ham vs CB

[4x4JeePmaNthINg]

derf previously posted:

[Trevor?]

derf previously posted:

[derf]

4x4JeePmaNthINg previously posted:

[derf]

Trevor? previously posted:

[Tom]

derf previously posted:

[Trevor?]

I couldn't help but pull a manual for that Kenwood radio of yours. That thing is pretty slick. It looks like there is a data port on the back of the radio body next to the PC com port that would provide sound in/out to something like a PC sound card or a KISS TNC like the Mobilinkd. It also looks like your radio basically has its own TNC built right in as well.

Without reading further to know how easy it would be to configure, and whether you can get a PTT line setup through that dataport or if you would have to use some kind of VOX function, it looks like the connections are there to run something like one of these little bluetooth boxes like Tom and I have, or build a cable with a TRRS jack and plug that straight into the headphone/mike port on a tablet or phone. You would be bypassing all of the built-in APRS features and built in GPS. The mobilinkd or APRDDroid software relies on GPS from the phone or tablet. In short, probably possible if you were interested in a project.

As for HAM and GMRS: is it just me or is there much more repeater traffic on the 2 meter VHF band than on 70cm UHF.. at least with analog FM? Between the linked repeater systems like Colorado Connection or the other VHF repeaters in the Denver area you can usually find someone talking. When I scan 70cm I find far less activity unless its digital... and I am only able to decode D-star which no one in this area seems to use. Maybe its different to the north or to the south. There is a GMRS repeater I hear in my area on channel 15 I think. I hear it ID, but I have yet to hear anyone use it. Usually if I scan GMRS in my neighborhood I just pick up little kids on FRS radios, or once a couple of neighbors talking about BBQ recipes. Scanning GMRS on the trail though I do hear more people using it. I wouldnt say there is a clarity differance between HAM and GMRS if you are comparing analog FM signals. With a tech licence for HAM you can use the 2m VHF band, the 70cm UHF band... plus less popular bands like 6m, 1.25m, 23cm etc etc. GMRS is only UHF. There is MURS which is VHF but that's pretty low power and limited to handhelds. I suppose it depends more on what exactly your goals are.

On a side note I picked up a net on 2 meter SSB last sunday night. That was cool. Folks from Thorton down to Parker and further were all connecting via simplex alone. I bet if I had a horizontally polarized antenna at a decent height I could have heard stations from further away. Not bad for VHF.

[Tom]

Trevor? previously posted:

[derf]

Trevor? previously posted:

[Tom]

[4runner.Ric]

late here, but these are sweet from what Ive researched https://midlandusa.com/product/mxt27...two-way-radio/ I dont have one, but the guys i wheel with have been talking about getting them. We generally run those little baofeng on a MURS ch. (i think lol) we dont use the HAM channels as none of us have a license, I personally have a yeasu ft-7900 hard mounted.

[TyTheJeepGuy]

4runner.Ric previously posted:

[TyTheJeepGuy]

Edit: After measuring the distance on google maps I doubt I was using that repeater... maybe just coincidence that the contact was on the same channel as the repeater's reported channel. There is however no obstructions to that direction and the contact was coming in pretty weak.

Just wanted to share, that with only the included antenna installed, I am almost certain that I made contact with someone over this repeater while I was at RAM offroad park, which is just east of Colorado Springs. I was on channel 17 which matches the repeater's 462.600MHz. I didn't check with the contact I made where he was at, he was too busy spreading misinformation on covid vaccines. I'm sharing this because I think that is astounding range and it was super easy to use the repeater with an out of the box setup.

The only thing that has me suspicious that I was actually making use of the repeater is that the myGMRS repeater map entry for this repeater says that it is not yet online.

[Jim]

Measuring (Google Earth) RAM Offroad Park to that marker (2/3 of the way east between Lamar and Granada) is right at 130 miles.