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Hmm. Lately around our house, we've found times and places when a two-way radio would be nice outside. Cell phones let you talk, but it's a hassle. Also, having NOAA Weather Radio is a nice thing to have outside. I poked around the interwebz and found a radio package with the features and accessories I wanted and a doable price. (Features, I confess, did include more power than FRS.) That's how I ended up with GMRS. It did what I wanted to do, and I was willing to pay for the license and learn the rules. I might go further than the handhelds ... but that depends on whether I'm putting up an antenna mast for OTA TV or not. I've considered testing for amateur radio levels. But I don't particularly want to do what ham does, if that makes sense. And the financial gates for amateur are just too much for me to tackle. CB's no place to be. FRS is too weak. So, here I am.

It is by no means dangerously hot. But there is a noticeable difference between the 30W and the 45w models. Put it this way: The 8180-K would make a wonderful hand warmer when you are talking for awhile. The 8180-HK gets a bit too warm too be a handwarmer. But if your asking if it will set anything on fire? No.

Same process, different meter.

To clarify further for you guys, that 200' limit is the cutoff for requiring FCC/FAA filing and paint/lights. You can go above 200' if you want to deal with the hassle.

I'm not sure how the CHIRP software works with the Kenwood radios, but I would suggest springing a few bucks for the Kenwood software, so you can change all the other stuff in the radios, including zones. I found my software for $15 on ebay, worth every penny. My TK-8150 doesn't get hot enough to melt anything at 50W. I have a pop up blind in a nylon bag that rests against my radio in the trunk, has not melted yet.

Rodro123, I believe 95.51 was removed as part of the 2017 FCC update. My current understanding is that 95.1741 took its place. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I still think you are describing de-sense. The one weak link you have in my opinion is that knock-off LMR-400 coax cable. I also still wonder what you are using for jumpers between the radios and the duplexer. Cheap CB coax jumpers will NOT work for that purpose.

If you want something lightweight that folds down for "just grab-and-go" temporary use, I have had good luck with PA system speaker stands such as: https://www.parts-express.com/peavey-tripod-speaker-stand-ii-56-102-black-100-lb-capacity--248-8586 Add a 5-foot mast pipe to the top of this, and your antenna is instantly 12-15 feet in the air. Add some rope and tent stakes for temporary guy wires if it's windy.

I am onboard with this. For Field Day, I was only 100 feet away from my co-operator, but we used HT's so we didn't have to yell between the two tents. This is how close we were, but the HT's made life a lot better.