mainehazmt

the test bank questions and answers are on line most people one day of reading them then next day taking the practice tests will have you passing. You can pass it I did so anyone can!

Logan 5
 
I am very familiar with solar systems and battery back ups,  I have built control boxes both solar and AC for Cellular networks.  However I have never build the radio portion.
 
 
I will be building sometime soon we will see how it works.
 
 
thank you for the help.

Welcome,

 

Myself and Pastor Gary are the moderators of the group,let us know if there is anything you need or have questions.Feel free to jump in and get your feet wet.You never know what you will learn.We have a good bunch of guys that will answer most questions you may have and several have the technical expertise to assist with technical aspect.

 

We strive to keep this a family oriented group and do not tolerate any cursing nor vulgarity.We do not condone any flaming,harrasment or bullying,if you should have a problem let one of us know.Have a great weekend and welcome to the group ...William

Um, <raises hand shyly) I have to admit that I have on occasion mistakenly given out my GMRS call on 2m/70cm repeaters and vice-versa, but have always caught myself and made an immediate correction.
 
When you have so many mics to choose from it's entirely possible to pick up the wrong one.

Checked earlier and they've already granted it.  I printed it out and saved it locally.  Updated my profile with the new callsign

I Signed up for the forum back in January when I got my license but just got back to NYC and decided to finally post. I have gotten a lot of great info from here and hope to be able to contribute with some of my own knowledge in the future.

To be perfectly frank, reception at your base/repeater is much more dependent on height than any other factor. While "power" might allow you to talk up to 13 miles, if you can only hear at most 3 miles what's the point?
 
Keep in mind that both mobile and HT radios will have on average 5' antenna height, so their LOS to your base/repeater is the true limiting factor to success. There are several web based propagation map generators that may be used to obtain a visual prediction of your system's performance.
 
I've found it very useful to work "backwards" and generate splatter maps as though the mobile/HT was the primary, and the actual base/repeater was the secondary. In other words, try to answer the question of "how high must my base/repeater antenna be to communicate with mobile/HT units..."

Well I took the Technician test on Saturday and passed.  So something this week I expect to receive my license and callsign.  They talked me in to sitting for the General test (there was no fee for testing at this location).  Missed a few too many on that one.  LOL.  I'll most likely take it next month since I was pretty close to passing it.

Thanks for that link, JohnE, That will come in handy. I just got in from Local "Ham Shack" with the re-tuned duplexer, he said it was way off. in other words, the E-bay seller changed the freq. on the radios, but not the duplexer. well all it really cost me was time. I couldn't even give the old HAM Beer money. anyway, i am about to hook it up. wish me luck. lol

Good to hear, Bill. I managed to find a local HAM to tune my duplexer, dropped it off last Saturday. he does it free if for a good cause, I am meeting him at the local Radio shop tomorrow to pick it up. he determined our GMRS repeater was a good cause. I am going to keep it  "Permission only"  to minimize abuse. However anyone that uses this site is welcome to ask permission on the air, if your in ever in the area, as i am usually listening to both repeaters.
 
Also, for Pastor Gary, I have had a request from a local user through myGMRS.com and I have replied to the request both times. I am not sure this person is getting my permission granted reply's to his request. this person is one of the few users that does not post his call sign in his profile. I looked so I could contact him directly, looks like only 5 or 6 users have no call sign posted.

That's because you are near Canada, where that frequency is commercial usage...

Actually you do - Simply move to northern Alabama....

The UV5R is not part95 cert. and as far as I know, no Baofeng radios are. However as I have always believed, Part95 cert is in the programming of the radio, as seen with the powerwerx  made by Wouxum, this shows us that a radio once properly programmed is technically compliant. not certified until the manufacture applies for the certification. I myself also use Baofeng radios, since they are half the cost of similar part95 cert. radios. and 4 watt's is better than 1 or 2 watts. also versatility, Many Part95 cert. radios that include FRS are no so versatile. The GMRS service allow up to 5 watt's and removable antennas, FRS does not.  I have my UV5R programed for GMRS freq's only and when I am in my truck, I use an external antenna to prevent radiating my 4 watt's back into my head and my body. For less technical users I like the BF888 it has 2 watt's, comes with a gain UHF only antenna and works 2X as good at twice the range of a Motorola bubble pak radio, and only cost 19.99 shipped. I go to the airport once a week, the BF888 hit's the repeater at 7.6 miles as easily as the UV5R and the UVB5. for those of us not made of money, the value of these radios far outweigh the certification issues, However the use of non part 95 cert. radios is likely against the charter that allows GMRS service, even though the wording seems vague I am sure these radios were never meant to be allowed and against your license to use them. However with so many Hotels and taxi cab drivers illegally using and also using non part 95 cert. equipment, The FCC will unlikely ever get to prosecuting actual family use of non cert. equipment.  I say use equipment that is affordable and well within the spec's for technical part 95 certification, use good radio operating practice and you'll be fine. 

Hello i am new on GMRS band and live in Back Creek Valley area here in the panhandle of WV.
Looking to hear from others in area we are using 462.700 simplex at this time.
 
                                                                                       73 Al / WQXH590

Hello Dennis - Thanks for stopping by.
 
We have found over the years by trial and error that RG8X may be OK for "CB" but the losses and the lack of broad frequency response makes it less than desirable for UHF.  When you are starting with 5 watts, as advertised, getting as much power to the antenna as you can will give you much better results.  The antennas that comes with the units are designed for mobile use where they sit on a car roof or trunk.  That metal car surface gives the antenna something to radiate against and keeps the signal going horizontal.    With no "ground plane" surface, the antenna will most likely interact with the mast and the TV antenna eating more power in the process.  If you must use the antenna that the 'base' radio came with, construct  a 24 gauge sheet steel circle 24 inches in diameter and L-Bracket it to the mast.  Replace the RG8X with something like RG213 (for now) and stick the antenna to the top center of the sheet steel.  That will give a ground plane surface and the better cable will get more power to the antenna.  That should increase your range to 10 or 12 miles or so under AVERAGE conditions, depending on terrain (as you mentioned.)  If this is just for keeping track of family members while on near-by errands, etc., this should work out OK.   In the future, you could go with commercial gain type base and mobile antennas to extend the range even more. 
 
Good luck with things and please consider registering at our main website and then here at the forum.
 
https://www.mygmrs.com/
 
 
 
`

Depends on the link. You can either shotgun it (1 link radio and controller, link radio programmed as a subscriber to the other repeater) or you can use a dedicated simplex link which could be susceptible to bubble pack interference.
 
 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello my name is Ben, introducing myself, im New. Just recently got my GMRS License the other day, seen this site, and wanted to sign up. Now that I got the license looking to get some equipment. I got alot of 11 meter cb radio stuff, thats where I cut my teeth on radios. Still use them and love them, men and alot of local guys use em. I wanted to get into GMRS, beyond the bubble packs, so applied for my license, and just got it. Eventually I'm looking to get my Ham, by the end of this year, or so. Anyway good to meet you all, and been reading the forums, and everyone here seems pretty cool.

They do and I have tried. a couple got it when the fees dropped but thats it. A few have also went for there HAM ticket instead. I guess part of the issue is our VHF and UHF Public Safety repeaters work so well in addition to the P25 trunking system we use folks dont understand the benefit. In addition being all volunteer and buys all our gear ourselfs already costs a member upwards of $1000.00. I'll keep hinting to them all about it and hope someday more will jump on the boat. 
 
Until then I'll just keep installing repeaters until i run out of frequencies ! 

This year I decided to volunteer my day to helping provide communications support for the City of Evanston's (Illinois) annual 4th of July Parade and evening fireworks down at the lakefront. I live in NW Indiana so it was a long drive for me, but it was worth the trip! Evanston has the distinction of having had the first and longest running annual Parade in Illinois, and draws entries from all around the nation.
 
North Shore Emergency Association (NSEA) has been doing this project since around 1966. My station was as the primary net control operator from the green/white lawn chair on the two base radios. I also passed along the necessary information to the gentleman to my left to enter into the laptop for logging purposes. This is a terrific example of GMRS being used for a good purpose!
 
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/921/OFMIow.jpg
 
In the late afternoon, we relocated to the lakeshore and I again provide net control as well as operating the FM transmitter that broadcast the synchronized music and "firing cues" for the mortars in the firing pit. I had a blast, but it was a very L O N G day since I left home at 0700 CST on Monday and didn't get home until 0005 CST on Tuesday.
 
The command tent was set up just outside the safety area, so I had the closest view I've ever had of the spectacular fireworks as they burst almost directly overhead!
 
The parade is ready to start!
 
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/9eIVb1.jpg

Were you able yo figure out your TK-880 repeater question?  I just finished setting up two of these units and can detail what I did to get it all working if that helps.

LOL no kiddin huh....

Hello folks, just got my GMRS license the other day. Studying for my Ham and should be taking in the near future. Live between Conroe and Houston, TX. My learning curve is still straight up at this time. I would like to check into starting up a repeater due to the fact there aren't any in my area. Any info would be appreciated.

I sure wouldn't want mine living under my roof.

My GMRS repeater is a Motorola MTR2000, Part 90 and widely used by HAM's around the world. I welcome the results of the person that has written an inquiry to the FCC for clarification as i am guessing more then 50% of the radios and repeaters in use for GMRS are part 90.
 
That's just my $0.02
 
Corey

Line of sight. UHF in the 460 range is roughly LOS range plus 5-10%. 
Money is better spent on receivers, antennas and location versus power amplifiers.
 
Coming from a guy who's shooting 500 mW 19 miles at 5.5 GHz and still delivering 60 Mbps over it…