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What kb2ztx said. I have an N connector Bird 43 meter and love it. I have 2 UHF slugs for it and a couple of others. I like to have more than one slug handy for a particular band to serve as a sanity check if there's ever any question about the results and to check that a slug is not damaged (BTDT before). With a Bird 43 Thru-Line meter, there is no need for a "SWR meter." When tuning an antenna, your goal is to minimize the reflected power reading as much as possible. You simply measure the reflected power directly with the Bird 43 while tuning to minimize the reflected power. SWR is easily calculated from the forward and reflected power measured on the Bird 43 if you really want to know SWR.

I have 3 of the MTX275 and have yet to have an issue with needing more power than it has built in. Not sure the need for one with more unless your trying to use it for simplex over large areas. On all my repeaters it works much better than a handheld in the vehicle and on my jeep rides I still talk to folks miles away on simplex.

The perception that narrow band are not compatible with ALL GMRS repeaters is false. I know of many, including my own repeaters that run narrowband. I know the normal is wideband but they are out there and more than folks think.

I reinstalled the software and programmed my frequencies. It is working great. Thanks everyone, Happy New Year

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

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.

Front end? what front end? Lets not forget those things put out all kinds spurious RF noise all over the spectrum too... so you are screwing everyone over as well.. .but who cares... when the CCR range is only 1/4 mile all you need is that cheap 50W CCR PA, and crank that sucker all the way up like a boss,... lets boost those spurious dB even further, all that just to extend the range to a whopping 2 miles simplex... So, you don't mind the interference?, but what about others? so, what happens when your CCR spews all kinds of RF noise all over the band? That doesn't matter? There are some of us who care and spend a lot of money trying to avoid interference to others... G.

First, I'm sorry if this comes off as cross, however the way you had typed and worded this message promotes the air of "I want it therefore it should be given to me" type of attitude, which to many repeater owners, translates to abuse of equipment they paid for and maintain. Everyone has a gripe, its discussion of the concern or issue in an adult manor that brings some form of resolution or at very least a little more respect for you as a person. Now second, if you have read the FCC rules that you agreed to, you will find the following: 47 CFR 95.1705 (D) Individual Licensee Duties, The holder of an individual license: (2) May allow any person to use (i.e., benefit from the operation of) its GMRS repeater, or alternatively, may limit the use of its GMRS repeater to specific persons; (3) May disallow the use of its GMRS repeater by specific persons as may be necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this section. Another words, as a repeater owner, I have the authority to refuse access to users who fail to follow FCC rules, or fail to follow rules I have set for the use of the repeater (Including collection of any club fees associated with maintaining said repeater/repeaters) or if you conduct yourself in a way that may be harmful or interfering of any communications through said repeater. I have banned people for prolonged "key up" times where they were intentionally jamming the repeater in hopes of damaging the unit. I also banned a user who tried to tell me I had to pay him for the use of the repeater I had bought and set up. This means that when you contact the FCC, they will likely ignore you, or if you do get a response, it'll likely be "The system owner has legal authority to restrict the systems use to specific individuals."

Those antennas can be ordered with the amount of down tilt you need to offset the squished doughnut enough to regain the coverage needed.

I am going to limit my answer to the choices you gave me. If repeater access is not required or desired from you HT’s you can go Midland route. They are the simplest of all radios to use and are cheapest to replace when damaged. If you want repeater access, then I recommend the Wouxun combination. The reason being is that I have had good first hand experience with the KG-805G, but also because neither the 805G or 1000G suffer from the programming deficiencies of the BF and Midland. The Wouxun radios will allow you to pre-program up to 128 different simplex and/or repeater frequency PL combinations. While 128 is most certainly more than you will ever need, the BF and Midland radio suffer from a limit of 1 memory channel per frequency, which means you cannot create multiple memory presets (channels) that use the same frequency but different PL codes. A no-go in my book if the area where they will be used has multiple repeaters available that operate on the same frequency. Good Luck. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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.