. 
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