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I've had 3 different repeaters over the last two years: DIY 2 KG-1000Gs Retevis RT97 Vertex VXR-7000 All using the same ~$120 Tram 1486 base antenna and 75 feet of LMR400 coax The two KG-1000Gs was the most expensive (~$875) and had the most power - but it was also the most unwieldy and issue-prone The RT97 was a much more compact package, and was the least expensive (~$400), but only output about 4-5watts after the duplexer and has a limited duty-cycle The Vertex VXR-7000 (what I currently use) is by far the best solution. I paid $500 for mine (used), it puts out ~25 watts after the duplexer and it can be used 24/7 (100% duty cycle) - But because of its age its a bit of a pain to program/get set up. My recommendation, based on my experience, would be to try and get a good used commercial repeater (like the VXR-7000) OR an RT97. Next month another company will be releasing a new GMRS repeater very similar to the RT97 but easier to configure - but i'm not allowed to talk about that yet.. So you might want to wait and see if that one works better for your needs.

I didn't vote. I'm not one to put stickers on my vehicles, though and I really don't drive around with my radio on. I only use my GMRS radio when my kids are at our cabin or when I'm launching rockets with friends. I don't use GMRS the way I use ham radio, where I might sit at the radio an try to listen to distant stations or join in a local net. For me, although I'm interested in the technology and regulations, GMRS is just a way to communicate while enjoying other things.

The BTECH GMRS Pro is a reflashed/rebranded Vero VR-N75 that is locked to tx on GMRS freqs. It uses APRS with AFSK1200. The Garmin and Motorola HTs use proprietary protocols and do not interop with others.

OK please explain how to go back to GMRS. Was fun for a minute. Never mind I got it:)

Good for you! That and a belt clip will really do the trick with the ladies! ? Honestly I suspect that’s not your call sign and you’re trolling someone here, but that’s your business as well. Yup, your call sign is wrbu527. I’m sorry to be right.

How about? Sticker: "146.52 - My other radio is GMRS!" or "Scan, Baby, Scan!"

It's normal to hear a repeater on simplex. Just because you hear them dosn't mean you are going through the repeater but rather you are able to hear it's output. Unless you have the repeater input tone they won't hear you. The repeater output tone is what selects only hearing the repeater. If you don't set the the output tone from the repeater you will still hear it as you are. You just hear everything that isn't going through the repeater as well. Some people won't set the output tone until they are sure they are accessing it with the input and others just leave it off altogether. That's not to say it's an absolute that what you are hearing is from a repeater depending on line of site you might hear them on simplex. Short answer, no you aren't hooked up to it unless you set your radio to it's parameters.

I put Kaf6045 on my "3rd-grade hall monitor block list" a long time ago so i dont know what he posted, but, It is important to know the rules.. It is also important to understand the risks and what happens in the real world.. The head of your GMRS group is correct, it is no more of an issue than rolling through a stop-sign is an issue, as the FCC, based on their published record of enforcement, does not care.

I voted no for a few reasons. I don't want the sticker on my truck. Someone close enough to read the sticker is likely going to overload my receiver front-end. I don't always have the radio on and it's on varying frequencies when it is on... to name a few.

Pretty sure I've seen reddit posts that someone was successfully able to send aprs messages between the gmrs pro and a yaesu ftm400.

1970s Legacy Repeater ?

AKA - W7ML too.

I just ordered a Vanity Plate for: WRBZ532 ?

Retevis has a turnkey solution for you. Their RT97 repeater is about $300-$500 depending on accessories. With most things vhf/uhf height is more important than watts. If you can get the repeater (or its antenna) at about 50' above ground, you should be able to cover a few neighbor hoods. Here are a few threads in this forum on the unit. https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/4843-retevis-rt97-gmrs-repeater/#comment-47459 https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/3755-rt97-real-world-output-power/ https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/3353-retevis-rt-97-battery-size-recommendation/ https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/2744-retivis-rt97-portable-repeater/

I have seen "146.52" oval stickers on automobiles on I-5 while driving between California and Washington a few years back. The auto's with the sticker have been heard replying to other stations who called them. Is this the new way to let others know about inter-vehicle communications? You decide. Generally it sounds like a citizen's band call out almost, "Hey chartreuse micro-bus with the one forty six dot five two oh sticker, this is your_callsign_here, how copy" or "Hey vehicle behind the red pickup truck with the one forty six dot five two oh [146.520] sticker, this is your_callsign_here, do you copy?". The occasional "seek you, seek you, seek you, this is your_callsign_here" have been heard, without reply. It seems more successful to call the vehicle directly like a "see bee er" as above or just "your_callsign_here", listen, "your_callsign_here". The Summits On The Air (SOTA) amateur radio people are often heard searching around simplex, 146.52 FM, in the summer in Washington, west side of the Cascades and they often reply quickly.

I was trying to be not so “on the nose!

Not really. Marc and I both answered his original question. Then, like conversations sometimes go, Gortex2 introduced an inflection point. Almost all of us understand that the conversation that’s going on now has almost nothing to do with the OP’s question. That’s just life online. It has been an interesting diversion though.

While I agree someone could donate radios there is alot that can make it work or not work. Just something to think about. When I deploy as a team member in the field I have my backpack, Chest Harness (Dual Radio) with VHF SAR radio and UHF Trunking Radio, GPS, Compass, Map and if at night headlamp and flashlight. Once in the field we are navigating, listening to both operations and command on our radios and searching for a subject who may or may not be conscious. For me to have another radio talking in the background is a distraction. Our SOP actually states no ham radios on in the field. A member can carry it but they need to leave it in the backpack unless its needed for a backup to a backup to a backup. I sometimes have mine in the backpack with APRS running but volume off. There is alot going on in the woods for a SAR member. Add in K9 team, helo and trackers and its enough to just hear operations calling. I don't disagree with having that radio on hand but not sure how well it would work in some cases. To be honest I think a Talkabout in scan would be better than a baofeng when you think about the KISS method. The biggest issue is education as said. I dont ever see a nationwide education or decision to happen on FRS. Personally I like what Wyoming did. Even though many find fault with the channel and tone at least they published something. I guess its something other SAR groups should look at but I have trouble just getting folks to buy a part 90 radio ! With that said I still participate in some statewide meetings in the NE for SAR and I'll make it a point to at least float the idea at the next statewide meeting.

I had this exact same questions / thoughts…. But, I also like being a cheap-skate too. Thought I’d try out the Anytone AT-779. Ordered it as a GMRS radio (but it was marked for ham 2M & 70cm when it arrived) and had to “fix” it. There is a good YouTube video on how to get to the “boot up” menu in that radio. Got a cheap CB as well. It’s all a “1-Bolt” installation to the front left passenger seat mounting bolt using a single piece of flat steel stock, bent at 90 degrees in two places and twisted so the radios face the driver. On the antenna… the near antenna (in the pic) is the generic VHF/UHF antenna that I spent a little time tweaking to an acceptable VSWR across the frequencies I have been messing around on. yea…yea…I know…CB…??? but it works! …and works well when I want / need it.?. Ain’t no sad ham here!! Can’t disappoint Randy!!

Look at adding a scanner instead of another radio. Uniden BCT15X can be found for about $100 and can scan better than any radio. It has a coverage of VHF low down to 25MHz, as well as up in the GHz ranges, and will scan much quicker than a radio can. Also to be completely transparent, note that in all technicality, programming of marine radio frequencies (eCFR Part 80) in a radio requires a GROL license. I'll just leave it at that. Many of the radios don't require Mars/Cap to listen out of band, only for transmission. The Motorola softwares are now free as long as you sign up for a Motorola MyView account. It's not terribly hard, just time consuming and requires following up with Motorola via phone. The Kenwood software can be found. The most current stuff you need to find the correct dealer that will talk to a ham/GMRS radio guy. Some will, some won't. Before I found the right dealer, I called a local shop that I know, and they wouldn't sell me the software. And I know one of their head techs, I have lunch with him an a handful of other professionals in the RF industry every few months.

I suspect that a good quality whip on your handheld and a good quality base station antenna on the mobile will work well as is. Your conditions (summit to a point on the opposite side of the valley) are nearly ideal. I don’t think that I would use a Yagi for the handheld, because if you have an emergency that disables you in some way you might not be able to point it. If you point it the wrong direction it’s worse than the rubber duckies. Also with two Yagis how do you know where to point them unless you can see each other? If you cannot communicate until the Yagi antennas are mutually lined up it’s difficult to coordinate the alignment. If you do use Yagi antennas you might want to run some tests; Yagi antennas with fewer directors may yield a wider pattern that works better for you. I would hike into the same area in advance and run some tests. Also, avalanche beepers and personal locator beacons are probably necessary.

Honestly, you are describing a situation well inside LOS. Unless there is something in the way that you didn't mention, 10 miles from a summit to a valley should be a cake walk even with just a few watts and a vertical antenna. Normally you would use a beam to reduce the reception of signals/noise from directions other than forward, while increasing listening ability and focused power in the forward direction (which you obviously understand at this point). However, those forward listening advantages are accomplished by enhancing the ability to hear more of the refracted and scattered emissions you are receiving from beyond LOS, that didn't fly off into space or get absorbed by the terrain. Or at least reduce the ambient noise so what you do hear is easier to understand. Your forward transmitting advantages are accomplished by putting more focused energy into the atmosphere in a forward direction, thereby likely increasing the amount of RF that is refracted and scattered beyond LOS, that didn't fly off into space or get absorbed by the terrain. That increase in refracted and scattered energy would, theoretically, increase the ability for a station without a beam to receive your signal. So, to sum up, it sounds like you are already in a massive over-kill configuration. If there is no heavily diluted "over the horizon" communications to enhance, you won't benefit from using beam antennas.

I guess it depends where you are: Just for giggles, I gave a CQ up on 146.52 and Tom, KE6HHM from Santa Clarita answered and after a few minutes, Dave, KN6VVM jumped in from his home up in Tehachipi!

APX8500

Your problem most likely is the accessory pins. What pins are set for COR ? Also you need flat RX audio that is set under the same area. If you can post your codeplugs maybe we can help. You also need to change TX audio to mic and not flat as flat will use a different pin for TX audio.

Well I will say this. I have an extremely tall house. In addition to having a tall house when you go all the way up to the peak where the pitch is which is where the antenna is mounted it's another 10 ft gained. The base of my db408 is at about 37 ft with the tip extending up to about 47 ft. I am in a fairly new subdivision as well where there are not many trees but I could tell you right now that I could see out for miles. I could see out far further from the roof of my house then the neighbor's house because of how tall it is so height is might. I'm almost wondering if the comet antenna was performing better to the gentleman that had it at 20 to 25 ft tall because you're not getting above the tree line or your neighbor's houses. I'm not an RF expert by any means but in my circumstance where I'm at here in Illinois a compscope (Andrews is who invented it) with folded dipole antennas run circles around pretty much all of the fiberglass ones I've used. That's not the only antenna I have on the roof of my house. I also have a very cheap $60 fiberglass stick (Tram BR-6140) just to get a connection back to my main repeater which is only 10 miles away so for that logic there as a link radio, I wasn't going to spend a ton of money on another high-end antenna when I only needed it to go 10 miles. Certainly everybody's circumstances are different and I don't blame you for not wanting to spend $1,000 on this antenna at this point. I only paid about $750 for mine far before inflation and this country went down the drain. Hell, I was paying $1193 for DB420's before bidenflation and they are $1475 now so I get it, trust me. My furthest contact was down in Louisville Kentucky about a month ago and I got into the KARS repeater... that's about 300 miles or so from me and i did it on 5W so to me, it's worth it. Ohh and I'm at about 100' run for both antennas. I am using LMR400 for the baby link antenna and using 5W. I measured the power on the roof and it was at 2.3W so IMO LMR is junk period. I will concede though that it does have its place on this Earth and that it is far easier to work with. Obviously I'm doing what I need to do with only 2.3 watts all day so no need to spend money on the better line there either. And in my opinion at 100 ft LMR is just absolutely abysmal. It's literally over 50% loss at 100' I built all of my infrastructure for emergency use so if anything were to happen I have communications. So for me it would be a matter of life and death even though I hope that that is not the case ever for me or my children but I'm ready and when me, my wife, or one of my children hits the button to talk it's going to freaking work. Buy once cry once. I appreciate the other replies too BTW. Internet forums can sometimes be silly with people saying stupid things but I think every single person that's replied to this thread so far has been absolutely great in offering opinions and comments!! Kudos to you all! Randy from Notarubicon would be proud of you all ?

With the rule changes in 2017, effective in 2018, business use of the frequencies is legal so long as they use FRS compliant radios. No call signs are required. Anybody who monitors the simplex channels will likely hear all sorts businesses on the air using them. Just have to deal with it.

I keep renewing my membership every year. The ARRL is the only lobbying group representing Ham Radio Operators. It does help when an ARRL rep wants to talk to the FCC, or a Congress critter, when they understand they influence a few hundred thousand voters. And the ARRL, I believe, has a seat at the WRC, World Radio Administrative Conferences, held every few years. One might argue about their effectiveness but one thing is for sure if you don't have a seat at the table nobody will hear or care about your view point.

To my knowledge, they are the only group lobbying on behalf of amateur radio. Without amateur backing, we could loose the only voice we have Washington and could find ourselves without spectrum for our craft. They publish a couple of good magazines that are free to members and publish educational books that are useful to us all. In addition, they keep us informed of legislation that affects us. I have heard opinions that perhaps at times they have not lobbied hard enough and that we have lost spectrum as a result Perhaps that is because there was not enough funding to wage the necessary defense, I do not know. I find membership an appropriate support of their mission to serve and protect amateur radio. Such efforts are not free. Just one man’s opinion. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Some Operational Tips: Open up the Ham 2 meter and 70 cm bands to transmit on the USA version (also available in the provided software under Model): 1) Turn off the power. 2) While holding down the V/M button, turn on the power. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change from the GMRS setting on the display to 136-174 MHz; 400-470 MHz and now power down. 3) When you power back up licensed operators can now transmit on the GMRS channels and the 2 meter and 70 cm Ham bands. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Giving a Channel an alphanumeric name without using a computer: 1) Go to the appropriate Channel 2) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 29: DSPCHANNEL and using the Up and Down arrow buttons, select NAME. Push the FUN button to exit the Function menu. 3) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 12: CHANNEL NAME. Using the Up and Down Arrow buttons, scroll through the list of 1-0, A-Z and a-z to find the first letter. When you do find it, push the MON button to confirm that character and move to the 2nd position. Repeat as necessary until up to 8 characters are entered. 4) When finished push the FUN button to exit the Function Mode. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Programming a repeater channel without using a computer: 1) Switch to VFO mode (from Channel Mode) using the V/M key 2) Using the number keys on the mic, enter the repeater's output frequency 3) On the mic, push FUN then 9 repeatedly until the proper split (+ or - or blank for Off) appears above the frequency. 4) Press the FUN key on the Radio and use the V/M and Main keys as an up/down to get to function 10:Offset. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to set your offset split, such as 5.00000MHz or 0.60000MHz (you can hold down the Up or Down key to have it continuously change). Once you get to the proper offset, push the FUN key again. 5) Press the FUN key on the Radio and go to Function 01:T-CDC and use the Up and Down keys to find the proper transmit PL Tone. Use the same method to optionally set the proper receive PL Tone, if necessary, on Function 02:R-CDC (or Function 03: RT-CDC if both tones are the same) 6) You can rotate through High, Medium and Low transmit power using FUN and 0 (zero) on the mic. 7) Save to the first open channel by pushing Fun and UP on the microphone (or then use the UP and DN keys on the mic to scroll through the available channels, with empty ones saying NULL ? Save to this channel holding down the "MON-*" key on the mic and you are done! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Use DCS Digital Tones: Go to desired channel Press FUN on mic Press 1 on mic Go to menu 1 using V/M or Main key on mic Press number 1 on mic to cycle to 000 N display for menu 1 Use up and down on mic to scroll to code corresponding to desired DCS code. List is in the instructions. Use V/M or Main to go to menu item 2. Repeat selection process Press DIL on mic to exit. _________________________________________________________________ New Radioddity DB20-G CPS software V2.02 1. Change the default bandwidth from Narrow to Wide. 2. Address the bug that "when repeater TX frequency change, RX frequency automatically match" ----------------------------------------------------------------

I am fortunate that a local amateur radio operator has a repeater available. It is done properly on a 400 ft tower. The repeater covers the entire county and portions of adjacent counties. My initial itch for my own repeater was because I live in a low lying area and needed help getting over a hump to reach my wife’s mobile when she is at work. Once I discovered the local amateur radio club, I joined and got access to the repeater. It eliminated all desire to set up my own repeater. Like you mention, GMRS is not wildly popular. For the most part it is only we two who use it, with the occasional visit from one of the hams. If the repeater owner ever decides to stop maintaining the repeater, I may very well become interested in building my own again. Fortunately, my coverage needs are modest, about 10 miles. We probably could blast through most of that distance on 40 Watt simplex, except for the hump right in the middle.

In the past few weeks, members and staff alike have researched the controversy regarding type acceptance or certification of radio equipment. We have found absolutely NO evidence that the agency is issuing citations to licensed GMRS operators for using Part 90 equipment in Part 95 service. We have anectdotal evidence that agency inspectors randomly allow Part 90 equipment in Part 95 service as long as all Part 95 technical standards are met. Therefore, it is the decision of the staff at MyGMRS Forum to once again allow posting of "Equipment Reviews" regarding ALL types of equipment whether Part 90, Part 95 or Part 97. We feel that it is the responsibility of each member to screen the information that is provided by others and to make an educated decision on whether or not to use any equipment of any kind in your own personal setting. Reviews of Part 97 equipment are acceptable due to the number of Amateur Operators here, however, we do not wish to see any reference to Amateur Radio Part 97 equipment being 'suggested' that it works on GMRS frequencies. Thank you all for your patience in this matter and thank you for your understanding. The forum is once again open for "Equipment Reviews" and similar postings under these guidelines listed above. The MyGMRS Staff