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New GMRS User Questions
- Thread starter Wrightsrockets
- Start date
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- Tags
- gmrs
Wrightsrockets
Member
Well I don't know anything about that. LOL maybe later I will understand more.
However!!!! I did just talk to a man in Portland TN while sitting my rocket trailer in the driveway in Scottsville KY!
That was cool!
That is about 30 miles away, using the Gallatin 650 repeater @WRQC456 was kind enough to allow me to use. Gallatin is about 33 miles away.
Just a little 15w midland with a ghost antenna and a big aluminum ground plane.
Very cool!
However!!!! I did just talk to a man in Portland TN while sitting my rocket trailer in the driveway in Scottsville KY!
That was cool!
That is about 30 miles away, using the Gallatin 650 repeater @WRQC456 was kind enough to allow me to use. Gallatin is about 33 miles away.
Just a little 15w midland with a ghost antenna and a big aluminum ground plane.
Very cool!
Wrightsrockets
Member
All right now that I am understanding a little more, there is really no purpose to mounting a radio in the rocket trailer. It would only be useful once or twice a month for about 8 months a year. It does not increase the range of communication for the handhelds. The handhelds have plenty of tx/rx distance for their purpose. The most efficient use of money and equipment would be install 15w midland in my Tacoma, and another one in my wifes 4runner. Set both of them to the repeater on 19, for comunication in the area we live, then set privacy on another predetermined channel for just us, and anybody else who happens to be set to that channel and privacy code.
Does anyone have experience with the hood hinge mounts on Tacoma and 4 runner. I understand it reduces ground plane and creates a weirdly shaped reflective surface. It is also shadowed to the rear by the A pillar and roof. I just really do not want to drill holes in my roofs, and we both go thru the car wash 2 times a week. It has two seperate roof scrubber brushes. I expect it would slowly rip any roof mounted antenna off anyway. I know I would remember to unscrew the antenna, but I also know my lovely wife would sooner or later forget.
I do not have a roof rack. Her 4runner does.
Does anyone have experience with the hood hinge mounts on Tacoma and 4 runner. I understand it reduces ground plane and creates a weirdly shaped reflective surface. It is also shadowed to the rear by the A pillar and roof. I just really do not want to drill holes in my roofs, and we both go thru the car wash 2 times a week. It has two seperate roof scrubber brushes. I expect it would slowly rip any roof mounted antenna off anyway. I know I would remember to unscrew the antenna, but I also know my lovely wife would sooner or later forget.
I do not have a roof rack. Her 4runner does.
Wrightsrockets
Member
Oh and she is digging it.
She is Knox
My Son is Batman
One Daughter is Batgirl
Other Daughter is Bob
I am Riki-tiki
Silly but fun.
I am going to try to resize some images so you can see the crazy rockets.
She is Knox
My Son is Batman
One Daughter is Batgirl
Other Daughter is Bob
I am Riki-tiki
Silly but fun.
I am going to try to resize some images so you can see the crazy rockets.
Off topic but.....You may want to check the safety protocols about RF energy near the ignition system/electronics. The keep away distance would depend on many things including the type/design of the ignition device, power levels, frequency, and when they are installed in the rocket motors.
Wrightsrockets
Member
Yes sir I will. We use Wilson FX wireless launch and pad controllers. They require direct line of sight, are linked systems. The pads are solenoid controlled. The launch system requires, keyed input, pad group selection, pad number in that group selection, (all physical switches) then physical launch command switch, that returns to normally off.
The altimeters that control black powder ejection charges at Apogee (small drogue chute) and Main (large chute at 400-750') are either physical switches, or magnetic switches) communicate thru Bluetooth or audio (series of beeps)
Those are safety devices and designed very robustly. They are designed to have radio transmitters for GPS within 1/4" of them.
Now the GPS tracking systems is a very good thing you brought up. I will study on that and get back to you.
Thank you for bringing that up.
Wrightsrockets
Member
Ok, it looks like GMRS has been used successfully at many large launches for the exact things I intend to do.
A motors initiator is installed only when vertical on the launch rail at the pad, after electronics are made ready for parachute deployment.
Staged rockets are built with physical switches that prevent power to the staged motor.
GPS transmission from what I understand uses LORA so nothing there, and it is seperate from any charges.
Some people have attempted to use GMRS/FRS bands for trackers, but it barely works.
A motors initiator is installed only when vertical on the launch rail at the pad, after electronics are made ready for parachute deployment.
Staged rockets are built with physical switches that prevent power to the staged motor.
GPS transmission from what I understand uses LORA so nothing there, and it is seperate from any charges.
Some people have attempted to use GMRS/FRS bands for trackers, but it barely works.
bill4long
Member
Number of channels are only one consideration. Location matters too (to me.) Sounds like he's going with GMRS. Around here in the suburbs, I would go with MURS. In cities and suburbs you're far more likely to encounter other people on GMRS/FRS since cheap bubble-pack radios are on sale at Target and Walmart. Not so with MURS. No bubble-pack kiddies on MURS. Where I live nobody uses MURS channels 3 thru 5. I heard some guys using ham radios on channel 2 about 10 years for about a week. Walmart and Sam's club uses channels 4 and 5 down the road but that's it.
The FCC Part 95, Subparts A & J, governs the use of the MURS and does not authorize any other non-FCC rule sets to govern the use of MURS.
Wrightsrockets
Member
Yes I am locked in on GMRS. It will accomplish my purpose, now I am working to get the most use out of it.
From what I've seen with your testing and thus far, I believe it's going to work well for you. You've made great progress in a short time, good luck!
Wrightsrockets
Member
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
That would be a good use for these radios.
Not on a Tacoma, but you are correct, it's going to impact performance. How much depends on your exact use case. For short range use, it may be sufficient to do what you need. If you want to squeeze the most out of these radios, it's not an ideal location.
That's a valid concern. I don't know how durable the Toyota bodies are, but I know that a permanent mount antenna on top of a Ford or Chevy does not have a problem with the occasional trip through a car wash.
Important part would be doing a proper install, which often gets outside the capability of the average hobbyist. I've always run permanent mount antennas on my vehicles without issues.
A simple 1/4 wave UHF whip likely won't give you any issues. 6" tall is fine for most car washes, and I've run 18" tall VHF whips through them without issue. But these are not the hobby grade/Chinese antennas. Using name brand antennas may be part of the equation that many miss.
Many vehicles have external AM/FM antennas that do just fine in a car wash.
That's good, permanent mount through the roof would be better than mounting on a rack.
Truth is, a properly installed antenna mounted on the roof of the vehicle is going to have a noticeable impact on performance. The fender mount might fall into the "good enough" range for most, and there are lots of Jeep owners that do this and survive.
Ultimately it's your vehicle, so do what you feel comfortable with and be happy with the results.
Wrightsrockets
Member
I know you are right. Half measures never work out. So me being a person who sometimes has to learn the hard way, I will try these hood mounts, knowing that it is not optimal, then it will eat at me, and I will probably just drill the holes and do it right.
Last night I heard 17 people on Jamie's repeater. They were practicing a message communication test, I learned about 3 on 3. I was unable to hear or communicate with anyone on low power 3.
This is a giant rabbit hole, I can see a 50 watt and quality antenna at the house could be a lifesaver if a natural or man-made disaster happens.
I would think a good 12v 100ah lipo on solar and occasional charge from 110v would make a solid system ready for emergencies.
This stuff is very cool. Does anyone have a website link where I can learn antenna and radio theory and practice? I know sound and electrical from Sonar, but I never learned about radio.
nd5y
Member
L. B. Cebik W4RNL (SK) Website and Document Collection
Cebik amateur radio website and document collection. Books, magazine articles, model sets, linked topics index, missing content restored, broken links fixed, HTML tidied and CSS added
www.antenna2.net
The Antenna Theory Website
An intuitive tutorial of antennas and antenna theory. This website is designed to present a comprehensive overview of antennas, from design, to measurement and theory. Unnecessarily complicated math is avoided throughout.
www.antenna-theory.com
You can buy current paper or e-book versions of The ARRL Antenna Book and The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications from ARRL - Home or other ham radio dealers and you can also find older .pdf versions on various web sites.
Search for antennas on these web sites.
Amateur Radio Internet Guide - The DXZone
DXZone is the largest online resource for amateur radio operators, offering thousands of links to ham radio websites, antennas, software, DXing, and radio communications.
www.dxzone.com
HAM RADIO - AMATEUR RADIO - HAM RADIO INFORMATION, LICENSE INFO!, PLANS - PROJECTS
Amateur (Ham) radio website with information for those who want to be a ham radio operator, new ham and general information for the seasoned ham radio operator. License Study Material, Practice tests, practice code, antenna design, lots of ham radio info for all.
www.hamuniverse.com
Search for these books. Several web sites have them.
Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series NEETS
USMC Antenna Handbook MCRP 8-10B.11
USMC Radio Operator Handbook MCRP 8-10B.11
US Army Antenna Theory SC: 25C
US Army Radio Operator's Handbook FM 24-19
US Army Techniques for Tactical Radio Operations ATP 6-02.53
Last edited:
Wrightsrockets
Member
Thank you very much!!L. B. Cebik W4RNL (SK) Website and Document Collection
Cebik amateur radio website and document collection. Books, magazine articles, model sets, linked topics index, missing content restored, broken links fixed, HTML tidied and CSS addedwww.antenna2.netThe Antenna Theory Website
An intuitive tutorial of antennas and antenna theory. This website is designed to present a comprehensive overview of antennas, from design, to measurement and theory. Unnecessarily complicated math is avoided throughout.www.antenna-theory.com
You can buy current paper or e-book versions of The ARRL Antenna Book and The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications from ARRL - Home or other ham radio dealers and you can also find older .pdf versions on various web sites.
Search for antennas on these web sites.
Amateur Radio Internet Guide - The DXZone
DXZone is the largest online resource for amateur radio operators, offering thousands of links to ham radio websites, antennas, software, DXing, and radio communications.HAM RADIO - AMATEUR RADIO - HAM RADIO INFORMATION, LICENSE INFO!, PLANS - PROJECTS
Amateur (Ham) radio website with information for those who want to be a ham radio operator, new ham and general information for the seasoned ham radio operator. License Study Material, Practice tests, practice code, antenna design, lots of ham radio info for all.www.hamuniverse.com
Search for these books. Several web sites have them.
Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series NEETS
USMC Antenna Handbook MCRP 8-10B.11
USMC Radio Operator Handbook MCRP 8-10B.11
US Army Antenna Theory SC: 25C
US Army Radio Operator's Handbook FM 24-19
US Army Techniques for Tactical Radio Operations ATP 6-02.53
prcguy
Member
Better Safe Radios and similar sites are completely correct as far as statements to sell the most radios. That's all that matters to them.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Good. My evil plan is working.
But seriously, for guys like you and I, that's often the way it goes. Knowing it can be done better is what drives me to constantly improve my skill set. In the long run, it pays off. Knowing I've done the job correctly is rewarding.
Yes, there's a lot of options here. A set up like that can be useful. Even without the emergency aspect of it, having alternate sources of communication can be handy.
In addition to the excellent list above:
Radio Academy: Free Courses for Critical Communications (it's free, but you have to register)
bill4long
Member
I have the 2015 edition. Superb. One of the best publications by anyone anywhere. 1000+ pages of well-written antenna deliciousness. For anyone interested in antenna theory and practice, get this book.
