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OP here....GOOD NEWS! Under the "Tone" settings the Icom 2730a has several choices. According to the Icom manual - "DTC.OFF" is defined as: When you transmit, the selected DTCS code is superimposed on your normal signal. When you receive, the function is OFF. This setting does not show in the tone settings in CHIRP (??) but is in the Icom manual. I read it but thought "I need the tone for TX and RX" so I didn't try it. This morning I used the faceplate entry to try EVERY tone setting - even this "DTC.OFF". Result was VOILA! It worked! Backed the truck out and had a nice chat through the target repeater. Still a head-scratcher, though Good to know that it will now work...in case of emergency. Maybe this will help the next poor soul! Thanks for all the input! WRYD480 WR1Y

I’m in Illinois on my ht listening im on I 39 at exit 72 sitting in my big truck loving it I am new to Gmrs and trying to learn as much as I can I just need to have the time to talk to people and get advice from them and maybe meet up with them and have them show me I learn better hands on than reading a book be safe

Sounds like a perfect opportunity for you to be a pillar of your community and put up a repeater for you, and everyone to use.

No, it doesn't apply across all the channels like that. in my case, there are two repeaters on .575 (ch 16). On the midland, i usually had the tone set for the closer repeater (Auberry), but if i wanted to use the other that's on the same frequency (Central1), i'd have to either look up or remember the code number for the correct tone for that one, and set it in the menu. when i moved to the Btech GMRS 50x1. the situation was similar, but without the codes, that lets you choose the tones directly), since the hard coded 30 channels in that are all you get for transmit, and anything else you program is receive only. (i hear they've made the GMRS50v2 a bit more flexible). For my current radios (anytone at779uv, vertex vx4207), they're a lot more flexible about what you can program, so I can have whatever combination of frequency and tone desired for each memory preset/channel. I programmed preset channels for Auberry and Central1, each with the appropriate tone, so instead of having to go into the menu and change tones, i just switch to the desired memory channel. I also have a ham system near me that operates similar to the SWCRS setup, where using one tone repeats at that repeater only, and a second repeats across the linked system, so i have memory channels that are C15-Local (which uses the local tone) and C15-Link (which uses the tone to repeat across the whole system). On the size comparison, i snapped some pictures awhile ago of the midland and anytone side by side, if that helps.

What that's saying is if you just want your signal repeated from that repeater, only use one tone, and if you want it repeated across all of the other repeater sthat are linked to Shawbute also, use the other tone (the "for link access" part. In either case both of those are the transmit tones, and you will not use a receive tone, as the listing is saying the repeater does not send one.

Welcome to the forum, but, if you are using GMRS to find new friends you have chosen the wrong hobby. GMRS is more for communicating with existing friends while driving, hiking, etc. For finding new friends/talking to strangers, ham radio or the Grindr app might be a better choice.

Hi Welcome! Before you get to excited about the Talkpod A36Plus Have a look at this review. I have come to trust Scott's reviews. https://rumble.com/v34qiql-why-you-should-avoid-the-talkpod-a36-plus.html?mref=6zof&mc=dgip3&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=KS6DAY&ep=2 It may help you avoid some frustration.

Welcome aboard! I just got my license on Friday and can say that I've had issues with my first radio so far, but I've learned so much from this community already! This is an amazing resource for GMRS!

If you're within the return window, that's definitely a viable option. There's a number of users (myself included) that have been happy with the anytone at779uv/radioddity db20g/retevis ra25 triplets; it's around the same size physically, and a little less expensive. The software is a little limited though, but usable. On the manual, at least for me not being super familiar with specific radios (or in this case, a newer model), i'll refer to the manual too to have a better idea what menu options to look for. On the tones, it does look like it has options to set transmit (tC) and receive (rC) tones separately, at least based on the manual. On the downside, it doesn't offer an option to have 2 copies of the channel (one with the local tone and one with the link tone), so it'd be changing tones in the menu to switch (which does sound like a pain). I have a couple repeaters locally that are both on .575, but with different tones..on the Midland I'd have to remember the code to change tones depending which I wanted to use. Next radio didn't allow programming more TX channels, but it at least used tones instead of codes. Current radios, I have a present for each with the appropriate tones set.

Thank you, WRQC527, for the help. Nice clean setup. That is what I'm looking for.

Looking at the chart in the manual, it looks like DCS #27 equates to a DCS tone 165....since it's specified as (N)ormal, that should be the one you need. If it were (I)inverted, it'd be looking for that chart @Sshannon mentioned for an equivalent tone to use, then using the chart in Midland's instructions to find what code to enter. I won't say Midland is bad, but their use of code numbers to enter the tones does add an extra layer of complication. Also, some of that reputation online is based on prior versions of the radios, which WERE less than stellar for repeater use due to being narrowband only (which sounds quieter on a wideband repeater) and not having the ability to set transmit and receive tones independently. As far as I know, those shortcomings got addressed when they updated the radios from a usb-a port on the front to usb-c.

No, 65 is not the same as 165N. Unfortunately some of the manufacturers have included non-standard digital codes. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the list. About the “N”, that means normal. If you see an “I” it means that the bits of the code are inverted. There’s also a document “out there” that reveals equivalent codes. It has been attached to forum posts in the past. You might find it in the files section.

Well I guess I copied the wrong link in the second one. My deepest apologies. Midland was fined for having non compliant radios. Midland is made in China. You can decide if they are cheap or not. That’s wtf it has to do with your question. I’ll try and grab the appropriate link where they were fined from the FCC or you can look it up. I don’t care. I don’t have a dog in this fight. The graphic is just to emphasize how ridiculous this thread has become IMHO. Please continue whatever this is being discussed. Alright I’ll check in later I gotta go do some yard work or something.

I’m old enough not to waste my time playing this game. Another idiot on this forum tried the same thing on another topic. He earned his place on my block list. And that does take some effort and crappy attitude to get there. I wouldn’t be surprised people will just start ignoring you.

The auto companies are wimping out. EV’s use high frequency power inverters, very similar to industrial VFD’s, variable frequency drives, for the traction motors. These generate a lot of RF interference which requires extensive EMC shielding. The AM radios are sensitive to this noise. Rather than fix it the manufacturers just decided to remove the AM radio, poof no complaints and it saved them money. Has nothing to do with big government control or conspiracy theories.

Might just have been bad luck. I had a buddy who purchased a UV-5R and bugged the cops at the local jail with it. When he told me what he was doing I told him to immediately STOP, that’s how you get caught and burned by the FCC. He did. Later found out the FCC was in fact trying to track the source down. Now he’s a happy licensed, after some encouragement from me, a Ham and GMRS user. He learned a valuable lesson without the high cost.

When the cheap $25 UV-5R’s hit the market the above was exactly the problem. People purchase these off places like Amazon, never read the documentation or the notice on the site stating a license was required. They fed treated like toy FRS radios. After a number of years of the above nonsense and increased complaints the FCC finally started clamping down on the CCR manufacturers. That’s when these radios shipped locked to the Ham bands. Don’t want to address the issue with the simple workaround unlock procedures.

A few of us use 146.520 for a informal Friday night analog simplex net and have a blast. Guaranteed every now and then we get somebody complaining that we shouldn't be doing that because we are on the calling frequency that has very little if any traffic most of the time unless it is our group. Guess that is where the term sad ham comes from.

The Shaw Butte repeater is linked with the Southwest Community Radio System (SWCRS) network of other repeaters throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and I think Utah. The Shaw Butte repeater has two access modes, one for the local mode only, no link to the network; and one for the network mode to link up with the other linked repeaters. The linked repeaters in Arizona are Shaw Butte, Towers 600, Mt Elden, Diamond Point, Greens Peak, Pinal, Mt. Lemmon, and others. The DPL code is for the linked network access and the local mode requires the CTCSS/ PL of 100.0 Hz. There is no tone on the downlink side. If you want to communicate with other stations near the other repeaters both stations would have to access the respective repeaters with the link tones. Also, if you want to participate in the Sunday and Wednesday Nets, you'll have to access the network with the link tones.

The simple answer is our government has become too big and needs to justify its existence with endless regulatory nonsense. It’s time to scale back all federal agencies and re-organize the ones that remain. The FCC is no exception.

With and attitude like that why bother with rules at all? That’s until someone else’s attitude stomps all over you ruining your ability to use the services.

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.

So, general stuff first. Think of tones as a filter, that only lets signals through that carry a matching tone. These are ctcss (also called PL by Motorola, or QT by kenwood) and DCS (aka DPL or DQT). Repeaters will usually have it enabled on the input (what you transmit to). Getting a hair more specific..Midland radios commonly need the repeater channels to be enabled in the menu; with that out of the way you'll see 1-22 (skipping 8-14, most likely ) and then find 15r-22r, which are set with the proper offset for repeater use. As far as tones, you want to be on the appropriate channel for the frequency of the repeater, (page 26 of the instructions has what channel is what frequency), then set the transmit tone; use the table on page 27 to see what tone exuals what code, and page 19 has the instructions on how to set the tones. Looks like DPL 047 would be code 7 under dcs. https://cdn.accentuate.io/81031332017/1623709961570/MXT115-Owners-Manual-11-16-2020.pdf

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.

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

Your repeater needs an intervention.

I have been keeping a logbook of people that I speak to on the radio. I have been licensed for 2 decades, but used HF very infrequently up until the COVID19 pandemic started. Starting in 2019 to now, it has been a fun 3 years since I have started using HF regularly. My favorite part is the new friends and acquaintances I have met around the world. Two good friends... Lauro Zanoli in Italy and Helio De Olivera in Brazil. My acquaintances Janez and Slovko Celarc in Slovenia, Ross Biggar in New Zealand, Javier Salazar in Costa Rica, Chris Taylor in Wales, just to name a few. Amateur Radio in the US is a dying field. I wanted to share this information to encourage more people... younger people to give the radio a try. Maybe get into it as a hobby, using it as a tool for community service, or even just to make a few new friends. Using HF radio I have spoken to people in every state in the US and on every continent around the globe. This is a list of countries and distant US states/territories where I have chatted with people on the radio... some from home, some while driving to work. A total of 97 distant lands and all of the US. Hopefully someone finds it interesting. Alaska Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Australia Austria Azores Bahamas Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Bermuda Bonaire Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Canada Canary Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Ceuta and Melilla Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador England Estonia Finland France French Guiana Germany Greece Guadeloupe Guyana Haiti Hawaii Honduras Hungary Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Madeira Island Malta Martinique Mexico Montserrat Morocco Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Northern Ireland Panama Paraguay Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Russia San Marino Sardinia Scotland Serbia Slovak Republic Slovenia South Africa South Cook Islands Spain St Helena Island St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Martin St. Maarten Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands Ukraine United States Uruguay US Virgin Islands Venezuela Wales