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I think there may be some misconceptions about UHF connectors (and M-type) vs N-type connectors when it comes to the bottom end of UHF. You can buy garbage UHF connectors that won't work well, 100%, but that holds true for N-type, too. N-type connectors were created in the 40's, when there were no real standards for UHF connectors, not that there is much of a standard now. The DOD needed consistent performance, so Bell Labs created a standard to be met and created N-type connectors. If you buy a quality silver/teflon UHF connector manufactured by a company like Lands Precision or Larsen (about $8 per connector, $16 per set to make a cable) you will not see any difference in insertion loss or any performance degradation when compared to a comparable price and quality N-type connector in GMRS systems. I personally have done tests using LMR400. I made 2 patch cables that had UHF connectors and 2 patch cables that had N connectors. I tested them with my analyzer between 440 MHz and 500 MHz and there was exactly zero difference between 3 of the 4 cables. One of the cables with UHF connectors had an increase in insertion loss 0.01 dB... which I am assuming had something to do with me and the way I made the patch cable or possibly the section of cable itself introduced the difference and it had nothing to do with the connectors. Bottom line, we are not running enough power, moving enough data, or have high enough duty cycle that would require an N-type connector. Our only real benefit would be for outdoor connections and utilizing the native weatherproofing instead of having to add additional weatherproofing to a UHF connection.

Wow - what tangled answers to a simple question. YES! You can use the EVX-5400 for GMRS! It's a nice little radio. The software does not require a wideband entitlement key like Motorola CPS. You just use the Export or "international" version of the Vertex software. If the radio was previously written with the Narrowband only software, you will need to "unlock" the radio with a special Vertex software module called the "Wideband Recovery Tool" version 1.03 If you're trying to recover newer Vertex radios like the EVX series - you're going to need Version 1.03 of the Wideband Recovery Tool. That isn't easy to find online, and you also pretty much need to invest in the FIF-12 programming box/cable setup from Vertex to make that work with newer radios. The FIF-12 runs about $150 to $200 new. I could unlock it for you for about $25 if it's a one time service. Any other Vertex or local LMR radio dealer could probably perform the service for you also at a similar price. There are also 2 different versions of the EVX-5400 radios. Older models had a 8 character display, the newer versions had a 16 character display. The CE-151 export software should be used with the newer (and more common) 16 character displays for Wideband operation.

My first true GMRS radio was and is a Wouxun KG-935G. I got it last week. Great little radio for a great price I am enjoying it quite a bit. Ken WQXQ522

copied your settings, now name shows on display. thank you

You can try enabling through the option menu window.

If you check you'll see just about every radio that says it's "wide-band" really is spec'd for 16K0F3E, not the FCC authorized 20K0F3E for GMRS. The 16K0F3E was the old business wide-band specification. Just about every GMRS repeater on the air is build using old Part 90, business band, equipment with the 16K0 spec. Many of the currently sold GMRS radios are old repurposed business radio designs, or amateur gear, with tweaked firmware to make them compliant with the FCC rules. The 16K0F3E spec seems to be particularly true of the new Chinese manufactured GMRS specific radios. One would have a difficult time telling the two apart, 16K0 verses 20K0, on the air. I suspect the FCC could have changed the rules to make 16K0 the "official" FM standard for GMRS and likely nobody would notice.

If this Repeater owner is like me.... I only turn it on as needed for my community and I do not list it on any directories. Sorry but it for family in the field and neighbors who lose power and internet... Hope this helps from the mind of a repeater owner. I know Goodland as I have a few wells in the area.

"MOST" Sorry I somehow missed the CAPS in your question.. "most" is the top item in my long list. Field proven (lots of happy owners), Reputable manufacturer and consumer friendly retail outlet. Battery capacity.. (More bigger is more better) Rugged and professional appearance. I like fast scanning radios.. When I scan I want to get from beginning to end and do it again at warp speed. I like radios that easily and quickly *decode* CTCSS and DCS. This whole business of slowly "scanning" for tones seems crazy. I don't care all that much about color displays. Visibility in all lighting conditions is more important to me than color. Sensible non cryptic screen layout. I want a reasonable number of characters for my descriptive channel names. I hate memorizing acronyms. I want to personalize my screen in every way possible Bluetooth is very sexy to me. BT would weigh heavily on my decision to decide between competing models. Connecting speaker and mic to my motorcycle helmet BT system... A BT PTT remote.. Programming the radio from my cell phone.. Yeah that would make a radio hard to pass up for me (although my pockets are not very deep). I personally don't care at all about extra frequencies (except for NOAA). FM broadcast radio, civil service and air band don't interest me. (Not sure if I am normal.) Flash light function will never get used on my radios.. I disable if possible. I might think of some more later..

I vote FRS channel 8. If I'm within the sound of your voice, you have earned my assistance hahaha

I have several HHs and each was purchased to fit a specific requirement,

"some people" will argue about it forever, and accomplish... Well.. You know... Nothing..

I actually go offroad with a small group of Hams... there is usually much less conflict over what frequency we use. The conflict with GMRS is some radios don't cover all FRS channels or there is a lot of congestion. Especially at big events like the Boy Scout Jamboree, Mustang Week, Beach Week, etc. In Ham radio, if we adhere to commonly accepted spacing, there is an equivalent of 267 channels, plus digital voice, analog voice in AM, FM and SSB. On top of that, we still have hundreds of squelching combinations. Plus all amateur VHF radios cover all the same frequencies. It's pretty easy to just agree to use a quiet frequency. Me and my group usually use 147.525 MHz, C4FM modulation, group code 16. The chances of us hearing anyone else while noodling around the mountains or downtown Daytona are almost zero. That said, FRS and GMRS makes life a while lot easier for a family. Again, why I use it... mainly to talk to my family and a few very close friends and their families. The ease of use is what's so attractive for many families.