Thanks for sharing this. It is good to see some real world experience with different batteries and power banks. Having radios/batteries with USB-C charging capabilities makes the power banks much more useful these days ..read more

I have written a post on the use of batteries for portable radio use zl3cc.blogspot.com Batteries for Portable and Field Radio Amateur Radio, Radio, PRS It is my journey into finding the right power source for QRP operators in the field. I hope you find it worth a read and please fire away with any questions that you may have. Cheers ..read more

The thing with digital radios is that youemphasized text** decide what buttons do, so what there is NOT is an option to change mode from FM to digital, because a digital channel is not just a mode - it is the colour code, talk group and slot, so if you have say, 145.4MHZ in as an FM frequency you could create 145.4MHz as CC1, TG1, Slot 1 and stick that in the next memory on the dial or buttons. It would be tricky to get that into a single button. On some radios you can switch between memory and VFO mode on the side buttons, so if you stuck the complicated digital version in memory 1 and the fm ..read more

Digital radios like these usually have a setting that lets you toggle between digital and analog, so you’re not locked into one mode. That way, you can use whatever type of signal is available or fits your needs at the moment. The specific digital format you choose (like Yaesu’s C4FM or DMR) will determine what repeaters and radios you can connect with. If you’re curious about more options, there are a bunch of digital portable radios out there that can do both digital and analog. (Admin: Link removed - please read the Forum Rules before posting links ..read more

If you prefer to watch, the video version of the podcast is below. Can GMRS Repeaters be Linked? | TWRS-193 ..read more

Hi Phil, welcome to the forum! Radio is indeed all encompassing. There’s something here for everyone ..read more

Welcome Phil. I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know NZ had earthquakes! I will need to do some reading. I totally agree that the worst thing is the separation of different types of radio and the constant bickering between the user groups. I expanded by business years ago now so I sell to the UK users here, all kinds of radios, personal, business, marine and aviation. Initially mail order, but i now have people coming to the office. It isn’t a shop where people come in and browse, it is a storage and office really. All my visitors are nice people, and want to chat. They all need radios, or ..read more

Thank you for having me on your site. First off, I must say that I really like and am impressed with the forum title. ‘Two Way Radio Forum’. Finally something that encompasses all modes of radio. I have never been able to understand the deep divisiveness that can be found between CB and all its modern incarnations and Amateur Radio. After all, it is all radio isn’t it? I personally have a foot firmly planted in both camps and thoroughly enjoy both. But some background. I was first introduced to Ham Radio over 60 years ago as a Scout at a Jamboree. It stuck. Tinkered and played with radio and o ..read more

Most seem to have the same thread. The design at the bottom usually allows the plastic/rubber to make contact first, but the only thing to remember is to NOT give that extra final twist as the recessed thread on the radio is press fitted into the plastic and you could wrench it out ..read more

Thanks for all the info, it’ll help a lot. Are all the stud screw-in connectors the same size and thread count ..read more