[k6arc] GMRS REpeater testing on June 20th (!)

Mon Jun 22 20:36:12 MDT 2020

So I collated the results of our testing with Google Earth and the
RadioMobile program I have that does "projections" of what coverage will be
like.
They matched pretty well and the plot is below.  More info below the plot.

[image: FiddletownGMRSFireStationsSiteTestResults.png]

What the red/green/yellow is:
  - this is is a theoretical model of propagation and received signal
strength at various locations from a single transmitter.  It models a *2
way* transmission (the mobile station is 5 watts in that test, the repeater
is 25watts).   The scale is Red/Pink/Yellow/Green from strongest->weakest
signal.  Anything thats white (uncolored) is predicted to be unusable.  The
frequency is 462.2->462.3 mhz ( so it models terrain effects using Shuttle
Radar Topography Mission <https://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/>Data which is
publicly available for locations in the United States (and some other
countries).  So the effect of hills etc. is modelled accurately at 3meter
resolution.

What the Black letters are - these are your observations plotted on the
map.   I used either the map you gave me, or the address you wrote down (in
one case the addresses were much more accurate than the map, *so in the
future always write down street addresses if you can*.  Google is good at
finding those).

*Overall interpretation:*
Mostly the Red (and a little yellow occasionally) maps to Handheld radio
coverage.
Theres on spot on Ostram where we had the pink color which didnt work on
the HT but did work on the mobile.
Theres one spot where we predicted no coverage where there was some mobile
coverage (up by Shenandoah).  (there is some coverage near the road here,
that might have just been lucky)
The Quartz Mountain &  Fiddletown road coverage East really mapped well to
the predicted coverage.
The Tyler road coverage mapped really well, and the crew there even caught
the little bit of handheld coverage up there which shows up as a
yellow/pink spot on the map which is pretty small.
That little trail down to the lower left was me going down Quartz Mountain
Road (before i turned around and got stuck)

So overall this was pretty successful at verifying on the ground what the
computer said.

We will probably do this *again* for another location in Fiddletown (likely
the Moose Lodge, maybe a different site).
Thanks for helping and '73!
   -jcp-
  N3CKF

On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 7:02 PM Robert Hess <w1rh at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I’m bringing 4 mag mounts and six radios
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
> <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS>
>
> On Friday, June 19, 2020, 6:33 PM, Joseph Pistritto <jcp at pistritto.org>
> wrote:
>
> Okay so i went through my assortment of magmount antennas and found four
> (4) that are good on GMRS frequencies (I tested them with a RigExpert).
> I may lack quite enough adapters to make these work with the mini-UHF
> connectors (i have some adapters but probably not enough).
> I also found  at least 3 12Volt->Powerpole adapters and i'm bringing my
> antenna analyzer in case its needed.
>
> I will be at the firehouse by 9:30 tomorrow so everyone try to be there by
> 10am.
>
> Thank you!
>   -jcp-
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 11:22 PM Joseph Pistritto <jcp at pistritto.org>
> wrote:
>
> btw note on the frequency
>
> 462.600 is the OUTPUT (what you receive on)
> 467.600 is the INPUT (what you TX on)
>
> PL of 77.0 (tone XB) in both directions (commonly called "CTCSS" on radio
> programming software).
> I'm just doing that now on my radio so i wanted to be clear.
>
> The "FRS" style handheld radios wont be able to bring up the repeater as
> they only do SIMPLEX (the 462.6 channel is "channel 17" on channelized
> radios).  You can talk on channel 17 but the repeater wont hear you unless
> you have a GMRS radio or a commercial radio (like a Baofeng) that can be
> programmed correctly.
>
>   -jcp-
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 7:51 PM Joseph Pistritto <jcp at pistritto.org>
> wrote:
>
> i will program the QYT in my truck to do the GMRS frequencies and i found
> 4 of the Cig LIghter to Powerpole adapters today looking around.
> I will go looking for antennas tomorrow.  I'll also bring my XPR7550
> (motorola handheld) with the GMRS frequencies in it).
>   -jcp-
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 6:57 PM Don Kirkpatrick <w6fs.kirk at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> I have:
> - Midland MXT400 with a mag mount antenna. MXT400 has power pole
> connectors and I have a 12 volt cigarette to Power Pole adapter.
> - Btech GRMS-V1 - has only the regular SMA - male antenna.
> Don WRHS265
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 2:26 PM Joseph Pistritto <jcp at pistritto.org>
> wrote:
>
> So we have mobile radios that have a PowerPole connector on them (and draw
> less than 10 amps).
> So we can  u se those with a cigarette light plug if you have a 12volt
> socket (cigarette lighter) to powerpole adapter (or if you happen to have a
> spare powerpole socket in your car).
>
> So can everyone check to see if they have:
>   - a 12volt cigarette lighter to power pole adapter (I have a couple i'll
> bring but i dont have enough for 4 people).
>   - a UHF antenna (magmount or whatever).  These radios have the
> "Mini-uhf" connector but we may have enough adapters to go to PL-259 if
> thats all you have on your antennas.
>
> Let me know which of these you have.  Thanks.
>   -jcp-
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 8:25 AM Don Kirkpatrick <w6fs.kirk at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Confirmed!
> - I can be there
> - WRHS265
> - Btech GRMS-V1
> - Midland MXT400
> Don W6FS
>
> On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 10:19 PM Joseph Pistritto <jcp at pistritto.org>
> wrote:
>
> Adding Dennis to this thread because he also volunteered to this on
> Saturday.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Everyone please confirm:
>   - that you can come on saturday
>   - whether you have a GMRS License now
>   - whether you have a GMRS radio of any kind.
>
> Thank you
>   -jcp-
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 17, 2020 at 12:36 PM Joseph Pistritto <jcp at pistritto.org>
> wrote:
>
> Testing on June 20th
>
> Hi folks!
>   We will gather at the Amador Fire Protection District Station 123
> <https://goo.gl/maps/c1knV2dco5R3pBD28> in Fiddletown at 10AM on THIS
> Saturday June 20th
> (map at the link).
>
> We'll go out as teams of 2 in vehicles to avoid people
> driving-and-radioing and crashing :-)
>
> Hope to see you there!;
>   -jcp-
>
> PS: Some details:
>
> The GMRS repeater in use for the test will be:
> 462.600 / 467.600 77.0 CTCSS
> That is GMRS Channel 17 (for the output) and its corresponding repeater
> input frequency.
> All the frequencies are here:
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service
>
> If you have a 2meter radio in your vehicle or with you, we will use either
> the VHF K6ARC repeater
> (146.835- pl 100) OR the Fiddletown Repeater: 147,165+ pl 107.2  (so have
> both programmed into your radio)
> I just tested the Fiddletown machine and it works from my house. (and
> K6ARC is a bit marginal down in Fiddletown)
> We'll use that to stay in touch if someone is out of GMRS range.
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 4, 2020 at 5:06 PM Joseph Pistritto <jcp at pistritto.org> wrote:
>
> KI6DWP John
> W6FS Don
> KN6FYN Bob
> KK6HPE Kathryn
>
> So the date for this is picked.   Bob Hess will be supplying a portable
> repeater (and some GMRS radios if you dont have them).
>
> Note:  If you have a GMRS *license* that would be good.  (I Have one, my
> GMRS callsign is WRFG299).
>
> You can get a GMRS license by following the process here:
> https://quality2wayradios.com/store/gmrs-fcc-license
>
> (Note: it costs $70 and is good 10 years and covers your "household"
> (everyone who lives with you).
>
> Its not *required* to participate, but it is required to *talk* on GMRS
> radios.  (Note that FRS which a lot of radios have common channels with
> GMRS is an uncliensed service - it doesnt require any fee/license to use.
> However GMRS radios are higher power and use the same (UHF) frequencies for
> the most part and GMRS allows repeaters (FRS doesnt).
>
> A little explanation of the two services here:
> https://www.highlandwireless.com/frs-and-gmrs-radios/
>
> Thanks and let me know:
>   1) if you can come on June 20th
>   2) if you have a GMRS license or a GMRS radio already.
>
> Thank you
>   -jcp-
>
>
>
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