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The sorry fact is, this kind of market protectionism comes back to BITE, and hard! All this *bogus* "national security" posturing just means that other nations will pull the same stunt on us. You and I, consumers, will end up the ones paying for it.

I use it per the rules, even for test transmissions to a new repeater, etc.

I'm just wondering if these "letter of the law" guys are the same guys that do 65 in the high-speed lane then turn the highbeams on when 15 cars swerve around to the right and then cut them off one after the next.

There are no equipment regulations for amateur radios like there are for Part 90 and 95 radios. While the radios may in fact be better in some cases, they are not FCC certified as better. No, the radios are not allowed to interfere with others outside the amateur space, but the amateur bands are miles wider that the GMRS band. If a GMRS radio splatters a little it is more likely to adversely affect commercial licensees or public service (bad). In an amateur radio splatters a little it is most likely only going to affect other amateurs (not as bad) Also two sets of rules for Amateur and GMRS. Just because you have an amateur license does not mean you know the GMRS rules and vice versus. Many out there choose to disregard the rules and do what you are asking about. Also, much amateur equipment on the market is not capable of limiting the power to the GMRS limits, particularly when it comes to the 467 interstitial frequencies. So there are a few reasons for you. There are others too. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

If your following the FCC rules by the letter! If you using any Channel/Freq at the higher power levels, your using GMRS. This does REQUIRE your callsigns, not just repeater use. at the start, after 15 minutes and at the end of your communications. That's the difference between FRS and GMRS, the higher power levels on the shared Channel/Freqs. Unit number are to be used after your Call Sign, if calling / talking to someone in your family, using your GMRS license. Now if it’s for an official emergency use, usually the main coordinator, will assign you a unit number and record document your name and call sign.In my case, working with the state, county and regional. We then switch to unit ID and Last name.Some on GMRS and some on their digital band.

Thanks, Radioguy. Lots of options between those two sites.

A dummy load is required when you want to get accurate power measurements from your power meter. A dummy load can help confirm your SWR meter is (at least partially) calibrated. A good dummy load connected to the output of the SWR meter (in place of the antenna) should cause the SWR meter to always read 1:1. If it does not, you either have a defect meter or a defective dummy load. No question is a dumb question if you don’t know the answer to it. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

There is a place called aquapac.net that sells special radio bags to make them waterproof. Or just use a ziploc bag and poke the antenna through. Make a small starter hole first. Not waterproof but pretty good. The DeWalt FRS radio is listed as IP67 if you really need waterproof. (Going from 2W to 5W is just a little more than 3dB.) I think somebody mentioned that the KG 905 is more water resistant than the 805. BTW, there are several different batteries available for the 805. It's very practical to have a set of spares. So, in my book the 805 has a lot going for it. Of course the 905 sounds nice too. I like the transmit power level switch for one thing. But I'm happy with the 805's. Vince

I too have the Midland mag mount. Found out the cable that comes with the mount (RG58/a/u) is a high loss cable. I used a coax loss calculator (link below) and my Midland MXT275 15 watt radio is now only a 7 watt radio using the mag mount cable's 9 meter length. By cutting it down to 8 feet it becomes a 12.2 watt radio. I will be cutting mine as soon as I have the time. My 6 DB Midland antenna only has a 1.10 or so RWS. The higher that number gets the more loss is incurred.... Link to the calculator: https://www.qsl.net/co8tw/Coax_Calculator.htm Best, JAS WRKP245

I would like the tech to back up his assertion by demonstrating to you just how much power the antenna radiates when using more feed-line than with less, all else remaining equal. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

drabina, let me weight in... I'm a newbie and my first two HT was the 805G with reviews I read from mbrun and others, it is the great radio... BUT then I got a data cable and use CHIRP on my Mac and the world of making life easier to setup radio was so helpful. I added several personal channels on the end of the radio channel list as well as for several repeaters and channel our family uses to most to be able to use with older FRS Cobras etc around the house or campground with the kids and G kids. So that was back in Nov/Dec and reading this forum, asking questions in post as well as PM to my mentors and coaches. Well I got a KG-905G from BTWR https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-905g.html with a 15.5 antenna and it great distance... I'm still formulating and writing a reviews. So far the feature I like the most is it is more beefer, great battery life, more water resistant as I have a Jeep top off from Spring-Summer-Fall. But the best feature is channel scanning by groups... I have made up so many groups like my repeater group with favorite channels, FRS channels, Just GMRS repeater channels to hear or monitor the repeaters that I do not have the PL code. So what I'm saying is I was like you, KISS at first but after getting involved in GMRS and where I'm at now, I would purchased a KG-905G over the 805G... no regrets as the 805G works for the family, light weight and easy to use but for me where I'm at the 905G is the answers. My cost justification is I can still use my 6 FRS with the G Kids without a license and teaching them to do radio correctly. Have fun, you will get what is best for you and family, so let us know what you pick and why. O I should say since I'm a fellow newbie I offer help to you, just PM me and will help if you pick and get the data cable with software or other accessories... (This offer goes out to all newbie with a 805G or 905G as well.) I found the secret sauce which will make sense and you will be up and running quickly. Jack

I will bite again too. Repeaters are private property. If you have one in your area and you have the repeater owner’s permission to use, consider yourself blessed, and respect it as such. No one said that you (or I) will actually have access to someone else’s repeater. What the GMRS does allow us all to do is share the airwaves and it extends us the permission to put up our own repeaters for our families use and to freely share with others as we see fit. On the flip side, if we decide, as a prospective repeater owner, to publicize that we have repeater and allude to the fact we may give permission upon request then it would seem equally respectful to honor the requester with a response. As old saying goes, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” What we owe each other is respect. One final thought. Locally there is a repeater owner that had really hoped to have a repeater in service for area residents to use. The repeater owner listed it on myGMRS. I was gracefully granted permission early last summer, yet a repeater useful to me never materialized. It is online now with about a 1-2 mile working radius. Perfect for the kids in the neighborhood or the neighborhood watch. The person no longer responds to any inquiries. This could be perhaps because he did not achieve the 10-15 mile radius alluded to on myGMRS that he thought he would achieve, or perhaps he did not realize the cost and burden of repeater ownership. Conditions change. Be respectful of that too. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Well, the GMRS group (NSEA) I belong to has no "dues" at all, but does assign unit numbers. They are not referred to as "Tactical..." however! Nothing so pretentious as that...

Not knowing what kind of radio you're using, or the exact style of headset you prefer, I'd point you over to Impact Communications & tell you to browse through what they've got available. I'm thinking you can buy directly from their store even without being a dealer if you use a credit card. Their quality is pretty good, the pricing is decent, and their service and selection is better than you'll find at any of the "big box" online stores. When I go searching for audio accessories, Impact is my first stop if I can't find what I need through OEM. http://www.impactcomms.com Klein is another option - and they have some Bluetooth options that other manufacturers don't carry. I'd recommend Impact over Klein. http://www.kleinelectronics.com

There's a firmware update that allows pl tones to be changed.

It could be a regional/cultural differences thing... Out here in the southwest - we're *super* friendly (everybody's a friend when you're in the desert...) , and we make it a point to personally welcome folks to GMRS and let them know that it's ok - we all have "mic fright" at first, and it'll wear off soon enough, and people will get to know your callsign in time. It's how we roll in these parts. Callsigns are basically treated as calling cards - you can announce your callsign followed by "monitoring" - if your friends are out there, they'll respond.