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It's Part 90 certified (somehow), which is better than no certification. CHIRP is the programming software to use. Regardless of whatever service you're operating on, you will want to turn off STE, RP-STE, and ROGER, and leave PTT-ID disabled, AL-MOD on SITE, and RPT-RL on OFF. Within CHIRP, you can disable transmit on a memory channel by setting its offset to "off", and that should be done for anything you don't have authorization to use (such as out-of-band frequencies and private repeaters). All GMRS repeater channels have an offset of +5.0000 MHz, and a receive frequency between 462.550 and 462.725 MHz. Any other offset other than 0.0000 (simplex) or +5.0000 (repeater) can take you out-of-band, so it's important that you double-check your frequency entries on Part 90 radios. Once you know which repeaters you want to add, check both their transmit and receive CTCSS/DCS settings. If transmit CTCSS/DCS is wrong, the repeater won't hear you; if receive CTCSS/DCS is wrong, you may be hitting the repeater but you won't hear it (the green light on top will still light up, but audio won't play unless you hit the monitor button). If you've got it all loaded and you want to check if it's working, you can hop on a repeater, give your callsign, and ask for a radio check. Anyone else out listening will usually tell you how well they can hear you, and at a minimum you should hear the repeater's tail.

Thank you for the info. Im only looking to use it on the one gmrs repeater in my area for me and family nothing more nothing less. I am new at this nknew i needed a license got that part right now just got to save and get better radios All local law and emergency service in my area are on 800 trunking systems there are a few repeaters in the ham range that are used for emergencies off limits when there is a disaster . but im learning so thanks again.

Hi Steve, I recently purchased 2 Btech, (bao feng) radios GMRS V1 mod #. Using a tram 1170 mag antenna tuned to 1.1 to one. I measured their output using a MFJ874 swr/pwr meter. This meter has proven itself reliable. These radios are sold as 5 watt radios, but the spec sheet says <5 watts. First radio measured 3.0 watts. 2nd radio measured 2.7 watts, while technically not a lie [ < 5 watts] I thought I was buying 5 watt radios.