Getting into this two way hobby...

[colt45ws]

I have always been interested in two ways, and kept some of those FRS radios on hand, but recently my friend has gotten me into it and in exchange for some work on his car, he's getting me a Motorola Astro Spectra to mount in my car. (He has an XTS5000). Its a remote mount, 100W, VHF (2 Meter). Its probably very similar to the radio my car (an ex cop MY2003 Crown Vic) had in service, but who knows. Nice thing is, the holes are already drilled for permanent mount antennas, lol.

I will have to get my HAM license to run that one, but in the interim I paid for my GMRS license and programmed up three Motorola CP200D radios to replace those FRS jokes. I programmed in some local and semi local repeaters plus put in travel tones on the other 3 repeater channels I didnt find anything on. I still had room to program in the other 7 high power shared FRS/GMRS channels.

I do wish they had more than 16 channels, or at least a second "zone" so I could get 32 channels, but oh well. Would also be very nice if they had a screen I could display channel info on. But its very cost prohibitive to get radios and these werent cheap so I dont know if I wanna sell them without getting my money worth out of them.

 

Before I got my GMRS license again, I told my friend after we struck the Astro deal, that I wanted to sell my CP200s for some VHF radios, so I could talk with my handhelds from my car. He goes, "Nah, just buy a UHF radio to put in your car." I laughed, but Ive already decided that is gonna happen, and get a matching remote mount Astro Spectra of the correct UHF range. I like that the GMRS license allows my family to use the radios as well; simplifies licensing greatly and makes it so much more useful.

 

I was also just thinking about something. I work for a company that rents among other things, aerial platforms. One of my primary duties is testing equipment when it comes off rent to make sure its up to snuff. I know for a fact we have The Behemoth™ Genie SX-180 on rent. I wonder how far I can throw with my little 4 watt Motorola if I key up on it at 180ft above ground while Im testing it, hehe.

 

 

Anyway, I guess Ill end this ramble by saying Hello!

 

 

-Colton

William Robert Adam Victor 809er

[Jones]

 

I was also just thinking about something. I work for a company that rents among other things, aerial platforms. One of my primary duties is testing equipment when it comes off rent to make sure its up to snuff. I know for a fact we have The Behemoth™ Genie SX-180 on rent. I wonder how far I can throw with my little 4 watt Motorola if I key up on it at 180ft above ground while Im testing it, hehe.

 

At 180 feet above ground, you should get around 25-30 Miles of coverage. Let us know how that works out.

 

...and Hello to you also.

[quarterwave]

I don't climb...I always thought about buying old worn out bucket truck to use as my "tower"...lol.

[WRAF213]

Welcome aboard!

[colt45ws]

So if I was in this hobby before, I really am now.

A few days ago I realized I could hear a repeater I didnt think I would be able to since its quite a ways away. It was on the 725 frequency I had the travel tone programmed in. To satisfy my curiosity I keyed up on my Motorola and broadcast my callsign. To my amazement the repeater keyed up and I came though clear enough for others on it to understand me and quickly inform me I was using the wrong tone. The owner happened to be on the air and gave me his phone number. One phone call later and I learned the correct tone so I fixed that issue and I learned where it was physically located. On a Mountain at 5500 feet ASL with 50 watts. Im approx 1100 feet ASL.

But heres the kicker.

I went on Google Earth and found the decommissioned microwave tower they have the antenna hung on. I measured it as about 56 miles from my house. I still can barely believe it. Im inside my house, with a 4 watt handheld and while its not the best signal for sure I can still hold a conversation with others on the repeater no problem. I actually have worse reception with two local repeaters just a few miles away.

Its been just plain fun getting on the repeater and getting to know the group using it and chatting with them.

[skylloga]

Hi colt you had me thinking wtf that is my call sign just out of order. Heh.

 

I wish I could find a unpublished repeater in my area. I live on the side of a mountain that overlooks the town but with silly hills and trees I can transmit very far.