tep182
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Posts posted by tep182
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24 minutes ago, gortex2 said:
@MozartManNone of them you listed are GMRS radios. If thye can TX on any other frequency they are not certified GMRS radios. Those are all ham CCR radios that can be modified to use on GMRS. The only marketed radio in that format is the DB20-G. I can only assume the G is for GMRS. I'm sure all these hams will give you all sorts of reasons why buying any of the above is fine. Personally I think they are ruining the service.
It all went downhill when the phone company stopped charging .25 cents / minute for long distance phone calls... nationwide "local" calls.
The monster approaching in Stranger Things is the Information Age threatening to destroy Edenic ignorance.
Mesh radio protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy / Internet of Things will increase surveillance of everything.
Dune's OCB: Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind. -
I'm growing to really like the Anytone 779 in my vehicle.
Not all of its functionality is immediately clear.
Programming it to scan MURS, 2-meter ham, 70cm, FRS/GMRS, interstitials, marine, and WX bands is all kinds of awesome.
If one channel is annoying, you can temporarily remove it from the scan sequence.
With dual VFO, you can stay on an active frequency while you scan on the other.
Setting up offsets, tones, etc. without the programming software isn't immediately obvious. -
31 minutes ago, axorlov said:
To totally confuse the Barney Fifes of the worlds and throw them off the trail completely, in addition to a very wide-spectrum transmitter one would need a robust encryption. I recommend ROT13. It is super strong if applied multiple times. There is a reason it's banned by government, just like spark gaps are!
For sure. No one should ever need to get their hands dirty. That is why we have iPhone factories.
I woke up hungry one day. The available food exceeded the Recommended Daily Allowances so I threw it in the trash, drove 5 mph below the speed limit to the local eatery for cartel-sponsored avocado toast.
The deep pockets behind "breakthough energy" probably aren't going to deliver up wireless transmission of electricity... but nuking the spectrum to reduce carbon footprint would be worth it if the Television egregore declared it to be. -
49 minutes ago, axorlov said:
Let's celebrate the century without the spark gap transmitters! I will pour myself a tall one tonight!
Let's celebrate the crazy geniuses like Tesla and tinkerers who make their own... and the blissful ignorance of Barney Fife.
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On 6/1/2022 at 12:21 AM, WRQX963 said:
I get it, Argentina is in an America and America is in an America but they are in different Americas...I guess.
Nope. America is exceptional. If you had a friend named "Mike" that was wealthy and powerful, everyone would know who you meant when you said "Mike"... even if there were other, failed versions of "Mike".
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25 minutes ago, Lscott said:
We know how 11 meter CB turned into a wasteland. People just didn’t care either and did whatever they felt like. It’s sad to see that attitude spreading through GMRS.
The Myth of Radio Spectrum Interference
<<Just came across a fascinating article on Salon about a technologist who claims that there is no such thing as "interference" in the radio spectrum. He argues that interference is a symptom of inadequate equipment, not a fact of nature, and that with improved transceivers we could open the spectrum up to high-quality broadcasts by anyone. Reference is made to the GNU Radio Project. Neat stuff."
>>https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/03/03/12/1320211/the-myth-of-radio-spectrum-interference
https://www.salon.com/2003/03/12/spectrum/
Want fewer car accidents? Remove traffic signals and road signs
<<
“When you treat people like idiots, they’ll behave like idiots.”That was the philosophy of Hans Monderman, the Dutch traffic engineer who became famous not for what he added to road design and urban planning, but for what he removed: curbs, traffic signals, signs. He believed drivers become more alert and cautious when there’s more uncertainty on the road.
>>https://bigthink.com/the-present/want-less-car-accidents-get-rid-of-traffic-signals-road-signs/
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On 6/12/2022 at 1:21 AM, WROZ250 said:
To be sure, I am not advocating anyone break the rules, but I will say that worrying, for example, if your GMRS radio is part 95e compliant isn't worth worrying about.
Thanks. Most people generally want to follow rules that are reasonable and rational.For example, "this product may cause cancer in California".
A warning sticker is cheaper than playing the certification pirates' shakedown game.Other certifications may not be a scams to protect big business from competition or generate revenue.
People might be more inclined to be good neighbors if they were told about "spurious emissions" instead of "part 95e".
Perhaps there is a YouTube channel that demonstrates how Baofeng is ruining the bands... and not just speculation about potential harm.
Other hobbies also cultivate elite fanatics that despise cheap functional versions.Also some hams seem so afraid of an Eternal September... they nearly killed their hobby.
Maybe Baofeng is the next America Online floppy.
There are more E. coli outbreaks caused by USDA-certified facilities than Amish farms. -
1 hour ago, back4more70 said:
Agreed, but I interpreted the OP's question to mean what if someone approached them in person (law enforcement, nosey neighbor, "some people", etc.).
Make strong eye contact. Emphasize your height, size, etc. if you have it... good confident posture, no slouching.
Most people, even nosey people, are conflict avoidant.
Don't break eye contact. Stare at them silently like they are breaching the bounds of polite behavior. Practice your LOD, "look of disapproval". ಠ_ಠ
If they persist in bothering you...
Say gently and respectfully, "I'm sorry, sir. You must be confused."
This works more often than you would believe. Not a recommended tactic when dealing with law enforcement. -
7 hours ago, KAF6045 said:
Most externals will pick up more than a rubber duck inside a metal cage. Also, for receive purposes, a long whip has more "surface" to capture RF, though it will tend to focus best on the frequency for which it is tuned (that RF capture will be focused perpendicular to the antenna, while other frequencies may have more capture at odd angles).
Tuned for what? Midland's website indicates they ship it tuned for the 462MHz GMRS range (I'd have preferred something either in 465MHz with a bandwidth to cover both 462 and 467MHz, since one transmits on 467MHz to hit repeaters).
There were many Amazon reviews complaining about the SWR; that could be caused by other factors including loose connections, bad wiring, lack of ground plane (fiberglass roof instead of metal).
There are some set screws in the base that might allow a bit of fine adjustment. If necessary, transmit power can be reduced... but maximizing reach within the legal constraints feels like a challenge. ...that is where using a nanoVNA to measure optimum antenna length might be handy.
7 hours ago, KAF6045 said:I'm still waiting for the nanoVNA to arrive (really, China ships it to a New York port? Isn't San Diego/LA/San Francisco/Seattle closer?).
Based upon scanning a users guide: select a trace, select format SWR, select CH0 Reflect, Stimulus to set start&end frequencies (460-470?), possibly modify "sweep points", calibrate, (Hmmm, the document I'm looking at doesn't seem to cover how one runs the sweep itself -- does the device just continuously run sweeps?) Look for the minimum SWR and see what frequency that aligns with... You may also want to look for the 2.0:1 points left/right of minimum as that will define the preferred bandwidth covered.
My nanoVNA hasn't arrived yet either. If all else fails, I'll annoy some electricians.11 hours ago, Sshannon said:Check your FCC online record. VEs work with VECs, who typically submit electronically. Also, the FCC doesn’t send anything to you via snail mail. Your license file is accessed electronically. You are responsible for printing it.
Checking the ULS frequently. Took the in-person testing option. Found out afterward this group sends everything snail mail. The online exam process, required use of multiple cameras and a sketchy app called "Zoom" ...which may be vulnerable to Chinese Communist Party biometric data-collection... would probably still choose to do it the slow way. -
15 minutes ago, Guest WRUD409 said:
My husband and I are newbies. We were licensed two days ago and our radios come in tomorrow. The purpose was suppose to be for emergency use. My father was a Ham Operator back in the day and I was never interested. Now, I am feeling the bug. Mostly because I am realizing there is not an interest of GMRS in our area but I know of a few Ham Operators. I also watched my dad communicate around the world. Trying to avoid the rabbit hole but will see where this takes me in a few months. Meanwhile, I have a lot to learn and see how well this plays out during hurricane season here in Louisiana.
The digital modes like FT8 and JS8call have me interested... QRP DX around the world for the price of a modified soundcard / transceiver.There is so much censorship online, that radio seems like a good way to bypass fake narrative frameworks.
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Ok, I've learned a little... and still ignorant about a lot.
If you have MacOs... spending the $100 on Parallels (Windows 10 emulator) was worth it to me... because a lot of programming software for old radios tends to be Windows-based.
I played around with programming a BearCat scanner from RadioReference. ...and I was able to get the Anytone 779 UV software to run without much trouble. (If the COM port isn't detected, plugging/unplugging seems to work).
It might be the external antenna (+6 dB 5/8 wave / MXTA26) mounted on top via an NMO roof mount... but it picks up a lot more than just the BearCat inside the vehicle.
The way the Anytone scans and pauses on signals is preferable to the way the BearCat is initially setup.
I recently took and passed the Tech/General exams... but it may take another 3-4 weeks to get government papers because the VE sent the results to the ARRL via postal mail.
So, I'm still learning and having lots of fun with GMRS. Messed up the input frequency for the local repeater (up 5!). Still need to try it out.
A mobile / car-based unit is great for hearing things... at least in this area. There seems to be some local traffic on the 2-meter ham band... much narrower slice of humanity there.
Need to learn about interpreting a nano-VNA. Still figuring out if the +6dB 5/8 wave antenna is any good at transmitting or if it can be tuned.
It would be nice to start building antennas. A few electronics classes at a community college might help to really swim in these waters. -
International waters and Flags of Convenience... cruise ship gambling! alcohol during Prohibition! no controlling legal authority!
https://wikiless.org/wiki/Flag_of_convenience?lang=en -
1 hour ago, WRAM370 said:
We do not need more repeaters for GMRS. We need fewer people that think GMRS is CB or amateur radio.
Perhaps GMRS should be open to frequency hopping and voice scrambling if it is only intended for private communications.I'm getting my ham ticket -- but that is not a solution for everyone. CW, FT-8, and JS8call seem to hold a lot of promise for weak signal propagation.
There seems to be a generational gap with the older ham crowd and younger people. They tend to have different communication styles and expectations.
The recent court ruling, West Virginia vs. the EPA, seems to call into question administrative "law" and the Chevron deference.
Rules and customs are necessary for good order. Slavish devotion to administrivia might not be necessary. -
6 hours ago, Ozo said:
I may have misunderstood you, in what all you wish to 'scan', and
if so, forgive me.....or fire me.
Yes, just scan channels for activity. My GMRS HT (Baofeng G11S) has a "scan" feature, but it tends to have difficulty advancing once it finds a signal.
I have an Anytone 779 UV, but haven't spent the time to figure out how to program it scan channels.Thank you for the recommendations. I will look into the Uniden stuff.
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Forgive me if there is a thread for this, I couldn't find it.
Is there a Baofeng-equivalent, affordable scanner option designed for vehicles?
Multi-band, to pick up whatever is out there... it's often more entertaining than whatever is programmed on the commercial stations. -
I'm very new at this, but MyGMRS has a map of different repeaters... and you can hear the radio traffic streamed online.
Is this like a gateway or digital mode?Still puzzling about the utility of DMR. A lot of the utility can be replicated with a smartphone app / Discord chat room / Skype call.
Using an HT to transmit a radio signal 15 feet to your raspberry pi and then to the internet... seems unnecessarily complicated.
I understand that if this is where the smart radio people talk, maybe it is worth the expense to listen to them. -
I tend to hear more driving around.
Concept: Dual HT repeater using MURS bridge
in General Discussion
Posted
Mencken said something about "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy"...