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I did a search awhile back for folks with GMRS licenses near me and found around 20 licensed GMRS users around me but have only ever heard one on the air in six months. If I google licensed user addresses and look at street view almost all of them have some serious 4WD trucks, Jeeps and no base antenna. My guess would be a lot of licensed GMRS users are not really enthusiasts but use GMRS for their 4WD adventures.

That is a good idea. If there aren't a lot of GMRS users in you area you can start with you closest neighbors. I did an FCC search for licensed GMRS people in my area and found one in my neighborhood. I purchased a cheap GMRS radio for my well-neighbor's birthday this month. He saw me using mine during a snow storm multiple day power outage earlier this year. I have talked to several other people in our area about getting radio, even a simple FRS radio to begin with. From there we'll try to encourage folks to turn them on when the power goes out (like it did last night), during bad weather, wild fires in the area etc. It seems the biggest hurdle is to get non-radio nerds to see the value of having a non-cell phone method of communication. Good luck and have fun.

GMRS radios, those certified under 95e, are GMRS Stations. In order to use a GMRS Station, you must be operating under the authority of a licensed user. In that instance you must comply with all of the rules in 95e, including those regarding identification (using your call sign) FRS radios, those certified under 95b, are FRS Stations. If you're using one you are required to comply with the rules of 95b. It's that simple. No license is require to use an FRS Station. The rules for 95b do not require identification. It doesn't matter if you have a GMRS license. When a GMRS station talks to an FRS station, the person operating the GMRS station is required to follow GMRS rules. The person operation the FRS station is required to follow FRS rules.

That's the reason why I took this route over reaching out over the forum. I would NEVER use the option of using the database. I only used it to find out IF and how many licensed users are in my area. Just to have a rough idea, if there is anyone out there who has maybe a GMRS radio.

Thank you sir! While my original code plugs are technically copyrighted, I know that people share them, and in this case, since you were just trying to help someone convert the publicly published PDF into a CSV to help him out, I wasn't at all rubbed in the wrong way, so to speak. So no worries at all, but I certainly appreciate the acknowledgment and the action you took. I am actually in the process of creating automated digital products for my SHTF codeplugs, which will be pre-formatted for a host of radios (not just my own co-designed Wouxun models), and at a low enough price point that people won't need to bother trying to pirate them. It will be basically just enough to cover my time to keep them updated and manage the orders/accounting on the back-end. Hopefully that will help everyone involved.

Retevis lists one for the RT97; does your Midland have a similar plug? If so, it seems like a relatively inexpensive gamble. https://www.retevis.com/usb-programming-cable-for-rt97-us

As Steve mentioned, this is my opinion as well. My GMRS license, even my Amateur Radio license, are Station licenses and I am simply a trustee. Myself and people I delegate (within the rules) are permitted to use that station or stations under the station authority, as supervised by the trustee. Since FRS is a License by Rule radio service and there is nothing in Part-95, Subpart-B that requires station (nor user) identification, there is no need to ID at all as long as you are using an FRS radio.

The rule regarding identification states the following: Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification. If you're using an FRS radio, you are not using a GMRS station, regardless of the fact that you hold a GMRS license.

But that's how I vetted all of my blind dates hahaha

If you are on FRS channels, then no.

If a Factory-Reset does not help, throw them in the trash and spend $40 on 2 new ones from Amazon - problem solved and lesson learned.. That lesson being that eBay is a den of liars and thieves.

Don't presume that because someone near you has a license, that they are active. I have GMRS and HAM General licenses, and I hardly ever turn my radios on

On the pricier side but good quality the Wouxun KG-S88G. It’s IP67, it has a screen though it is smaller and it’s superheterodyne. On the cheaper side the Baofeng UV-9G. It is also IP67, smaller screen, not superheterodyne but duel band, more frequencies on RX. It’s cheep enough that if something happens you aren’t breaking the bank.

Your repeater needs an intervention.

Hi everyone, I am new to the GMRS community and using a HT TIDRADIO GM-5R, so nothing big yet. Just wanted to reach out as I was hoping in the Denver/Aurora-border area in CO are some GMRS users whom I can connect to. I was hoping also to maybe create a GMRS radio community watch in order to maybe be aware of some suspicious activities in the area. I know, there is also NEXTDOOR, but until you get a notification, it might be already too late. Let me know, if there is someone nearby. As mentioned, I have only the HT and would only go and install a base station, if really necessary. I was using CB radio long time ago, but wanted to join the GMRS-community as you are just more serious and also more professional, due to the license and the quite low amount of available channels. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Did you look to see what GMRS repeaters are in your area? There are several in Colorado. That might lead to a GMRS club, which would be a pretty good way to find folks who are interested in talking to others about GMRS.

They were still being used by Lockheed (Sunnyvale) in the early 80s. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/19/us/carrier-pigeons-ferrying-lockheed-microfilm.html

If you like animals, carrier pigeons are great, too.

I enjoy operating on GMRS. I enjoy operating on 2 meters. I enjoy operating on 70 cm. I enjoy operating on HF. I even enjoy operating on CB radio. I suppose you could say I simply enjoy communicating using RF. I guess you get out of radio what you put into it. There are so many options that seriously, if you can't find something you like, or if you're disillusioned, or if you think there's no one to talk to, or there needs to be more channels or more frequencies or more modes because nothing fits your needs, or if you don't like hams because hams are snobs or you don't like GMRSers because they didn't take a test or you don't like CBers maybe you should consider communicating by writing letters.

I wasn't going to use those terms as I thought the guy might be genuinely special needs, but I rarely see anyone go so out of their way to be unsatisfied. This is definitely a "some people" poster child candidate.

My UV-5R GMRS flavored radio transmits fine on GMRS Ch15 and VFO 462.550 The Low/High power (#) does not work on mine in Channel mode, but does work in Frequency mode No problem connecting/programming on multiple computers - Statistically speaking, unless you know that your computer/cable works/can program other radios, this is more likely a Windows issue than a radio issue.

GMRS license sharing is limited to Immediate family members, who are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. I believe that if you're on FRS, you don't have have to ID, but your grandson would be allowed to operate with your ID for GMRS compliance.

The initial question stipulated that the radio was an FRS radio. To me that assumes that the radio is compliant with the rules regarding certification of FRS radios. Given the following rule I'm curious why the question about channels is relevant: 95.587(a) Transmit frequency capability. FRS transmitter types must not be capable of transmitting on any frequency or channel other than those listed in § 95.563.

Also, sometimes having someone appear after looking folks up on a government database can creep people out. It’s a delicate situation.

Well, First you should make sure that is what you want to do. From what you've said, it's possible that you're looking for a multi-tone panel to separate user groups on your repeater by PL tone. Adding an external tone panel to your repeater is not quite at the level of simple, but it has been done, and there are panels (and cables) designed to work with the Vertex EVX-R70 repeaters (and it's cousin the Motorola XPR8400). There's probably some online instructions out there on Repeater-Builder or similar sites. I'd peg it as a project for intermediate with skills to advanced/experienced. The inexpensive way for someone with experience would be to buy a good used tone panel (I've seen used Trident Raider panels go for less than $50 with free shipping on eBay) and find some online pinouts for crafting your own cable. You would also need some equipment to set deviation levels and repeat audio, and you would need to reprogram the repeater to function as a base with an external control panel. Without knowing your skill set, patience, and equipment - it's kind of hard to give a recommendation. Trading out your repeater for another unit that already has a Multi-tone function built in (Kenwood TKR) might be an option.

Any "GMRS" antenna will work. I use the Midland MXTA26 on my Jeep - an antenna like the MXTA26 will work much better than your tiny antenna, but nobody can tell you exactly how much better. Can't speak to the cold, but the radio will do fine in your summer temps as long as it has some air-flow around it.

A mile from a basement seems optimistic. My recommendation is to try and start a neighborhood watch program first before coming at your neighbors with an idea for radio communications. They might have just bought their GMRS radios in order to talk while out recreating or traveling.

I just used a good pair of scissors with the older film type screen protectors. Not perfect, but they work and can be replaced easily. I think BTWR sells one for the 935G.

I almost forgot... I wrote this in not to distant past, to describe tones and how they are used. This may be of some help.

I bought an old style (non tempered glass) screen protector for a tablet and cut screen protectors for all of my radios. While a screen protector will not stop a broken screen from a direct impact it will help and it keeps my screens scratch free. I have dropped several of my radios and still have pristine screens. As far as radios go, depending on you radio budget, the KG-905G is built like a tank and the aforementioned KG-S88G is my go everywhere radio, compact and tough.

You can certainly use an external controller & set it up like a community repeater with multiple PL or Tone groups. If that's what you want, there are other Repeater options out there with that feature built in, but a $75 or $100 used external controller will do the job. I doubt you would want to manually switch tone groups.

Oops, you're correct. For some reason, I thought that the 462 interstitial channels were required to be narrowband like the 467s. I guess I need to be a tad more careful when I read the rules. Oh well, its only my second mistake in life. Although, I do have a gazillion second mistakes. So, the original poster has the option to program 12.5 or 5 KHz for the 462 interstitials. Also, another second mistake, I stated in my previous post to go to the "Radio Information" section and click on the "Tx Power Tab". The Tx tab is in the "Radio Configuration" Section" and he would need to click on the "Tx Power Level" tab, but, the software would not let me set the "Low" power level setting below 20 watts, as stated and depicted in the above posts, like the XTL5000s will. Sorry for any confusion. I stand corrected and now better in the know.

The talkabout’s likely have a CTCSS tone (privacy tone) on and won’t hear your radio. Check the tones and clear them out of the radios. Haaa! I’m too slow again. Lol what they said^^^

...and get further away from each other - at least 50 feet..after you turn off all tones in all radios... on the Talkabouts the tones might be called sub channels or 'privacy codes'.

Welcome to the forums!

OffRoaderX gave some good advice. Based on what you wrote, I would start with videos that explain tone squelch and digital code squelch... as well as how to use a repeater.

TL;dr: Kirk is both a liar AND a moron. For many of us this was obvious from the very start, but now that we've heard BOTH sides, there is no more doubt.

Youtube is probably a good place to start, but here are some basics: Channels 1-22 are listening & talking channels. There are no globally accepted channels like CB Ch9 or CB Ch19 on GMRS To communicate with others, you tell your buddy/family member, etc to put their radio on the same channel as you, get within range, push the button, then talk. If you are looking to talk with strangers as a hobby, you bought the wrong radio. To make things more confusing, GMRS repeaters share Channels 15-22, so if someone is talking on a repeater you will hear them on channels 15-22, but (generally/normally) they will only be able to hear you if you configure your radio to use that same repeater. Again, Youtube is a great place to learn everything, but when you have a specific question, this place isnt too bad.

Well Kirk, since you insist in casting falsehoods and trying to tarnish my reputation, here's what actually happened You emailed me, vaguely explained the problem, and asked for help. I replied that afternoon (even though it was my daughter's birthday), suggested a few initial guesses as to what might be going on, and explained that while I don't officially support CHIRP, I would be happy to look at your IMG file and see if I could figure out what was going on. There was absolutely no "accusing" of anything or anyone. We hadn't even started to diagnose the issue yet. You emailed your CHIRP images about 27 hours later. You emailed the store about 24 hours later trying to do an end-run on me by claiming that I was unresponsive, and asking how to return the radio, claiming that the radio was buggy. I replied 16 minutes later to reiterate that I was happy to try and help you solve the problem, and that CHIRP works fine with the PX, but that it sometimes requires a little patience on some systems, but that I wasn't aware of anyone that couldn't get it running. I also explained that I would look at your files on the weekend, as I was backed up on support issues, so you knew when to expect a response. You replied 2 hours later and said you just wanted to send it back for a refund because "there is so thing flaky with it [the radio]." I replied 2 hours later (after hours) and reiterated again that nobody that I know of hasn't been able to get the PX working with CHIRP, in case you wanted to change your mind overnight, but that I would generate your RMA return in the morning. I also informed you at that time that because you were refusing to troubleshoot the radio with me, that the return would be subject to my 30-day return policy, which will include a restocking fee. It was not a threat, it was a preview of the return terms I would have sent you with the RMA # in the morning, in case you wanted to take your chance with actually keeping the radio (since I know it was most likely not a faulty radio). You replied early the next morning and told me that you already tried and did everything right, and that your UV9GX worked, so you just wanted to return the radio instead of "going through any more hassles." You emailed yet again and gave me more reasons why you were right (keep in mind that we hadn't started any troubleshooting yet), and said you shouldn't have to pay any restocking fee or even the return shipping fee, even though you refused to do any troubleshooting with me, and that you would be sure to share your experience "on the forums," obviously as a veiled threat to do exactly what you're attempting to do here by distorting reality. You then told me about how another dealer sent you a new radio to replace a bad one. Funny, that's what I do when someone gets a bad radio also. You didn't. Finally, you emailed me a few hours later and said you solved the problem with the help of the nice people here in this forum, and not to bother with the return. I promptly filed away your email messages, unsubscribed you from email list, and blocked you from my site. There was no arguing from my side - it was mostly just you telling me how right you were, and being impatient, and then discovering all your assumptions were wrong all along, and then blaming me for everything unfair in the world. I rest my case, but thanks for the grade, teacher.

For what? If they’re using FRS radios they’re well within the rules. It’s not their fault that the FCC put FRS radios on the same frequencies as GMRS radios.

Wrong.. The website has told the members of this forum to request access, not the repeater owner. This specific repeater is open to everyone, as is very plainly spelled-out in bold letters in the description of the repeater. The website does not give an option to NOT display the "request access" button. Try again Perry Mason...

Ham is exactly a hobby. Some like to compete, some don't. HF bands give you a global reach, it draws people to HF. But many are fine with the local chats on repeaters. What? You got to be kidding. Where I live VHF FM is packed to the brim, while 70cm is empty because military restricted use, to not have an interference for the PAVE PAWS radars.

The KG-UV9GX has a sexier wrist-strap.

I mean...if they can make it last by dialing it down, it some kind of progress, right? ?

That is not a solution, nor an answer to my question. Quick update for anyone following along: I've got most of the different manufacturer's software to run and after finding an installing the Si CP-210X ARM(64) driver for my (red Wouxun) cable(s) I am able to read and write all radios EXCEPT for my Motorola XTS2500, XTS5000, & XTL5000 - they need an FTDI ARM(64) driver that I have not yet been able to find/get working.