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No, that is not accurate, and all pairs are usable. To avoid interfering with any other repeaters, a good idea is to listen to all the repeater channels for a few days to see if there is any activity and check on the MyGMRS repeater map to see if there are any others listed in the area - then just pick a pair.

Maybe, but you weren’t specific enough. The repeater’s Output is its TX but is heard on your radio’s RX. Similarly, your radio’s TX frequency or TX tone, must match the repeater’s Input frequency and tone. Your radio transmits at 467.xxx MHz to the repeater. The repeater transmits at 462.xxx to anyone listening. There are only eight 467/462 repeater frequency pairs. Those frequencies are established by the FCC rules. Nearly all repeaters require a tone, otherwise they would be re-transmitting everything they receive. Your radio transmits a specific tone (CTCSS or PL, they’re two names for the same thing) or digital pattern (DTCSS or DCS or DPL) to open the repeater. That’s called the input or uplink or even receive tone for the repeater. The repeater usually sends a tone or digital pattern along with its transmissions. That’s the output or downlink or transmit tone of the repeater. Those terms are standardized so we can share information. The repeater output tone is for your convenience to lessen interruptions, but it doesn’t provide any kind of security. There are only eight frequencies that repeaters can receive on and only eight that they can transmit on. The frequencies that repeaters transmit on are the same as people use for simplex communications as well. If you are within range of a couple of repeaters that receive and transmit on the same frequencies, using different tones can ensure that your transmissions are being repeated by the correct one and that you’re hearing the correct one. So, for example, repeater Sandhawk and repeater Black Brant both receive on 467.550 MHz and transmit on 462.550 MHz. They’re far enough apart that they don’t usually bother each other, but you happen to live where you receive them both. Sandhawk uses an uplink or input tone of 67.5 Hz. That means that you MUST set your transmit or TX tone to 67.5 Hz or Sandhawk will just disregard your transmissions. Sandhawk uses a different tone, 100 Hz, for its output tone. Using two different tones for TX and RX is referred to as having a “split tone”. It’s usually done by repeater operators who want to protect against unauthorized access to their repeaters. Why? Because it’s easy to scan for the repeater output tone. It’s not as easy to scan for the input tone. The Black Brant repeater uses 103.5 Hz for both input and output. What a lot of people don’t initially understand is that these tones work like filters. If I set my handheld radio to a receive tone of 103.5 Hz my radio will only break squelch when it receives a transmission that incorporates that tone, which would be the Black Brant repeater. If I set my radio receive tone to 100 Hz it will only reproduce transmissions it receives which include a 100 Hz tone. But, if I don’t set a receive tone in my radio, it does no filtering. It literally reproduces everything that has a signal strength sufficient to break squelch. That’s useful, especially when trying to troubleshoot. Don’t fall into the trap of referring to a tone by a number or some other shorthand because not all radios number the codes the same. Always refer to the frequency of the tone, such as 103.5 Hz, or the DCS code. Not all radios include all the tones. Motorola and Midland include the standard tones, but fail to include some of the tones included in the overseas brands. Thus they might not be able to access some repeaters.

I read on RepeaterBook that a guy was using GMRS Channel 16 north of Line A and he was fined $250k. But seriously, as pointed out, if you are north of "Line A", then i amend my response to "there may be restrictions on what pairs you can use".

Kenwood has released a new "Conceal Cary" radio. It's a little hard to hit the buttons and it doesn't have good range but it has USB charge and it fits nicely in a pocket.

@Sshannon that’s something there! Very cool! I have to ask though, does it come with a lanyard? Asking for a friend.

The range maps are estimated based on a percentage reliability scale. Some people draft the maps with a 70% reliability rate (looks larger) others use an 80% or 90% reliability rate, which makes it look much smaller. If you move out of the mapped area, that doesn't necessarily mean the repeater isn't usable. It just means service will be spotty and weak. Possibly 50% reliability or less.

Correct.

The OP lives in Lyman, which is well outside of Line A. Does the MyGMRS repeater map display Line A? No - that might be a good suggestion though.

Nice, but this is real and does APRS:

I haven’t heard of any mobiles that violate that particular rule. How would they be certified?

Generally you download from the radio first, SAVE THE FILE, then make your changes, THEN upload.. The download confirms that you have the correct radio and comm port settings selected. Are you able to download?

I think it’s a great idea. We answer the same questions over and over. But it does no good to give them lip service in the forums. People who are willing to compile the questions and answers that already exist on this site should put something together and write to Rich, offering to maintain them. Or even start a new thread called FAQs.

I understand what an FAQ is. I said I haven’t seen one, meaning on this site.

Rt99 works with the Gmrs pros gps function. I don’t need my ham. Thanks

There’s no reason to expect different results for plexiglass than you experience with glass. I would expect identical results. Of course it’s relatively easy to just drill through the plexiglass or clamp the mount to a roll bar. Best wishes as you work through this traumatic experience. More importantly make sure you use an antenna that doesn’t rely on a ground plane.

Yes, so it won’t be left on top of a car by someone who’s not worthy of a good radio.

@Sshannon very informative and well said sir. The most detailed answer to the least detailed question. Above and beyond.

I know, right? Just google PicoAPRS.

@Sshannon Just when I think I'm joking. LOL! New technology never ceases to amaze me.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

@Sshannon Very well said. You should expand that slightly and put it into a PDF. Is there an FAQ area on this forum?

I agree, when you can afford the better items. Some of us can barely afford a UV-5R or an MP31. We do the best we can.

I’m with you. Give your loved ones good quality items. They’ll appreciate the fact that you care. A person’s life generally sucks if they go through it having such poor faith in their loved ones that they only trust them with the cheapest of things because they just know they’re going to lose them or break them. “Honey, you’re just going to get scratches in it anyway so I’m getting you a gold plated ring rather than 14 karat.”

Your radios TX is transmit. Your radios RX is receive. The repeater is going to RX (recieve) your TX and TX (transmit to your receive) RX. Yes it can be complicating. What you need to remember is the TX and RX listed is where you need to program those numbers for your radio. Hope that helps.

IMO, your best option is to not go alone and take a reliable source of communication like a Garmin InReach Sat-communicator, or a new iPhone with satellite connectivity.. Otherwise, unless you have someone waiting & listening for you, and you KNOW that your radio will reach them from wherever you may be (which is doubtful), you do not have a reliable means to call for help.. Or Pizza.. Source: I have done a bit of high-temperature, long-range hiking in the desert