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Are you familiar with either Hytera or Harris CPS? I'm refereeing to the layout and flow of Baofeng CPS being very very similar. The menu tree, function settings, Zones, Talk Groups, Digital Contact etc. is very similar to Hytera or Harris, even the radio settings. It's a very simple layout, I would suggest downloading the free Baofeng DMR CPS and give it a whirl in programming. If you need help, i'm happy to assist.

The antenna mount doesn't look right. Those teeth should be smack into the steel bracket. Can you get a better picture of your mount assembly ?

Sorta yes. In a P25 MSI system you would have 1 control channel that is alwasy control. Then the remainder of the system is available for voice traffic. However depending on the system channel capacity this gets challenging. For a 6 channel TLMR system you could have 3 channels set for control channels, 1 channel for BSI witch leaves 2 that are first used for voice or data calls. In reality you have 5 channels for use but it is managed to use certain channels before others. Now DMR is different but most P25 stuff is similar.

So frequency hopping to boot?

No, Heliax isn't very flexible. It's intended for fixed antenna connections. You could do two runs, one outside. one inside./

That's correct. Trunked systems pick an unused channel for each transmission. A conversation can have multiple transmissions. l

Just curious at what they are. I've been using my radio to listen to the local police, fire and EMS frequencies that I've gotten off the interwebby and just recently they put in a new police station and the calls on the radio have decreased. I see most the other towns are using a trunked system. Not sure if I understand what it is. Is it where they have a pool of frequencies and when there is a communication need the trunked system picks out a frequency for the system to use that isn't currently busy? If they had 10 different frequencies usually lets say the first 3 are normally used but when they are in use the system will send it out on an unused frequency? I'm sure the receiving radios are setup to receive the communication from whatever frequency likely designated by some tone or digital system. So if I wanted to listen and get all of the communications do I have to find out what all the trunked frequencies are and then scan all of them? Or is this just way off base?

Is 1/2" Heliax very flexible? I'm considering putting an antenna on the roof, but may need to move it inside for the weekly hurricane, so it will get moved around.

Just curious: what specific Hytera and Harris CPS programming features improve Baofeng DMR programming?

Times MW LMR400, or better yet 1/2" Heliax. If you are just doing 50' then the LMR should suffice. Eventually I'll have a 100' run and use the Heliax.

I've been assured that 200 miles is easily achievable.

Thanks guys. I will order the one LeoG posted.

I think you spelled "Part 95" wrong. Part 90 rules do NOT apply to GMRS, any more than Part 97 rules do (or vice-versa). Part 95 has its own definition section (95.303) where we find: 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. Mobile station. A station, intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified locations, that communicates directly with base stations and other mobile stations, and with control stations and other mobile stations through repeater stations. So as defined by Part 95 (which covers GMRS), if you have a radio at home connected to a power supply and antenna on your roof and are talking simplex to either a mobile (which includes HT) radio or to another 'fixed' installation, that's considered a base station. If you are using that same radio to talk through a repeater, that's a control station. The fact that some think those definitions are "dumb", or don't make sense is not relevant, nor is what Part 90 might say since Part 90 doesn't apply to GMRS. Not sure how this relates to the horrible suffering of those who must bear the burden of hearing people use their callsigns, but whatever.

Get some coax by known vendors. Time-Microwave, Belden, and some even sell their own from various radio stores. Get a minimum of 1/2.

It might be true but none of it really means much. I wouldn’t use it. Edited: I searched for 50-3 cable and found one on Amazon that appears to be the same cable. The part you neglected to copy and paste is the cable designation: RG-58. 15 meters of that on GMRS is worse than worthless. It basically converts your RF into heat. As Leo said, buy good quality cable from a place that sells radios. Order the necessary length fully made from DX Engineering or some other radio dealer and don’t buy cheap.

The 50-3 Pure Copper Coaxial Extender Cable says it's " It is extendable that boosts the signal of your repeater significantly Super Gainer Low Loss Coaxial Cable Suitable for Retevis RT97 repeater Material: pure copper Impedance: 50Ω Return loss: VHF≥20dB UHF≥15dB Connector plug: SL16 Cable diameter: 5mm / 0.2inch Cable Length: 15 meter Weight: 660g" So Is this good or true? Or should I go and spend more cash and get the Browning BR-400 Low Loss RF Coax Cable?

don't know, but a good way to check into that would be via the groups on this site.. I believe the last i check it did see some Atlanta groups over there.. Ha ha. I almost ardently typed Antifa Groups.. Just kidding

I'm new to the community and wanted to know are there any active groups meeting in person to teach radio operation?

47 CFR 90.7 Base station. A station at a specified site authorized to communicate with mobile stations. Mobile relay station. A base station in the mobile service authorized to retransmit automatically on a mobile service frequency communications which originate on the transmitting frequency of the mobile station. Mobile repeater station. A mobile station authorized to retransmit automatically on a mobile service frequency, communications to or from hand-carried transmitters. Mobile service. A service of radiocommunication between mobile and base stations, or between mobile stations. Mobile station. A station in the mobile service intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified points. This includes hand carried transmitters. And yes, GMRS is covered by this section of the rules. Home based stations are not licensed to operate from their home location only.

Nothing to one it may be but to others not so. And I don't want to confuse you with more facts about what's nothing to you, but fixed isn't part of the equation because that type isn't in the allowed list either.

Arguing about nothing. Only when you get into the big stuff does it really matter other than on paper. The eff sea seas doesn't give one crap about your little 50 watt station if it's classified as a base or a fixed. Because it depends on who you are communicating with and next thing you know you are classified from a fixed station to a base station. Semantics.

If the stations at those said fixed sites are communicating (transmitting) directly to another station, such as a mobile and base stations that is only receiving receiving that transmission, and not automatically repeating/rebroadcasting/relaying that transmission, then the transmitting radio station is a base station classed station. If people are calling it a control station, what is that transmitting station controlling when the receiving stations are just receiving? Also, when a base station transmitter and receiver that only does one function (transmit or receives) at a time and not function as a receiver and transmitter simultaneously by one transmission at the same time at that fixed location by a dispatch facility such as a Police or Fire Station or a non-public safety entity such as a Taxi or Tow Truck Company, etc., that transmitter/receiver device is classed as a Remote Base Station because it communicates directly to either mobile or other base stations without communication through a classed repeater/mobile relay station, by that subject dispatch facility, that Dispatch Facility will be classed as a Control Point for operating that remote base station, when that dispatch facility is operating that remote station with a dispatch console by way of a media circuit type, such as a cable, wireline telco circuit, or an operational fixed classed station such as a 70 MHz, 150 MHz, 450 MHz, or Microwave systems. I retired as a person in command, with a staff of 60+ employees of the one largest statewide mobile radio systems (3,000 vehicles, 10,000 mobiles and portables, 300+ remote sites 26 Dispatch Centers, 75 operational channels) and I was on the board with one APCO Chapter and two separate Chapter Frequency Coordination and NPSPAC Committees with over 36 years of total service and 5 years as a part-time employee for a small city is essentially performing the duties. So, I think I am very aware how stations are classed since I was responsible for a variety of various types of stations.

Well, you were doing good until you got to that last paragraph. That is stated exactly nowhere. You and all the other radio experts need to back up your control station when using a repeater interpretation with a clarification from FCC because that is all that counts.

I have a similar problem, I have two Baofeng UV5R8W, and two of the Baofeng actual GMRS units. Just using the radios, not the CHIRP software, I have tried configuring for repeaters while camping at various places. After putting in the correct info, including an offset of 5,(and direction also) then backing out, when i try it, no contact, and no "kerchunk". go back into the menu settings, and #26, the offset, is back to zero. I know that after I enter the offset I have been pressing menu again, and gotten the "saved" acknowledgment. Happens on both models. Is there another step for saving that I'm missing?

Per Subpart A Rule 95.303, a base station is defined as: Base station. A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. The FCC defines the station class by how the radio device is configured and functions and not by the type of the radio device being used. If the transmitter is connected to a fixed antenna at a fixed location and communicates with other base stations or mobile stations, it is a base station. It doesn't make a difference if a portable handheld or mobile radio device is being used if it is connected to a fixed antenna at a fixed location, it is a base station operation when it is communicating with other base or mobile stations directly and not through a repeater/mobile relay station If a base station communicates to other base stations and/or mobile stations through a repeater/mobile relay station, then the base station is controlling said repeater thus is now a control station.