SteveShannon

Good job figuring that out. I’m not sure I could have.

I did. As I explained it doesn’t require that the radio be an amateur radio, only that the user have an amateur radio license issued by the FCC. So, a licensed amateur radio operator could operate any kind of two way radio. Of course FCC regulations would require that a person also have a license for the service being used.

I’m not a lawyer, but I don’t see how GMRS can be considered Amateur Radio. GMRS can be used for business purposes, requires certified transmitters, and is very clearly differentiated in the regulations from Amateur Radio. However, the law clearly doesn’t require that the radio be an amateur radio. It simply requires that the user have an amateur radio license issued by the FCC. So, get a technician class license also.

Welcome to the forums. You’ll fit right in. There is an ignore list. 381 is on it for a few people. I could be too.

This is the one that I think will be the solution. I'm on my way to try it right now. Thanks again, Amaff. That was it. Before I had been adjusting the Step Size down in the channel list. The menu item #6 isn't even visible if you're not in VFO mode. My Step Size had been set to 25KHz. I have set it to 5KHz now.

You may be able to put "None" in there. It's not required in any case and I don't know why it reports less than 100%.

Just a reminder that Premium membership allows a person to simply download a list of repeaters.

Yes, you should be able to. First, select one of the eight preprogrammed repeater channels. They’ll be labeled something like RP15 through RP22 or numbered 23-30. They already have the necessary offset built in for transmitting to and receiving from a receiver. So then all you have to do is set the transmit tone (or digital code). It’s part of the repeater information and will usually be called something like “input tone.” Don’t let the various manufacturers confuse you with the different names they give tones. CTCSS, CTS, and PL are all exactly the same. Same thing with digital: DCS, DTCSS, and DPL are all the same, but they are sometimes given an N (Normal) or I (Inverted) suffix. If neither letter appears it’s the same as N. Let us know how it goes.

Welcome, Leo. Nice review. I suspect you’ll find that you seldom use it as a base station and instead just use your handheld radios to talk through it to other radios. That’s an ideal use for a personal repeater. Let us know which location you decide on and how it works. And feel free to disregard wrxp381’s negative comments. Most of us do.

First I backed out to the top level and then clicked on Edit Profile: Then I clicked on my callsign: But I don’t know if it will change the callsign in the forums.

When I signed up, I thought I had to create two different profiles. Now I just changed my profile name and it changed for both. It looked like I could change my GMRS callsign also. Try editing your profile and see if it fixes the problem.

They are two related accounts. I have reported your issue to Rich. He can help.

Try it. Have a friend give you reception reports. I think you’ll discover that being on the roof will work about the same as being on the roof rack.

Thanks, Amaff!! I’ll try that.

I think you have done everything you could. And kudos to you for being considerate.

I have it set to 12.5 everywhere. That’s the lowest it goes, as far as I can tell. But if you know where it can be set lower, or even to 20k, please let me know.

I have a question for the Radioddity DB20G (not a typo). I tried to tune it to 146.520, the National Calling Frequency, VFO mode, entering the frequency from the microphone buttons (14652000 ). It wouldn't accept it. It "adjusted" the frequency to 146.52500. Using the Up and Down buttons I can step between 146.5000 to 146.52500, so it appears the step size is 25 KHz. I have Step size set to 12.5 KHz everywhere I found it mentioned. With the CPS I was able to program 146.520, but not from the front panel/microphone. What am I doing wrong? @WRYS709 - I'm counting on you. You've dug into this radio more than anyone else still around.

Your Laird antenna coupled with your lip mount should be just fine. Even though the mount increases the distance above the metal, it still RF couples to the metal to allow the metal to act as a ground plane.

Turn it off. Fun + 8, unless they have a typo.

I don’t understand why you would. Run it to a ground rod. Then bond that ground rod to you utility service ground.

I enjoy the magazines so I’ll renew.

I have never read the entire thing, so I’m in the most people category (when I’m not busy being “some people” (credit to @OffRoaderX).

Not quickly. But it is the reference manual for building a nearly lightning proof repeater station. When you think of all the repeaters that are on Forest Service or BLM land and the fact that people don’t unplug their coaxial cables and put them into jars every time a storm is forecast, this manual is why. But it’s long. Too much for most people.

Well, they don’t manufacture handhelds in the U.S., so there’s that. Yaesu made the VX-7, which does 6 meters, 2 meters, 220 MHz, and 70 cm. They’re still around and very durable. Some of the CB radios can be unlocked for 10 meters. One mobile I read about yesterday simply has a jumper to choose 10 or 11 meters. It’s very possible that company makes a similar handheld. It might have been Alinco.

467 MHz interstitial channels. The effective radiated power (ERP) of hand-held portable units transmitting on the 467 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed 0.5 Watt. Each GMRS transmitter type capable of transmitting on these channels must be designed such that the ERP does not exceed 0.5 Watt.