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These aren’t the right questions. What is missing is not fully reading the applicable regulations for each service first. What wears on people is not being conversant with the regulations and trying to debate the topic. The knowledgeable people will just quit responding.

I’m new to this gmrs thing I’ll be also using my gmrs ht in the truck when I’m on the road trucking it 10-4 thanks to the ones who helped out

Ok the off set was not in right so I fixed it I put the rxctc and the txctc same number in both and it’s working now thank you hitting repeater 30miles away

Try menu #19, sub channel display

Good job!

Usually if they are fully open, they'll have the tones on the repeater listing; some may still want to have a permission request to keep track of who may be using the repeater. Is there a specific repeater listing on the site you're looking at? One side note: the main site (where the repeater listing is located) and the forum side don't always link up well; make sure the main page is showing you as logged in. It should be the same login as the forum.

Have you tried logging into the site where the repeater map is? Even though the forum and the repeater site are both Mygmrs they act as separate sites so you’ll need to sign in to each. Even if it’s an open repeater I believe you still have to log in to see the tones. Hope this helps.

Will the software not load? Or is it a driver issue with the cable? If it's the software, you may try anytone's version of it; I have the anytone, but program with the radioddity version, with no issue. If I remember right, you can hold the xxx button when you turn it on to access the range setting. (correction: the "V/M" button)

Just on transmit

https://tenor.com/view/muggy-fishing-gif-11290854

I just took the tech and general test this morning and will say that if you have basic mechanical and electrical comprehension and are able to critically look at the question and possible answers then the tech is a short study. The general was more intense by every way, but I studied for two nights and passed easily. I like the flash cards (out of date) on hamexam.org/flash_cards/18-Technician and the current test questions on eham.net/exams/index, will use the same technique in two months when the test is local again and take the extra.

PL was Motorola’s term for CTCSS, which is an analog tone that’s sent to open the squelch on the radio you’re trying to reach. It stands for Private Line, but it doesn’t mean your conversation won’t be heard. Look in your manual for CTCSS. There’s a similar feature called DPL for Digital Private Line. It’s commonly called DCS or DTCSS.

Hi everyone, I'm echoing what WRYF376 has posted (rather than start a new thread and making a similar request for guidance). I kinda fell into GMRS by accident when I recently obtained a Talkpod A36Plus radio. I initially thought of only using it as a air band "scanner," but found out there is so much more to it. I recently got my license (WRYF568) and am completely overwhelmed by what is involved (that is, everything having to do with it). So I look forward to absorbing the collective wisdom and knowledge of the myGMRS membership to get me started and involved. Thanks all, this looks like a great board.

I suppose someone who wants to do this can do what an overwhelming number of people have... buy a quality radio that does everything and keep your mouth shut about it. If you don't tell anyone, no one will know. Don't cause interference, don't be an ass, and don't go on frequencies you shouldn't be on, and you're going to be fine... not that I am making any promises or condoning violating the rules.

Most radios you enter in a radio ID that’s universal, global, for all the channel settings. I noticed on my new Kenwood NX-1300DUK5’s you can have multiple ID’s in a list. You select which ID to use from the list, for each zone, collection of memory channels. This is done when building the code plug. To change ID’s you switch to a different zone. I’ve notice DMR, very seldom, on some GMRS channels. I used my D878 in Digital Monitor mode to decode it. Looks like it was some local business. Somebody tried to save money by buying the wrong radios and further screwed up by programming them wrong.

I have heard it used outside of the Ham Bands once or twice but mainly, its being used on simplex in areas where you "shouldn't" be using it because not everyone has fusion and if there was some sort of emergency, that frequency is being taken up by someone messing around on Fusion. Within the Ham bands I say misuse, not so much illegal, because I guess you can just start transmitting digital voice wherever and whenever you want, it is just frowned upon sort of like using APRS on anything other than 144.39.

If I could only have one HT, this would be the one!

OK lets look at the rules and start to tear this apart. First is HAM and anything else. Ham is the ONLY service that allows VFO access to any frequency that the radio is able to access. This applies to both transmit and receive. No other transmitting radio in non-government hands has this ability other than SOME Maritime and Avionics radios. They either need to be preprogrammed (CB, MURS, GMRS, Marine) Or they need to require programming with in their operating range in some fashion that doesn't give the end user direct access to program the radio without some key, or software (part 90 LMR radios). So that's reason one. As pointed out, ham radios don't need to be type accepted, but do need to meet certain criteria to be manufactured and sold by vendors. You can build anything you want for your own use. But radios from the manufacture have to ship with the ability to transmit outside of the allocated frequencies blocked. Of course, removing that block is simple enough usually, but it has to be there when it ships. So that's strike two. The third one, is the biggest and it exists in all services EXCEPT ham radio. No radio can operate outside the service it was designed for. So a commercial LMR radio can't be used for Maritime communications. It can of course be used for ham radio since no restriction exists but a radio designed for the ham radio service can't be used for any other service either. This is both regulated in the design criteria for ham radios that are manufactured and exists in the part 90 rules that a radio. This again is becoming a dead horse topic. It gets brought up and rehashed over and over again. So here's a better question,,,, why do you care? Are you gonna get a part 90 LMR license for VHF and want to use your Baofeng to talk on both VHF and UHF GMRS? Do you figure on running your modified ham radio on your boat? Or are you just complaining via a question that you don't understand the reasoning for what the regulations are and figured it would sound better if others were to complain about it so you didn't have to? Simple way to deal with it. Follow the rules. You obviously know them, or you wouldn't be asking why they exist to begin with.

Thank you, I am pretty sure this fixed my issue. Cant believe I have probably been running my repeater like this for years. Thanks for all your help.

It's good to hear that your grandpa did both. As a grandpa, I also do both and I hope my grandchildren have at least some interest in radio because of me. You'll no doubt see some stupid arguments and snide comments here about ham vs GMRS. Ignore them. It's mostly some people stirring the pot to get a reaction. Ham radio and GMRS have a lot of differences in how they are used, but a lot of similarities in how they work. Enjoy both. Welcome in.

Hello, and welcome to the world of direct person-to-person and place-to-place communications. I've been a licensed amateur radio operator for well over 20 years, I've also been a municipal emergency management coordinator and I have been a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years. I am generally into radio-related stuff, and always have been. The thing I like about GMRS is that it's much closer to CB radio in simplicity for "normal" people who just want to talk from here to there, while retaining a little bit of sophistication for people who want to mess around with antennas, repeaters, networks and so on. There are many good suggestions already in the responses, so I'll only add on a few things. For me GMRS has only 3 uses: 1. An escape from my phone when I'm working out in the yard. I leave one radio in the house and keep one with me. No text messages, no beeps, no boops, no pings, no rings. Merciful silence - unless someone needs me at the house, and they can reach me. If you do nothing else but escape your phone but stay connected with people, that's a good use of GMRS. 2. A never-ending experiment in local to regional alternative/offline communications. My ham radio background comes into play here (not in a good way); way back in 2012, hurricane Sandy's damage to the area I live wiped out the electricity and telecom infrastructure for quite some time, and that was when I learned that maybe Ham radio is not what it used to be, because we were unable to rely on it for...well...anything at all. That's a whole different topic, but the point is that I've been testing GMRS in a variety of scenarios and have found that in some areas it really does work quite well for point-to-point communications over 3 to 5 miles, especially when you have a nice high external antenna, or even a decent mobile antenna (handhelds are intrinsically limited when it comes to distance optimization - height matters). So one of the things that I've done with GMRS is prepared a "Communications Plan" with a few folks, where I work out what channels we use to call and talk (and, to be clear, YOUR channel 1 is not always MY channel 1 - see this site https://www.k0tfu.org/reference/frs-gmrs-privacy-codes-demystified.html ) and try it out now and then from various places. You'll find out all the places you can't reach and eventually develop a "my coverage" map, and you'll wish it was larger. But be careful - this path leads to feeling that you need to buy an install a repeater, even though you should not do that. No really, don't do it. That path leads to madness . 3. Communications at events. The actual, most practical use of hand-held radios of any kind, GMRS or not - is people talking to other people to exchange information, coordinate activities, and so on, is actually the thing I do the least with my GMRS radios, but when I do, they are very useful. Various members of my family are active in festivals of various kinds, and that's when the "dumb" GMRS radios come out (the ones with just "channels"). There's nothing quite so easy to use as a push-to-talk radio that does not require cell service or wifi to operate, and this is especially so at a music festival in some muddy patch of nowhere. Something I've not tried with GMRS, only because I've not really invested the time/money is Data/Short Messages. GMRS hand-held portable units may transmit digital data containing location information, or requesting location information from one or more other GMRS or FRS units, or containing a brief text message to another specific GMRS or FRS unit. ) This radio can do Data https://baofengtech.com/product/gmrs-pro/

I would suggest buying a couple of different brands of cheaper (more affordable) radios to start with and learn how to program them through software and keypad and read the manuals to understand the features of each. You will learn that some features are more useful to you than others, and some radios are more user-friendly than others. The first radio I bought; I fell in love with. The second radio I bought made me realize that there were features (scanlists in my case) that make a radio more broadly useful to a particular type of use...illustrating that my first choice wasn't the best choice for me. Once you know how you will use the radio, and what features are most-useful to you...then its time move up to bigger, badder, spendier models with huge antennas requiring bigger. badder and even more-spendier coax.

Welcome @WRYF376 to the forum. Good people here, lots of info and opinions too. Feel free to ask questions and someone will have answers.

You have come to the right place if you have specific questions. There is a lot of knowledge in these hallowed halls. However, as with every corner of the interwebs, you will get good answers, correct answers, and opinions on things you didn't ask. The key is to be able to differentiate between them all.

Welcome! As far as pointers go, I have a couple that may help. 1.) GMRS is a "bring your own contacts" type of environment. If you call out and don't hear much (or nothing) don't let it discouraged you. 2.) GMRS is in the UHF radio segment and is an RF line of sight service. So, when it comes to range, height is might. 3.) In radio, all the magic is in the antenna. Don't get to hung up on power output. That said, more power isn’t a bad thing. As far as setups/radios go, what is it you want to accomplish? Where and what you're doing, combined with your desire for simplicity or Bells and Whistles will determine what you need.

Welcome! Rule #1: Have fun and don't get too hung up on the small stuff.

In my area, everyone seems to want to look like they "overland" but never even leave the pavement. I have even noticed the CB radio crowd mount two antennas, one on each side of their lifted Jeep or truck, but not even have a radio connected, as it looks cool. I show up with my old Blazer and a Phantom Antennex antenna, and they wonder if I even have any radio gear installed (helps with some of the hiking trail parking lot thieves too). Advertising cool gear in your rig may look cool, but does it work....some times yes, and sometimes no. I am amazed at Midlands marketing though, they are filling a niche for sure. But for those that know what I use, I'm just the "Motorolian Empire Warlord"....another person's words. (That does sound cool, I must admit). Whatever you use, make sure it works well, and is installed well (grounded, adequate power, less bends in low loss coax, good antenna), and you will be far ahead of many that just buy off of websites and plug things in.

If only there was a YouTube channel where a brilliant host would provide useful commentary, wry sarcasm, and offered tips on how to get chicks…..

This is kind of fun. Today, I made a new setup for operating in the field. I assembled two 25' masts from a 31' mast and a 19' mast, and strung the main element of a homemade OCF 80m antenna between them. The small element tapers off on a slant, with a rope staked in such a way that the end of the short element is about 5' off the ground. Both masts are also setup to receive vertical VHF/UHF antennas. So, I can work Amateur HF, VHF/UHF and GMRS all from one massive setup. I plan on putting this into operation for a 24 hour race I am doing communications for. I'll probably be up for 30 hours with at least 26 of them on the air. So, I'll find out just how good of an 80m NVIS and 10m-20m DX antenna this setup is. If it works well, this will be my Field Day setup. I'll shoot some pictures and video from the race to share later.

Really, you shouldn’t allow anything that KAF6045 or I said to cause doubts. Hang the antenna like you first thought. Listen to HF on it while you learn. Before you start transmitting you might want to look over the exposure calculations, but I suspect many people never do. We’re supposed to look at that for GMRS as well, but almost nobody does. What radio are you going to use for HF? What’s the output power? As a reference point, there are a lot of HOA hams with antennas in their attics who don’t have RF exposure issues. A dipole on your roof is extremely unlikely to fail the calculation unless you’re running a linear amplifier. Hams sometimes get way too caught up in minutiae, for whatever reasons. Antennas are fascinating and as you study for your license you’ll pick up a lot. Off-grid power systems are fascinating also. The path towards self reliance has many interesting subjects and amateur radio fits in with them. I found that HamStudy.org worked great for me to learn, but everyone learns a little differently.

Since this is the Amateur Radio forum... I'd remind the OP that they likely need to do an RF exposure evaluation for that antenna. While the simple calculator found online (http://arrl.org/rf-exposure-calculator) may suffice, it may still be desirable to model the antenna as the folded ends may contribute to a less than simple RF distribution.