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Thanks for all your input guys, I saw on the directory that I have 2 repeaters in mind, Mt.Wilson(says its open) and hanger 575 (Long Beach) WRAF213- Thanks for clarifying the difference on CTCSS / DCS & PL / DPL.. berkinet- These chatters on channel 22 might have been from Monterey Hills but now I saw the Mt Wilson so it could be anywhere.. thank you..

The performance of the Btech has been quite adequate for my uses. To the repeater its about five miles through hills and trees. It is located on the flatland and designed to beam back up here into the hills. Simplex, I can cover everyone from my location within five miles using the Nagoya 701c antenna. Again, hills and trees. Its the Gold Country here in far Northern California just to give you an ideda of the terrain. And I am not using the radio for rag chewing. Others may use GMRS for different purposes and that is fine. Would I recommend the Btech radio to a beginner in GMRS? Sure. Maybe its heresy around here, but it is a radio. I don't think I would recommend any of their mobiles. Would I also recommend moving beyond the Btech into part 90/95 equipment like Kenwood, or Icom, etc? You betcha. But just like in amateur radio, the CCRs provide an entry. (nothwithstanding all the non licensed uses, etc). Used properly, one have find great enjoyment from their Potato radio. They can talk to ISS, Satellites, as well do APRS and a whole host of other things. In fact Digital radio is being lead not from D-Star, or Fusion, but DMR and CCRs. (Think Anytone). I went into my purchase of the Btech knowing full well what they are. But heck, the Yaesu FT-60 new I had to send back as it would not TX...so tell me again?

I thought max legal was 50W? could it be, perhaps, a super high gain antenna? I mean, with 50W and a 9+ dB antenna on a mountain top you'll get pretty darn far... G.

Ok, this information somehow got ignored. So... #1, it probably isn't anyone currently active on this forum that you are hearing, otherwise they might have responded here by now. #2, There is only 1 repeater near you in the MyGMRS database that is listed as being on 462/7.725. That repeater is/was located in Monterey Hills and belongs (or belonged) to a local CERT group. It was listed as members only with no access information. Also, that listing is marked as being out-of-date. There is a repeater on .725 in Crestline, but I am not sure if you could het that. Of course, there are plenty of repeaters that are (unfortunately) not listed in the database. So, it could be the CERT group you are hearing, or someone else. You might want to look at the map and browse the database to see what might be near you and accessible.

I can sign under this. I use GMRS on the trails and on camping trips. Our family outings are safer and more entertaining because of the use of GMRS radio. Thinking about "doing radio" as a hobby? Get a HAM ticket, get a part 95 or part 90 UHF radio that can also work on HAM bands. TK-880-1 (part 95) works just fine on 70cm, I'm sure other Kenwoods and Motorolas do too. There are (were?) a dual-band Part 90 Alinco mobiles out there.

I can't stress this enough... Radio is not something to do (generally speaking). Radio is a tool you integrate into other aspects of your life to either make those other activities easier, more entertaining or safer. If you are buying a radio as a source of entertainment, you are likely going to be very disappointed unless you're a ham and can find people to chat with around the world. As far as picking a base or a mobile, there are some serious restraints for UHF (GMRS/FRS/70cm Ham/etc.). One is, its a line-of-sight application. If you don't have an antenna that is at least 50 feet higher than the terrain around you... your not talking very far. 100+ would be better. Trees, buildings, hills, etc all cause interference. At ground level, you will get to the horizon line, which is about 3 or 4 miles depending on how tall you are (and what's between you and the other station). As you get higher in elevation, the better your coverage will be. If you're mobile, you can drive to an area where you can get better performance. Some examples would be, at 1200 feet I got a solid 50 miles on GMRS mobile with 40 watts, mobile to mobile. At the same elevation I can also talk to a repeater in northern Virginia with an antenna at ~980 feet, while I am in central Pennsylvania with my 40 watt mobile. Same 40 watt GMRS mobile, but on the blind side of a commercial building, I experience high static mobile to mobile. Normally I can only talk about 2.5 to 5 miles car to car. Just some food for thought. I love GMRS and really enjoy having radio comms as part of my life. I wouldn't discourage anyone from getting into the hobby. You just need to be realistic about expectations.