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Are you sure you were listening on GMRS frequencies? Could the radio have been set to pick up 70cm amateur? It's a lot more common to find repeater networks in the amateur bands. It still happens in GMRS despite the FCC clarification. But if you were picking up 70cm amateur it would be less surprising.

In medicine, we use the term "necessary but not sufficient" to mean a finding has to be present in order to make a diagnosis, but by itself, it's not enough. I think of an acceptable SWR as necessary but not sufficient to a good antenna. (I'm not going to get into what SWR level is "acceptable"; that's a whole conversation by itself.) The antenna may have very good SWRs but it's just kinda crappy at transmitting. What you know from the SWR is that the antenna isn't likely to damage your radio, but it doesn't prove you can get a good signal out. A higher-gain antenna will typically be resonant on fewer frequencies than a low-gain or no-gain antenna. I have 3 antennas with similar SWR readings to yours (except for marine -- I haven't tested for that), but they're all about 18" high and provide essentially no gain. For my purposes, that doesn't matter because I use them for repeaters in the local area. You may find that your antenna is just fine for your local area but doesn't provide enough punch for the distances you want to use it for. There may be some instrument for testing that, but the easiest way to find out is to use it and see what you get.

Maybe for Part 95, but I doubt it for Part 97. I'm waiting to see if the FCC might move to allowing digital voice on GMRS. Yeah, some hate the idea, but it happening now more or less unofficially. If the practice becomes more wide spread the FCC will do another FRS thing where FRS users failed to get GMRS licenses when using those combo radios sold at the time. They'll just throw in the towel and make it official, with some level of regulation, so they won't have to deal with the enforcement issue.

We can agree to agree on this one. Even my wife prefers my .45 to a 9 or a .380. (note - own all 3) She comes from a family of Moose hunters so very proficient with small arms.

^^^ This! Exactly this! There is nothing in the rules that explains 'why' the rule is what it is. There are several conflicting parts and sub-parts, that I have pointed out in the past, that support that 'linking' as a whole is not prohibited. Only a specific method is prohibited. Whatever is not expressly prohibited is allowed. The truth is, I may retire this year. If I do, my time would be freed up enough to stand-up a linked repeater network and then wait to see if the FCC is up to a lively debate in Federal court. I don't know if I will, but the opportunity would exist and lately I am feeling kinda spicy about government overreach. Don't get me wrong. I have no personal animosity toward anyone in the FCC for simply trying to do their job and I have no intent on purposefully and intentionally violating any federal laws or rules... but we need a court case to settle the debate. All I have seen from everyone, including the FCC staff, is conjecture and opinion based on something that is NOT written, implicitly nor implied.

I would bet linked repeaters considering you are listening on HT's. Lot's of them around

Maybe. Some repeaters have been linked, so it’s possible that’s what you’re hearing, but it’s also possible that you’re receiving them directly via a phenomena called tropospheric ducting, which can cause UHF signals to travel farther than normal distances.

Although I am not a fan of linking, what you quoted is not the written rule. That’s the FCC interpretation of the written rules. It does reference the actual rules it interprets (95.1733 and 95.1749) however.

AS long as you are following the guidelines, then GMRS is for what ever you want to use it for. There is no right or wrong way to use GMRS as long as the rules/guidelines re followed.

The internet has loads of strangers you can chat with. But what do you do with people you already know while doing an activity. Thats what gmrs is for. Anything else just goobers up the limited frequencies for people that actually use it correctly

skip is running awful good today, You made the trip all the way to Calif... Welcome to GMRS - Enjoy

Hi there, WSET706 here in McKinney, I'd love to know if there are any people in the area that meet up on a channel to chat Thanks, Rob

It is inevitable that narrowband emissions will be mandatory for Parts 95 and 97 freqs. It is not if it is when. It happened to Part 90 freqs with very minimal complaints. The complaint of the audio not sounding like stereophonic quality audio is not a valid complaint if you still can clearly hear the audio, which you can.

Thanks for all the kind words and info from everyone. I have been having a lot of fun since getting my Tech and then General license. Lots of great contacts on 10M, 12M, and 20M. My farthest contact was about 6500 miles to southern Africa (Namibia). Amazing what you can do with 20 watts and a dipole antenna (at 30 ft elevation) when the ionosphere cooperates. Last weekend was a bit frustrating, but I was playing with an Inverted-Vee 10M/12M at about 15 ft. I am going to make it a 10M/12M/15M/17M and then get it up to 30 ft.

Glad to hear you got it fixed up. The wideband entitlement issue is troublesome, as Motorola is no longer supporting older 'legacy' software, and the EID's only work on the newest, current software. Otherwise, you are left with trying to hex edit the software & bypass the built in checks that forced narrowband in the newer software versions. As you discovered, R05.16 was the last legit version that allowed CP200's to be programmed wideband with 25kHz.

Thats due to the fact to part 90 FCC certification the radio can't have the ability to do that. Many of us that use LMR gear utilize a MPL configuration (PL/DPL List) that is selectable. My work radios have FPP for conventional stuff but thats ordered with appropriate documentaiton. On the hobby side all my midlands allow me to pick what tone I may need when I want from the head or panel. 99% of the GMRS users dont ever change stuff so once you set it you dont change it again. I dont think ive touched my parents radios since they were installed. All depends on use case.

I'm talking about any radio. I still hear lots of guys tell me they need to hook up to their computer to put in new tones. Lots of older Motorola radios still out there.

Written Rules Look Self Explanatory To Me. " In other words, repeaters may not be linked via the internet—an example of an “other network” in the rules—to extend the range of the communications across a large geographic area. Linking multiple repeaters to enable a repeater outside the communications range of the handheld or mobile device to retransmit messages violates sections 95.1733(a)(8) and 95.1749 of the Commission’s rules, and potentially other rules in 47 C.F.R." https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

That would be correct. The repeater listens on 467.x (RX) and outputs (transmits) on 462.x (TX). It would be wrong if it was the other way around.

It can be programmed EITHER WAY, using the app or thru the mic didplay is what I remember "The Queen" said....

The program software is installed the only thing I think is wrong with it it shows 467. as RX & 462. as TX. I Don't know why it is the RT97L. I was told to run the Driver software first but could not get it to run. The Repeater should be hear Thursday. Thanks for the help guys.

Thanks, I have gotten the cables and the software for the radios, and have had some success programming them. I have 2 CP200's and one CP200d. The CP200d is fully programmed, with no issues. I had to use CPS 2.0, and get a wideband entitlement, no problems there. The CP200's are programmed, and are functioning, but only on narrowband. When I try to change the bandwidth to 20kHz, I have problems. First it tells me that I need to get the 20/25kHz entitlement key. I have one, and it worked for the CP200d, so I go to the 'register application features' option, and put in the key. Then it tells me that it can't reach the license server. I'm not sure what the issue is. This is using CPS_NA_R05.18. The computer can connect to the internet with no issues. Any ideas on what I need to do to get the wideband entitlement validated? EDIT: AAANNNDDD.... Got it! I finally found a copy of CPS_NA_R05.16 and was able to program these with wideband. Yay!

In this day in age I can't imagine a radio that can only be programmed by an outside source. Being able to input tones and such through the radio directly is a must in my book.

And the switch network use to mean mechanical telephone service. Then it meant electronic telephone service, now it can mean both of those and internet. I'm pretty sure they could reclassify it because that's what they do.

I liked the Midland 575 just fine, but wanted the ability to enter frequencies & codes more directly. Another wish was user configurable channels, so I could store all my frequently used repeaters. A louder speaker, preferably on the mic, was my last want. If I followed Randy’s video, it sounds like this new BTech is loud, so that’s good. The ability to enter frequencies & tones from an app, then do a back up of the date, is also a plus. It appears to have the channel capacity. I don’t need another radio, but will likely try this new one.