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Believe it or not, I am 100% onboard with you on this! Especially the part about no one having to agree with your opinions. All of us operate radio in a unique and massively geographically diverse country and naturally want to promote ideas best serving our individual needs, wants and experiences. No wonder there is plenty of room for healthy debate. I always strongly encourage people to debate their opinions in a public forum and amongst their representative law makers then let the best ideas win.

Well, i have built both the ladder lead version and the cooper version..The ladder lead actually cost me more money mostly because, like you say, i had a lot of the copper stuff laying around where i had to buy a mininum of 25' ladder lead to get going. (I actually bought 50') The Cooper was also easier to construct where the ladder version was a little more difficult due to razor cutting the dilelectric but was a lot easier to tune. Putting both versions to test under different scenarios convinced me that the copper versions performed better and not by much. I still use both and keep both with me in my RV for my portable repeater setup. I also experimented with dipoles and mobile antennas and found the J-Pole just worked better for my portable application. Yes, the dipole will out perform the J-pole but my cheap telescoping flag pole wouldn't handle the load in the slightest breeze.

Sideband even, nice!

I think I figured out the port stuff but it’s not reading the radio , it keeps saying check communications port settings

The Wouxun KG-935G and 905G both have group scan capability. Or the 935H if you want the HAM version.

If your cable is for the TM-481a and is good working order, it should work on the TK-880. Depending on how the cable built, it will require the appropriate driver. Just make sure that the driver is compatible with Windows 11. If you're not sure if you need the Prolific or the FTDI driver, load both drivers on your computer and set the port selection according to the Device Manager. With the radio connected to the cable, pull the cable connector in and out of the computer while viewing the Device Manager and that may indicate the port the computer wants to use and set the port selection in the CPS accordingly. If the cable is a genuine Kenwood cable or built by Blue Max 49ers, you should be good to go. If it is built by some unknown provider that sells cheap Pandaland stuff from a business that is not dedicated to or does not specialized in only radio electronics, I would round-file the cable and get a quality built cable before you brick the radio permanently.

Nothing illegal owning/operating multiple repeaters,, Unless you are making money doing it.. Like most politicians whom become Millionaires the minute they enter office, finding and operating in the 'gray' areas is always overlooked and ignored. Does it piss off some people, Yup.. Does it make some people happy, Yup.. Is it right and fair? Some people say yup some say nope.. In regards to repeater usage on GMRS, I base my options on how the FCC set up GMRS and how they define its uses. No one has to agree with my opinions, i don't care if they do or don't. The important thing is, i'm able to voice them.. Like the Video guy,,there is a lot of things he says and does i disagree with and there are things he does and says i agree with, So i don't tune him 'out'. I still watch his videos and i leave comments he may thing are positive and some he may think are negative..

Not sure if this is what OP is looking for. Both my Wouxuns Q10 and UV9gx have 10 scan groups you can set. You can just go into the menu and change the scan groups. Can set different scan groups for each upper and lower bands and can scan them independently. During the storms this week, I set upper band to scan all the GMRS plus repeaters and the bottom band to scan the Skywarn/Ares frequencies in my area.

I have a cable from a Kenwood TM-481a iM gonna try to order one like you have

Glad to see so many people offering strong opinions on how many repeaters people own, if they are public and how they run them. Public debates a great thing. Adding the would "should" to this opinion kind of makes it sound like people want to control repeaters they don't own and the greater GMRS service itself. Thankfully everyone is entitled to an opinion and should voice it. I know no one in the GMRS community would ever attempt to dictate how license holders be allowed to use the GMRS service, especially when engaged in activities allowable by the FCC. I just know it in my heart this would never happen. I was really worried there for a minute that some GMRS users were going to start telling others what to do.

Of course, if you're going to have multiple repeaters in this scenario they should be open to the public without restrictions, just as long as they follow good etiquette and don't cause interference. If someone want to drop a lot of coin to do this, more power to them. If one is smart about it and use their head they can get great high-end equipment dirt cheap. If you know the right people and have a streak of good luck you can get access to a good location and electricity and internet for free. I think the biggest problem with GMRS repeaters are the owners that have them closed to the public and not being used for years.

Very nice construction and a good idea, and I'm glad you used an N connector instead of an SO-239 for prevent water from getting into your coax. One thing I can never figure out is why do so many people gravitate to copper for VHF/UHF antennas? I used copper to build a 6m 5/8 wave ground plane for my ham station at work 30 years ago. The only reason I used copper was because it was free and, of course, soldering is easy and makes a permanent weather seal. Many years ago, I made a 2m J-pole using 1/4" aluminum rod. Easily made and adjustable. Of course, 3/16th or 1/4" rod would be a better choice for UHF than 1/2" or 3/4" copper pipe, which is 5/8" and 7/8" OD respectively, as it wouldn't so broad-banded reducing what little gain you would have with a perfectly built J-pole.

You're right, and i do realize that currently there ar no rules prohibiting how many GMRS repeaters one can operate. I find it interesting that someone can invest 40-50K and more for a pool of repeaters to talk with their family and friends.. Usually you don't spend that kind of money unless you're gong to make money. t.. I guess there is more than one Elon in this world and thats cool.. Do i think it is right for one person in one area is allowed to dominate the entire GMRS spectrum with their slew of repeaters leaving out the guy that wants to use the service for it's intention.. No i don't. Now i have talked in person with one of these guys that operated a big handful of repeaters He is also a HAM guy and he said, before the FCC put the hammer down on Linking, he was making money via club membership. He also said he is winding down his operation because he is loosing tons of club members supporting it. So that tells me that probably most are making money on them.. And that is illegal and for a mother story.

Never accept failure when the power of getting the ultimate base setup is in easy reach. If all the great innovators and inventors throughout history used this mentality they would have simply went to Radio Shack to buy blister pack crap and feel sorry for themselves. Short answer, you're on the right track by learning how to build antennas. Since you have the skills you will be able to perfect your station with a little more research and persistence.

There's definitely nothing wrong with a single licensed user to put up a repeater on each of the repeater channels. Of course, you have to have the resources and sites to support them. Best to cover every available frequency to prevent congestion. Nothing worse than having someone using the repeater when you're ready to pick up the mic.

I get what you’re trying to do and I wanted the same. I created a list of all the repeaters in my region, and those in the areas I travel frequently. I wanted to create groups to scan my home area, plus groups to scan other regional areas when visiting those areas. It’s true there are only 22 channels, but I wanted different area repeaters with their respective tones, so I wouldn’t need to fuss with it and could dial in a channel (that I named) and go to town. Now keep in mind, it’s technically not legal to use a Ham radio to transmit on GMRS frequencies, but I’m pretty sure you can listen with whatever you like. ;-) I didn’t find a “legit” GMRS portable, but the Icom ID-50 can do the job nicely. It’s expensive, especially compared to the China made stuff, but it’s legit quality. It has 500 channel capacity and can be programmed easily into groups using RT Systems software. I initially created two groupings, then expanded to three. You can have up to 100 in a group on the Icom. The software on device allows you to chose the group you wish to scan, or scan all groups. You also have dual watch / dual-scan options. Having recently got my Technician Ham license, I’ve since updated groups. If you understand the rules and chose to color outside the lines, you’d find the Icom products really really nice. I also like that it can charge in the car with USB-C. Best of luck with your search.

I'm using the KPG-46 FTDI cable with Windows 10 and 11 for my TK-780s and 880s with no problems. Who's cable are you using and where did you get it?

Nice! Glad yall are enjoying those UV5G+ radios! I hear those are awesome! Note that the Baofeng AR-5RM radio is basically a clone of the UV5G+/UV5RM, BUT is unlocked. So take that for what it's worth. I know that I love having more monitoring options (and transmitting options -- when properly licensed or in emergency situations). Either way, welcome to the GMRS radio world and I look forward to making contact with ya!

Yes, PLEASE USE ITm, as often as you like. If you hear me in there, say hello. All are welcome to the machine. If you can get into the Columbus 575, again, use that one too. We want people to use these repeaters. And don't forget about the Morrow 550, it's open as well. I have put a good bit of time and effort into getting the repeater on the air, and really do what others to use it. That's why it got built. The comment about the folks that build 'big repeaters' wasn't a knock. I am one of those guys. The 675 talks from as far Northwest as Mechanicsburg, West to London, South to Lancaster and East to Zanesville. It's got a big footprint. Yeah, I have a couple radios at the house if the wife wants to get in contact, but she just always calls my phone. So please, feel free. And anyone else reading this in the Central Ohio area, get in there. You ARE certainly welcome. I got spooled up because we have people that want to do nothing but complain. And it drives off new guys, or makes them question if they should be using other peoples equipment. And the truth is that's why it's there to begin with. If I just wanted to chat with my wife, I have several other methods to do that with. First is the obvious cell phone. Everyone's got one of those. Then there is the IP phone system at the house that I have a softphone application on my phone for. Runs across an encrypted data link from my cell phone via a VPN tunnel to the house and then allows her to call me at my 'extension' number like calling another phone on a business phone system. Then there's email and text, and voice message texts, and CB radio and the list goes on. Now in truth. Having a repeater that has that sort of coverage, and not leaving it fully open to all licensed users, to me, that's BS. Make no mistake, it talks a long way, and it would be very difficult for someone else to use that pair. So if I built that out, and then denyed anyone else the ability to use that repeater, that would make me an A-hole in my eyes. That's the one thing about the garage repeaters, you can have one or two in every town, on the same pair, and they don't interfere with each other since the coverage is small. Mine ain't that at all.

I think I’m gonna have to order a cable , I don’t think this cable I had for a Kenwood TM-481 will work

Ugh ……… can’t get it to work . It says PL2303TA doesn’t support windows 11 or later

Or you can learn how to tell someone that they are an ID10T with a serious case of the dumb butt very tactfully to where they will smile and thank you. It is an acquired skill. I learned in the Army how to tell a General where to go tactfully without getting into trouble. Otherwise just ignore the ate up individuals with their negative waves. His headspace and timing is definitely off.

The Tid H8 is supposedly a 10w HT radio. I don't have equipment to measure that claim (I forget what that meter is called). But I will say that I get better "mileage" out of my h8 over my h3. What I mean by mileage is that the radio doesn't heat up as fast. And the difference is ABSOLUTELY noticeable. Even when transmitting on high power. That said, I don't have difference hitting my preferred repeaters (gallatin, brentwood, brentwood grasslands, & lebanon) with either the H3 or H8. But the H8 just seems to "go for longer" -- that's what she said -- before my signal starts to degrade. I'll say this. The tone of the speaker on the H8 is MUCH more pleasant than the H3 also, if that matters to you. It's a bit more full and not so thin and sharp. So there's that.

Hi all, I wanted to mention that there is a new Kentucky GMRS Club. It’s based in Louisville but open to anyone in the state and surrounding areas. Hope to see some of you there. -Bryan

AGREED !! I used to work with someone who acted like that ...