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Very True!! I live in one of those spots, and Starlink has been a blessing! The only reason we can use cell phones at home is because I connected a femtocell access point thru Starlink.

Thanks to @TheMeatTrapper (WRN250), @WSDV406 (me), @WSIY431, @SteveGibbs (WSBM431), @WRXS569, @WSAQ712, and @WSGE773 for taking time out of their busy Wednesday evening for this week's check-in net. I know today is a somber day for most folks that follow current events. But I greatly value these weekly times to connect with a few good folks for a quick chat. Tonight's question was: "What's a memorable piece of advice that has stuck with you?" A sampling of the answers were, "Not everyone was raised the same as you". "If women don't find you handsome, make sure they at least find you handy". "Always assume the microphone is hot". And "Trust your gut no matter what". If you're in range of the Brentwood 600 repeater, listen in to our weekly nets on Wednesday at 8pm. If you want to key up, feel free to do so. It's just a quick press of that little PTT button. We won't bite. Thanks to everyone that takes time out of their busy week to spend a few minutes connecting and getting to know each other a little better. *Point your browser to (or share with a friend) SCTNGMRS.com or SouthCentralTNGMRS.com for easy access to the club page.....and make sure to click "follow" so you can stay up to date with new posts in our club forum.*

Yup. The BF-F8HP Pro was a collaboration between BTECH and me. I'd been saying for over a year that "I want to fix everything that's wrong with the UV-17 Pro GPS as well as add many new features". Baofeng ignored me. BTECH listened to me.

My mobile radio turns into a base station any time I'm stopped at a red light. It's terribly inconvenient.

IP54: Dust protected (5), but not dust-tight. Protects against splashing water. IP65:Dust-tight (6) and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction. IP66:Dust-tight (6) and protected against high-pressure water jets from any direction. IP67:Dust-tight (6) and protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes). IP68:Dust-tight (6) and protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water, at depths specified by the manufacture

SWR has nothing to do with the noises you're hearing.

He did hook up the rig to the SWR meter and from the looks of it. It reads vswr: 1.01 FW: 18.65W on 462.626mhz Trans% 99.99%

^^^^very good point on the IP67 dirt and dust resistance. I’ve had a couple of hand held Marine VHF radios for fifteen years….IPX8 rated. One of them survived a seriously long submersion when it fell overboard at 30mph (I keep my marine handhelds tied to a foot of hi viz yellow pool noodle with 10 inches of 60lb braided fishing line…so it didn’t sink to the bottom) I have my doubts regarding IP67 water resistance..….I have the feeling IP67 is significantly short of waterproof

Yeah, I spent an hour the other night slowly spelling out an email to a '50 year ham' (I spelled slow so he could read it slowly) that rules change. It was in regards to another now defunct GMRS 'rule'.

Really? You're the electrical engineer. If putting an antenna up high didn't help then nobody would. Yes, a car could drive up to another mountain top to get similar or greater distance. But the inconvenience of doing so would limit that type of use.

@Northcutt114 exactly what @nokones stated. When I loose LTE/5G coveraage I need another means of data for radios and computers. I ues it alot on the east coast. At least once a week right now. Contrary to popular belief there is alot of places in the US still not covered by cell sites. Google Quiet Zone for one....

No one knows what a fixed station is. No one. My best explanation is, "If you are asking if you have a 'fixed station' you don't." As far as the first question, according to Part 95, yes. Simplex? Base Through a repeater? Control Makes sense? Most likely not.

So it’s possible for a station at a fixed location to change from a base station to a control station strictly based on usage, and back again on the next transmission? So could that same station at a fixed location become a Fixed Station on the next transmission?

Nope. Come now Steve, I'm sure you've read at least one or two of the other six 1/2 threads! Part 95A (which applies to all other parts of 95, including 95E) makes a distinction based on usage, not equipment. Why? I'm not an FCC lawyer, so I don't know. Base station. A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. Control station. A station at a fixed location that communicates with mobile stations and other control stations through repeater stations, and may also be used to control the operation of repeater stations.

How does a base station using a “wide coverage repeater” exceed the range of a mobile radio or even a handheld radio using the same repeater?

The explanation was in their reply: to extend the range of mobile and handheld portable stations. What is happening now with base stations using wide coverage repeaters makes FCC's position make sense. But then we're back to the old problem of lack of enforcement. only direct to another fixed station, not through a repeater Yet you feel the need to jump in and try to have the last word. If you think you're right, take your interpretation to the FCC and see if they agree. Otherwise, opinions are worthless.

Welcome to the forum, Pedro. There is a wealth of knowledge on this online community/forum with lots of folks willing to share and help. Ask questions and have fun!

Welcome to the forum, Nate! And welcome to GMRS radio. Are there other things you should know before using it? Probably not. Just have fun and be polite and everything will be fine.

Welcome, Nate! If I were you I would find some Notarubicon videos that address your interests. He has them on many different topics that relate to GMRS. Of course the regulations specific to GMRS are here: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E

Welcome!! Have a couple of those 15-pros arriving tomorrow Love Puerto Rico

Welcome. You are in the right place. There is a ton of information and very helpful people here, so I recommend you join and look around. First thing? Turn it on and hit the scan button. You may hear someone. If you do, push the PTT button and say hi.

Welcome! Feel free to register here now that you are licensed

Oh it’s the official CPS software Thank you

Isn’t every radio a Control Station then? And I absolutely agree that I don’t think it makes sense to exclude base stations.

https://baofengtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/F8HP-125m-release.zip