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I got to do a range test today and I am very impressed. In an area I typically get about 5 miles of simplex range with a 50w VHF or UHF radio (Ham and GMRS) I was able to have a conversation at 14 miles apart, while moving. One of my friends who also has a good AM/FM CB and a good antenna setup were able to run a test while driving in Norther Virginia. I have to say, 14 miles for both AM and FM is fantastic around hear. The furthest I have ever talked on a CB on the local level was 26 miles, using a 104" (1/4 wave) steel whip antenna and 12.5w peak. This 14 mile contact was using 3.5w and a 86" Diamond HF10CL antenna, which isn't as good of a performer as a 1/4 wave would be... but it's pretty darn good. Much better than if I tried a 3 foot or 4 foot Firestik, I'm sure. This radio seems like a win for a compact FM CB.

I have/have used both. The form factor of the 575 is much smaller than the 500 but like @marcspaz said, the programming/capabilities are the same, so no more repeater sites than the 500. If you want a small(ish) form factor with more capabilities have a look at the KG1000G which has a removable/remote-mount faceplate and mic controls or maybe the Wouxun XS-20G.

Ohh yeah, I forgot to mention that. I agree with WRQG411 on the Midland PL259 mount / cable. I was able hide the cable in the gap between the frame and the fender cover fabric. Just loosen the bolts holding the top on and shove the cable behind them. From there you can run the same line down until you reach the rear floor mat.

One thing I like about the Midland mount/cables is that the PL259 connector unscrews from the cable and is much smaller, allowing a smaller hole for bringing the cable into the cab of the vehicle. The 400 is popular as I understand that there is CPS available to program it, while the 275 and 575 are programmed from the hand mic.

@WRQC527 Is that the Mystery Machine?

Does this help? http://www.aeroelectric.com/Installation_Data/Softcomm/ATC-2PSchematic.gif

That’s the correct screen. Now just change the mode. I think it’s the up and down arrows but I don’t remember for sure.

Lol yes it's a mystery to me why CB keydown contests are a thing. But hey maybe that's what's missing from GMRS.

It's dang near the same radio from a software and performance perspective. Just a different form factor. If you like the 500 performance, you should enjoy the 575.

If you want more range, perhaps an antenna upgrade... Like this. 1

I have never taken one apart but it wouldn’t stop me. I would at least open it up. You’re not going to make it worse. I would be interested to see if the display became partially unplugged from the board when it dropped.

Are you using a repeater channel or are you on a simplex channel? Repeater channels usually have a R after the number,

Wait…..it was supposed to be VERBAL?

Just so you know, the MXTA26 antenna does not include a mount. You’ll still need to get some kind of NMO mount to attach to your jeep and accept the antenna. Many mounts include the coax cable as well.

Did you look at the manual posted ? J701 (25 Pin DB25) descriptions are on page 52 of the service manual. RX Audio, TX Audio as well as AUX I/O ports are all there. Those I/O ports need programmed in the radio for the what you want.

We don't have to imagine. That is literally what GMRS is.

It took the FCC years to discuss and implement a simple fee change just to drop the GMRS license fee to $35. I cannot imagine how long it would take to hash out rule changes that affect multiple radio services.

I'm of 2 mindsets... either you have to stay off the internet (you, generally.. not you specifically) or you need to stir the pot and embrace the suck. Very little of my job is RF related; mostly computers. I haven't been on an IT forum or group in more than a decade. I gave up after someone with no standing in the industry was trying to tell me how wrong I was after answering a question and telling someone how to correctly configure a product I designed, built and took to market. It was like a high school freshman with a 3.0 GPA telling Jeff Snover he was using PowerShell wrong.

Search for FCC form# 601 ... Watch the LMR part of this video for more infos: https://youtu.be/fuErcUjv_fA Edit/update: I dont know anyone (including myself) that has actually applied for a business license themself - everyone I know paid a company/service to do it for them.

Another tool in the toolbox....I know many AUXComm/Emcomm/support elements that assist government agencies and private industry at all levels that have thought about bringing GMRS into the fold. Right now HF is big with the push for DHS SHARES, a program to link sites across the country via HF and data over these links during large disaster situations. GMRS is also on the table, but the first step now is still to get workers back into the office. My employer has 54 cities linked via radio across the nation (Motorola Astro/Trbo and analog conventional, Kenwood NXDN sites, and HF Radio over Internet Protocol), but if there were a real incident, it would still be only the few that are already at work and near one of the radio stations. Covid proved that, and I and my crew were in the office every workday as the federal government considered our public safey and fire interop with 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points to be critical. That was the reason I went and purchased a GMRS call sign and joined this site, so the station in my building would then be able to also use GMRS. As other have said, government GMRS is most likely through a user that ends up as the conduit for the service, and may bring their own gear, or have some provided. In my own use case, what this meant was for one person at each site to get licensed for GMRS, DHS Shares registered, AFMARS license, amateur licenses, FEMA ICS trained, and anything else to make it realistic to have these government affiliations. Then each station made sure to separate the commercial company comms and the interop radios. It is a little odd to see GTR8000 repeaters racked in a corner, and high end Motorola and Harris radios on a bench, and then go to the other end and see Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, and SGC tuning equipment for the amateur side in a support role.

The government agencies I work with usually ask volunteer civilians to partner with them, provide the hardware and human capital. I'm not aware of any of them doing it on their own, but my experience is obviously anecdotal. My team is in process of putting an amateur repeater on the county dispatch tower at the EOC. We are already approved for the antenna and radio install. I am going to see if we can put up a dual band antenna and see if we can co-locate the amateur and GMRS systems there.

If what that person said is "the FCC does not allow new GMRS repeaters", then that person lied to you or is an idiot - likely both.