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I'm on a 25w Btech amateur radio, with a Tram 1477 antenna. I'm at 945ft in a hilly area, with immediate (2 mile radius) surrounding elevations varying from 900ft to 1100ish feet. It's odd, because going east I can get close to 15 miles on simplex clearly, but going south, I can't even hit parts of town 3 miles away...but past that is the repeater I can hit. North I get about 9 miles clearly. West around 15 miles...but I could probably get further since it's pretty flat out that way, I just didn't try it past 15.

Actually it depends on the type of terrain, foliage, structures that one is operating their radios in. In flat/open areas a higher gain antenna is better. A lower gain antenna will work better in hilly areas or areas with lots of obstructions. I have a mixture of everything around me here in Mid Missouri so I run a Nagoya UT-72G which has about 3 dBd of gain. It works well for the most part. Now I do run a high gain antenna at home mounted up on my roof.

What antenna are you using? How many watts on the radio? Your distance seams very close. What are the surroundings. Mine is 30’ to the tip and 60miles simplex is no problem at all with a 20w radio.

I've got a 6ft steel fence post that I could add onto my telescopic 20ft antenna mast...it would basically add 5ft to the height, taking the top of the antenna from 23.5ft to 28.5ft. Would adding 5ft even be worth it? I could spend $25 on a 10ft steel post, but I figured since I already have a 6ft section laying around, I should try that first. But would it really make much of a difference at all? For reference, I can hit a repeater about 30 miles out, and simplex clearly out to about 12 miles and I start to get a bit of static after that, with no reception at all at about 18 miles. Compared to the area I'm in, my antenna is in a bit of a low spot.

Of course it depends on what you want to get from it. My favorite GMRS-only radio is the Wouxun KG-935G Plus. I am also a huge fan of my Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate H.A.M. radio. Other folks may not want to spend the money (I also have some cheapo Baofengs, like most here). My suggestion is to watch a bunch of YouTubes, get a feel for what you want to do with it, and get a feel for the wide range of radios that are available. It's kind of like asking "What's the best car for my needs?"

I’m new to gmrs and curious to see what some of your more seasoned gmrs’ers think would be a decent radio? Right now I’m using the Tidradio TD-H3.

Not necessarily. I picked up a Hytera HM782 mobile on Ebay last summer for $350 bucks. Best radio i've ever owned and have since picked up a couple PD782 Portables for pretty damn good deal. Keep your eyes out, you can get pretty good deals on the Motorolas as well. Plenty of software on line for either radios so thats a none issue. I love the Hytera Radios.

That all checks out to me. Install it, run it, and decide if it works well for you. Don't see why it wouldn't.. Stay with lower gain mobile antennas. I'll be the only one on here to tell you that probably, but trust me. Or actually TRY both and see for yourself. Everyone else is just reciting ideas.

hamregistry.org is apparently a front and/or has some serious website or business issues. My experience so far... Set up with them for my GMRS address and opted for the basic tier at $3.99. All has been fine until now... Now looking to upgrade to middle tier for $5.99 that included both GMRS AND HAM. Except the only issue is that when I click on the Buy button or whatever it says and it takes you to PayPal, the actually cost being shown is ~$17.97 NOT $5.99. Red Flag. (The GMRS only option, first tier, shows $3.99 on the site but when you sign up, PayPal shows $11.97. I am pretty sure that was not the case a couple of months ago when I first signed up... Go to email them. No response for 24 hours... Next thing I know just a few minutes ago is that their help@hamregistry.org is bouncing. Not good. Red flag. These are the biggest issues but their site overall is very weak. Redundant procedures like the fact it seems to ask you for your info again anytime you log back in. It will not show your address you have maybe entered more than once. Additionally, there is no way to cancel from the site. And no means to contact them except for the email address that now seems to be bouncing. The billing comes through EBC Services, LLC. This feels very scammy at this point.

But it doesn’t say anything about gmrs or uhf. It might not be gmrs certified.

There is a spring bottom section which will prevent damage to the roof top and antenna from tree branch strikes. https://cometantenna.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CA-SPR-instructions-x-1.pdf

Pirate mode? Unless you mean more $$$$.

I've always choose DuraComm Power supplies

I don't think you'll find a better radio for GMRS than a KG1000, unless you go in Pirate mode and go with a Motorola, Kenwood or Hytera..

"It's the platform the KG-1000 was built on., though I'm not sure there is a MARS/CAP mod for it." CHIRP-next...

The Mishigami Repeater System is a group of networked repeaters scattered across Michigan and parts of Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. The GR550 (West Michigan Operators Only) is part of the Mishigami Repeater System. (See their Facebook page for more information on other Mishigami linked repeaters, as well as how to make your own allstar node and connect to Mishigami yourself.) https://www.facebook.com/groups/662001551625951/ Here is the status page showing all Mishigami nodes: http://1020.node.gmrslive.com/supermon2/link.php?nodes=1020,1021,1022,1023,1024,1155,1156,1157,1158,1159,1205,1206,1207,1208,1209

Since your radio is GMRS specific on TX I would go with an antenna tuned for GMRS. While I like the comet antenna and I own both I would recommend the Midland MXTA26 for GMRS.

k..

I'm glad you ended up with the KG-1000G. It's a great over the counter GMRS radio. One of my favorites. I had the TYT TH-9800D when it was sold by Yaesu as the FT-8900R. 15-20 years ago, it was a great radio. I would buy one today if it was $100 or less. I'm not to keen on about $250 for tech that old, when newer, better performing radios are available for about $200 to $300, depending on brand and features. The UV980p is a good radio, too. It's the platform the KG-1000 was built on., though I'm not sure there is a MARS/CAP mod for it.

You’re responding to a nearly 3 year old thread, but here’s another thread that might help your understanding:

Congrats!

The Wouxun KG-XS20G is an excellent 20 watt radio. That is what I use in my SxS.

Glad you found the problem, and that it was not you! As for programming, make sure that the data cable is securely plugged into the side socket on the radio. When you get it working, their program is fine. Be sure you download the one for the KG-1000+ version of the radio, not the older 'non +' one.