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I dont usually like to post videos here, but I have been so inspired by several of the "experts" in this forum complaining that we should not be using radios made in China that I put together a list of all the American Made radios AND I vow to purchase each one of these American made radios and do a full review of them in the next 30 days.. Thank you to "some people" that opened my eyes about not purchasing radios that are not made in America.

I recently ordered an Ed Fong GMRS antenna as I've heard many good comments regarding his patented antenna. While purchasing my antenna, I communicated many times with Ed Fong via email and phone conversation. Ed Fong is a professor of Radio Frequency at the University of California in Santa Cruise. Dr. Fong's students build the antennas and also test many antennas manufactured by Tram, Larson, etc. The UC has very sophisticated testing equipment and the test results of various brands are surprising. I asked Dr. Fong if he'd be interested in attending one of our weekly calls to discuss his experience as I think we could all learn from his vast knowledge. Ed Fong is willing and would prefer a session via Zoom. I'm currently checking his schedule but mid July, possibly July 11th, Ed would be available for this Zoom event. Please let me know if you'd like to attend this Zoom event with Dr. Fong by replying with your email address. I'll add you to the Zoom Invitation. Thanks! WRJD357 Clem 630-918-6938 (call or text) wrjd357@gmail.com

No sir, not at all. I simply look at it like this: If I know I'm right and can show it, OK. But if I'm incorrect, I'll admit it and learn from it. As I have said before, I'm learning and getting the feel for this stuff; I'm learning from those who know what they're saying and/or doing. Thanks again!

I am a Ham, but had my GMRS license long before my amateur radio license, going back to 1988. It was an individual license back then and gear was primitive at best, but that is part of what made it easy. Me and my Ham friends (whom actually do appreciate GMRS) very rarely use VHF/UHF ham frequencies anymore and are almost completely GMRS. Many of us got sick of the club politics. We just use GMRS to chat while we are heading to meet up, stay in touch on the road, and in touch while offroad. Be it in 4X4's, on foot, small boats, etc. Anyway, I wouldn't let it discourage you. While some clubs have linked GMRS repeaters and have Nets, there are way more causal users and families with handhelds, mobiles, as well as base stations or repeaters in their garage so they can talk to family and friends.

This reminds me of when I was a kid and did sales and repairs of TV's. I used to have so many people bitch about my Mitsubishi, Toshiba and Sony inventory levels and model options being so much more than "American" TV's like RCA, Phillips, Magnavox and Sharp. One day, I setup a display with every 19" TV I sold, with the back's of every TV open so all could see. I had post-it notes pointing out that every single TV, regardless of the brand, domestic or otherwise, all had the identical Mitsubishi or Toshiba main board. People refused to believe that it was just packaging. Even after seeing it with their own eyes. I had some people accuse me of staging the boards to look like they were the same. I guess, what I am saying is, stupid should hurt.

Thank you for not HiJakkin me.. Easy answer: By making decent (not the best) radios and selling them for low-dollars.. And they can do this because of no unions, less/no environmental restrictions, government subsidies ENCOURAGING manufacturing, no/few child labor regulations, etc.. Basically the opposite of what you find in the U.S.

The ad before the video was longer than the video! ?

It is very simple: don't like nets, don't participate. For example, I do not like nets with check-ins, so I do not go there and do not check in.

Radioguy, some days I can't spell for crap.

I was not here, in 'Merica, until I came here (legally) in 1991. Learn something new every day. Thank you for education and history lesson. And speaking about cars (somebody in some thread/post mentioned Japanese cars) Toyota Camry is the most 'Merican made car.

Yup one my biggest complaints with linking is this. Hams come to GMRS and think everything should be linked and have nets....Not me. But thats just my opinion.

All this country can make is Debt!!!

Your reply was very pleasant and I appreciate that. I try not to think of it as "correcting" someone... because occasionally there is a negative connotation with the expression. I hope my reply didn't come across coarsely. I prefer to think of it more as... we have different experiences and we are just sharing our experiences to help each other.

GMRS is aimed for the non technical user. The idea is to just pickup the radio, pick a channel and press the button to talk. That's why the limited selection of channels and limited features available verses Ham radio that uses a "band" where one selects a frequency to use, different operating modes etc. The GMRS service is structured to facilitate communications between family members and to conduct family business. The idea wasn't for making random contacts or experimenting with equipment, however some do this. Yes you'll find a significant number of Hams using GMRS too. Not necessarily a bad thing. One just has to keep in mind the differences between the services. What would be an acceptable topic on the Ham band maybe of little to no interest to a GMRS user.

No.. Although many hams do slum on GMRS in many areas, the main use for GMRS is utilitarian communication - ie; when off-roading and in a group, hiking, traveling with multiple vehicles, etc. Sadly, it sounds like in your area many of the rag-chewers have taken over.. But once you get out of reach of their basements, like out adventuring in the desert or mountains, all their noise goes away. I run a repeater, partially run another repeater which is one of the largest/most used in Southern California, and run a group - not only am i not a ham, most in the group are not hams either.

Such as me. As far as I'm concerned, as long as you can transmit on it, I'm all for it.

Ditto; all our hubs are recorded 24/7 and retained for 90 days, asterisk makes this cake to do - literally one configuration string and a cron job. I do it primarily for my own entertainment, but also in case there's somebody using it in an emergency and a record of events is needed later on. We're also close to the southern border here so it wouldn't be the first time we've had some 'odd' traffic show up and work its way through the system; that goes straight to BP, and is one of the primary reasons we don't post our tones anymore without a slight sanity check first.

My favorite lie was "chics dig it". Also, had someone tell me you can't mimic NVIS by bouncing UHF signals off of moisture or debris in the atmosphere by pointing the antenna toward the sky. Nor can we have actual NVIS propagation during major geomagnetic storms and Arora storms. I guess the GMRS gurus know more than the JPL communications scientists that work for NASA.

ALLTHIS HAS BEENVERIFIED BY THE MENISTRY OF TRUTH!

If you transmit on a GMRS radio without a GMRS license you will be fined $250,000 and/or go to prison If you transmit on GMRS frequencies on a UV-5R you will be fined $250,000 and/or go to prison You can legally use a UV-5R on GMRS frequencies if you just lower the power level.. If you don't, you will be fined $250,000 and/or go to prison You don't need a GMRS license to use a GMRS radio if you put it on low-power and use the FRS only channels. If you talk a non-licensed person on GMRS "the FCC will come after you" (this one was JUST posed on this forum last week!)

Ya'll go ahead and discuss your silly games. Off Road vehicles already have decided Ch 16 for the call channel.?

Just remember, that as predicted in the proclamation video, "some people" will always and forever spew reasons why Ch19 (any channel, actually) is not "the right choice", and will argue about it as they have for years, accomplishing nothing.. Those people are not invited to join with the rest of us normal people on Ch19.. They can go talk to themselves on some other channel.. My name is Queen Randy and I approve this message.

Does anyone have an approved and official list of the equipment that can be used to commit or facilitaed criminal acts? I want to do things correctly. Asking for a friend

I'm old enough to remember when the sad hams laughed at all "that cheap Japanese garbage" that began to flood the market back in the early seventies. They all said, that "junk" would never replace their Hammerlunds, Hallicrafters, Drakes and Swans because "merica" was the king. By 1980 they were no longer laughing and all those great American companies had been relegated to the dustbin of history. Today the Chinese are doing the same thing. In a few short years their quality has improved and they actually listen to customers and try to give them the features they want at a price they can afford. It's sad that this country can't seem to make anything nowdays...not even toilet paper.