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That last line (condition 2) is logically and legally “anded” to condition 1. Both must be true in order to avoid transmitting the ID of the repeater. So, the only regulatory compliant way to not ID the repeater is if the only people using it are covered by the license of the repeater owner and they are all correctly identifying themselves using the repeater owner’s ID, which would be the same as the station ID of the repeater.

are you 100% certain you werent just getting lazy-arm and the mic was getting further from your noise-output hole as you were talking?

I've tested quite a few different radios and I've never run into this. DCS (and CTCSS) squelch tones work in an ON or OFF way - its either on, or its off, no in-between - thats not to say something couldn't be wrong with one of your radios - I've just never seen/heard of this happening. If its working now with CTCSS, I would leave well-enough alone.. the odds of running into someone else using the same tone is very low, as long as you're not using one of the common tones - just use one of the higher ones and enjoy your radios.

Im sitting here in SE Wisconsin about 7miles southeast of the Armored RX repeater and Ive been picking up a couple of ya'lls repeaters, one on 700, I think It's the VALPO 01 based on the RX tone and one or maybe 2 on 675 earlier today. I could hear traffic using two different RX tones, so I'd have to guess it was from both the Valpo675 and LaPorte675 as the tones matched both of those. Still picking up the one on 700 as I write this and I'm sitting in my basement writing this. We aren't linked into the system tonight, so I know for sure i'm not hearing you through the system. What are ya'll feeding those things? They are beasts tonight. ?

Band opening. Happened last night too.

Well I spoke with a radio guy that programs radios for emergency services and he suggested to try a different DCS code. He is not real versed in gmrs but he did say he thought there were a few codes on the upper part of the chart that could cause some problems. He went into technical details about how Motorola started the whole DCS thing and other manufacturers have added codes to expand on what Motorola implemented but the Motorola ones were tested and verified and the additional codes were not or at least by Motorola. In a nutshell I changed DCS codes to a lower one on the chart and no more issues whatsoever.

60 feet of LMR400 will almost cometely attenuate 5g. (Like 60db)

I ain't got no fancy IR ther-mom-eater !

I agree that the FCC probably isn’t interested in taking action against repeater owners who bother nobody. It’s like driving 57 in a 55 zone. It’s one of those rules that would be nearly impossible to prosecute and honestly not worth their time unless something outrageous is going on, in which case it’ll be just another charge, but I know how to read regulations and that “and” makes a difference.

Try swapping radios. You will get to experience what she hears, to help better understand, or establish if it's environmental interference. Let us know what the firsthand experience is. If you can use your phone to share a video, we may pick up an indicator, too. You may just have a defect in that radio.

She was explaining to me as I was talking to her the conversation would start with a strong voice then quickly quiet down to maybe less that half volume and at the time we are just a few miles apart. I have no clue as to how DCS would affect that but I remembered the issues I had with a couple handhelds. All I know is after switching to CTCSS its been perfect. I'm familiar with the different types of tones and I used to program our radios for the police department but our channels didn't use any with DCS. I've been programming my radios for a long time and I did have a couple of Wouxun handheld radios I couldn't trust to open up every time if I used DCS. I live in a rural area anyway and don't see having any problem using CTCSS anyway so I'll stick with that. When we were on vacation in Galveston, several times we had to change channels and CTCSS at times to find a quiet channel.

It would be just the family under my call sign

I'd be concerned at having a "cross mode" specified, but that may just be how CHIRP shows it. The key criteria is "Tone Mode". The displayed window (I've never used the "property" page, just edited in line on the spreadsheet layout) shows you have "TONE" selected. That choice means you are SENDING a CTCSS tone, but do not expect one on receive. If you need a receive tone, the mode needs to be TSQL. DTCS entries are ignored. "Tone Mode" of DTCS would mean the DTCS entries are active, and the tone/tonesql entries are ignored. That looks to be the Tone-Burst setting (menu #40 on my BTech units). I don't know of any GMRS system that requires tone-burst (and don't even know of a US Amateur repeater that uses it). Tone Burst is common in the UK and likely the rest of Europe on Amateur repeaters (they don't have GMRS services). To "wake up" a repeater, one has to first send (often using a dedicated button on the radio) a few seconds of the required tone-burst (1750 seemed to be the value used for most UK repeaters). After the repeater is awake, regular PTT activity keeps it alive. After a pause (no PTT) of a few minutes, the repeater goes back to sleep. On the BTech, the tone-burst is sent using [F]+[PTT]

Ok, I thought it was saying no tone, From what I have read I do not think I need it to send a call sign if it is private. So that might work.

I’m not sure how DCS could cause a weaker signal; both it and CTCSS cause squelch to either open or close, not throttle somewhere in between, unless there’s a software issue with the radio.

Wouxun does (and has) fixed things that were 'wrong' on their radios that I have pointed out - but as far as just "suggestions", I'm not sure I've actually suggested any to them.

Unless the state reserves that format block there isn't isn't anything you can do about it. Contrasted to Ham call plates, at least here in Michigan, you have to show proof of your license before they will issue the plate. The fees are the same as an ordinary plate so you don't pay extra for it. At least I've never noticed if they did charge extra.

Welcome! I use a Wilson booster also, although from before their WE Boost branding. It works well.

I dont normally program from the properties like that. I programed a channel into my radio using the freq and rx tx code. if i open up the memory properties mine looks like this. Frequency: 462.625 Name: RPT18 Tone Mode: Cross Tone: 229.1 ToneSql: 85.4 Tone Mode: Tone->Tone DTCS Tone: 23 Rx DTCS Tone: 23 DTCS Pol: NN Duplex: + Offset: 5.000000 Mode: FM Skip: Power: High

The antenna matters as much, if not more than the radio - so the KG-1000G MIGHT get you to the repeater with the right antenna.. and your HT MIGHT also.. It is also possible that from your home NEITHER will hit the repeater - because what is between you and the repeater is the most important factor.. If there is a mountain, a forrest, hills, etc, then you will never hit it. Zello is a voice-chat app that some people use to connect repeaters to, allowing you to talk on a repeater from your phone, using the Zello app. You can read (a lot) more about it here on the this webpage explaining how to use Zello with my repeater: https://www.notarubicon.com/zello-gmrs-repeater/

Yeah. Super happy with LetsGetReady. Here is the link to the other post https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/4693-tyt-th-8600-vs-rugged-abm-25gmr-25/#comment-45840

The Rugged GMR-25 is a TYT TH-8600 radio which can be had for $104 from letsgetready.com They are a good seller and stand by their work. I found one of my TH-8600s would not decode PL tones. TYT wanted me to send the unit back to Chinda. LetsGetReady took the unit back and gave me another one. The only difference between this and the Rugged Radio is the 5 pin mini XLR connector they add to the back so you can plug in a Rugged intercom kit. In a week or two I am going to add this exact same pigtail to my TH-8600. You can get 5 conductor wire and a mini XLR connector for about 10 bucks. Very minor solder skills and you have the exact radio for $114 instead of Rugged $250. I have a post started somewhere on these forms and will update it soon. If you are looking for a handheld to round out the setup, a matching TYT UV-88 is a good dual band radio.

I don't usually like to post videos, but this video was inspired by many comments that I have read here and in a few ham-radio forums.

I just recently purchased 2 MXT575 units. They are wide and narrow capable on repeater channels. At first I was using the included antenna and was pleasantly surprised at the distance but the girlfriend didn't like the look of it on her car. I didn't care for it either. I installed Larsen thru glass mount antennas on both vehicles and they work great. I noticed improvement on the transmit side and receive was much better than the included antenna. The Larsens weren't cheap by any means but I've used them in the past with good results. I know some have had bad luck with thru glass antennas. I used to run Icom radios but I have to admit I do like the simplicity of the Midland and finding a place to mount a full size radio in a 21 Durango is almost impossible so this fits the bill. I just keep a list of repeaters and tones on my phone if I need to program one on the fly when I get out of my area. I was able to get the SWR down to about 1.3:1 and one unit is putting out exactly 50W and the other is about 48W. I have to say I'm pretty impressed.

Very excited for it, we have a ton of repeaters in my area including a very active one covering the entire Seattle metro. That, and I enjoy even just listening whatever other chatter I can pick up. I was listening to a few local Ham repeater nets as well, at least until my Baofeng decided to self-immolate on the charger (it's going back and an 805 is now taking its place)... Re: the ham ticket, not yet, but I'm on it; planning on sitting the test soon. Less interested in chatting on it than doing various radio related experiments, and figured I needed a good challenge as The Big Dark sets in here in western Washington.

I just heard one on the local GMRS repeater. I agree about the audio. Very crisp and clear. Nice sounding radio.