n4gix

I note that you are missing the Joliet 550 repeater. It is a very wide-area repeater with the antenna at ~500' AGL. It is an "open repeater" using PL 100.0... It is located on a tower on the NE side of Joliet, IL. Coverage extends into NW Indiana, with at least one regular user in Hammond. The original Micor was replaced with a Quantar with a receive pre-amp, and a battery backup system was installed. It is owned and operated by Mark - N9WYS / WQIV271

I've had four of these for the past four years: Amazon.com: WLN KD-C1 Rechargeable Mini Walkie Talkie, UHF 400-470Mhz Prefessional Two Way Radio with Desktop Charger and Belt Clip for Kids Hiking Hunting Airsoft(1 Pair) : Electronics They are functionally identical to the "new" Radioddity versions. The only real difference is that these have Part 95e certification. The WLN KD-C1 are 5 watts versus 2 watts. They are all programmable via Chirp and the standard BaoFeng/Kenwood programming cable. They are excellent performers, very light weight, and smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

The duplexer must be tuned to the precise pass frequencies being used in order to perform optimally.

My FT-857D has the " Portable Zero Escort" battery pack and side rails.

The three key words: "possible future use" seem to preclude use until and unless repeater operations are sanctioned.

I honestly don't have any answers myself for what transpired. I am deeply sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. I do know that NASA is very protective of their astronauts' so-called free time, and have the final word on when and if any such contacts are scheduled.

At a guess it was a result of their scheduling protocols. As I mentioned they have several hundred requests every year and have to make decisions far in advance. Did this science center already have a firm sked set up?

You can also print the page directly from the form. That's what I done for each of my six antennas for my "station records". ?

I can't find any ready reference to an "MFD-400" coax, but did find MPD-400. That is 50 ohm "Superflex" coax. You mentioned soldering the tip of the coax to a new PL-259 connector. Did you check to ensure that the braid is making good electrical contact with the shell of the connector?

The ARRL has provided a free "RF Exposure Calculator" for everyone to use. It is simple and straightforward: RF Exposure Calculator (arrl.org) More information and resources may be found here: RF Exposure (arrl.org)

I have two Ritron repeaters. One has a duplexer included. Both need a visit to Carmel, IN for some loving care.

ERP = Effective Radiated Power This is a measurement of the absolute power at the antenna. While the finals may be adjusted for 5watt output, by the time feed losses and filter losses are taken into account, there will be some loss of power.

WFC?

Please note that school events are scheduled several years in advance. For more information on the ARISS* program, see: ARISS - Home * ARISS - Amateur Radio on the International Space Station

I'm familiar with that repeater. Although the yagi is pointed to the north-northwest, 99.999% of its path to your location was over the lake, which has zero obstructions to block the signal. ?

Ah, I see. I got lucky and my control head & mount slid into an existing pocket below the factory AM/FM/Cassette radio.

Well yes, it is technically and legally allowed, but what would be the point? There are dozens and dozens of "non-repeater" frequencies available for simplex communications. I suggest that no respectable ham wants to be a "lid."

Thus far no one's even mentioned the elephant in the room: repeaters! The vast majority of GMRS repeaters are using transmitters that are not Part 95 certified... <plonk> As far as I can determine, the only GMRS repeaters that are Part 95 compliant are those that are "home-built" using at least a certificated transmitter. N9GIX / WQWU626

Fixed Stations by definition cannot communicate through a repeater. Fixed Stations communicate with other Fixed Stations.

Connect Systems CS800 and CS800D radios are simple. Just remove the front bracket from the radio and use it as the remote head mounting bracket.

This very question has been discussed numerous times over the past few years. There are some very good reasons for not allowing digital on GMRS repeater frequencies, the chief of which the lack of infrastructure and the guaranteed interference with existing analog repeaters.

It has only been a few brief years since Midland and a tiny handful of others began using "channel numbers" instead of discrete frequencies or alpha name tags.

RT rewires their cables and programs their software accordingly to prevent anyone from sharing their copy of the software. It's their method of piracy protection!

There are 8 GMRS repeater frequencies. You are not considering the 14 shared simplex frequencies!

That sounds as though there is too much drop in voltage when transmitting.