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APX 7500/700 series came in 2 bands depending on how it was ordered. Any of the 2 bands could be in the radio, including UHFR1 and UHFR2 (I have a mobile like this). Our SAR team ordered them with VHF/UHFR1 in the past. APX8500/8000 series can be purchased in all bands. All depends on flash code in radio. APX8K series can be upgraded to add bands not ordered originally but the flash is not cheap. The 7K series was a board swap and is not supported any longer in terms of upgrades of band changes. What you buy is what you get in that regard.

That’s not a petition; it’s a rant. I won’t sign it.

Which process is pretty much SOP for anyone programming a DMR radio -- except for DMR (digital) channels one has to first populate the TalkGroup/Contacts table(s). Then one can go to the Channel table (or list, as many pop-up a dialog in which to edit the parameters rather than a spread-sheet format) to define a channel name, Tx/Rx frequencies, Time outs, Tones for analog channels, or talkgroup/contact for digital. If one uses scan lists, one can create an empty first, then specify the empty list in the channel definition. After the channels, one can go back and populate the scan list, along with creating/populating the "zone" lists with channels.

And yet NO ONE actually answered this mans question. With most radios (non-motorola) you program them in one big spreadsheet looking thing where you name the channel, put in the frequencies and tones and then blow it into the radio. CDM software and Astro25 software are different and you need to understand how to use the software. With CDM software, you build all the channels independently and then once the channels are built, you go into the zone list, create the desired zones and set the channel configurations in the zones. This is done two different places in the software. Scan lists are also build elsewhere in the software and assigned to the channels. Of course, you can't add a channel to a scan list that doesn't exist so there is some back and forth that goes on. Astro25 software (XTS /XTL) software This is a bit more complicated as the radio has multiple transmit modes that are set in a 'conventional personality' that is assigned to the channels. It DOES however program more like the spreadsheet radios, but there is some prep work that has to be done. the XTS XTL stuff is P25 and analog. So the settings for the modulation are set in the personality, but not the frequency as in the CDM. You DON'T have to create a personality for each channel either. THe personalities can be shared across many channels. Be aware that the scan list is set in the personality and a scan list can only have 16 channels in it. So if you get crazy and program up zones by state, county or whatever, you will need to create a scan list and personality for each zone. Not hard once you understand it but really time consuming. Once you have the conventional personalities built, you then add zones and program the channel frequencies and tones in a spreadsheet format in the zone configuration area. Ask if you have questions. I have a bit of experience with Astro25 as I have been using it for about 15 years now.

On my Alinco, analog APRS positions are sent either at the beginning or end of PTT or at periodic intervals. I had it set to report periodically on 144.390, regardless of the channel I’m using. It seems to work just fine and I can see my history on APRS.FI.

Well, I've managed to get some successful spots on the map with aprsdroid on an old cellphone (no sim, wifi off), mobilinkd tnc3, and a uv5r...if that helps at all

It doesnt matter, and only the hall-monitors care - as you can see very clearly in this and other online forums..

The chances of getting the FCC to grant more exclusive frequencies for GMRS are next to zero. We’re lucky they don’t take some away to use for Part 90 users. We’re far better off petitioning the FCC to allow digital voice modes on GMRS. The cheap FRS radios would stay the same, limited power, no repeater access and narrow band FM only. There is a thread I started on the topic 1 or 2 months back. In one of my posts there is an attached file outlining the idea.

With the exception of repeater inputs, all GMRS channels are FRS channels. Are they on a repeater? Also, unless you are standing in front of the person using the radio and are intimately familiar with that radio, you have no way of knowing if they are using an FRS radio or GMRS radio. You can't even make the assumption if you know they are 100 miles away from you (assuming they say their actual location) that they are on a GMRS radio, because elevation plays a bigger role in distance than power or radio type.

How do you know it’s GMRS?

I've already gone a year past when the oncologists would have estimated when the cancer was first discovered... Though it does seem to be migrating to lymph nodes... so who knows where treatment goes next... I do need to get off the Internet and inventory my crud in preparation of having a will made (I'm aiming for a trust -- especially with all the firearms, followed by all the musical instruments -- one may not care about what happens to a $350 flat-top mandolin, but a $2400 Taylor NS-72 is a different matter, along with all the radio gear [which is why I gave my nieces the Tech study guides, and as incentive Yaesu starter HTs]).

He can't shut up. His girlfriend cheated on him with some people, he can't get over it and now has a whole youtube channel dedicated to his misery.

Also beware of "some people" that will chastise you for even thinking about using an XTL5000 on GMRS and watch out for the "experts" telling you that you will go to jail if you get a copy of the XTL5000 software..

The hardest part about programming the XTL5000 is getting the software.. As for programming the radio: I learned everything about how to program it by watching youtube videos - I have a friend that I could call for things that really confused me and he also learned everything from Youtube and various websites. For most/many things, the programming is the same/very similar to the XTS5000 - seems there is more info out there for the XTS, which also helped me a lot.

Fuses/circuit breakers and the Ring connectors for the battery all get soldered. I put the fuses in line no more than 12 inches from the battery (usually less) and just use water proof fuse holders. On some vehicles, I've even added secondary fuse boxes for my radios/amps/etc. that use bolt-down terminals.

Moto XPR7550 does not come in dual band, but you can get both VHF and UHF. Kenwood NX-5700/5800 is similar, one deck for each band, but you can stack the decks into a single head. A dad mount (not remote mount, single deck) is about $900 new. Remote kit is about $350/450. Should be right at your $2500 for UHF + VHF with analog and NXDN. FPP is $130/deck. Caveat on the IHF is any FPP reverts to narrow band, but the VHF supposedly doesn't. I'm on the waiting list for a 5800K2 that should be coming soon. You can do OST (operator selectable tone) and setup a table of 40 options. You could add DMD or P25 to each deck as well, P25 is the most expensive entitlement though.

If you look close, 99% of them are actually sad-hams, disguised as GMRS operators.

I know this Site lists Amateur Radio Licensees by State and City, but I am not sure if they also break out GMRS: https://www.city-data.com/aradio/

I've found this to be helpful as well. https://www.fccbulletin.com/tx

Whereas 25 years ago a 250 page book covered GMRS repeater listings... Most required one to contact the owner for access. Those with semi-open access (which means the listing had a clause "only for emergency and traveller assistance...." followed by a CTCSS tone) tended to be government entities. For examples: .575 PL 146.2; Grand Rapids City Government Radio Engineering[sponsor still active license]... .725 PL 141.3; WXMI (TV 17)[expired in 2000] Both entries required prior approval for use of other CTCSS tones... Of course, as businesses transitioned to narrow band gear they likely gave up the GMRS licenses

I don't believe a city (government) can hold a GMRS license. A city (government) employee can hold a license.

Since I am not a "Ham Radio Operator" in the classic sense, I keep 2 meter, GMRS/FRS, and scanner capabilities. Good enough for the emergency communications aspect. Nice and simple and relatively cheap compared to going down the HF rabbit hole where you have to sell a few organs in exchange for radio equipment.?