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I absolutely agree about double checking the legality. Internet has little to do with this though. The fcc simply included internet because it is an example of “any other network.” Originally the prohibition was against connecting to the phone network. “GMRS stations cannot be interconnected with the public switched telephone network or any other network for the purpose of carrying GMRS communications, but these networks can be used for remote control of repeater stations.” @Blaise, arguing it’s a mesh, not a network, probably wouldn’t make a great first impression on the FCC. It’s funny though.

You might get away with it is you do not connect the Meshtastic nodes to the internet. I would double check on the legality of this before proceeding if it was me. This is true. But how many "non radio dorks" are willing to compile source code. If this were to be feasible and legal, then it would have to be made easy for all users to deploy. Not everyone is willing to even learn Linux let alone compile code.

And that will make you his favorite fan.

It is, or at least the backlight timer is! Menu setting 8 (labeled ABR - don't know why) is the Display Backlight Timer. If set to 0 backlight is off. Setting are 0-50 seconds, make sure this setting is not at 0.

If you use the libraries, you can get it to do a whole lot more, I'm told. I'm not afraid of a compiler! Every packet has a 237 byte payload, so you'd have to spend a lot of effort hacking the voice data into chunks, then reassembling them. It might work, it might not, but it sure would be fun trying! Also, GMRS data is likely only about 2 kbps, so there'd be plenty of room for at least that.

Well, as long as we keep in mind that Meshtastic is a mesh technology, not a network technology, I'm sure it will be fine...

Most 50 watt radios state a 10-15 amp draw on high power per manufacturer specifications. Even if the radio only draws 9 or 10 amps on high power, why take the chance with running it on a 10 amp circuit. One of two things can go wrong in that scenario. Either the fuses will blow all of the time or they might now blow in time to save the wires from melting. Why take the chance. Plus cigarette lighter/accessory ports are not the most reliable power source compared to using a more secure wire connection. I won't even run a 20 watt radio on a cigarette lighter/accessory port. I've had the radios temporarily loose power when I hit a bump while driving. Yes we have a lot of poorly paved roads and lots of gravel roads in my area.

Look, connecting your radio to any 12 volt source is unlikely to damage the radio, but connecting a 50 watt radio to a source that can is fused for 10 amps might fry the fuse. Not all 50 watt radios require more than 10 amps. Some are more efficient than others and get by with about 9 amps, others use as much as 11 amps. As far as that “jump pack” I don’t know anything about it.

Appreciate all the responses, looks like it'll only be possible with a battery that you recommended and that might damage the radio. I wonder if cigarette lighter adapters would work as well. I have this for a jump pack for my car, I wonder if this would work with one or would damage the radio https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019IFHLAE

Yes Midland mobile radios do have the capability of charging other devices such as phones and tablets through the USB C port built into the radio. I don't recall if all Midland mobile radios have this or if it is only certain models.

My apologies, I saw the "usb-c charging" and assumed it was for charging the unit itself, but now I think it means you can use it to charge your phone, etc. https://midlandusa.com/products/mxt500-micromobile®two-way-radio

Meshtastic is basically off grid texting and is limited to the size of messages that can be sent.

And in the mind of the developer of the DB20-G driver for Chirp, too!

I just tested this to confirm, with the radio in GMRS mode, it doesn't matter what you do in Chirp to channels 8-14. I turned off TX disable. I changed power level, also tried changing the TX frequency to that of Chan 1 (462.5625). The radio refuses to TX on those channel numbers. It's locked in firmware and Chirp doesn't allow you to bypass it. ofc if you change the radio mode out of GMRS then you can do what you want.

isn't the display light intensity programable on that raido?

I'm going to remember that one

It wouldn’t be user replaceable. It’s probably a surface mounted LED next to the edge of the LCD. And it might not have failed anyway. If possible return it for warranty service.

Other than the one negative person whom we all know which as @SteveShannon mentioned is not because of who they are but rather the stuff they say I don’t see down voting based on who someone is. Could it happen? Sure but someone would just up vote them back. It’s just a means to elevate the best technical answer. I do prefer reading things in chronological order though as it’s easier for context and it would be nice if you could make that a default setting.

OK, OK, SUPERSTAR

Probably not.. is it still under warranty?

I met her in 1971 and she gave me a dehydrated lizard. (yes, seriously.. they were selling trinkets like dried snakes, lizards, scorpions, etc..)

Does anyone know if I can order a new backlight for this product? The radio works fine but I can only see the display if I shine a flashlight on it.

Hell yes, you will defiantly get some attention.. Think i would rather spend my money a few radios thuough ... I actualy met the caretaker lady that lived in that house at Burro Schimit back in 1982....She had 357's scattered througout her shack house and had one dangling off a rope by her living room easy chair.. she was pretty fiesty

The only person well enough known to be upvoted or downvoted just because of “who they are” is Randy, and for the most part I don’t think many (if any) people have downvoted him because of that. SoCalGMRS gets downvoted because of how he treats others, not because of who he is. If he stopped treating others that way the downvotes would quickly cease. It’s that simple.