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Just to make sure you understand... all repeaters are privately owned and it is up to the owner to decide if, who and how people get access. Some may be “wide open” with no permission required, while others may indeed be private and only for the use of a family or small group of friends. So, when asking for permission, which is fine and proper, just keep in mind that the owner is under no obligation to even respond to your request. Though, it would be nice for them to at least send a note back saying, “no, but thanks for asking.” They do not have to.

Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty aluminum foil. Ok, seriously, simple a/c cords do not usually present an RFI problem unless you have some devices that require a ground, but that are not grounded. Motors can be a source of noise. But, at the signal levels you are looking for, the frequencies you are listening to (uhf) and the use of FM rather than AM, your local environment is not likely to have a significant impact on your reception. The case where you might find problems would be trying to receive very weak “short wave” signals on a small radio with the built-in antenna. If you want better reception, the best thing you could do would be to setup an outdoor antenna, and the higher, the better. You do not need anything fancy or expensive, even a DIY 1/4 wave dipole would make a huge difference. (google for build a uhf antenna)

So, if I get this right... You purchased a radio without really looking into its capabilities, features and limitations. Even though those are well discussed in many sources, including Amazon and this forum. Then, when the radio does not allow you to use it in a manner it was not designed for, you want to return it. And finally, you threaten to give the radio a bad review if the manufacturer will not support your attempt to modify their product in a way that would cause it to operate in a manner for which it was not intended and is not certified. (BTW, this is technically called extortion.)

Heh - my pair of "garbage" Retevis RT76P's are kicking @ss here in New Mexico - and they're on sale for under $30 dollars. You can spend more on a used set of commercial HT's that won't make a dirt spec of difference in the real world - except maybe lull you into thinking you've got some bragging rights. It's your money.

While looking up something else today, I came across some information about the Midland MXT-275 that indicates it can be reprogrammed to change some the the default settings. Bad news first. This is only theoretically possible. The required software is not readily available. The good news. The radio can be programmed with OEM software and a special programming cable that plugs into the Microphone. This was discussed in a thread on reddit The thread was initially about the MXT-400, and includes a nice video showing the programming of that radio. However, 3 days ago a user named looks_good_on_paper posted some notes about his experience with the MXT-275 and an email exchange with Midland. He also included a link to an Australian video about programming the MXT-275. Unfortunately, his conversation with Midland hit a dead end. The challenge. The MXT-275 is, like everything else Midland sells, almost certainly manufactured by another company for Midland. So, like the MXT-400, software might be available for other versions of that hardware. It is also possible that the Midland software might be available somewhere out there on the web. The reddit article gives some information about other similar Midland models sold in Europe and Australia. So, perhaps that info might help track down other versions of the radio. In any case, it looks like the radio can be "fixed," and good luck to those who wish to pursue the challenge of getting the tools together.

You know, I can’t imagine having just one radio for GMRS, if for no other reason that to be able to confirm that other radios in the arsenal are operational. For me, given that GMRS is first and foremost a second means of family comms, having multiple radios is a practical necessity. There is always a spare radio around to use for verifying the others are working. Welcome to GMRS. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Interesting. This link shows a different radio, with the 200 MOQ: https://www.retevis.com/Retevis-900MHz-License-Free-Two-Way-Radio/ This radio caught my attention given that I'm a DTR radio owner and use them a LOT. The DTRs are my professional quality digital replacement for GMRS/FRS and MURS for local on-site simplex type use with family and friends. My wife loves using them too when we are out shopping or doing whatever. The Motorola DTRs work amazingly well and are capable of outperforming conventional UHF Part 90/95 portables on simplex. They totally blow FRS away. Being all digital and completely scanner proof comes as a bonus. Rich, as a side note, is this 900MHz ISM forum a new forum just created on the site? If so, GREAT!

There's also a DMR 900MHz they claim falls under ISM @ 1W, but we all know you need FHSS to operate at 1W license-free in the 900 MHz ISM band. Your move, Retevis. Here's the link, no MOQ. No FCC ID yet, either. https://www.retevis.com/RT10-900MHz-ISM-band-frequency-digital-radio#A9212AX1

I really like my 805G's and am impressed that I can reach a repeater 15 miles away on the stock antenna. Switching to the Nagoya 771 antenna improved my signal to that is recommended. I've been a ham since 1985 and my experience is that this Wouxun is a very respectable radio. My radio did "desense" my wife's radio 20' away while I was talking on the repeater. So she did not hear me talking on the repeater - just the other guy. But I think this would be even be expected even on a Ham HT. It's just a fact of life for hand held radios. I really like the available accessories like swap-able battery packs, speaker mics, BNC adapter etc. The powerwerx speaker mic is really nice for the money. I wish it had a power level select button to reduce power at close range. We always switch channels to the .5W group to save power when close. Other than that I really have no complaints. It would be nice if there were waterproof IP7. Nice radios. Vince

Hey Michael, Thanks for posting the pic of your telescopic mast ! I have been considering that same DXE model for use at my station. The mast is straight while holding the weight of the antenna and coax ! says alot for it's rigiddity , and thats without guy lines, very nice ! -Rich

you can use Tapatalk for quick access to most forums. Including mygmrs. 73

Pretty much my thoughts on the 805G. Named repeaters, front panel prog for the most part, and simplicity of single band. Reach local repeaters with factory antenna and work well off-road simplex. Still like my TK-3170 and the new Retvis 76 is ok also, but dual band takes some getting used to.. great price and good performance so far, but had fixed antenna. Will likely hand off to young grandsons for off-road use. Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

I certainly wouldn't announce in a public forum that I plan to break federal laws. Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

I like the way you think! In my business, the mantra is: "....What do you think? What do you know? What can you prove?....." In that order Best, JAS

Welcome to the world of GMRS David. Berkinet gives good advice. If it is at all possible, setup your antenna outside, and as high as you can practically get it, even when using a hand-held indoors. I personally have and regularly use an Ed-Fong roll-up J-Pole antenna with my HT while indoors. I use it mainly when I know I will be talking, rather than in listen-only mode. This antenna is easy to move and gives me the flexibility to move from room to room. In each room I have a hook immediately in front of the window on which to readily hang the antenna. The hook is always there but is merely a heavy duty tie-wrap (actually off a bag of coffee) in the shape of an S-hook that slips over the curtain rod. I do have an outdoor antenna as well, which is dedicated to the base radio. But since the base is not portable, the HT with that Ed-Fong continues to see daily use. I even take it out to the garage. I do experience elevated noise pickup from different radios when they are located on the computer desk and I am using only the rubber duck antenna. However, when I set the radio on the window sill or switch to the Ed-Fong the offending noise goes away. Regards Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I've had good luck using my old dual band Comet CA-2x4MB, no ground plane required, on the Jeep. On the GMRS frequencies I get 1.3:1 at 462 MHz, 1.05:1 at 464 MHz and 1.5:1 at 468 MHz. On the 2M and 70cm Ham bands the match is good. Surprising it's OK on the 5 MURS frequencies too. I have another one I've used indoors, never been exposed to the outside weather, and performs about the same.

I think you misunderstood what I said. I know I am not saving any money. What I said is by not having to pay for a pole, that money will be put towards the coax.

That is good to know that of you own a Midland MXT400 can be switched to wide band which make is sound so much better. Thinking Midland was only narrow band caused me to purchase a wide band KG-805G Jack

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.

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. …

If you live in a very rough terrain area, high gain will be very detrimental. I found that going with lower gain (as in Laird FG4500 unity gain antenna) gave me overall better performance than a 4dBd Hustler G6.... so keep that in mind. G.

A agree with keeping the coax as short as practical. The longer the run the higher the performance of the coax you will need. Here is a picture of me within the last 30 days having my own field day with the push-up mast for my home. Antenna is 56’ in the air. From a step ladder the antenna can be raised to full height and the coax secured to the mast in just a few minutes. It can be lowered in the same same amount of time. The mast will soon move to its permanent home immediately next to the house where it will secured and guyed. I was amazed how plumb this unit remained at full extension, even without guys. Here is the unit I am using. https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-tfk46-hd Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Interesting read for a new person such as I. I'll comment that as a Bow-fang, MXT400 and Wouxun 805g owner, the feature-set of the 805g is perfect for what I want. With the software and cable I have, the radio was super easy to configure for me and is set for all the normal channels (including repeater channels) and several other "extra" channels I customized as copies of the repeater channels but with the tones I want and a corespondent NAME label which is intuitively recognized by me. Separate tones are easy as can be. There is nothing confusing nor anything exotic. Once programmed for our use, my wife or anyone else can pick it up and use it. If my midland MXT400 had that functionality it would be fantastic. The other CCR has way to many bells, whistles and associated buttons, displays and who-haas for me to remember when I'm doing anything. I just don't like it but it's fine I suppose (it's a "part 0" radio anyhow). I'll be checking into the midland software. If it is certified for one company it should be certifiable for another.

Have programmed Kenwood TK-3170 and 880, I now have 2 8180s pre-programmed from used-radios (16 channels) but will get in add some repeaters and other goodies just the same. As stated above, lots of options with the free Kenwood software. Mine will go in my SxS and my Cherokee XJ. Had a blast yesterday wheeling with a gang; handed out HT and have them convinced to ditch the CB and go GMRS, especially with a few open repeaters in the area. Tried Chirp for the first time today and struggled. More novice errors than anything I suppose. Good luck

Just got my 805G after T-Day and wanted to connect to my repeater in our area... had some setup issue but kept asking questions and some great guys PM me with software programing to make it happen for radio check with my repeaters operator. So if you need some input, PM me and we can walk it through.... I'm thankful for this forum and BTWR who lead me to 805G and willing to purchase a second one but have to ask to make should if I over look another good HT... Only asking so I do not have buyers remorse. My pros are can swap out accessories between the two 805G... great connection and sound to area repeater.. Can program it now that I know what I'm doing, I think... Cons, are.... thinking.... it is Chinese, no my two adopted daughters are and husband of one is my biking and Jeeping buddy. Still thinking... OK it is not America made, that the best I could come up with being a buy American guy. O I thought of another con but it is not radio fault... Can not sit in my Lazy Boy chair in the basement and reach the repeater... Have to go upstairs out of the bunker... All this to say if this is your first HT get it.... So I'm waiting until Monday to place my order for second unit with BTWR plus hopping the value accessory pack is not longer out of stock. Will be listening for you...

As time passes, I've collected a few acronyms that I did not know (realizing of course that the pros out there will think these are most basic, but I truly didn't know all of them). Below is a short list that I think could easily appear as a single activity page on the Mobile App, and would be most helpful to beginners like me. Here's what I have as a starting point: Radio Related (obvious ones left out) Acronym - Meaning CCR - Cheap Chinese Radio CSQ - CTCSS - Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System DCS - Digital Coded Squelch FPP - HT - Hand-held Talkie LMR - Land Mobile Radio NB - Narrow Band OP - Original Poster ORI - Open Repeater Initiative OST - QED - QSO - RX - Receive SAR - Search And Rescue SMH - SWR - Short Wave Radio ?? TX - Transmit WB - Wide Band WX - Weather Common not necessarily radio Acronym - Meaning AFAIK - As far as I know BTW - By The Way IIRC - If I recall correctly IMHO - In my humble opinion IMO - In my opinion OP - Original Poster OTOH On the other hand PCE - Pretty Clever, Eh? WAF - Wife Acceptance Factor WFH - Work From Home YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary Please comment if some of these are wrong, and certainly fill in the missing meanings and add any new acronyms that you think should be on the lists. ...

OK. You’ve got me thinking. I started going through linked items and thought to myself. “What the heck. You just got off work and its time to let the mind rest.” Anyhow, On a related note I found this little diddy that relates to the topic. It as part of this stackoverflow post: https://ham.stackexchange.com/questions/3692/is-free-space-path-loss-dependent-on-frequency The study of RF propagation in air is new for me so I am going to need some time to digest. It sounds like this is something you are really passionate about. What seems to make perfect sense to me is that if you radiate a given amount of power from a point source in space that the intensity of that power at some given point a given distance away would be the same, regardless of frequency. However, when considering the physical size of the capture device, larger wavelength devices feature larger capture areas thus the amount of power impacting the antenna would be greater. Using microwave dishes as an example, the dish is quite large compared to the wavelength. The dish provides a large area to capture the radiate signal to reflect, redirect and focus the energy onto a small wavelength antenna. So, because the antenna is physically small, some means is needed to capture more of the available energy. Now that I am entering the ham world more seriously I imagine I studying more things like this. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk