Murs Radio - Page 4

Bubbajms · 09-06-2008

Can't you get more "power" from GMRS, compaired to MURS?

I've not seen a MURS radio, but I sell FRS and GMRS at work. I'll tell you now, although I advise all customers that if they are going to use the GMRS frequencies they need to apply for a license, I would estimate that 1% actually heed my advice.

I'd look at just the way I do concealed carry without a permit - if you're responsable and don't start trouble, you won't ever have an issue. When the SHTF, the fact that you're breaking some regulations or laws will be the worst of your worries. In a disaster fallout situation, I don't think anybody from the FCC is gonna be checking to make sure you're not using the GMRS frequencies without a license..

ar15junkie · 09-06-2008

Dumb question. Can I use a cable that has an aluminum shield or do I need copper? Does anyone know of a quick guide for a newbie that explains using an swr meter? I'm going to look for mine again to see if it will work for vhf. If not I may go buy one.

Edit: I can't find my meter. I think it may have been damaged in a flood a few years back. Can anyone suggest a meter?

Thanks

Justus · 09-07-2008

I have a meter that I can loan to you, if you don't want to buy one.

Heres some:
MFJ-842 VHF UHF SWR Wattmeter
Opek SWR-6 SWR Power Meter
R&L Electronics 800-221-7735
R&L Electronics 800-221-7735

There's also a few on ebay right now

Royal-1 · 09-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ar15junkie

Dumb question. Can I use a cable that has an aluminum shield or do I need copper?...

Aluminum shielding will be fine, it is still a conductor, just not as good of one as copper, silver, or gold... No one can really afford a cable with a gold shield so they used the cheapest yet best conductor they could. aluminum is even cheaper than copper.

ar15junkie · 09-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal-1

Aluminum shielding will be fine, it is still a conductor, just not as good of one as copper, silver, or gold... No one can really afford a cable with a gold shield so they used the cheapest yet best conductor they could. aluminum is even cheaper than copper.

We got some quad shield rg6. We soldered the copper center in its place and did our best to solder the AL inner shield in place. We can hear each other now over the radio from our homes. Its still not perfect but its much better than what we had. On my end its hard to pick out his voice from the static. He reports that I come in clear. I suspect one of the SMA to pl259 cables we bought from rat shack to be defective. The swr meter should help us find a problem and fix it, right? Should we get SMA connectors for this rg6 and do away with the converter cable?

Thanks for your kind offer for the loaner meter Justus but I'll probably just buy one. Where do you ham guys like to buy gear from online? There aren't any local ham gear stores.

Thanks for everyones help with this.

Justus · 09-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ar15junkie

Thanks for your kind offer for the loaner meter Justus but I'll probably just buy one. Where do you ham guys like to buy gear from online? There aren't any local ham gear stores.

See my post above,
I usually use Universal Radio or R & L

You should probably keep a flexible piece of coax between
the RG6 and your radio, just try to use the least amount
of RF adaptors as possible.

AFA1CY · 09-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justus

You should probably keep a flexible piece of coax between
the RG6 and your radio, ...

????

Why would he want to do that?

ar15junkie · 09-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFA1CY

????

Why would he want to do that?

Probably for a strain relief. These are handheld radios.

I'm placing an order with Universal. Is there anything good to have around I should add to the order? I'm getting some rg8x and a few extra xma-pl259 connectors.

AFA1CY · 09-07-2008

But unless he is going to have some really thin coax for the flexible piece, the RG-6 will be just as flexable as any other coax.

BTW I use RG-6 hooked to my VHF/UHF handheld without any problem.

Justus · 09-08-2008

AFA1CY:
I'm just trying to help him out, I've had some HT antenna
connections loosen up from the strain.
As you know, a loose antenna socket could do further damage
internally to a handheld radio.
His radios have SMA connections, meaning they are even more
susceptible to this problem.

There's a couple different types of RG6 and they can be a bit stiff.
He didn't go into detail about which type he had.

Yes, a "really thin piece" of coax and/or a piece with a braided
center conductor is exactly what I'm talking about.

09-06-2008	#32 (permalink)
ar15junkie Plinker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Highland Posts: 113	Dumb question. Can I use a cable that has an aluminum shield or do I need copper? Does anyone know of a quick guide for a newbie that explains using an swr meter? I'm going to look for mine again to see if it will work for vhf. If not I may go buy one. Edit: I can't find my meter. I think it may have been damaged in a flood a few years back. Can anyone suggest a meter? Thanks Last edited by ar15junkie; 09-06-2008 at 23:51.

09-07-2008	#33 (permalink)
Justus Bitter Plinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 248	I have a meter that I can loan to you, if you don't want to buy one. Heres some: MFJ-842 VHF UHF SWR Wattmeter Opek SWR-6 SWR Power Meter R&L Electronics 800-221-7735 R&L Electronics 800-221-7735 There's also a few on ebay right now Last edited by Justus; 09-07-2008 at 02:27.

09-08-2008	#40 (permalink)
Justus Bitter Plinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 248	AFA1CY: I'm just trying to help him out, I've had some HT antenna connections loosen up from the strain. As you know, a loose antenna socket could do further damage internally to a handheld radio. His radios have SMA connections, meaning they are even more susceptible to this problem. There's a couple different types of RG6 and they can be a bit stiff. He didn't go into detail about which type he had. Yes, a "really thin piece" of coax and/or a piece with a braided center conductor is exactly what I'm talking about. Last edited by Justus; 09-08-2008 at 04:50.

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09-06-2008	#31 (permalink)
Bubbajms Marksman Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delphi, IN Posts: 519	Can't you get more "power" from GMRS, compaired to MURS? I've not seen a MURS radio, but I sell FRS and GMRS at work. I'll tell you now, although I advise all customers that if they are going to use the GMRS frequencies they need to apply for a license, I would estimate that 1% actually heed my advice. I'd look at just the way I do concealed carry without a permit - if you're responsable and don't start trouble, you won't ever have an issue. When the SHTF, the fact that you're breaking some regulations or laws will be the worst of your worries. In a disaster fallout situation, I don't think anybody from the FCC is gonna be checking to make sure you're not using the GMRS frequencies without a license..

09-07-2008	#39 (permalink)
AFA1CY Engineer and all around geek Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 677	But unless he is going to have some really thin coax for the flexible piece, the RG-6 will be just as flexable as any other coax. BTW I use RG-6 hooked to my VHF/UHF handheld without any problem.