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Look for a used Vertex, Kenwood, or Motorola commercial repeater. You could get something like an MTR2000 that's rated for 100% duty cycle at 100 watts (it will do 50 like a breeze) - and still spend less than trying to get 2 Wouxun mobiles strapped together. Most sellers will program and set up the repeater, and give it a warranty as well.

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

Thought I'd share my opinion on the MXT115 for various uses. I started with the MXT115 for my parents. Simple and cheap. Since then I installed one in our Kubota RTV for around the property as well as on my Kubota BX. I have 10+ acres as well as neighbors etc. I run a GR300 with 25 watts out of the duplexer into a DB404 at 30' at home. It works great for a 5 miles area (way more than needed). We are planning a trip to the GC this summer and plan to take the jeep and our new CTC. While setting the trailer up I decided to have GMRS, and WX. Ended up just sticking another MXT115 in the CTC. Small yet perfect for our use. Our CTC runs off a Jackery 300 that gets charged during the day while we drive. Again simple and effective. As with all Midland stuff I threw the supplied antenna in the dumpster and installed a Larsen HF NMO mount in the roof with a 1/4 wave antenna. I can pick up 3 WX channels at home in my driveway on the 1/4 wave so most likely stick with it. I do have a Larsen Triband I plan to bring in case I need better. I run the Tri-Band on the JT for my 8500 anyway. Our main use for the trip will be to talk to wife or myself when using the MSI talk about we carry also. Mostly campground communications when at bath house or shower. Anyway wanted to share. I plan to get a few more when i come home from my trip for our other utility vehicles around the property. Love midland or hate them these are all over in use for stuff like I am using them for.

Update to my ZJ install. Out with the MXT115 in with the XTS

This is normal. Carry on..

QRP phone is fun as well, while it's a bit difficult, the challenge can be rewarding. I did upgrade to the 705 for my QRP station, because the package is pretty dang complete. Having a waterfall can be a huge benefit when searching out contacts.

Great! I have my SW-3C coming in on Friday, and there is a USDX USDR radio coming to me as a very belated birthday gift coming to me eventually, so I'll have two more little QRP rigs besides the Pixie to play with. I get to choose between QRP and QRPp, which should be a lot of fun.

Have fun with the Pixie. I was going to go that route until I found the (Tr)USDX here https://dl2man.de In my opinion, for budget QRP, this is the best rig out there. I built mine for $83 shipped from Aliexpress. It is truly amazing how good this rig is. I have only had it a month but have worked all over the US on 5W. Todd, K9TDW/WRFL209

I don't use my radio all that much, but for my needs the MXT115 works well enough. Is it perfect? Yeah right, far from it. I picked up a brand new one, unopened for $40. Can't beat that w/ a stick (well, I guess you could if you had a stick...). I really only use it to keep in touch w/ my buddies and family when we're wheeling together. It works great for that. And I do like the size and mounting bracket. Wish others would make a similar bracket.

Patented? Dr Fong patented a J-pole? Wow. I guess anything is possible with US Patent Office after some dude patented the windshield rain wipers... Do you to happen have a patent file or number or name?

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.

I have been out of the office for a few days and had my crew watch this. With some even stating that they had 'Merican made GMRS radios. Not having watched the video, I thought there may be one or two companies that might make a model here stateside, so it was no surprise to see a blank sheet of paper. Then I had to question the co-workers who said they had 'Merican made radios. No Ritron, Datron, Harris, nothing. Great video and point to those that think electronics are still made here. The last domestic radios I have purchased for a government contract, where made in Chicago, and had to be pre-ordered months in advance, but were indeed made here (at about twice the price of their Malaysian made equivalent - P25 non-GMRS in this case). The individual chips in those radios, they were made in Texas by E-Systems. For a domestic company to make a GMRS radio, I would expect it to cost several hundred dollars, as even this order of P25 radios doubled in cost to be made here, and with only a few vendors making the components that met federal government specifications. This entire thread reminds me of when I found out in 1992 that the federal government was going to use Cisco Systems hardware for data network hardware, everywhere. Then they dominated the business and commercial market. Now Cisco Systems continues to dominate the industry, while their hardware is made in China. Then people wonder why our intellectual property is being compromised. It would be nice to see a 'Merican made GMRS radio, I would buy a dozen just to prove a point, provided they were less than $500 each.

Not only is the license easier to get, but that one license covers your entire extended family. No other licensed service has such licensing.

It's a great radio with many pre-programmed frequencies to play with/listen to and it has many fars. Sometimes I just stare at mine and caress it softly.

Looks good! I like programmable radios and am a geek with that kind of stuff, but for the rest of the family I have also decided to go Midland because they prefer simple, so that's what we are using in our cars and home. I do wish they would allow us to program them for wideband on the older models. I have returned several MXT275s to be redone for wideband (Assuming they have the USB C) but would be nice if CHIRP would work on them.

The Pixie arrived today, but I'm still waiting for a 9800 mAh battery I ordered; it should be delivered by Friday. I'm itching to get started...

That's not for a KT8900D. The KT8900D is an amateur radio. Not a GMRS radio. From the manufacturer.... Dual Band: VHF and UHF / 144 / 430Mhz TX amateur band version: 144-146 MHz et 430-440 MHz RX: 87.5-108MHz, 136-174MHz, 400-480MHz, 220-260MHz and 350-390MHz The QYT KT-8900D covers RX and TX 144-146MHz and 430-440Mhz in analog FM mode with 25 watts (VHF) and 20 watts (UHF) and VFO button for channel or frequency change.

That radio isn't compatible with GMRS. As pointed out above, its a Ham radio, not a GMRS radio. It can be modified to work on GMRS, but there is no soft-mod. It requires a technician or someone technically skilled with the proper tools to both add and remove some components from the main board. Once that is done, it needs to be reprogrammed. Given it costs about $45-$50 to do the mod (assuming you already have all the tools) and its only an $80 radio... almost no one does it. I would recommend you just buy a GMRS radio.

Contrary to common beliefs, once you step away from the keyboard and ignore the internet, you will find a vast number of Hams are GMRS operators and vice versa. In the hobby portions and in the community service areas, GMRS and Ham not only coexist, but work together with great success. At least when I have been for the last 20+ years. Now, there may be some individuals who don't play nice and use GMRS v Ham as an excuse to show their behinds... but that is a "them problem".

I have one right here on my desk.. It's a nice upgrade the the UV9G.. The release has been delayed due to supply chain/shipping issues, but it should be available soon (my GUESS is 30-60 days, but this is only a guess).. Some new stuff on the UV9Gx: theme able color schemes much brighter LED flashlight stiffer knobs can receive down to 219Mhz more power control settings for better battery life a priority channel button, pre-set to the official highway channel, CH19 more pre-programmed frequenicies and most important a ROGER BEEP .................affiliate link below.. Oops.. sorry.. bad habit.