n4gix

If it's truly at 1.3:1 just leave it alone! Three-tenths of a dB isn't going to make any practical difference!

Those are very nice units, but rather expensive even considering the labor involved. I already own the equipment, but will contact they and see what they'd charge for everything except the IC-7300, IT-100, and 2m/70cm radio.

I disagree. That is too fatalistic. Should any such SHTF occur, you can be assured that I'll be roaming the HF bands calling CQ! In any lesser event simplex communications doesn't require any infrastructure to be useful.

Pretty much any radio that can transmit and receive within the FCC authorized ham frequencies is "legal." This is because amateurs are allowed to build their own equipment and provided they don't cause any interference issues, they are "legal" to use. But sadly, probably 95% or more hams have been "appliance operators" these past thirty years or so.

As of last Sunday, total GMRS licences was 98,309... In 2011 that number was 38,169. Is that enough growth?

Last month the it took eight days to process new ham licenses. This month it took from Monday evening until Thursday around 6pm EST to process and post new ham licenses. So it's not just GMRS that's affected.

Actually, the major reason for the FRN is that previously the FCC required one's Social Security number. Since all of this information is now freely accessible by anyone, the FRN has replaced the SS number.

Use the hamstudy.org sample testing exams until both of you can score at least 90% consistently, or at least at or more than 30 correct answers. Only the first attempt was a failure, the other twenty-four were passing. The Tech exam is very simple, and the General not really that much harder. I've had many youngsters pass their General as young as nine!

BUT!!! No outlaws!

I see no reason why the FCC would have separate "start dates" for Ham vs. GMRS.

This was sent to all ARRL Divisions for clarification:

Congratulations to all of the new hams! Way to go! I highly recommend not only hamstudy.org for their on-line training practice exams, but also Craig "Buck" K4IA's marvelous "All Ham and No Spam" series of books: "Pass Your Amateur Radio XXX Class Test" (Tech, General, Extra). I'm using his book for Extra. His books are divided into two sections, the first being explanation of the correct answers, and the second being a list of all questions in a class's pool of questions. At no time does he quote the "wrong answers." The emphasis is on learning the "correct answers" instead so one can zero in on them when they appear in the exam booklet.

Unfortunately the owner of the net hub for NWI GMRS has taken down all of his towers and is moving to upper Illinois. It won't be online for several more months at least.

Well, the GMRS group (NSEA) I belong to has no "dues" at all, but does assign unit numbers. They are not referred to as "Tactical..." however! Nothing so pretentious as that...

There is software available that will allow your computer to record only when active using VOX to trigger it. This saves a lot of disk space. I used this when range testing a potential repeater site's coverage. Every time I sent a test transmission, I reported my location and time so when later reviewing the recording I could accurately plot the boundaries and signal clarity.

I do not disagree with what you have written, however as you briefly mentioned, some areas are not as fortunate to have such a robust system in place. What District 1 ARES is able to provide is HF and VHF/UHF Winlink services to clients with whom a MOU exists. In addition to that all members are encouraged to become competent Weather Spotters. The inclusion of GMRS operators in the local ARES program expands the reach, and also allows even FRS operators to participate, albeit on a much lower level. Such allows for critical information to flow downstream. GMRS operators are tasked with organizing their own local nets, such that FRS members can forward any traffic to their GMRS net control. Most GMRS operators in our area of operations are also ham licensed, and it is they who will forward any upstream traffic on to the ARES net control.

Here in NW Indiana District 1, we are in the process of integrating GMRS repeaters and operators into the revived ARES program. Training is being given, and periodic exercises are being conducted. The goal is to have trained and efficient coms in case of emergencies.

I open "Device Manager" and look at what COM port(s) are assigned to which program:

Short answer: NO Long answer: GMRS license will cover your family. Unless all of the "association" members are directly related to you, or related through marriage, it is not legal.

Here in the Chicagoland area, we are blessed with many, many repeaters, most of which are very active especially during "drive time" hours. We are a bunch of "Chatty Kens and Chatty Kathys!"

Tone on transmit yes. Tone on receive no.

By the way, now you know the answer to one of the questions for the Technician ham license.

Why yes I do. It doesn't matter whether it is there or not, when I'm operating simplex, and having it when on repeater offset will sometimes trigger an in-range repeater. I do not however, have any tone programmed for receive, preferring to potentially hear anyone on the frequency.

The major restriction however is that FRS capable radios cannot have removable antennas. Period.

That should be 462.675... When I travel at all (which isn't much since Covid-19), I put out my call occasionally on that "travel frequency" and have met some travelling companions along the way, as well as a few contacts with fixed operators.