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Patiently waiting for the 905 G to get back in stock. Have one on order.

Anyone buy anything from them? How was the after sales support and kits? Thinking about picking up an Anytone 6666 10m rig for the truck. So I can **cough also listen to 11m. Got to thinking how cool would it be to have a tiny digital SWR meter with remote display/head for easy of mounting. Welp, I understand the basics of the SWR meter. Not experienced enough to just pickup the project and jump on a scratch build. Ardunio or otherwise. Even the kits on EBay seam a little on the daunting side. From sourcing the parts to tools/skill to calibrate the bridges. So after searching found the Fox Delta site and they have SWR kits. They don't use ribbon cables so it should be easy to expand the display leads. Anyone have experience in DIY SWR meters or Fox Delta? Fox Delta's Site

That's awesome!

Based on the good comments on the forum I ordered one myself from Bluemax49er for a Kenwood NX-820GH mobile radio I was given. I might have found one cheaper but I feel confident this will work without issues. Too many super cheap Chinese cables using the counterfeit Prolific chip that don't work out there.

My grandfather worked for NASA.

Depending on what the height of the camper is you may be better off with a small fiberglass antenna on the ladder. Thats what I run at camp (on my repeater) and it works really well. For the most part there is no metal in the camper roof. Even where the AM FM antenna is its just plywood with a ground wire on the cable. I run the Laird FG4500 and it works great. I have LMR400 run up the ladder and under the RV to the compartment with the repeater. When installed its actually a bit lower than my vent covers but i still remove depending on where I plan to drive.

For me, GMRS for family. Ham for fun. GMRS in my area is non-existent outside of 1 or 2 repeaters too far away and are hardly ever used. They are active only when there is an "event" like a blizzard.

I've never heard of them, but the reviews on eHam are pretty good: https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=7842 For $65 and a weekend project the SWM3-1018 doesn't seem like a looser by any means.

This post reminded me of the mental exercise I did some time back... Like you I spend most of my time outside. I have outside speakers driven by the RV stereo. So if I got a call I had to go inside to respond. Then I said what about just mounting a radio in outside entertainment center. That lead to "can have access if I'm driving" (I have a motorhome). So I settled on getting a HT like a KG-805G as good quality, water resistant, and can use it everywhere. Food for thought, IMHO. Jack P.S. I purchased a $400 repeater for RV and Ed Fong antenna attached to ladder.

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.

I just installed a MXT275 with the standard antenna and the Midland 6db nmo antenna for when i off road on my 4Runner. I had to use some of my Sons old erector-set parts to mount the mic and the smaller antenna. lol I just cant fit in the garage with the 6db antenna since i have it on the mag mount dead center of the roof. So i use the small one that came with the unit for my daily driving.

Enjoyed probably a few to many adult beverages last night and decided to knock this out in the wee hours. Paying for it this morning, and things aren't exactly how I wanted (crooked) but the KG1000 is in. I'm glad I didn't just cut a hole and and mount the CAT5 port for the mic without checking first. That cord would have been ripping leg hairs out non stop come shorts weather. Pretty happy with the location I decided upon. Might replace my tired CB and put the mic in that location as well. Now I just need to tidy up the cables a bit. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Pretty much any radio that can transmit and receive within the FCC authorized ham frequencies is "legal." This is because amateurs are allowed to build their own equipment and provided they don't cause any interference issues, they are "legal" to use. But sadly, probably 95% or more hams have been "appliance operators" these past thirty years or so.

also the kg1000g is hard to get right now, ive had mine ordered last week and ive got a maybe get it shipped at the end of the month. tried to order 2 and it wouldn't let me...

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

Just got mine, just started testing and so far it looks like its going to be a great radio for the price. I live in Galax, Va, and on low power hit the Stone Mountain, NC repeater with a great signal report that is 31 miles away indoor with stock antenna, very nice. so more to come Ed WRKU609 W4EDS