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You can buy really nice used scopes at Ham swaps for good prices. I've seen plenty of dual channel 100MHz Techtronic scopes for sale for $100 to $200. In fact good used test gear is one of the things I always look out for. For a hobbyist it a great way to build up a test bench for a few $100's to a $1000 depending on what you want. You can easily end up with gear that would have cost several $10K's if purchased new at the time. At a minimum I would recommend a couple of variable DC power supplies (0 to 30 VDC at 1 to 2 amps), function generator (good to 5MHz), dual channel scope (50 MHz to 100 MHz) and a good bench top 4.5 digit multi-meter. After that you can look for more specialized gear like RF power meters, frequency counters, LCR meters, electronic loads, service monitors etc. depending on one's area of interest. Most of my more specialized stuff is stored away unless I'm using it. I have a dual channel HP frequency counter I have to do some work on (replace a noisy fan and install the optional 4GHz prescaler.) GPS disciplined 10MHz frequency standard, a used Rubidium atomic frequency standard, 200 MHz quad channel scope, 6.5 digit bench multi-meter, 20 MHz dual channel arbitrary digital waveform generator, 200 watt electronic load ...

Found some!

did you try and leave it plugged in so it can retry a few times? I've read the online firmware upgrade can fail a few times before it succeeds.

The service is primarily designed for that use, but you are not restricted to that. It is a "General Mobile" service so the only limit is your imagination. You can use it for business as long as everyone is licensed. You can use it as part of a neighborhood comm backup in the case of an emergency. My HOA, for example just announced that channel 15 would be used if all else fails (seriously considering a repeater). Don't forget that it shares channels with FRS radios, so in a close group you can connect to a number of unlicensed knuckleheads. Welcome to GMRS!

Gee, I wonder just how much deeper this rabbit hole is going to get?

Aluminum is a very good conductor and makes a fine ground plane. It requires additional work beyond a mag mount though. Either attach a piece of ferrous metal for the magnet to hold or drill a hole and installing a permanent NMO mount. That’s the hardest part. Otherwise just put a repeater in one of the cabinets and run coax to the antenna mount. To power the repeater you will probably want a battery which is charged whenever you have shore power or while attached to the tow vehicle. Time to shop!!

go to the repeater section of this website and scan or look for repeaters in your area. The search tool or the map is a good start to locate local repeaters for your area. Once you find a repeater you like you can message the owner through the repeater tools and ask them for permission to join their repeater.. If the repeater is listed as 'Open then its a good chance the owner(s) allows use. Just follow rules..

How about an aluminum Airstream? Does Al make for a good ground plane, or does the ground plane need to be ferrous? We have an old Airstream. It's the smallest one they ever made; as a matter of fact, the Airstream cult have nickname it the "Toaster." I have given some thought to putting my mobile in it with a mag mount on top when stopped, but the idea of a repeater is very appealing. Should work when moving. I guess that would make it a mobile repeater. I'm game Steve! You're first in line to tell me how to do it.

Now if you wanted to put a repeater in that trailer we’d line up to engineer the shit out of it!

Click on “Repeaters” in the menu bar of this website and then search the database or the map.

How do you find repeaters and then how would you request access to one if you don't have access.....LOL

I sure hope not... I'd hate to think I wasted money getting back into that junk. I think I still have an old cobra radio somewhere...lol

I found a simple explanation on how to use it properly. With a range of only a few miles Maybe 20 on a good day and the right equipment.... What is the use of GMRS outside of using it amongst family members during outings or while working together.

Of course. Depending on the trailer and what's in it, it could be a REALLY bad day. It'd be worse if it takes your headliner or half your dashboard with it, depending on where the radio's mounted and how the cable's run. I'm just saying that, in my opinion, the juice, what of it there may be, just ain't worth the squeeze of dealing with a remote antenna.

"As I mentioned in my previous missive on the matter..."

Putting it on the trailer could get it up higher, at least by a few feet. That probably matters more than the slight difference a few layers of wood and fiberglass contribute toward shadowing the signal that emanates from the truck's antenna. But going from a mount six feet up to a mount ten feet up probably isn't worth the trouble when you have to also add 20 feet more cable. The next problem to contend with would be the ground plane. If it's difficult on a vehicle, it's often even harder on an RV with a fiberglass roof.

Thank you

Geez. Well I don't have that option. Mines for the farm and family to ride in. We go down to Hatfields a couple of times a year. I never understood those people playing loud music hard to hear your vehicle if breakage happens

No lies detected.

If the trailer gets loose, you've got much bigger problems than damaging your coax.

I thought that when you buy a UTV/SidebySide it was in the purchase contract that you must turn up the over-powered stereo volume to full-blast whenever within 5000 yards of other people trying to enjoy nature.

O I get that. those days don't happen for me. Been sober for 2 years and plan to stay that way.

Yes.. and throw in your callsign once in a while.

GMRS is nothing like the CB craze. (Much more civil) IMO your best chances of making contact with someone on GMRS is on a repeater channel. Like Steve said, just get on an open repeater or one you've been approved to use and talk away. BTW,, welcome to GMRS. Hope you have fun and buy more than one radio