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First off, Welcome to GMRS. All of us here hope you have a good experience. All licensees are obligated under the terms of their license to know, understand and follow the rules. In case you have not studied them, here are some links that are immediately relevant. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-17-57A1.pdf https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/part-95 The first link contains a PDF version of the rules that you can download, keep and reference. As you read through the rules you will learn a lot about GMRS and the other Personal Radio Services. You will also learn that in 2017 the rules evolved to require that only radios that are type certified (95e and earlier 95a grandfathered). The rules clarify that new products will be not be certified for GMRS unless they comply with technical requirements of 95e, they clarify that it is the licensee’s obligation to use only compliant equipment and they clarify by specific example that non-certified equipment (such as amateur radio equipment) cannot and will not be certified for use in GMRS. The UV5R is not a certified radio, thus it can only legally be operated by a licensed amateur radio operator on amateur radio frequencies only. Admittedly, you will eventually learn that some folks on this and other forums do not comply with the rules. They do this at their own risk. But is is also safe to say that the majority of folks here want to be good stewards of the GMRS service and we hope you will too. Once you have read the rules through a couple of times, feel free to ask whatever questions you have. There are a lot of knowledgable folks here. Probably best to start separate thread with you questions so as not to hide them under the current “Local Repeater and Chirp” topic. Once again, Welcome to GMRS. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I've got a couple of extra 7550 cables - PM me with your address. Free to a good home. Just pay it forward.

Thank you MBRUN, much appreciated welcome

I use an MXT-400 and the radio does use wideband on the repeater frequencies, out of the box. I have no problem using it on local repeaters. I do use narrow band handheld units in simplex with the MXT-400. The only thing you need to do is turn up the volume to hear the handhelds. If a wideband radio keys up the volume will be loud. To reduce the number of times that this happens I usually use a PL tone on simplex. Midland does sell a programming cable that allows you to set up split tones or change the bandwidth. I don't have the cable and have never had a need to change the stock configuration of the radio. There are several good YouTube videos if you want to learn more.

Sorry, but someone has to say it. The UV5R is not legal for use in the GMRS except in a life and death emergency. Regards, Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Allow controlled, organized, authenticated information for all FCC type-certified transceivers legal for use on GMRS. Embed product data-sheets from manufacturer, and links to official FCC ID information for each product; provide a managed post with key product info for each model. Then, provide links from this official product information post to the following: A) an official Pros-Cons thread for each model where the public can post their comments and to an official thread where third party member test data can be posted. Open to further private discussions on how to make this happen. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Can you make the myGMRS.com logo at the top of https://mygmrs.com/ https://forums.mygmrs.com/ https://shop.mygmrs.com/ a direct link back to the main site (myGMRS.com) from all of these? Sorry if I am missing something as I am not computer literate and lucky I got this far. Glider

It is fixed now... Thank Rich... Easy fix...

Looks like the issue is fixed now. There was an issue with server resources that were running low.

Thanks for the heads up. I see the issue and working on the fix now.

Modulation or how you use that power does too - narrow-band FM (11.5khz width) vs wideband FM (16Khz width) has by the equivalent of about 6db penalty on SNR when looking at highest modulating freq (2.75khz vs 3.00khz) & peak deviation (3khz vs 5khz) per Carson's rule. https://urgentcomm.com/2010/04/01/cut-your-losses/ edit: I see this topic was already heavily discussed in this thread; carry on!

I will also agree with mbrun's take, speaking a 50x1 owner with a couple different repeaters in range on the the same frequency. It's kind of a pain not being able to save more tx entries, even if within bounds for gmrs. Midland are very plug and play, and generally well supported, but have their own limitations;if repeater access is desired, the xtalkers are likely out. The wouxun handheld is solid, and easy to set up. I have high hopes for their mobile to be similar, and the remote head is a bonus, but it's slightly pricy, and still a bit of an unknown. Among the 3 options, I think wouxun is the best. If you're willing to mix, you could do a Midland base and wouxun ht. Axorlov also raises a good point about the commercial options being good alternatives.

If you want simple and easy to use Id go with the midland. If you plan to use alot of repeaters and into it more it may not be right but for simplex its a solid basic unit.

Where I came from on my decision making was wanted more then some cheap plastic wrap after getting my license. Took the advise of BTWR the Handheld Wouxun KG805-G and Purchased two and happy as the sound quality is so clear.... I have been looking at the Base Wouxun KG-1000G GMRS (50watt) they had some nice feature... awaiting review from others who know more then me. I also made sure I did not have buyer remorse and said for $160 for two 805G and if I did a base KG-1000G for $319 plus antenna and other accessories $200?, I have learned a lot. (read below as going for repeater) So pick what you like now because in 6 to 8 months they add new features and or products which makes you say O I should have gotten this or that. So I do have issues with the 805G and so go look at all the posts for all the radios and ask yourself can I live with this or that. Because I'm a newbie, I wanted to make my current pick to be a learning tool for me and my 12 yo G daughter to learn and enjoy radios... We are learning a lot about programing plus repeaters and just having fun hearing FRS trash talk and being legit on GMRS. Makes her feel good in seeing the difference. As I said twice, buy something you will not have buyers remorse... because your first radios will be your throw away in a year or so. Now for me that is why I did not get the Wouxun KG-1000G as a base to install in my Jeep, I like the remote head. But now I'm looking at getting a repeater to put in Jeep and/or my RV via sharing the unit. I like the portability of 5 watt handhelds with a 5 watt repeater with good antennas. So looking at Retevis RT97 https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/featured-products/products/retevis-rt97-gmrs-repeater-5w My GMRS mentor "he knows who he is" says it is all in the antenna and the $200 of accessories was all antennas so since the 805G allows to upgrade different antennas which is a lot better than rubber ducky. Also the 805G are 5 watts and I think Midland X-Talker handhelds are only 2 watts and fixed rubber ducky antennas (do check this as I may be wrong). Midland looks like good pricing... Just pick a budget amount to start with the features you like knowing you can go crazy like me on your next round of radios purchases... How old are your kids, any looking to go deeper into GMRS. I vision cast my G daughter into the Space Force and we did the Huntsville, AL space museum so she see all the communication gear and is ready to go... Go Guardians.. Hope this helps, not techie like my mentor, just some personal meat. Do let us know what and why you purchase what you came up with. Just know it will be the right choice for your needs. Jack Edit after thought: I like that I can program the 805G and I have a Mac and use Chirp software and cable. I can not speak at about the other units. I noticed that Midland and maybe others are China made... I only say this for the Made in USA folks as I'm an X Law Enforcement guy with Motorola radios I like. I have openly stated that I do not like the CCP and have two adapted twin Chinese daughters in their 50's with adult America kids. I have said I not a lover of CCP actions and feel the pain for the people and companies who have to do what they do to live until CCP is history. I also need to add I was educated on Part 95 certified radios from BTWR. I wanted a radio that was certified radios for the future, NOT the hybrids that only a Ham can use. In short a certified radios per Part 95 just for GMRS. So whatever you pick make sure it is Part 95 certified radios.

Maybe some folks donated to a fund for the repeater and think of themselves as "part owner" of sorts. No excuse for being rude...I'm just puzzling out loud the reason. Unless the repeater owner says get lost, I would ignore them.

I was quite thrilled yesterday. I replaced the rubber duck antenna with a whip for my 4-watt HT and heard someone on a repeater I can receive. That repeater is a little over 22 miles away according to google maps. On a whim I went outside and gave it a shot. The fellow on the other end (the repeater owner) heard me! We had a quick conversation (I had family duties with dinner), but long enough to know it works, he heard me "well" and gave me a tip to talk with the mic close to my mouth since the distance/signal was weak enough there wouldn't be any over-deviation. HIs repeater has a preamp which helped I'm sure. I'm one happy camper.

A lot depends on your *local* community. There's traffic on the Southwest myGMRS net most hours of the day - some hours more than others, and nobody minds responding to a radio check request. We've even had to spill over to a non-networked local repeater on a occasion just to keep myGMRS Southwest open. Best thing I can think of, if you have time on your hands, is to keep that radio on during the day and be an ambassador of sorts - greet new people, say hi, welcome them to GMRS, and all that. They love that, and they come back.

I sympathize with the OP.. coming into things with the mindset of seeing cb and ham, and probably the atmosphere here, and hoping for a "ham lite" (with a hobbyist mentality), when the reality is to most users, gmrs is more like "frs plus", where people stick to their groups, and don't talk to anyone else. As others stated, a lot of users simply view it as a tool, rather than a hobby. 99% of the traffic I hear here is either schools or businesses with bubble packs, though there are a couple repeaters in range, just rarely anyone on them.

47 CFR 95.389 -> 47 CFR 2.1093.....calling out both IEEE and ANSI standards. Last I checked, both the IEEE and ANSI are still industrial standards organizations. ---

I don't thank that it will work like you want it ? Could be wrong? less you now how to find the ptt cos and so on! I use 2 tk880 for my repeater i made!

Hi Joe, As long as those radios have an accessory connector that provides PTT, COR, and RX/TX audio you should be able to interface it with a URIxB from DMK Engineering. We sell linking bundles that give you the Raspberry Pi and the URIxB, you just need to add your own cable to connect to the radios. Depending on the type of interface required, we can make custom cables for $40-50. Asterisk nodes aren't exactly plug-and-play, but the ones we sell are pretty close. We configure the software for you so once you plug in the Raspberry Pi it'll already be "on the network", but you'll still need to tune your audio settings to get the volume levels correct and make sure the PTT polarity is correct, for example. Many people buy these kits because they get you 90% of the way there and only a little fine tuning is required which is going to vary with each person's individual needs and hardware, so that's why it can't be 100% plug-and-play. For those who are interested in a DIY setup, we have the software image available or you can buy an SD card with the software preconfigured with your node information for a nominal charge. All of these can be found on the myGMRS Shop: https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/repeaters-and-accessories/products/repeater-linking-bundle https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/repeaters-and-accessories/products/sandisk-8gb-microsd-card-mygmrs-link https://shop.mygmrs.com/products/custom-repeater-cable-25-pin

Correct. Here is an example. If you are programming for what many would call a ‘550’ repeater. Your radio would be tuned to 462.5500 MHz (this is the the frequency you listen on). Your radio would be configured to transmit +5 MHz higher on 467.5500 MHz. This is called a 5 MHz positive offset. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The output is the frequency that the repeater transmits on; the same frequency that you listen to. The input frequency is the frequency that the repeater listens on; the same frequency that you transmit on. In the GMRS world, when using repeaters, the repeaters always listen to frequencies in the 467 MHz band, and always transmit on frequencies in the 462 MHz band. Convention has it that there is always 5 MHz difference between the transmit and receive frequencies. Hope this helps. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Don't assume the coverage shown on the map display in My GMRS is accurate. It's a generalization based on assumptions such a antenna height, efficiency and generally flat terrain. Software that uses more accurate Longley-Rice propagation models are very expensive and those do include terrain modeling showing coverage holes used by hills and ridges.