PastorGary

Jeremy - That's true... as the old saying goes, "you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." Put as much as you can into the outdoor items and then. whatever you decide on indoors will work to it's utmost potential.

LOL... No such thing as a nuisance to radio and electronic geeks !!!

It is - with LOTS of practice... and a spectrum analyzer. If you haven't done one before, watch someone do it FOR you the first time and take notes.

Well, now - that's an interestiong situation... All you have to do is glue on a couple trebble hooks and an "O" ring and turn it into a surface trolling Musky lure. When a Musky strikes, you can hear it on the other radio that is still in the boat... :D

The SP-440 is a 16 channel UHF, 440-470 MHz dealer programmable radio. The PL-5161 is a 32 channel VHF, 136 to 174 MHz dealer programmable radio. Unfortunately, they are not in the same band space. Midland programming software and cables are not commonly found in end-users hands. But, perhaps other members here may have some options for you. P-G =========

Perhaps Rich D. can delve into potential marketing or adverstising of the myGMRS.com domain and forum - we'll hope that he stops by here in the next few days and sees your post. You're right - As of today, May 13, the form has 54 registered members - nearly all have not posted but most do read all active topics. We invite everyone to jump in and participate and if anyone has questions about procedures or equipment, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.

P/S to Steve - There is a memo waiting for you in your Forum PM inbox. If you are not familiar as yet with the layout of the forum, your message center can be accessed by clicking on the "letter" icon just to the left of your name in the upper right portion of the main screen. Thank you.

Steven - This is a copy of the memo that I posted in the LAGGROUP forum just the other day... Even if Dave ( administrator staff ) can somehow get back into the forum by way of his administrative control panel, LAGGROUP forum has no posting traffic, no new authorized members since roughly mid 2012 and no administrative activity since the glitch in the software started approximately 4-5 months ago. At this point, that Forum and it's main website are essentially useless. I have placed memos inside the forum indicating that myGMRS.com is alive and well and to register with the main info site and then come to this forum to exchange info. However, with almost zero participation there, very few have actually seen my memos. Regarding the Metro 4 system that you wish to use, I am sending you some (2010 year) contact information by way of private messaging. Please check your forum Pm inbox for that info... Hope that helps you with your inquiry.

Some commercial radio systems that use weather alert triggering, use the tone generated by the NWS transmitter to tell the repeater to shut down any existing traffic and over-ride it with the alert. If someone is using the repeater when the alert comes on, the alert may not be heard. It is unclear as to whether a weather alert can be rebroadcast automatically and directly on a GMRS system, so to be on the safe side, use a weather alert monitor with S.A.M.E. codes programmed in for the area that the repeater can be heard in and once an NWS alert comes in on your weather monitor, simply get on the repeater yourself to announce what the alert consisted of. 47CFR95.183 (a) sub 12 may apply, but is not 100 percent clear.

+100

At least for the moment your GMRS channel is clear - hope it stays that way. Regarding tower paint... I've gone that route in the past and one of the reasons that (Rohn) doesn't recomemnd painting the sections is for lightning conductivity. If you take a hit with a non-painted tower, there isn't any high resistance junction area where the tower sections ride in the guides. If those areas are painted, the lightning will do weird things in getting down to ground - like splashing over and following your feedline into the shack or involving the winch power feeds. Painting the tower, so there is not a continuous top to bottom tower ground, can also increase the SWR in certain cases, so look things over carefully before you decide. I painted one of mine, but left the section to section contact points paint free and that seemed to be OK. Please keep us posted.

Thanks, Robert - Nice to see you check in here at the Forum. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The resaon that I started this thread in the first place was to try to provide a brand and model database that members can refer to in the event of a regional disaster. MURS capable equipment may be an alternative to other radio services early in an emergency because equipment seems to be available in quantity and can be programmed in the field to match responder CTCSS for coordination. Of course, there are other uses for MURS equipment, but since almost everyone using this forum does assist with radio communications in emergencies, MURS radios can be a big help. Just one example would be Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) to Law Enforcement mobile command post coordination very early in a disaster scenario before other radio response members can get their more permanent equipment set up. Thanks again for all the usefull information thus far and if anyone else has additional models to add to the list, please feel free to do so.

James - I wish I could directly assist in that request, but only Rich D. can deal with things at the main repeater info site. You can contact Rich D. direct through the Private Messaging here in the Forum under his - WQEJ577username. That would be the quickest way to reach him at this time. Thanks. P-G ==========

Good News... please keep us posted on things as you are able to get it set up and running.

Thanks to everyone for the great info thus far. I know that many GMRS, FRS and Amateur operators do not use MURS at all because of congestion from restraunts and stores, but in an emergency, it is a good alternative to non-functioning cell phones if towers are down ( literally - as we have encountered after hurricanes and tornadoes). Our temporary mobile disaster dispatch vehicle always monitors MURS "570" just in case. Thanks again...

Great, William - I'm sure that members here might like additional data in case they run into "garage sale" equipment that might be usable in more than one way.

Thanks...

For used rotor controllers, take a look at the web link below or call Ken in Michigan during regular business hours... His inventory is constantly changing, so if you don't see something listed, contact him direct for an inquiry... http://www.kenselectronics.com/

Please refer to the following FCC Part 95 GMRS stipulations: 95.5c (and note - the regulations state previously licensed GMRS system, not Part 90 BUSINESS system on those frequencies.) 95.7b 95.119 95.135a 95.179b and finally - 95.117 for contact info. Rules Link: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=d31a17418f870dff2001ca1a15f76d3f&rgn=div5&view=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.5&idno=47#47:5.0.1.1.5.1.139.1

As Crocodile Dundee would say, "No worries, mate."

William - can you reply here with a couple model numbers on the Midlands? Thanks.

Bill - A sugegstion... Since I supply portables to my Chaplain Responder team and some radios are different than others, I have placed a white, stick on paper binder reinforcer over the mic opening so everyone can find the mic regardless of which radio that they are using. The link below will show you what I am refering to and these are available at any office supply store. They work well and they don't leave a mark when they are removed. http://www.staples.com/Avery-Reinforcements-for-Hole-Punched-Pages-Clear-200-Pack/product_166322

Logan5 - there were 7 posts identical to the one above over a time span of 40 minutes. I removed 6 of them because they all contained the same text. The forum takes a little time to process new posts - especially when the server hosting the forum is working hard on it's tasks, so give it a little time when you hit the "Add Reply" button. Thanks.

Part 90 licensing was an issue for my group because we respond into 6 different states, so I took advantage of the Itinerant licensing that was quick, no coordination and we have yet to encounter an interferance issue with other itinerant operators while on our disaster field operations.

Bill - Try to stay with wideband. It will produce much more reliable comm and distance than narrow. Part 95 is exempt from the band plan rebanding. ( at least so far ). And narrowband will not give the range that wideband does, especially with portables. Keep us posted.