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1. I doubt you would be able to make that modification as it is controlled in the firmware. BUT 2. DO NOT DO THAT. There is a reason some of the channels are restricted to low power. There have a narrow channel spacing and use of high power would bleed into adjacent channels. Also, those channels are designed for nearby communications with the ability for channel re-use in adjacent locations. Running 50 watts would stomp all over everyone else on the channel. As for modifying a ham radio to run on GMRS. That is possible, many people do it, but operating a non-GMRS certified radio on GMRS is against the FCC regulations. But, if that is what you wanted, perhaps you should have purchased the UV-50X2. Should you decide to do buy a ham radio and use it on GMRS, please continue to respect the power, bandwidth and channel spacing specifications for GMRS.

I’d like to add the following comments, not about GRMS per se, but related to the OP’s suggestion about writing an iOS app when there is already a myGMRS.com Android app out there (which I have, and I use, and I like a lot). I am a member of a few local car clubs, and as a computer programmer by trade (retired now), I wrote and still maintain their websites. When the need for mobile apps arose, I researched how to do it for them. The following points are what I discovered, and may be appropriately superimposed on top of the suggestion of writing an iOS version of the myGRMS Android mobile app: 1 – Market Share In my research (at the time, circa spring 2020) I found that market share for Android vs. iOS mobile apps were somewhere around 77-87% Android, to 12-23% iOS, and <5% Windows (the number changes all the time, so it doesn’t seem add up to 100%). Now in fairness, last I checked, iOS market share was gaining on Android, but it is slow and still had a LONG way to go to be close. 2 - Cost Android Studio (AS) development software is open-source and is free to download for use on a Windows PC. I downloaded it to my existing laptop PC and it runs just fine. I hooked my smart phone via USB for testing. So, using AS for free, my existing PC, existing monitors and existing smart phone, I successfully developed two Android mobile apps for almost* no additional cost. For me to have developed my same two apps on iOS, I would have had to research, choose and then purchase an iOS development tool (hundreds of $), purchase a new Mac (thousands of $), probably learn a new programming language (thousands of $ in lost time), and buy a new iPhone (~$700-$1200). EVERYTHING Apple sells is grossly more expensive than their Windows and Android counterparts. It's not even close. *In fairness though, I did have to upgrade my Windows PC memory to 4GB (cost about $25) and register as an Android application developer ($25). So there’s that. 3 - Political As people continue to use Apple products, remember that Apple has always been proprietary (remember when the Feds asked Apple to help them crack terrorist’s cell phone encryption, and Apple said no because it was an intrusion on their privacy?). (I hesitated including this point, but the political aspects of Apple are hard to ignore now given the culture they and our political leaders have imposed on us against our will, JMHO). 4 – Efficacy And finally, by writing an Android app first, one would clearly capture most of the need, as I did, and at a much lower cost and time to market. AND, subsequently one may find that an equivalent iOS app just isn’t needed (who doesn’t… even iPhone owners… now own an Android tablet?) In conclusion, after writing my Android apps, I did get a few people asking about providing an iOS version. But unless my time constraints diminish and market share and costs change significantly, I just don’t see how to justify it. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but regarding an iOS version of myGMRS, great, if Rich has the time, money and desire to do it. …

Could it be the squelch settings? Some radios have fairly complex settings that can only be changed in software.

Newbies may also start with Maxwell equations (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s_equations). Learning is good, right? It's like a dancing lesson offered by Lord! Snark off: I still think that when somebody asks about "decent cheap SWR meter" the NanoVNA is a wrong answer. With all due respect to the NanoVNA and those who offered the advice.

The base simplex channels (1-22) and repeater (23-30) are preloaded. The channel named "rpt19" (it will be preset 27)is the one that equates to a 462.650 output. Tune to that channel using the channel knob or arrows, then hit menu. Scroll to "t-ctc and hit menu again, and use the arrows or channel knob to scroll through the list to the appropriate ctcss code. Hit menu to confirm....you can also go back a couple options in the menu and set "r-ctc" as well using the same method, if you want to filter incoming traffic to the repeater only. Hit exit, and you should be good to go.

NanoVNA is nothing less than miraculous piece of equipment, but it has drawbacks. The biggest: it is extremely unfriendly for newbies. The second: it can't measure power. And the third: screen sucks, or you must use PC, that is also may not be convenient. True, you can't find better tool for $50. But you must know how to use it.

Get a NanoVNA v2, a dummy load and test every segment of cable in the system, measure for impedance, if any given segment of cable is not 50 ohms (or close to it ) then its time to buy better cable, test every connector as well. I learned this the hard way, so now I only buy USA made Harbor Industries RG400, with MILSPEC silver plated N-connectors or Mini-UHF (since all my gear is Motorola) for short patches, and for mobile operation. Quality RG400 (or RG142 if you plan on permanent install) cables that are properly made will have impedance well within 1 Ohm of 50 ohms, at any frequency in the UHF range, will vary slightly depending on the length of the cable) You can measure adapters with a dummy load and NanoVNA... Measure the dummy load impedance directly, then place the adapter between NanoVNA and the dummy load, if the impedance changes by more than 1 Ohm, time to buy a better adapter. I recommend silver plated, and/or trimetal adapters only, nothing with chrome. And before I forget, don't expect PL259 to hold 50 Ohm impedance above 300 Mhz, they are severely lacking above 200 Mhz, so my advice, ditch the PL259 stuff, and go with N.... otherwise, the impedance mismatch will thwart any chances of having a decent system. G.

LOL, 1.5 kW? hahaha, that's basically centimetre band radar!! just make sure you're several hundred feet under the antenna when you key that thing... 3 1/2 years!! and counting... but... who is counting? G.

You're welcome, NCRick. Which one of the radios you asking? The HT1250 software is been EOL for a while now, I am sure it can be found on eBay for very cheap. The CPS you probably want for the HT1250/CDM radios is called "Professional Radio CPS" and the version you want is probably R06.12.02, which is what some of the people I know use while still allowing for 25/20 wideband operation. These are really great radios, most people don't think much of those, but they are absolutely bargains... and the receivers are really really good. They make those in a variety of frequencies, from 29 MHz all the way to 800 MHz I think. The XPR6550 is a FM/DMR radio, and the sotware used is called MotoTRBO CPS16 which is EOL, and can be found on eBay for very cheap, although you can also get a Motorola subscription which will get you 3 years of firmware upgrades for all the newest MotoTRBO radios, etc... probably not what you need for just GMRS... I personally find CPS16 a far better product than the newest CPS 2.0 contraption.... which IMO, is a huge step back, almost to the point of being as clumsy as the clunky-a$$ ancient Professioan Radios CPS from two decades ago... so... The cables for XPR6550 portables runs from 30-80 bucks, depending on if you want a genuine cable or the BlueMaxers49 eBay one, which works too... I have both... so if you just need to get by, the 39 dollar one will work. The EVX-539 CPS the software was free from VSOL (Vertex Standard Online) It can still be found if you look around, and worst case you just buy it for a few bucks. There are two versions of this radio, which use different CPS, so, for the older segment LCD version you'll need CE142 and for the newer, Dot Matrix display you'll need CE151. The cable is the same for both, however, you'll probably need to get a genuine FIF-12, b/c I've tried a couple of the cheaper ones and none worked... so, the FIF-12 will set you back ~100 dollars, but its guaranteed to work. The EVX-539 have a fairly good receivers, but IMO, after trying the Motorola Professional Series, including the HT1250/CDM750 combo, I think the HT1250 is a better radio in terms of overall FM performance, easier to tune and I think better audio. I also found that the CDMxxxx mobile radios to be absolutely spectacular in terms of receiver performance, too, on par with the mighty XPR5550e I've ISO-teed... so... if you don't need digital, my vote goes to the CDM750/1250/1550 mobiles and for the HT750/1250/1550 portables (walkies) (The nomenclature is 750 = no screen, 1250 = screen with limited keypad, 1550 = screen with full numeric keypad) EDIT: I think there is an option to make an HT1550 FPP, (front panel programmable) but I would ask around for more info. The 1250 not sure if there is an FPP since it has a minimal set of keys), the 750 is just a rotary switch with a couple of buttons, so that one you'll need the CPS. I've seen on Youtube people doing FPP with the 6550, so I know there is a way to make it FPP, but I am not sure how to do it. The EVX-539 I don't think there is an FPP option, or at least not that I am aware of, so you'll need the CPS for this radio. Good luck! G.

Actually, neither. It’s compiled from input of repeater operators and is only as accurate as they make it. Thus there are gaps and inaccuracies. There are a number of threads here on this exact issue. I encourage you to find them via the search function and read up on the situation.

My understanding is that there is a MyGMRS app, (I have it on my phone) however it is basic as Rich is the only one working on it, not to mention he is maintaining the site, a linked server, weekly nets, as well as a full time job and his family. Rich is doing a lot and so some projects will take some time.

Did you realize that post is 3 1/2 years old, and was in sarcastic jest?