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Is there something specific about the radio or GMRS that you are lost about? Maybe if you give us some details someone can help.

Thanks to all for the guidance. I disabled any BIOS level COM ports just in case of a system conflict between physical and virtual COM Ports. Both x32 and x64 versions of the Software give the same error. On a good note, I spun up a new WIN10 Virtual Machine and did a pass through for the USB and the software worked. Not the optimal solution, but it worked. Thanks to all for the suggestions. I will continue to troubleshoot the main system, but at least I can now start programming. Thanks!! James

Its been a while since I've had either of my 50X1s, but IIRC t's pretty simple.. First - read the manual and familiarize yourself with how the menu system works - failure to do this part will result in much confuckulation and rage. Optionally you could watch some youtube videos about how to use the menu system for the 50X1 or a UV-5R, since the menus are virtually the same. Then, select the channel that you want to put the PL code on, go to the menu option for CTCSS tones, select the code from the list, save it, and enjoy. Another option would be use use your computer and the CHIRP software which in many ways is easier since it's almost self-explanatory on the screen after learning how to use CHIRP.

BIOS listed comm ports are hardware comm ports. Comm ports created by USB drivers are software comm ports that would usually show up in Device Manager, rather than BIOS. Look in Device Manager for them if you haven’t already.

Does your device manager show Com port? See attachment. Also, try this: uninstall 64 bit version of software and install 32 bit version. See if it helps.

I read the entire Part 95 section yesterday, and one thing that stood out to me is this: § 95.1733 Prohibited GMRS uses. (a) In addition to the prohibited uses outlined in § 95.333 of this chapter, GMRS stations must not communicate: .... (4) Music, whistling, sound effects or material to amuse or entertain; Every blister-pack GMRS radio I see has a "call" button. This button causes the radio to transmit either: Music, whistling, or sound effects. The rule above prohibits music, whistling, and sound effects OR material to amuse or entertain. Every GMRS sold in a blister pack will, with its call button, transmit a sound effect, so breaks the left-hand side of that OR clause. The purpose of the call button could arguably be "to amuse or entertain" as well, though I understand manufacturers will claim it is not intended to amuse or entertain (not even the duck calls... definitely those are neither amusing nor entertaining). Again, to violate 95.1733a4, the transmission is either music, or whistling, or a sound effect, OR material to amuse or entertain. I would love to see that feature excluded from radios, or at least harder for kids to discover.

One thing I have found is that it’s extremely easy to find groups on Facebook (I assume the same about Reddit) that support a particular point of view. They exist solely to support and reinforce that point of view and they can’t be corrected. Anyone who tries becomes a target. A guy I know compares Facebook to the lead pipes of the Romans. It’s better to just avoid them. i am a member of a couple of antenna building groups and one for the HF rig I own. We don’t talk about GMRS and so far I haven’t seen any politics or negativity. Of course there’s always the guy who feels obliged to respond to every question with “RTFM”, usually without having read the actual question. Some people (sorry to steal your phrase @OffRoaderX) are just miserable and want to spread their misery. Every group has them. Anyway, as I’m sure you already know, GMRS can be a very fun hobby. It certainly can be used for much more than talking to friends and family if that’s what you want. And obviously there are GMRS groups to join. If not, start one. Choosing to take the ham exams is a personal decision that has nothing to do with GMRS. In my case I was interested in ham radio long before GMRS existed but never made the time to study or take the test. I got into GMRS because I wanted a two way handheld to talk to others on the rocket range and GMRS was what they were using. I signed up for an FRN a long long time ago, intending to get “legal” but didn’t like the price and kept hearing rumors (at that time) that the fcc was going to get rid of the license fee for GMRS. I never got around to it until last November . But I was far more interested in the radios and the technology behind them than just communicating on the range. Notarubicon videos fed that interest, which then led me back to ham radio because it covers an even wider range of subjects that interest me. For me, it all works together. I use and enjoy GMRS and learn something on this forum nearly every day. At the same time I continue to expand my technical knowledge and operating experience using ham radio. I don’t see it as needing to choose between them. Each has its enjoyable aspects. TL;DR @OffRoaderXis responsible for me becoming a ham. ?

Yes, a genuine kit would include the cables with the correct orientation tabs. But, the really cheap $10 "repeater maker" cable kits sold on Ebay have no orientation tabs, and can be plugged in either way. I have also seen people totally jam in the correct cables upside down, because they were convinced that the tab orientation was incorrect - since it didn't match their old MaxTrac. They never even noticed that the M1225 dust cover has a diagram molded into it showing the correct orientation.

Well, geeze, if it's not a hobby, then there wouldn't be guys putting thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars into building sites and systems. And I certainly would not have put up 3 repeaters on the same site if they were ONLY for my personal communication. Of course, is my hobby building sites, or radio in general... I honestly can't answer that. I enjoy the site building more than the talking.

Someone has to WTFM before we can RTFM. ?

The M1225LS can be modified back to a standard M1225 by simply removing the aftermarket board that makes it a trunking radio. That will give you a 20 to 24 channel conventional radio. And you won't need the LS version of the programming software. Find version 4.0, it runs just fine under XP. If you are acquiring an older PC for this, get one that has a real serial port. Then get a serial version of the programming cable. It will be much more reliable than trying to use a USB cable on the older PC and software. The serial cable use COM-1 so there's no dicking around with comport assignments. I bought a refurbed Panasonic ToughBook CF-29 with XP installed on Ebay. It is rock solid for the M1225 as well as my newer Professional Series and Commercial Series units. There is tons of information to be found about the M1225 (and LS) at batboard.batlabs.com, radioreference.com, and repeater-builder.com. You will probably find my posts and questions about this exact subject on the batboard and RR (user name is STeveC0625 over there.) I bought a 1225 not knowing it was an LS model. By searching at RR and the batboard, I found all the answers I needed and then some. I ultimately ended up selling the aftermarket board which reduced my purchase cost of the radio to almost zero.