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Something like this. It's on the cheap, but not $12 cheap. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/browning-br-400-assembly.html

Below is what I wrote up for myself on how to program a repeater into the radio manually. Hand Program a Repeater: Switch to VFO and enter 462.550, Menu 11 is RX CTCSS 141.3hz, Menu 13 is Tx CTCSS 110.9 hz, Menu 23 is Offset Direction +, Menu 24 is Offset 5.0000, Menu 25 Memory. Then switch back to Channel mode and go to you new saved channel. Good luck!

Does anyone have any experience with these repeaters? I have four of them and have been able to program all but my latest one purchased and cant get much help from china. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Absolutely not. First, you need a 50 ohm cable. Second, you need to keep the run as short as possible. If you can use 10 feet, use 10 feet. It should be something like LMR400 or better or even hardline. I recommend not ordering from Amazon. They’re not experts. They’ll just sell you anything. Instead use one of the professional radio companies or ham radio dealers.

Is this what I should get? https://www.amazon.com/GE-Connectors-Shielded-Satellite-33532/dp/B002HESF4K/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SKR40BO43toCi49IrfFHmnKw_ToZpKdgIhoN3crulNHrYZinkZb0c_n6hlU2do387MmhXn8moGyGhFTGJFA55vCd0p5p08MY4g5eVqKZUe8pqI7a5ZQSHPj6zJPtwTZhS7sdsXs5rmUzuPAf7OAhMu-kgh6ppXYUHBc_YkMnqjazgFMo1t_tZpxTsEllKCMwvWGrpkcOFSGBw3dmjAqX6URcM2uvTh2sY-hT2x4h-ew.erBz2-Dr6TvolceVYuFdgITlv5ru3Ork8mhub_DRP90&dib_tag=se&keywords=Coaxial%2BCable%2BRG6&qid=1752618223&sr=8-1&th=1

That's why I made my comment about people needing to eat a Snickers Bar as they seem to be very hangry over stuff that doe not matter. In the end it doesn't really matter how you use GMRS as long as you follow the FCC regulations and guidelines. Same goes for amateur radio too.

Or you try it both ways. You’ll see hams rotating Yagi antennas to determine the antenna orientation for the signal they’re chasing (mostly VHF and UHF).

Just learned something. But the only way you could ensure both antennas were horizontal would be if the vehicles were some how "related". Like from the same company or agency.

Kinda what they/we do in the military to some extent at small unit level.

I have been in GMRS for about a year now and have had fun with it. I recently got a HAM license. I'm not sure what to call myself... GMAM - (Gee Ma'am) SPAM - Not completely HAM but there is some in there 'GMRS HAM - (Gee Mrs. Ham) - O.G. GMRS and HAM Radio Dork - self evident HARS I think I will settle with John. Kinda smooth, flows...Yeah that's it, John.

If the radio you are trying to talk to has its antenna mounted sideways (horizontally polarized) you’ll get better results by mounting your antenna the same way, unless the signal is bouncing off something which also can change polarity.

The H3s are know to come in (new) as transmit defective. If you have a second one try that one. It will actually transmit a good couple hundred yards even though it's power output is very low, no where near the claimed 5 watts. Maybe reverse the tones and try that. You might be confused as to which is which. It gets me every once in a while when they use encode and decode instead of tx and rx. And definitely what SteveShannon said.

I ordered a couple M-5R Baofeng Radios for work(wanted something smaller than the TalkPod A36 I'm currently using)and I did open a blank .csv file and did an input from a UV-5R program I had saved then added Air Bands to it and saved it off with no issues at all. That way I'll have the code plug ready when the radios get here tomorrow. I've also ordered 2 more AR-5RM's during Prime Day($33 bucks plus shipping, can't beat that deal) and set them up to scan Air Bands. I also ordered a couple 120MHz-300MHz antennas for them so they should work better picking up Air Bands AND with MURS with would be my "Go To" if I'm out and about since the VHF Freq. will theoretically travel further and I'm also being a "Bad Boy" and running them on High Power since no one really uses MURS anyway. LOL. All in all once you figure out a couple of the quirks that these radios have I still think they're one of the best "Bang for the Buck" deals you can get.

My ignorance is showing but I have seen antennas mounter horizontally. Why?

I don't want to put holes in the roof of my pickup. I found a bracket they attached to the rear of my bed. I posted a video of it another fellow did earlier. It works great. I do have a metal bedcover and I think that helps. I have used both the Midland MTX26 and a ghost antenna. Interestingly, the ghost antenna might be slightly better.

That is correct. There are several other threads that started with someone pontificating about how others use GMRS incorrectly. None of them settled anything. This is one place where GMRS is similar to ham radio; someone thinks their way is “the only right way” even though the regulations don’t support that.

Well, we have a procedure here in the good old US of A. You follow the rules until you change the rules. Our problem is too many folks are too lazy to do the work to change the rules. Scofflaws always have excuses for their illegal behavior, in the same way illegal aliens do.

Make more. It's not going to end soon.

The MA09 antenna isn't all that bad. I found that mine wasn't really omni directional. We had a wind event and it bent the flimsy bracket I was using. When I used it while it was at a 15º tilt it was working better than it had in a while. I replaced the bracket and all of a sudden my signal went to crap again now that my antenna was vertical again. I had oriented it in the exact same direction because I have a cell phone booster antenna and I keep it pointed at the cell tower on the mast. I got this crazy idea and I rotated the antenna about 10º and reoriented the cell phone antenna and my GMRS signal got substantially better (from my house). Found that really odd that it made that much of a difference. Must have moved one of the lobes and now it's pointed at my house.

I'm sure glad I made popcorn for this.

We can break your bank guessing at what the problem might be. My feeling is that your antenna probably isn’t higher than the surrounding terrain and trees. Getting it higher can help but UHF does poorly in vegetation. Poor cable contributes by attenuating the signals in both directions, but antenna gain and visibility is by far the most important factor.

Ya, I didn't even use the cable after I saw what it was. I have the RT97S which is only 6.7 watt out of the socket and I think I had right around 2 watts at the end of the cable. Pretty pathetic.

Correct I got it as a package deal with the antenna, mic & cable. I can get about 1 1/2 miles west of me though the old oak woods & about 3 miles east though the pastures. So you guys think I need a better cable.? My antenna is a MA09 High Gain 462~467MHz GMRS Omni-Directional Base Antenna 4.5/7.2 dBi High Gain Fiberglass Antenna 5.75’ Thanks Sig

That’s correct. But RG-59 has been replaced by RG6. Sell it to someone for use on HF or lower. It’s just not suitable for VHF or UHF.

I’m just providing real life results in my situation and it was the same time of day. But, yes, two different radios. I’m trying to get a better picture of what and where different variables come into play in my area. I was able to use the MP-31 from this same street in the winter with less dense foliage.