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I believe that is correct. The FCC has them reserved exclusively for repeater inputs. This link is a nice summary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service The link below is the most current version of the Part 95 sections. For GMRS you want subpart E. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=85a15d2032f9f51fa68cef9b9657e610&mc=true&node=pt47.5.95&rgn=div5 I have stuff like this printed out as PDF files, stored on the computer and smart phone along with all my radio operating manuals for easy reference.

This is what the FCC has to say about it when the rules were last changed: § 95.1767 GMRS transmitting power limits. This section contains transmitting power limits for GMRS stations. The maximum transmitting power depends on which channels are being used and the type of station. (a) 462/467 MHz main channels. The limits in this paragraph apply to stations transmitting on any of the 462 MHz main channels or any of the 467 MHz main channels. Each GMRS transmitter type must be capable of operating within the allowable power range. GMRS licensees are responsible for ensuring that their GMRS stations operate in compliance with these limits. (1) The transmitter output power of mobile, repeater and base stations must not exceed 50 Watts. (2) The transmitter output power of fixed stations must not exceed 15 Watts. ( 462 MHz interstitial channels. The effective radiated power (ERP) of mobile, hand-held portable and base stations transmitting on the 462 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed 5 Watts. © 467 MHz interstitial channels. The effective radiated power (ERP) of handheld portable units transmitting on the 467 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed 0.5 Watt. Each GMRS transmitter type capable of transmitting on these channels must be designed such that the ERP does not exceed 0.5 Watt.

If you are transmitting from a mobile in your Jeep, operating at, oh I dunno, say 10 watts or more, chances are the handheld radio is being desensed. (Desensitization - The reduction of receiver sensitivity due to overload from a nearby transmitter.) The only cure to operate this way is to move the handheld radio away from the Jeep while transmitting, which probably defeats the purpose of what I think you're trying to accomplish. The further away you get, the better it will sound. The other alternative is to change the mobile radio to a radio that can be programmed for an odd repeater split.

I have 4 of the TK-370G-1’s and 2 of the TK-370-1’s. The later are just 32 channel regular FM only. Both are Part 95 certified I believe. The TK-3170-1 are nice, Part 95 certified, if you can find any at a reasonable price. The antennas are either the ones they came with, eBay or local Ham swap, the rest are from a cheap 5 pack I purchased from an eBay seller. I did do an SWR scan of the cheap 5 pack ones and was surprised the SWR was comfortably below 2:1. I was hoping I didn’t get a “50 ohm resister in a rubber stick”. Yea there are a few like that around. When mobile I use a high gain dual band antenna. It has low enough SWR across the Ham bands and the GMRS frequencies. The antenna is almost 60 inches tall. Comet no longer makes this model. I wish they did. I’ve had two for nearly 20 years. One is on the Jeep’s roof rack the other is used inside when I lived in an apartment. That one has never been out doors. Still looks new. CA-2x4MB, 4.5 dBi on VHF, and 7.4 dBi on UHF

Hello everyone, WRFE411 here. I'm new to GMRS and picked up a Midland MXT115 radio. Now I just need to learn some stuff and looks like I'll need to join a local to me Repeater group, CSRAGMRS.

Well, I just finished. Ended up cleaning the garage yesterday, and was too tired to attempt today. I set the antenna 12" from edge of the back of the roof sheet metal. Routed the antenna cable down the D pillar, which keeps all the wire away from the airbags. Antenna is almost invisible, and I can still get drywall on the top. Also, I didn't have to move a roof rack bar. Antenna Installed by tweiss3, on Flickr Invisible Antenna by tweiss3, on Flickr Antenna Location by tweiss3, on Flickr Nobody is ever going to see or notice it. It fits right along the satnav receiver and the FM antenna. I hid the receiver in the access panel where the jack is. Still have full access to the jack. Radio Hiding Spot by tweiss3, on Flickr Mounted Radio Hiding Spot by tweiss3, on Flickr Routed the remote head wire up the D pillar and down the center of the roof, came out in the overhead shelf where it will be permanently mounted. Still waiting on the bracket, should be here Tuesday. Remote Head Placement by tweiss3, on Flickr Programmed it, and all works well. Wife is ok with it as long as it looks good. She recommended the head location. I like it because you can't see it though the window and won't give someone a reason to break in. Now to get her comfortable with using it.

Hello from the suburban wild of western Nevada! And thank you for the site and forums. Licensed Friday, joined Saturday (today), and I've already learned a lot. Now if the radios would just get here.

Any UHF amplifier that covers up to 470 MHz should be fine. However, there are some really big warnings I have about using an amplifier. First, on the 462 MHz and 467 MHz main channels, 50 watts is the legal limit for mobiles, repeaters and base stations. Fixed stations are limited to 15 watts. (A Fixed station is defined as a station at a fixed location that directly communicates with other fixed stations only.) Second, on the 462 MHz interstitial channels (the channels between the main channels) stations are limited to an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5 watts, witch means the final power amplifier (PA) will likely need to have much less than 5 watts of output power. This applies to mobiles, hand-helds, portables and base stations. Then, to make things even more complicated, on the 467 MHz interstitial channels, stations are limited to an effective radiated power (ERP) of 0.5 watts, witch means the PA will likely need to have much less than 0.5 watts of output power. So, be very careful on what frequencies you opt to use an amp on. Frankly, I wouldn't spend the money, I would just get a new radio. Quality UHF amplifiers are much more expensive than a radio that runs up to 50 watts.

There is a tremendous amount of benefits with Amateur Radio vs. GMRS. First, lets just talk about voice. On GMRS simplex, the absolute very best you can expect from a perfect setup, is going to be about 70 miles. Likely less. That would be mobile or base. With Amateur Radio VHF and UHF, the power limits are 1500 watts with no radiated power restrictions. That means with a little elevation, you are talking coast to coast on the higher portions of VHF and the lower portions of UHF. On the lower portions of VHF, you can talk to Europe, Mediterranean, Northern Africa, etc. Even in my mobile, I can talk to NY from Virginia on VHF simplex. With things other than voice... there is no limit to what you can do beyond no encryption. If you can dream it, you can do it on amateur radio. There is APRS, which provides transceiver location services. There FLDigi which is used for texting and simple messaging. There is WinLink which is a 100% radio-based email service that allows you to email other operators as well as people on the public internet. And much, much more. The benefit of HF and MF is, the ease of global comms as you drop in frequency. I was driving around in my Jeep today on an HF frequency that Tech license holders have access to. I talked to people in 3 different countries on 2 different continents with a simple 100 watt mobile radio and a whip antenna. It's really a lot of fun. As far as a base station goes, I don't use mobile radios for base a station. I have base station radios that I use for VHF, and a VHF/UHF repeater. I talk on VHF on the base for several hours a week, sitting in my executive desk chair. As far as the quality of conversation... I can't really say much about that. I would assume there are plenty of people to talk to without getting into religion, politics, etc. I avoid them like the plague. With regard to if it's worth it... that is a personal choice that each person needs to decide for themselves. I think it is. I held my Tech license for 17+ years before I got my General and had a great time. I also think the GMRS and FRS are great radio service and fill a nice niche.

Just joined and am learning more about GMRS. There is not a pleathora of information available on this and hope to learn more from this group.