Another Newbie Saying Hello

[pfactor]

pfactor here saying hello and checking in for my myGMRS.com maiden voyage. I look forward to learning while interacting.

Thanking you in advance for providing this opportunity,   

[WQYC236]

Welcome to the forum!  This is a great place to be.

[Logan5]

Welcome PFactor, May you find logic and reason..

[pfactor]

Thanks guys/gals for these welcoming comments.

 

My logic and reason for joining this forum is solely for an opportunity to enhance my naive but sincere interest in the science/physics applied to R/F communications.

I am newly retired with radio user operation/exposure but with little practical application experience.

I am Currently studying for my Technician amateur licenses as well.

 

Thanks again,

pfactor  

[Logan5]

study for the general and if you pass the Tech, you can take the Gen for the same money. if you pass both, you are ahead of the game.

[radio1]

Hi and welcome,

I am new to GMRS and this forum as well.  Wondering what study guide/materials are you using for your amateur tech and general license test.

Best,

radio1

[wqxq281]

Greetings.  Post check

[Logan5]

Lots of online study material, then you can test yourself at Hamexam.org

[pfactor]

radio1,

I am using "HamTestOnline" https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com which is an interesting and effective way to prepare but only if you are a self motivated and have regimental study habits.

 

pfactor 

[radio1]

radio1,

I am using "HamTestOnline" https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com which is an interesting and effective way to prepare but only if you are a self motivated and have regimental study habits.

 

pfactor 

Thanks will check the site out.  I have gotten hold of some study guide from KB6NU Dan Romanchik and installed the android app called ARRL Ham Test Prep app from the Play Store, which works like a flash card test.

[pfactor]

I'm still on the porch and looking forward to playing with all of you "Big Dogs" some day. Home base installation is nearly finished and almost ready for a maiden voyage. "Big Brown Truck" is expected tomorrow which will most likely get me overwhelmed with radio programing. Installed is a KB9VBR J-Pole and a Ed Fong J-Pole and separated by approx 10 feet. Both install in my attic which has zero construction foil attached (only Styrofoam insulation panels) and is approx. 30 ft above GL at an altitude of 1,120 ft. Very hilly and heavily wooded topography. Both installed per given instructions and It will be interesting to see which of the two will produce the best SWR and overall performance under same cabling and overall conditions.

 

Happy Easter to All!   

   

pfactor

[WQYC236]

I'm still on the porch and looking forward to playing with all of you "Big Dogs" some day. Home base installation is nearly finished and almost ready for a maiden voyage. "Big Brown Truck" is expected tomorrow which will most likely get me overwhelmed with radio programing. Installed is a KB9VBR J-Pole and a Ed Fong J-Pole and separated by approx 10 feet. Both install in my attic which has zero construction foil attached (only Styrofoam insulation panels) and is approx. 30 ft above GL at an altitude of 1,120 ft. Very hilly and heavily wooded topography. Both installed per given instructions and It will be interesting to see which of the two will produce the best SWR and overall performance under same cabling and overall conditions.

 

Happy Easter to All!   

   

pfactor

 

Be sure and let us know how these experiments come out, especially communicating in the hill terrain. 

[pfactor]

Received a Midland MXT400 today and hooked up a power supply and attached my KB9VBR J-Pole. I checked the SWR using a (new) Signstek meter which tested very good at just slightly below 1.5 using 50ft of RGX8. 

 

I placed the radio in scan mode for several hours and received a few repeater conversations. At this point I plan to just monitor and get familiar with radio/functions and capabilities before I attempt transmitting. 

 

Tomorrow is another day...

 

Be safe out there!

 

pfactor

[pfactor]

Be sure and let us know how these experiments come out, especially communicating in the hill terrain. 

 

Under same mounting and installation conditions as described above, the following are SWR results for both antennas:

Radio: Midland MXT400 - 50ft RG8x

 

KB9VBR UHF J-Pole - GMRS 462-467MHz

High - 1.3 @ 35 Watts

Med - 1.2 @ 21 Watts

Low -  1.0 @ 4.5 Watts

 

Ed Fong UHF 440-450MHz (Wattage output same as above)

High - 2.2 

Med - 1.8

Low - 1.5

 

Assumption:

SWR results can very depending on equipment/calibration

Meter used: NISSEI RS-40 (New)  

 

pfactor

[WQYC236]

Under same mounting and installation conditions as described above, the following are SWR results for both antennas:

Radio: Midland MXT400 - 50ft RG8x

 

KB9VBR UHF J-Pole - GMRS 462-467MHz

High - 1.3 @ 35 Watts

Med - 1.2 @ 21 Watts

Low -  1.0 @ 4.5 Watts

 

Ed Fong UHF 440-450MHz (Wattage output same as above)

High - 2.2 

Med - 1.8

Low - 1.5

 

Assumption:

SWR results can very depending on equipment/calibration

Meter used: NISSEI RS-40 (New)  

 

pfactor

Very interesting results, thanks for posting!

[pfactor]

Radio is up and running now and hitting three repeaters with crisp clarity. I had a programming glitch which I need to shout out to Gary, (ATL-60, WQYU407) for taking time away from his already busy schedule and keeping me focused.

Thank you sir!

pfactor   

   

[pfactor]

Picked up a couple of HT's and after a few belittling and humbling days, I learned to use CHIRP programing!

GMRS life is good and having fun!

pfactor  

[WQWI871]

That's great. While I do learn to program manually without software if needed, I feel chirp is much quicker and easier. And, I prefer the interface of chirp than some stock software.