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We stock ours here in the US (when we can KEEP them in stock, more on the way in the next few days) for $399 including free shipping.

Just completed a GMRS test between my Jeep and the significant other. We both have Midland MXT400 w/ 6db antenna mounted on her JK and my TJ. Over 40 miles from Northern Colorado into Wyoming just south of Cheyenne. My standing elevation was at 5K' and hers traveling maxed at 6.1K' with some moderate terrain signal shadowing along the way. Clear voice typically and 3 to 5 on RX.

Retevis is having a sale. The combo pack of RT97 portable repeater plus the two RT76 was cheaper then buying the RT97 by it's self! I just paid $327.19 shipped. Last time I ordered direct from Retevis, it only took about 6 days. Hopefully this one also ships quick. https://www.retevis.com/Mobile-GMRS-repeater-RT97-Handheld-GMR-Radio-RT76/

CH. 2 is shared with FRS, and is perfectly ok for business use.

Isn’t it amazing how quality customer service endears a company to its customers? Nowadays it really takes guts and intentionality to do this, especially when faced with a customer a company might rather not deal with. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

https://www.nrs.com/product/28572/aquapac-small-vhf-classic-228

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

Hello Drabina. Welcome to myGMRS. I own the KG-805G and three other HT models. The 805 has 5 watts of power (max you are going to get on GMRS HT). It is usable right out of the box and does not require software until or unless you need it to do something beyond the basics. It is nearly as simple to set up and use as the Midland radios. On top of that, it is proving to be a pretty high performing radio for its cost. You can also use it with a mobile antenna in you car or external antenna at your home or campsite if that is appealing. It has fewer controls on the front panel which removes most of the intimidation factor often associated with other radios. It is repeater capable, but there is nothing that says you have to take advantage of that. That feature however is, IMHO, what drives most people to GMRS. Midland sells a GXT1000 radio. Back when I bought mine years ago they were nearly 5 watts. But since I bought them midland has decreased the power down to just over 2 watts for unknown reasons. Do not expect your simplex range to be dramatically better because you switch from 2w to 5w. However, the combination of improvements in radio quality, antenna quality and power together may cause you to experience a little bit better range. But don’t be disappointed if it only amounts to 5-15% increase. I live in a semi rural area that is 60% trees and I can only achieve 100% reliable communication range out to .6 miles with GRMS HTs (ranging from $35-$700 each). Yes they will go further in different directions and environments, and you experience may be different. Just trying to provide tempered expectations. One feature of the 805 that you may like is the ability to lock it to prevent accidental changes. This can be done via the radio if necessary. If you need a more advanced lock, you can use the software it so the user cannot make any changes except volume and channel. Perhaps that will be of some benefit to you. Hope this helps. Regards, Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The Wouxun 805G is not that intimidating. If you don't use privacy codes there is almost no setup required. You can just use them right out of the box pretty much. The bigger deal than the 5W is the antenna connector allowing use of an different antennas. So you can put a mag mount on it for in the car or get a Smiley GMRS super stick or a Nagoya 14" flexible whip antenna. These better antennas really do help. They are very nice radios and I like that you can have spare batteries and switch any time. If you are going to use repeaters you will want to change the display so the chan Freq is displayed rather than just channel #. This is pretty easy. Menu item 19 takes care of it. There is no power level control so if you wan to save batteries at close range you need to switch to the low power channels. That's about my only complaint. Vince

Hello Kirk, and welcome to the forum! I have been using FRS and GMRS off and on for nearly 20 years. This is the first time I have heard the suggestion of there being a ‘reluctance’ to use PL codes. You have me curious. What is the nature of the comments you’re hearing that give you this impression? My personal perspective follows. While I do use repeaters, my primary reason for having GMRS is simplex. There are times I operate both with and without PL codes. More often without them. I use codes only when I am in an area where there is heavy use of the frequencies and I want to leave my radios on for extended periods but only want to hear traffic from my group. After all that is the reason PL codes came into existence in the first place. They provided a way for different businesses and other groups to share a frequency without having to listen to with each other’s conversations. My personal experience has also shown that without codes, when in an area of low RF noise that the receiver will open squelch at a slightly greater distance without the code than with. Then there is the “real” interference thing. Two people cannot operate on the same frequency without adversely affecting the reception by the intended listeners residing within their shared coverage area. This is true no matter how many PL codes there are. The use of codes masks the presence and use of the frequency by others. A knowledgable and respectful two-way radio user knows not to transmit when the frequency is in use. When PL codes are active it is easy to overlook the fact that someone else might be talking and complacency will result in unintentional interfering transmissions. If no PL code was being used, it would be pretty obvious if someone else nearby was using the frequency. I hope this helps. I look forward to hearing more about the reluctance. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I would differ on this view. It depends on what the goal is. If you want to know the maximum possible useful GMRS range in an area, then yes, equipment will matter a lot. However, if you want to know your maximum useful range, then you, by all means, need to test with the same equipment you are going to use. An old developers saying goes something like: Test what you will use. Use what you tested.

Just stumbled across the following link which shows probable distances for a variety of different conditions. http://hflink.com/hfpack/radiorange/ Not sure how they came to these numbers, but it sure looks interesting. Michael WRSH965 Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

For testing, and to learn, type the following in to row 1: under RX Frequency, type in 462.62500. under TX Frequency, type the same thing: 462.62500 QT/DQT is Kenwood's trade-name for CTCSS or DCS a.k.a "Tone Squelch" - Decode and Encode - just leave those both blank for now. under Channel Name, type "Channel 18" under W/N, select Wide instead of Narrow, unless you are talking to Midland MicroMobiles or other FRS radios, then select Narrow. Under TX Power, select Low for the time being. You will change this later, remember, this is just for testing and practice programming. Scan Add - Yes (or no, doesn't matter yet) Optional Signal - leave it blank or select None. Then drop down the program menu from the top bar, and select "Upload data to Radio" and go from there. Your radio should re-boot after a minute or less with FRS/GMRS "Channel 18" showing in the display, and you should be able to talk to another radio on 18 with no private code set. (Private code is Midland's name for CTCSS or Tone) If it works, go back and program in channels 1-7 on Low power, and 15-22 on High power. You can add repeater channels later as needed. To find the frequencies to use, just do a google search for "FRS GMRS Frequency Chart" and you'll find it. Also note that is is illegal to use FRS channels 8-14 on a base or mobile radio, so just leave them out. Those are for half-watt handhelds only.