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Hey there. We cannot direct link to software or firmware due to copyright issues (To my knowledge anyways) However, if you message me your E-mail I can send you the firmware package I used. I will need to know if the 880 is Version 1 or 2. This can be determined on the sticker on the back of the radio (Version 2 radios will say Version 2.0) Other than that, your 49D software disk should have a program called FPRO. This is used to update radio firmware. Ill include more detailed information when I send the firmware.

I'm skeptical about buying off Ebay but it sounds like lots of folks have good luck there. Assuming that's where you get them. I spend the extra to get a 90 day warranty and to be sure it works out of the box. I have no interest in getting 2 or more to 'make' one good one. If you find one you're passing on, pass it on to me if from a reputable seller and I'd consider it.. kidding, sort of.. Regardless of where I buy, I am leaning toward another 880 in the pickup. The UTV install turned out well IMO so will see how much use it gets this summer on the trails, etc. Yeah, repeater. Don't need one at home, there's already two within easy reach of both my HT. I have a piece of dirt in Montana that would be close to ideal @ 5600', open with no trees or big buildings, looking over a good size town several hundred feet below and a couple valleys that stretch a long way. Closest repeater to that area is well over 100 mi. LOS and behind a few 10k ft. mountain ranges. Also happens to be at the junction of two major interstate highways. But I don't live there, visit a couple times a year only, so it would be more of a GMRS community service, if there's even a GMRS "community" in the area. Build it and they will come. ..and I know squat about requirements, as in enclosures, tower/pole, batteries with solar I'm assuming would be the ticket. Maybe I could find someone to maintain it for their group or such. Anyway..

Last TK-880 I bought didn't cost much more than a PL259-SMA adapter. In fact I passed on some just last week that were $15 each. If I were you I would put the 880 in the UTV, get another one for the truck, and probably a couple more as backups. But that's just how I roll! I was actually thinking awhile back that I had several TK-880s. But I started looking for them and could only find one that wasn't already in a vehicle. So I looked around for some cheap ones and bought three more for just over $20 each. You're gonna need two for your repeater! What repeater, you ask? Just wait!

Thanks. Hopefully the SWR is low enough to not make our Chinese radio go kaboom haha.

Nah, the Diamond X500N would've been an even bigger monster antenna... G.

That Tram is a monster antenna. That should do the trick. The ground plane kit is going to be a huge improvement on your side too. Good luck. Looking forward to hearing back with the results.

I managed an MSS years ago. I took some local city admin folks on a tour of our new facility we built. When walking through the garage a woman said "Oh dear they are drilling holes in that brand new car" (Crown Vic)....I said "No, Maam, they are installing antennas". It's not a hole in the roof if it has something installed in it. As above....Drill the hole!

You would lose, not gain signal by moving the antenna down 15 inches to that tool box. If you can't bring yourself to drill a hole for a proper antenna, then get a better mag mount than the stock Midland (which is junk) with a better coaxial cable, (not that ultra-thin 174 junk that Midland uses) and leave it on the roof. THAT is where you will get best results on UHF. Even just a better 6" quarter-wave with a good cable and lager, low capacitance mount will beat the Midland quarter wave.

Just one quick search showed the following statement in Georgia Bill 673 which went into effect in July 2018 - - - "The hands-free law does NOT apply to the following electronic communication devices and the following devices can be used by the driver when on the road: radio, citizens band radio, citizens band radio hybrid, commercial two-way radio communication device or its functional equivalent, subscription-based emergency communication device, prescribed medical device, amateur or ham radio device, or in-vehicle security, navigation, or remote diagnostics system." Other states may have differing wording of their laws and should be researched individually.