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Well, here is where I think a slight change of tactics could help. Instead of telling people their radios are garbage, let them look at ALL of the tests in one place. You don’t need to advocate for any particular brand or radio. I remember, back when I was more into motorcycles than anything, looking at the back pages of a cycle (or cycle world, motorcyclist? I forget. Point is one had the following data) and there you would find a full page with virtually every bike they tested. 1/4 mile times, top speed, breaking distance, weight, price etc. An odd brand (Bimota) had some really good numbers... but cost a small fortune. Like $20k when a good Japanese bike was like $7500. Obviously, those were dream bikes, so we found bikes that fit our budgets and still performed as best they could at that price.... and we always kept an eye out for a used bike we could afford, that gave us performance that was well above our wallets ability to match in a new bike. Same works here. If someone has a budget of $50 to start, let them buy their Baofeng. When they decide they like the hobby enough to upgrade, they can. Yeah, it may well be junk, but it’s also $50. Not a bad way to test the waters. For many, there is going to be an acceptable price/performance ratio. They might look at the Boafengs and want a step up, so they look at the Wouxun... which is a step up, but still not a top end radio. If they could see HOW MUCH of a step up it is, perhaps they would see that for a bit more, they could have a LOT more radio, and maybe it changes their minds by giving them the information to make a well informed purchase. Not everyone is going to want a Motorola off of E-bay, they might want more features, or simply don’t want to gamble on how good the radio still is, sight unseen. But maybe, in time, they decide they do want a top of the line radio, so they buy a brand new Motorola (or Kenwood, or Icom or...). And someday they sell that to someone looking to upgrade from their Wouxun. It doesn’t have to be insults back and forth. Very few will listen to someone telling them they bought garbage, at least compared to someone telling them, that for their next radio, if they want to see some significant improvements to buy the better brands. I’ve heard (or read) it said “Boafeng has done more for amateur radio (and I suggest GMRS as well), than any club, web page, or organization.” And I believe it is true. Had it not been for my ultra cheap Boafengs, I wouldn’t have gotten my, tyt, Anytone, or my new Icom, much less my GMRS license. Putting the data all out there at once takes away the “radio snob” bull$#!t and lays it all out there for all to see. Some will make better choices because of it. If People send me the data, I will organize it and post it for all to see. I don’t have many radios, and nothing to test with beyond an SWR meter. I won’t be able to generate much data, but I can organize it and even add some grading systems that help people make sense of the numbers without being a full on radio nut.

My repeater is a Motorola MTR2000 programmed to operate at the maximum legal power for GMRS of 50 watts. It is FCC part 90 certified for business use and is one of the best and most spectrally clean repeaters ever made but it is not certified for GMRS part 95. The reason is that Motorola didn’t go through the expense of getting it certified for part 95 because they are not interested in pursuing that market. There are few repeaters available that are FCC certified for GMRS so it violates that one rule However in my personal opinion, that since I follow all other rules regarding emissions and I am using equipment that far exceeds the quality of most GMRS certified equipment that It is an acceptable risk to me. If the FCC tells me to stop then I will shut it off. I would like to hear from anyone that knows of a situation where someone was fined for the sole crime of using non-certified equipment on GMRS.

Here are some of my thoughts regarding what I believe would be useful to forum members. It is not perfect, but it is a positive start. Item 1: Master List of Approved Radios A single master, living, breathing post (not open to discussion) that contains a list of all radios that are FCC approved for use on the GMRS radio service. Only moderators/administrators would be permitted to add/edit this post. The contents of the post would be organized by station type (Mobile, Base, Handheld, Repeater etc...) The post would include the following simple information. Manufacturer, Model, Validated FCC ID. When a radio goes out of production, the radio gets designated EoL (End of Life) A single link for each model to another master post on this forum containing moderator-managed information for that model. See Item 2 below. A single link to each model’s official Pros/Cons thread. See Item 3 below. Item 2: Master Model Thread, One Thread per Model Post created by and edited only by moderator(s). Containing only information pertaining to one model. An attachment containing the official manufacturer’s data sheet (not a link, the file needs to live with the post). A link to the manufacturer’s website where users can obtain updated information. Redirected by moderator if manufacture changes it. A convenience link to the FCC certification information for the model. An embedded image of the Radio, no links to be broken. An abbreviated list of the most common and important set of radio specifications. Convenience Link to the Official Pros/Cons thread for the model (see Item 3 below). Optional Convenience Link(s) to various technical validations or comparison posts (Item 4 below). Item 3: Pros/Cons thread, One Official Thread per Model. First post in the thread containing a consistent message as every other official Pros/Cons thread. Message should describe the purpose of and expectations of posts in that thread. First post containing a link back to the master list of approved radios (Item 1 above). First post containing a link back to the Master Thread for that model (Item 2 above). First post created by moderator/administrator. All subsequent posts provided by the MyGRMS membership. Moderators intervene, redirect or delete messages when they run off topic and dilute the purpose and usefulness of the thread. Item 4: Technical Validations or Comparisons Threads (optional) Created by the membership. As time goes on and we have members willing and capable of conducting actual measurements and/or side-by-side field comparisons between two or more radios, that information would live here. When it appears high quality work has been submitted, the moderator would edit the master thread for the models compared to this comparison information. Summary All in all I believe this methodology would be useful to new and existing members. I think this effort is doable and manageable, but it does require a commitment. The hardest part I believe is reaching agreement on the structure (organization) and contents of the moderator managed portions of the information. Then we need to agree on how the moderators receive new information to include on the posts they would be responsible for managing. Then we need to find a way to make sure the the Master list of Approved radios is always one of the first things a new member sees when joining. Some modification to the naming and organization of the equipment discussion area may be needed. I also accept that this may not be doable because of forum software limitations. That I cannot speak to. I hope this input is useful in furthering this discussion. Perhaps we can get this done. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

There was no intent whatsoever to assert the radio better or worse than another. It was a “Pros/Cons” opinion of one author according to the current title of the thread. The post was made in an attempt to leverage the “existing” pros/cons thread referenced elsewhere on this forum in recent days/weeks in-order to spur others to do the same. Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to clarify which brands are permitted to be commented on this thread. I deleted my post so no one else will get the wrong idea. Respectfully, Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I've read in various places that Midland is working on a 40w version of the MXT275. I'm hoping this is true. I've written them an email to ask about it but haven't received a response. What I read was that it would come out 4th quarter 2020, but I think we can rule that out now. Does anyone have any information? I've got an MXT400 in my older Jeep and it is great but very bulky, but it works with the old squarish instrument panel. It sits right on top. My 2018 Jeep has the MXT275 due to its small size and all in the mic setup. I'd love to have the same thing but with the 40w of power, so I'm hoping that what I've read is true and that they introduce it soon. Any info would be appreciated. Heck, I'd even take some wild speculation! Lol!

Batwings, Batwings everywhere... nice!

Mbrun: That would be a great resource, I think much of that could be consolidated into 1 spreadsheet, with links to the individual pages/topics you suggest. Hell, one could even color code things like Part 95 certification, or radios that aren’t to “spec”. gman1971. I suppose that’s a part of beauty of having all of the data available, those that care, and are willing to listen, can see for themselves the pros and cons of different radios. If they are willing to look at it, they can make a better decision, if not, too bad for them. I think the “snob” label doesn’t really account for new/used. If you had 20 brand new APX8000s, that would make you a rich snob LOL! Hell, after we turn them on, we are all on used radios. But I get your point. I think many just see the “buy Motorola! CCRs are garbage” and label you as a snob. I cant comment on how they all look at it, just an outside perception. Texts is quite normally a crappy way to convey true feelings and emotional intent. As for features, I want a dual watch radio, and I want to be able to see which channels I am watching. Sometimes I want that because the wife isn’t comfortable talking on the repeater where everyone in a 20 mile radius can hear her. So I watch a separate channel just in case she is trying to get a hold of me via simplex. Other times, I want to be on a repeater channel while scanning other channels, NOAA channels, and emergency services channels. Some radios do this, some don’t. I will pay more for those radios that do. I also have a pair of Baofeng 888s radios. And for what I need them for, they are great! Yes, they are garbage radios, but when I am working up in a tree, and I need to call someone (wife) for something, RIGHT NOW! those 888Ss work fine. If I drop one out of the tree and it breaks, I’m out $10. That said, I did drop one from about 25 feet up, and it is still working. Bonus, with a good antenna, I can hit a repeater with it if I am near a window. They all serve a purpose. For quality, long distance contact, the 888S is indeed crap. You are much better off getting a Motorola, Kenwood, Icom, Vertex etc. the 888s is basically a disposable radio, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. I wouldn’t take a Ferrari down a dirt road, and a Range Rover makes a crappy track vehicle. A Jeep Cherokee, and Mazda Miata are better choices, even though they kind of suck. Knowing which radios are the best for ones desired use, and budget will help people make better choices.

You’re a good man G. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes, I saw and have one without G and dual band. With the G was designed for BTWR for GMRS only. I was told material to make antenna is short supply to Nagonya and not available until Jan 2021.

And that is the reason that I started the other thread, to get that discussion going. This forum could provide a great service to current and future members if it could curate facts about radios presently authorized by FCC for on use on GMRS in one place. I love reading all the posts, contributing my own and helping folks out. But too easily good factual information gets buried in a mound of forum BS to be lost to all but the best forensic forum scientist to uncover. Because it takes months for some to find the information they really needed, out of now where it is suddenly to late for them. I am currently of the opinion that it will take a moderator/administrator to set up the framework. I am also of the opinion that certain rules would need to be followed/enforced by said moderators. Perhaps its doable, perhaps not. I know not who the moderators are, nor what their capabilities are. I will jump over to the thread I started and offer more opinion there. Regards Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I was just going to mention this. I'll check with Net Control on Sunday. Perhaps they can make a mention and see what comes up, though it will likely be regional. I believe if we did a nation wide QSO it would likely be a long wait to get in.

WQOM273 , whose email doesn't seem to work and his website is dead...has 20 repeaters listed in rural areas, I am 10 miles from one, and if it were on the air, I could hear it...but I have never heard it. I would question if these sites even exist or this is another day dreamer channel camping with listings all over the database here. They are also all listed as private, pay to play. You can tell your friends you drive a Ferrari, but eventually they want to "see" it....