Hans
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Posts posted by Hans
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I've been recommending to locals that they reconsider the MTX series because it don't yet allow for carrier squelch on repeaters. Since we have multi-tone repeaters around here, that means that Midland users cannot hear traffic accessing with other tones. Our repeater is set to output one tone regardless of the tone used to access it. This is specifically for the local Midland users. If Midland fixed this problem, I would have no problem recommending the MTX-400. Until then, I cannot as it makes the series useless on most of our local repeaters.
- Mikeam, Elkhunter521 and Durake
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Sorry, pantherpaw9. I completely lost track of the original thread topic; something I'm apt to do.
Yeah, those links should help a lot. I know that they did help me when I got my first Baofeng. I don't know why it didn't occur to me to post them sooner.
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That sounds like a good plan, Ian. You'll gain a lot of experience and you will have something very useful.
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Uh oh. I've been known to answer back!
Isn't that how we get the right answers?
- RCM and Elkhunter521
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This might be a simplistic way of looking at it but I seem to recall talk years ago of PLL-ish circuits to wire in place of crystals. By now, is there such a product or circuit possible to take the place of crystal unobtainium?
Just as an example (there are a few interesting links in the comments too)...
http://hackaday.com/2014/10/15/digital-crystal-breathes-new-life-into-old-radio/
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http://www.northgeorgiagmrs.com/
We will continue the nightly net, Monday thru Friday at 8:00pm, on our network. Feel free to join in the fun and contribute to the conversation.
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Others may disagree with me but that's a brave and compassionate man to order his crew off of the tower and remain there himself to figure out the problem.
- Jones, Elkhunter521, Logan5 and 1 other
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Understood. I was being lazy by using Part 97 when I should've typed Part 15. The latter wasn't foremost in my brain but the former was. Good catch!Part 15 is even Ok, as long as it meets the requirements . (Actually, isn't Part 97 effectively, no Part?) As for other suggestions, I could name many that do not meet our requirements, and they are all in a box somewhere around here. But, I don't want to prejudge any postings, and in any case, we may have missed something on a radio we ruled out. Thanks for your post(s).
If others don't post up some, I'll try to go through some specs online of some of our alternate choices and post something up. I'd really rather see people post information about those radios they actually use that fit your features list. We use the Alincos every single day over the past couple of years. They aren't perfect but they do satisfy our needs quite well.
Some things I would change about the DJ-500T & TB:
- Keypad light is blinding
- No super capacity battery available
- Not BNC connector
- No alkaline battery pack
- Prefer clickey keys instead of membrane
- No CSQ button
- No talk around button
- Not a waterproof speaker mic connector
- Needs more programmability for side buttons
- Wish there was a way to specify individual setting permissions in Part 90 mode instead of all or nothing
- Not yet Chirp compatible
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One thing you will probably dislike completely is the blinding key pad backlight.
I had to check before posting...
A work around is to turn backlight to always off. CERT members, and any other prepared radiomen for that matter, should always have a flashlight on their persons anyway. I think I'm going to set my radio without backlight to avoid the blinding keypad.
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Thanks for the clarification. What I really wanted was something like a temporary PL defeat switch, in particular, on receive. I'll edit the post.
The best work around that I've come up with is to have a second channel programmed with no PL. Of course, one of the two side buttons can be programmed as a monitor switch.
Additional information:
Apparently, the Anytone has an easy talk around button for repeater channels (one of the guys runs Anytone) and the Alinco does not. Of course, that can be overcome by programming a separate channel as well. The Alinco does have a reverse key on the keypad.
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Sorry, I guess that wasn't as clear as I thought. I meant, any standardized connector (BNC, SMA, rev-SMA, etc.) as opposed to some proprietary connector, or no connector, I.e. "fixed." Or, more basically... after market antennas are available.
No problem.
Are Part 97 okay or are you sticking with Part 90 (and Part 95 as a bonus)?
Hopefully, many others will throw some suggestions in here so y'all have a lot to choose from. I have a fuzzy list of a few more radios but will have to do research online before posting them. I'm being lazy in the hopes that others will add to the list.
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Features:
- Power and PL settings can be temporarily changed from keyboard without having to reprogram the channel -- Yes. However, not with keypad hard locked (if I am remembering correctly)
Whoops! I might have that wrong. The power setting can be changed without reprogramming but I am pretty sure that you have to go into settings for the channel to change the PL. If one does not use the save sequence, it will revert back to programming after you change channel or if you power cycle the radio. In other words, it is a temporary change unless you do a specific series of button presses to save it to memory.
Sorry about the oversight.
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One thing you will probably dislike completely is the blinding key pad backlight.
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I will also note that the DJ-500 radios and At 3318UV-A have true narrow band receive. Some radios just up the volume for narrow band.
We run Niteize holsters for ours. I *think* they are the medium but will have to check to verify. These are available for size checks at many hardware chain stores. http://www.niteize.com/product/Clip-Case-Cargo-Mobile-Device-Holsters.asp
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Features:
- GMRS frequencies (Part 95 compliance is not required) -- Yes.
- Display (LCD or?) -- Yes.
- Single VFO or dual VFO with single VFO mode -- Yes.
- Lockable keyboard -- Yes. Soft keypad lock key through keypad and hard keypad lock via software and cable for both TB and T (not sure about Anytone; probably not)
- Text name assignable to each channel -- Yes.
- Power (H/L) and PL options settable for each programmed channel -- Yes.
- Split PL support (xmit/rcv on different PL tones) -- Yes.
- Power and PL settings can be temporarily changed from keyboard without having to reprogram the channel -- Yes. However, not with keypad hard locked (if I am remembering correctly)
- Current production model --Yes.
- * Dual band (VHF/UHF) -- Yes.
- * Option to receive ham and public service frequencies -- Yes.
- * CHIRP support -- No. (If someone sends one in, someone would undoubtedly make a profile for Chirp. Alinco software sucks but is free.
- Price $150 or under -- Yes.
- High power option (nominal 5W) -- Yes. High ~5W, Medium ~2.5W, Low ~1W
- Can optionally use alkaline batteries -- No.
- Standard antenna connector -- ?? What is standard ?? For some, that is BNC; which it doesn't. It has the same ubiquitous SMA connector as the rest of the China stuff.
- Ability to lock out transmit on a channel -- Yes.
- * Only one transmit button (Some radios have 2, for VFO-A and VFO- B ) -- Yes.
- Programmable function buttons or keys. Could be used for power setting, PL mode, etc. -- No.
- General online availability -- Yes.
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I think the Alinco DJ-500TB (Part 90) and the Alinco DJ-500T (Part 97) (practically same radio except label and how it is set at factory) check all of the first list boxes and many of the second list. It is also sold as the Anytone AT 3318UV-A (Part 90). Unfortunately, it doesn't have: alkaline battery option, decent programmable function keys, or BNC antenna connector. However, they are sealed nicely against the elements and sound really good on the air. They run from $80 to $130 on Gigaparts, Newegg, etc. They are very easy to unlock. The DJ-500TB requires a programming cable (generic will work fine) and a freely available dealer program to unlock the keypad. The DJ-500T only requires a key press sequence at power up to unlock it. After the keypad is unlocked, the DJ-500TB requires the same key press sequence to unlock the frequencies. I assume that the Anytone AT 3318UV-A is already unlocked? The Anytone uses a standard Kenwood connector for the speaker mike and the Alinco uses an Icom connector.
I'll take a closer look at your posted needs and wants lists and compare to the DJ-500 radios we have here.
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Tower Guy to Hill: Post-Auction Repack Should Not Be Rushed
"[T]here is one inescapable fact: there are not, at present, enough qualified workers to perform all the tower work we will be required to complete," he said.
- Logan5, Elkhunter521 and JohnE
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Look at page 3...
3.1.1 LED Indicator Descriptions
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/880563/Vertex-Standard-Vxd-R70.html?page=14#manual
At first glance, what I'm thinking is this:
If the fan doesn't spin up at all, the repeater will not let the transmitter come online.
The LEDs are all supposed to light to indicate that they all work.
If you aren't getting an LED configuration that matches table 3.1.1 then it might not be a more routine issue. It might be something deeper.
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I'm starting to look through the manual(s) available online. As far as I can tell, the fan is supposed to spin up to speed and then turn off when it is powered on. Does it do that? I'm looking through the installation manual and page 5 looks useful. Can you see if what is described there looks like what you observe on your repeater (LEDs, etc.)?
5.2.1 Front Panel LEDs
After turning ON the repeater power (or after a repeater reset), the 8 LEDs on the repeater
front panel:
• Light for about one second to indicate that they are functional, then
• Go off for one second, then
• Indicate the operational status of the repeater.
Next stop for me later today is to try to find a service manual online and a user's guide with a troubleshooting section.
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Nope.You ever met them by any chance? The RT Systems folks, I mean.
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Since myGMRS.com is specifically mentioned on that page, I'll betcha Rich knows...
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I found something! This might be the total sum of the guidelines; to be "open"? If so, what a let down. lol
http://web.archive.org/web/20140209073755/http://www.popularwireless.com/openrptr.html
We mean open but at the same we we keep in mind the GMRS rules that forbid automatic operation of GMRS repeaters. By open we mean repeater owners allow residents and visitors within their repeater's foot print to use the repeater for family communiation. There are requirements to meet anytime we allow others to use our systems.
What radio do you have for your car / truck?
in General Discussion
Posted
I really like the Motorola M1225 as well. We used the 45 Watt 20(?) channel models. They make nice repeaters too. The cable I use and recommend is the USB cable from BlueMax49ers on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/str/bluemax49ers/