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One thing I think many would like is an ignore feature where posts from ignored users would not show. The ability to edit your personal ignore list would be required so names could be taken off the list as well as being added.

Check the Wikipedia page re: GMRS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service#Frequency_Table

In a nutshell if you plan to use repeaters near you (after asking for permission) then you would use wideband as the majority or repeaters are wideband. If you only plan to talk radio to radio and never use a repeater FRS and narrowband is fine. I could type a entire document on pro and con of each but if you search you will find a ton of info.

Very true. And since they won’t have a license and will not be in tune with sources that cause them to see the warning, it really is all for not. Nothing wrong with the reminder though. Yep, it caused all of us to be reminded of it. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Holy smokes... an APX8000, a flagship in the Motorolian Empire... and they call me the snob with a handful of XPR7550e hahaha... G.

Please, lets leave politics out of this.

For all of you who are due to renew soon .... In accordance with Murphy's Law the fee reduction will take effect the day after you renew.

Exactly my point. The local Police are unlikely to bother forwarding misaddressed letters. Instead, they probably have good supply of “Return to Sender” stickers for that eventuality. And, since the FCC may well send a letter to your “new” address confirming the change, you would pretty much have ensured a worst case scenario. Simple lesson here... if you don’t want your address listed, get a P.O. box from the post office or mail forwarding service. But, don’t try to fool “Uncle Charlie.” The joke may end up being on you.

I know that an address is required. A P.O. box is equally as acceptable as a physical address. While there may be a rule that clarifies differently, I would think that any address you use, so long as you personally legally can receive mail there you would be ok. My current understanding is if FCC mails you something and it is returned as undeliverable the license is suspended or revoked. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Michael Martin, thanks for posting that. That notice was a topic on amateur radio yesterday, but mainly because it is so unusual for the FCC to issue anything on weekends. Seems to be a indicator that the rule may play in to the charges/prosecution/fines against some trying to overthrow our democracy. Some folks do not realize that when the break the laws they do know about, they often break laws they don’t know about. I would not be surprised to learn that perhaps less than 1% of GMRS licensees read the rules. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Welcome to the forum Rick. Enjoy your time here. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Thank you. I think its kinda obvious, but worth reminding people. G.

Mbrun is correct. The Midland micro mobile units have very limited custom capabilities. When one privacy code is selected, that’s what you get in and out. He is also correct about the MXT400 but there are only 7 frequency slots available to program split tone or custom frequencies. Midland makes great radios but they are also made to be as simple as possible. I recommend these to people that don’t want to learn anything about radios - just want them to work when they’re needed. For the rest of us, I recommend something else so you can make them work the way you want.

CTCSS/DCS Codes are used with and without repeaters. They are the same “privacy codes” used by the bubble pack FRS radios you buy at Walmart. Two radios operating on the same frequency and that share the same CTCSS/DCS codes will typically operate together. Non-HT radios are not legally permitted to transmit on GRMS/FRS channels 8-14, so even the 50X1 should not allow communication on those channels. Non-HT radios are only permitted to listen on those channels. UV5R is not legally permitted for use on GMRS or FRS. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

+1 on the ICOM. If you are going ham, then get a ham radio. The purpose of GMRS is not the same as amateur ham operator. CCR = Cheap China Radio. (are cheap, have low performing receivers, tend to have dubious FCC certification, potentially illegal to TX on any band, and they usually put out spurious, or dirty, RF signals out too) I don't understand what MacJack is talking about Motorola radios not being what they used to years back, or the gotcha, maybe he can elaborate a bit more on that?... but the fact, tho, is that they still outperform CCRs by an ample margin. So, I think the ICOM you stated will make a fine first radio. But, if you just need something dirt-cheap to get started in GMRS repeater operation, then know there are much cheaper alternatives to CCRs than the Wouxuns, with identical performance for GMRS repeater operation. My vote goes to the Baofeng BF-888s, at 9 dollars a pop. (or a pair nowadays? ) you can never go wrong with that, the ultimate disposable radio. I have more than a dozen or so of those... G.

I'll bite. So, if you are going to use repeaters to chat with other GMRS licensed operators, then any UHF radio will work. If you want something just to get started then go with a Baofeng BF-888s. It doesn't get any cheaper than 9 dollars, which is, if IIRC, what I paid for one of those last time. Don't expect to break any simplex long range contexts with it... but it will communicate with GMRS repeaters just fine. After playing around with GMRS for a while, then evaluate what you really want, and what the typical usage scenario would be. Is simplex range what you want? or you prefer chatting with other GMRS owners in repeaters? Maybe what you want is Ham radio, and not GMRS, which is a very different license than GMRS. In GMRS there are just 22 channels, so things like VFO, etc... are not needed, you only need to scan 22 channels. Most hams, used to VFO on their radios like to have one, which was probably the thing to have 20 years ago, when everything was FM..., nowadays, however, most, if not all radio communications in UHF are digital modulation (P25, DMR, NDXN, D-Star), which most of these FM radios won't do... so having the ability to scan the entire UHF band won't be of much use when all you'll hear is bleep bleep, thunk thunk thunk thunk (DMR) or a hissing noise like a good old modem (P25, D-star) etc.. So, again, for ham operation a VFO comes in handy since most of the ham stuff is all FM analog. but the rest of the world is moving away from analogue communications. Keep in mind, though, that if its long simplex GMRS range what you seek, you'll need to pay to play. G.

gman1971 we are all very aware of your opinion of any radio other than some professional part 90 radio. The problem with your opinion, is that if we all took that route, companies would stop manufacturing new Part 95 radios. Yes, I am very aware of what Superheterodyne is. I grew up in a radio shop, it was my dad's business. The point is though, the radio in question is not a radio on chip radio. That is all I said. The attitude of some on this site is getting to be as bad as the other radio site. It is a shame. All that is accomplished by this type of attitude is to drive new users off. Some people's needs can be very easily met using some of the radios you deem junk. Use what you want, and I am not saying you are wrong when you use a Part 90 radio from Motorola, or Kenwood, they are great radios, I know. Some people however want and nice off the shelf solution, and Midland, Wouxun, and others will fit their needs nicely. The Wouxun radio in question would be great for me, due to its detachable faceplate, which would make mounting in my car possible. I don't have room for a Motorola in my car, there is no good way to mount it. If I can take the largest part and mount it under the seat, then that would work nicely. Too many people here spout off about a radio without ever actually using it, seeing it, or even reading its specs. It's ridiculous and counterproductive. Not everyone needs, or desires, a Part 90 professional radio.

I don't really care much where a product is made. As has been said here before - CCR has simply become a shorthand for any "Radio on a Chip" design that uses the RDA1846 or a similar chip. Those radios claim to do some spectacular things, and in a way, they do. However, they don't do it very well in the Real world. The one we all live in. One where there are other radio transmitters on nearby channels. I'd much rather start with a radio that has good front end filtering and effective sensitivity combined with selectivity - than to have an FM broadcast receiver, or a flashlight. Especially if I'm building a Repeater. As for buying stuff of Ebay - yes, you do need to be more careful. However, if I bought something off Ebay that wasn't working - I'd send it back & get a refund. Ebay makes that pretty easy. Just because someone calls out a radio for being well marketed garbage doesn't mean they're a Snob, or anti-Asian. It doesn't mean they're stuck in the Stone Age or admiring the glow from vacuum tubes. It just means they've seen this movie before, and they know how it ends. Take my advice, or don't. BuyTwoWayRadios.com is marketing something. I'm giving some free advice.