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I do it all the time.

And secret upvotes as well.

I believe that would not be permitted by the FCC’s interpretation of the regulations.

It was not obvious because my statement is factually correct and yours is, at best, irrelevant! Your making a statement about “features” of the DB20-G in Chirp that you admit you have not even tested! But whether it works or not in Chirp, transmission on Channels 8-14 has been available on the DB20-G since Day One! No need for testing in Chirp!

A 10 amp cigarette lighter/accessory port definitely will not be enough to power a 50 watt radio when transmitting on high power. I would not try to use the accessory port on any type of portable power station. Like a few of us have already stated, get a LIFEPo4 battery and wire the radio to it.

And secret downvoting is better?

The part I quoted. (that should have been obvious)

That’s really an expensive, inefficient, and possibly inadequate solution. First, it’s fuse limited to 10 amps DC at 12 volts, so it possibly won’t work for some 50 watt radios. Of course you could use it to power your radio by plugging a switch mode power supply into the AC outlet but then you’re accepting the inefficiency of the inverter to produce 120 volts AC and also the inefficiency of the switch mode power supply. So you lose several percent of the energy in the battery. Just get a decent LiFePo4 battery and put it in a plastic ammo box. Or buy a ready made one that isn’t designed around a 10 amp fuse.

Because that might lead to jealousy, anger, rage or violence ....

It is not clear to me what point of mine you are disagreeing with here. I have previously linked to a “GMRS” codeplug for DB20-G use consistent with Part 95E rules after “opening” the DB20-G. Transmission on Channels 8-14 on a mini-mobile is NOT consistent with Part 95E.

Hey, so My friends and I are building out a Meshtastic network with a bunch of cheap nodes built out of LoRa dev boards, solar panels, 18650 batteries, and Walmart plastic boxes. They don't have the best antennae or the best chips, but you can build them for about $20 each, and scatter them *everywhere* (with permission, of course). I had a thought about using this mesh, or one like it, to link GMRS repeaters to get around the hills and mountains we deal with here. The data rates theoretically top out at about 5kbps, but that should be fine for raggedy old HT voice communications, and data is, well, data... Anyone given any thought (or practice) to building a LoRa/GMRS modem?

Why do we not get notification, or a way to view, who up/down votes our posts in Tech Discussion?

the best thing you are going to find to power a 50W mobile is a 12V Power Stations, something like a Jackery. https://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Portable-Explorer-Generator-Optional/dp/B082TMBYR6/ref=asc_df_B082TMBYR6?mcid=7f28bbf116d332b5a61334e5c66268fe&hvocijid=2180212101588683819-B082TMBYR6-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2180212101588683819&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031792&hvtargid=pla-2281435179778&th=1

No it ain't! (if it works) You can keep all your other GMRS channels and (maybe) use those for something else, including the standard GMRS channels.

If you are transmitting at 50 watts, a regular brick (ca 10 Amp-Hours) may not remotely give you the 60-some watts it takes to transmit. And even if it could, and you assume a perfect system (spherical radios in a frictionless vacuum, perfect connections, perfect antenna, etc.), you'll be able to transmit for less than an hour, and you can only do it once, because running completely flat might not entirely kill a lithium battery, but it will drastically decrease its capacity (You'll likely have effectively destroyed the batteries by the second time). Just get a low-end power station that's intended to support residential use. You can get little (100ish watt) ones for less than $200, and they have AC outlets, and both usb and lighter-12-volt ports. For the best efficiency, make your own 12 volt plug, because that usually has the least voltage conversions being done, so you get more time on your bank, and most "mobiles" run on 12v. Plus, if you run out of juice, you can charge it in your car during a beer-run! Of course, if you only have to walk it a little way, you *could* just buy a Marine battery, and wire directly to it. Cheap ones can manage 80-90 Amp Hours (from which you can probably use 50-60 Amp hours without killing it), and there are thousands of charging options...

Chirp has been instrumental in helping “unlock” certain GMRS radios that come from the factory locked down to satisfy FCC requirements. The Baofeng UV-5X(G) comes to mind. Since the DB20-G has an easy procedure from day one to “open” it using its keypad, using Chirp to enable transmission on Channels 8-14 is superfluous.

Great Question.

@OffRoaderX WOW! I'm a big fan of the channel!

Base station 50w radios are mobile radios that aren't installed in a vehicle -- usually installed in a home or some other place that doesn't drive around. To run a 50w radio you need a 13.8v (approximately) DC power supply of some sort. One option is a 110v to 13.8v DC switching power supply. You would want one that provides no less than 20A continuous. That provides some level of overhead capacity. But most people buy a 30A unit for $85-$200 depending on the model. Another option is a portable car starter. Connect the alligator clips to the power lead of your radio. Assure that they are insulated from each other to avoid a very unfun experience. I used to have a portable lead acid battery powered starter that had two 9AH fire alarm (or lawn mower) type batteries in it. And it worked just fine, but when the batteries eventually grew old it was not designed for easy replacement. Nevertheless, it lasted 15 years. And another option is to build something with a lawn mower style battery or lithium battery, and an inexpensive charger. The charger would be an automotive style, and must be appropriate for the battery chemistry you choose. And a last option is to simply wire it to your car's battery or your RV's battery, if by "base station" you just mean something you can take with you and set up somewhere, so long as that somewhere is near your vehicle or RV. Powering off of USB-C is probably unrealistic for a 50w radio.

Thank you all for the assist. I appreciate all the feedback.

No mobile radios will have a built in battery. Your best bet is a separate 12v LifePo 4 battery. You will need a way to charge the battery if used for extended periods. There are a lot of solar options.

Good luck on finding one with a Type C - you won't. The best option is for an adapter from the battery to the radio's Tee connector. This will connect to a LiFePO4 15AH battery and the radio. Should be good for a couple days use without heavy sending. FM Mobile "T-style" Power Cable with Powerpoles

Here's another option: https://www.amazon.com/SUPON-Stainless-Cushioned-Universal-Photography/dp/B08RDQMHMK/ref=sr_1_20?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7F0MoaqS1hOXuseoMg5yEjYpp_O-zMI5uiSuOpv_Fuk2OfTdof57AzGC2DiJN2Ps9tYlipokl8qTVyhO2GAXghhtsG07MAx29IdW_9oXP289HV-XBsLZZ3bcP5q779s1U3ql4RT8k1qVGGvMOYXnlcy7YSMBnpRadQZCGNGJDt44ZxiEjWfclO4NgkyvRZomTc2pwLghdBkTluuXs2JsIqZ4ghtBk8Z-DAlrjvTstFqtTqoeWWkLwJUBzc_J28W99A5RiyQuPoFS082QeKHlDsq0nXRMXyg6PH7XJj0ewjY.AvkF1II5IvOKkPeMniBdCh2UnX9ERVlRYHFX1jRFq5U&dib_tag=se&qid=1749492042&sr=8-20&srs=18203216011

You're welcome.

Looking for a base station 50w that can be charged using usb-c. Looking to have a 50 watt radio I can toss into my duffel bag and bring to camp. There is no power at camp, so hoping I can charge it off a power brick with usb-c. Appreciate any feedback, thank you.