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Equipment problems are always possible. How far are you from the repeater? Have you spent any time listening to the repeater you programmed and have transmitted to? Have you heard any other traffic on that repeater. Try monitoring that repeater and If/when you hear any traffic try asking for a radio check when there is a break in the conversation. As most people use GMRS to talk to family and friends they might be more willing to help someone asking for a radio check rather than someone looking for a random contact. If you are out and about you could program other near by repeaters and see if you can get a response on another machine.

It was a joke.

Oh I can't afford free towers. Especially big broadcast towers. What you end up finding out is the towers typically will not pass a structural analysis and can't be used unless extensive reinforcement is done to them, if it's possible at all. When the power that be (local building inspectors) ask for the results, you don't be a permit to stand the thing back up. And that says nothing of the cost of dismantling a standing tower, transporting it and erecting in at a new location. I personally went through this with a Rohn 80 that was only 10 years old at the time. While it would still pass analysis, the concrete alone to put it back up was going to cost me 15K. With a total cost of about 50K to get the thing standing. I didn't have enough land to do it either, which of course is a concern. Point is if a tower that costs tens or even hundred of thousands to erect is FREE, free is TOO expensive for most.

They *don't* make a tool for that...

I got that part. I just wanted to point out it was rather easy to measure using a simple technique. I would guess there's likely someone who really wants to know how it could be done. For example there are old TV antenna towers free for the taking provided the interested party does the removal. It would be nice to see if it’s really worth it when a minimum tower height is a target.

I'm using software Version 4.20 with my TK880 with no problems on a Windows 11 computer.

Well I have tried that to, I'll try what you said and wait to here something or someone you might say. Thanks for your help Sshannon and if you have any other ideas let me know. Thx

There is a chance that firmware in the radio is ether LTR firmware or Sholer Johnson Passport firmware. If first case, you should be able to run Fpro utility (flash programming) from the KPG-49D suite to flash a genuine Kenwood firmware and make the radio compatible with PG-49D. In the second case situation is more complex, since you'd need a WinSJI software to enable the reflash of the firmware. But start with first things first. 1. Make sure your power adapter is capable of at least 8A at 12V. Normally, you'd need less, but that's the spec. 2. Make sure there is no misconfiguration of your USB-to-serial adapter. Keep experimenting with COM speed, trying to read from the radio. 3. Try to press SCN button and power on the radio to see if it greets you with PROG 56700 on the panel. In that case you can reflash the firmware.

What do you mean "open carrier" ... Do you mean you are getting the "kerchunk"/click/static sound back? If so, then you are hitting the repeater and it is entirely possible (probable, on many repeaters) that nobody is listening to answer you. If you mean something else by 'open carrier', please elaborate. Remember: GMRS is primarily intended for you and your friend/group to stay in communication with each other while hiking/off-roading, etc. It is not primarily intended to find/talk to strangers.

How it started: If you bought the New GRMS UV-5R BAOFENG, please let us know how it works. How its going: Currently I have 10 of the 3170’s and 8 of the 3173’s, which is the same radio except it as trunking / What about the software for the nx-1330?

Every so often someone nails the essence of mygmrs.

I heard two guys one day arguing about how tall a tower was. I told them to lay it down and measure it. They said we don't care how long it is, we want to know how high it is.

This is a very bad choice for many people because the programming software/CPS has a very steep learning curve, is often difficult if not impossible to find, often (depending on the radio/software) does not run well on newer computers, things like batteries, cables, etc, are also often difficult to find or expensive, and it will almost certainly cost a lot more. And most important: Those commercial radios are not Part 95 approved so it is illegal to use them and they will go to jail!!!!!1 I know this because I've seen this posted on this forum 100 times or more. Sometimes "cheap junk Chinese radios" are plenty good enough for normal people, despite the poor QC, but "some people" just cannot seem to grasp this simple fact and will live the rest of their lives proselytizing against inexpensive radios completely oblivious to other people's needs/desires.

To truly piss-off the right people you need video.

Ahhh! Thank you so much! It finally clicked in my head, or was that the repeater sound? With your and others help I can hit two different repeaters in my area this morning! I guess I was over complicating things instead using the available frequencies! Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it. One more tool in the tool belt now. And I really enjoy Notarubicon’s videos as well, I know he doesn’t poke fun at newbies and that’s what I like about him, he wants people to be able to enjoy the hobby.