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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 ...

This thread is for buy,sell or trade items mentioned on the Friday night net.

Just add him to your ignore list. He’s not worth getting worked up about.

YOU are SUCH a DICK !! Just because you Don't own it, Doesn't mean nobody else can't like it !!! KEEPING Your mouth Shut would be the Best service you could provide !!

What are we needing to scan? It’s 22 channels and repeaters. Here is gmrs, You go out in a group. You all agree on a channel or a repeater or maybe both. Maybe even more then one repeater and a couple simplex channels. You do the activity. When you’re done you turn off your radio. What are we scanning? How many strange men do you really need to talk to in a day? If you scan 15-22 with no tones you just scanned every repeater in range. It takes a radio 3 seconds to scan that or less really. How many banks and repeaters does one person need to scan? I’m one of the few that uses gmrs radios every single day 365 days a year for 10-12 hours or more a day, for many reasons both work play and emergencies. I even use them in other states and I’ve never needed to scan multiple groups. Again it’s 22 channels.

Pick up a used Xpr 6550 for $125-200 bucks and assign what you need to zones, and just turn on/off your zones from the front panel.

I thought Everyone had a IMEI Catcher these days ?

As I see it, the biggest advantage to a repeater in your situation would be so anyone with a GMRS license could get out a message to everyone whether GMRS or FRS due to the repeater's power and (hopefully) elevation. As I commented in my previous post, you could accomplish the same thing with a good base unit, but it would have to be monitored, and you might have to relay something from a lower-powered unit. GMRS is not intended for "broadcasting", but as I read the rules, transmitting a warning message (i.e; "The NWS has issued a tornado warning for our area." or "There's a fire southwest of us moving our way.") would be perfectly permissible.

That's probably true, but I think I'd install a base unit with an antenna as high as I could get it. There may be some fringe areas where users can communicate with the base but can't necessarily reach all the other people in the neighborhood. For general announcements, it would be nice to have a unit that you know can reach everyone.

There shouldn't be any in the firmware. I hate release notes that say "here's 2 new features and we fixed some other stuff". If you look at the V33 release notes, it covers everything, including stuff most users will never see (like fixing the diagnostic screen you get if you hold "8" while powering-on). There are some manufacturing keypress combos, and I know some, but not all of them (and can't tell). In the CPS, what you see is what's there. The only "secret" (which I've previously mentioned) is that 1.2.5m will eventually (1-2 months after the BTECH release) become available in my "Modified UV-17 Pro GPS (and similar models)" CPS, and will include BF-F8HP Pro support along with all of the other models. It won't have the BTECH branding or the BTECH-exclusive features like the firmware update utility. The most recent UV-17/"Generic" release was 1.2.5k (1.25l was for the BF-F8HP Pro only) and you can get it here.

Thank you! Duration of scan in progress is perfect! Thank you for the details. Even if no future access/change, that info better helps me understand what's going on "behind the scenes". Yep... currently doing things that way and I don't mind. But probably appears overcomplicated to Baofeng newcomers.

How many "undocumented" features will be in it?

Be a gas to ragchew with U OM! I did some of the WPX last weekend. I know I'll never have a massive score, but mine do help the Club which consistently does very well in most. During the CQWW DX this last time, got to hear one of the premier contest station's operators say "shit, shit, shit..." on the air when his logging software took a dump on him mid pileup. I contest to help the club score big, work that rare DX, aometimes just to operate a mode I don't normally get a chance to. RTTY for one as it's been a favorite since my Army days, but no one wants to QSO on rtty anymore it seems!

Look at the Kenwood TK-3170, but only 128 channels and 128 zones. It also has Part 95 certification. I carry one of these around for UHF Ham and GMRS. It uses the typical K1 type plug, like most or the Chinese radios use, for programming and speaker mic accessories. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/?context=new

Since you're talking about receiving and not transmitting (the BF-F8HP Pro is not type approved for Tx on GMRS - it's an amateur licensed hand-held)... Wait for the next release of the BF-F8HP Pro firmware. I can't say when it will happen, other than "probably this month". Then look on the BTECH web site for highlights in the new firmware, or download the "Firmware update bundle" which has the firmware, quick installation instructions, and a detailed list of changes in each firmware version.

I'm glad you found it informative/helpful. I think I'm likely the only programming software author on here, except perhaps the CHIRP folks. I can't tell you what will be in future firmware, sometimes because I have beta firmware but am under a non-disclosure agreement or because I don't have a specific firmware yet and sometimes there are surprises. I'm a contractor to BTECH for the CPS, firmware features/testing, and reviewing ad copy among a few other things, not an employee, so there can be ideas floated within BTECH that I only hear about when I see new firmware with them. With that out of the way, I can say that you will get one of the things you asked for in the next public firmware release. To address some of your other points: 1) I'll add it to the feature request list. For technical reasons, it will likely only be for the duration of the scan in progress, not until the next power cycle. 2) Answered above. 3&4) There are 10 levels in the radio. The radio just offers "every other one" because there isn't much difference between steps. The VHF table is currently 0, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32. These can be adjusted, but they live in the "calibration area" and we'd rather not access that with the CPS. There's too much other stuff nearby that the CPS would have to re-write that is radio-specific as tuned by the factory. Don't hold your breath, but some sort of unsupported utility might eventually appear. 5) This is very unlikely to appear in the CPS. However, you can write a radio with CHIRP and read it back with the CPS, or vice versa. So pick which one does a particular job best. CHIRP manages the regular settings for a huge number of radio models, while the CPS is specific to the BF-F8HP Pro and supports all of the other radio features - startup picture, voices, firmware updates, and so on.