[K3CAL] Found this on Facebook

Thu Apr 9 01:09:13 EDT 2026

Jimmy et all, remember amateur radio is not a destination, it's a Journey, Enjoy The Ride. As a shiny new ham, there are thousands of things to explore and many more to learn. CARA is fortunate to have some very talented and knowledgeable members who can mentor any new ham to become one of the best in the hobby. Through this process, lifetime friendships are made, many of them thousands of miles away, with people that would not have been met any other way. It is truly amazing how quickly a friendship can develop with a simple contact over a two way radio.

It has been said that ham shacks are never done. There is always something new, or a way to improve things or expand one's knowledge. Gathering equipment, installing antennas, setting up operating positions all takes time. In many cases a well built out station and antenna system can take years to put together.

This conversation started with DMR. Digital Mobile Radio, an aspect of amateur radio that licensed hams can explore. In the replies is some very good advice regarding what radios to use for this service, as well as some very solid cautions on what an why to stay away from others. Keep it simple, focus on building out the VHF UHF station as best as possible, when ever possible. Visit club functions and events, listen along to nets or,visit ham fests, they are all great sources for information or equipment.

In the meantime, everyone, please remember that there are about 100 people signed up on this reflector. They receive every single email and they receive every single reply.

Brian
KB3WFV
President 
Calvert Amateur Radio Association 

     On Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 10:50:10 PM EDT, Mike Nasitka, AL3G via K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net> wrote:  

 It has nothing to do with it being a Motorola. I think lots of folks use Motorola on 2M and 440.  
It’s programming a radio to for a 700/800 public safety trunked system. You can’t transmit there- so don’t program a transmitter on those frequencies. Trunked systems a nothing like a “normal “ simplex/repeater system. Just programming it will almost certainly cause it to transmit- even if you don’t push the PTT button.  It is constantly transmitting- especially in a simulcast system- which every county has around here.  If you’ve are not intimately familiar with the CPS, and the radio tries to associate with the trunked system, you: a) are transmitting in on an unauthorized frequency without a license, and, b) risk all the things previously mentioned.  You don’t even know the radio transmitted when it sends its short data burst to let the trunk controller know it’s there (very over simplistic description of associating with a trunked system.)
Using a VHF/UHF radio in simplex, on the authorized frequency spectrum is perfectly fine. (We won’t get into the part 97 debate) . Using a APX programmed in simplex/ repeater is fine (some are also dual or  triband- depending on the radio).  Programming a trunked system into it, is not. 
Finding an inexpensive, used radio- analog or DMR, whatever is a great way to go. A used HT-1000, HT-750, Vertex-Standard, whatever, will work much better than, say a Beofeng.  Just understand that LMR radio’s are not front panel programmable. Mother /\/\ still maintains tight control on a lot of their CPSs- even for discontinued radios. And a lot of the older radios cannot be programmed with a WinXP/10/11 computer (easily) and in many cases require a RIB. It’s not as simple as a “Kenwood” cable with a USB port.  Before you buy any LMR radio make sure the place you buy it from will  program it for you, or that you can legally get the CPS, cable, and have a computer it will work on. Last time I programmed a HT-750/1250, it needed WIN95, and a RIB.  
There are many reputable deals of used two-way radios that can lead you in the right direction.  Used-two way radio.com, discount two way radio, used-radios.com, etc.  You also need to be careful with sites like the one you provided the link to.  It looks like a $50 great deal. But, that’s a radio only- no charger, antenna, battery, programming, etc.  it actually turns into a $140 radio if you want to get on the air with it   And, the website even says it’s long in the tooth and becoming completely unsupportable.  At that point, you may want to look into an Anytone, new out of the box, DMR capable amateur radio where you’re likely to stay operating within your license authorization.   I’m also a firm believer of buy once and cry once. Save up for a better radio, and you’ll enjoy the hobby much more. I still have and use almost all the radios I’ve bought over the years- I also have my fair share of cheap Chinese radios- they serve a purpose, and are great to get new people on the air, but, they are definitely not my daily driver.  
73s

On Apr 8, 2026, at 21:08, jimmy mumper via K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
i just want to get something like this https://haloidsolutions.com/products/motorola-mt2000-h01kdh9aa7an-dtmf-vhf-portable?variant=42905836519596&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOooWnDWHKpiuncH4OvFxrlUgkDJfp7SRYXQ3ZT5HmeP43ebK6A7I1tM
On Wed, Apr 8, 2026 at 8:59 PM N5WTA N5WTA via K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

Jimmy,
This isn’t the first time someone has brought up the legality of the things you are doing with the hobby including myself when you were transmitting with your sk grandfathers call that was expired, while you were unlicensed and on the repeaters from which emails were specifically sent out to tell non-licensed users to not use the repeaters illegally.  
Jimmy, I know you are new to the hobby and are excited to try new things. But I also know you like to skirt the limits of things and I know you know what the consequences can be if you are caught doing something illegal. I’ve personally have had this conversation with you two or three times before. 
Now you are talking about doing things that could make the entire club partially responsible and you could cause issues for anyone who has tried to help you in the past. 
You know better, you passed the tech test.  So I know you know better. 
Don’t burn everyone around you. This club has a lot of good people and we are trying to have a great relationship with county/state authorities. Things you could have real life or death consequences.  
I for one and going to have to say I can’t help you anymore. Just for fear that you might drag me down your path of potential legal issues.  

Regards,Johnathan IbertN5WTA

On Apr 8, 2026, at 8:42 PM, Mike Nasitka, AL3G via K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

I second what Matt said.  As a professional communication engineer for 30 plus years, and an active firefighter in Prince Frederick, just don’t do it.  A SDR is cheap (RTL-SDR are under $50 last time I checked). I use a unication G5 when mobile, and either a Bearcat scanner, or www.scanmd.org at home. The G5 is an expensive option (but half price of a used APX- not to mention the cost of the programming software)
Sorry for the harsh response as well, but this is an area where you can literally kill someone and not even know it.  
73,Mike

On Apr 8, 2026, at 18:50, Matt Orr via K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

Jimmy,I was a tech for MD First.I maintained the MD First tower sites in Calvert, Charles, St Mary's, PG and part of Montgomery Co.I personally installed the dispatch consoles at MSP Prince Frederick, Leonardtown, La Plata. Forestville and College Park Barracks.
DO NOT even attempt NAS. Do not even consider buying a used commercial radio with your level of experience.
MD First, Calvert County and Charlles County radio systems use a specialized software package to identify, log (for legal evidence), locate and stun radios. When a commercial radio is stunned or killed, you now own a brick.
It just takes one "oops" when trying to setup or use NAS and your radio will try and register on the system.When you register with a cloned radio ID, you WILL put a real system user's life at risk.
In order to setup NAS, you need a system key.  You will never ger a legal system key.  If you go through illegal means to obtain one, you were warned.
This email may sound harsh, but there is no way to sugar coat the seriousness of how illegal what you wanted to do is.
When you use an illegal radio on a trunking system with a cloned ID, you could bump a Sheriff's Deputy's radio offline without him even knowing it.  If that officer needed to call for help and couldn't because of your cloned radio, you're done. Prison time. I am really serious here.
Again, I am just being blunt and honest with you here.  I have been a 2 way tech working on public safety systems for 20+ years. I have seen the damage and have been asked to assist locating illegal radio user several times.
Take my word, don't do it.
I hope other CARA members will join me in steering you in the right direction here. You do NOT want to get on the bad side of your local Emergency Management by doing something like this because it could give CARA and other ham clubs a bad reputation.
CARA has worked hard at building up trust and a good working relationship with Calvert Emerg Management. Activites like this by one of their members risks having Calvert EM kick us out to the street.
As Kim said, buy a scanner, G5 pager, SDR...etc. 
I am painfully aware of the "experts" on Radio Reference and other radio based forums, social media and You Tube that tell you NAS is perfectlly fine. It isn't.
I haven't commented much since I moved away, but felt this was a topic I was probably the best to reply.
I am not meaning to come off as rude, or talk down to you, I am just being direct and honest because it is so important.
Please just get a scanner.
MattN3IVK
Sent from a mobile device

-------- Original message --------From: jimmy mumper via K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net> Date: 4/8/26 3:51 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Calvert Amateur Radio Association - K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [K3CAL] Found this on Facebook 
They would be good for NAS for state and county systems and local conv 7/800 stuff
On Wed, Apr 8, 2026 at 4:06 PM jimmy mumper <jimmymumper562 at gmail.com> wrote:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14abzUR9Qth/?mibextid=xfxF2i 
______________________________________________________________
K3CAL mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net?subject=unsubscribe

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html______________________________________________________________
K3CAL mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net?subject=unsubscribe

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
K3CAL mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net?subject=unsubscribe

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
K3CAL mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net?subject=unsubscribe

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html______________________________________________________________
K3CAL mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net?subject=unsubscribe

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/k3cal/attachments/20260409/c9977663/attachment-0001.html>