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Every time someone keys up without a license, a puppy dies.

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I have an FTM-300DR, which has the ability to run 2m and 70cm at the exact same time using the same antenna and there is no desense issues. It's mostly going to depend on the frequencies in use and the filters on the radios.

I'm a dick in person too, so its ok.

Man, you're kind of a dick online. You were one of the people I would watch regularly when trying to figure out this whole GMRS thing. Your schtick is funny on YouTube but something is getting lost in translation via text.

I am considering replacing my current low-cost mobile radio with a new one. My preference is the Yaesu FTM-6000R with the MARS/CAP mod, but I am also considering the AnyTone AT-5888UV or the TYT TH-9800D Plus. Based on my research, the Yaesu seems to be the front runner, but if anyone else owns any of these radios, would you care to share your opinion? Even though I have my General license, I am only interested in VHF/UHF, and not really into any HF features. Thank you.

Regardless of what the manufacture stated, it's very difficult to get an accurate SWR reading for an HT antenna. The list of potential issues that can skew the results a long. On or off the radio, unless you have some training and/or understanding on what to do, I wouldn't rely on what the meter says.

C'mon man, dont joke around! As @Adamdaj pointed out, this is a very serious subject, i'm just waiting for his response because obviously the FCC takes these matters very seriously.

I have the radio and it's pretty good for an entry level unit. I'm not impressed with the menu system on the radio, but the RT system software makes programming it fairly easy. I built mine into a small go-box with a 15 AH lifep04 battery. My primary V/UHF is the ICOM ID-5100. The display is much better.

Definitely cross shop the accessories separate from the radio. That said, I've been happy with mine, and have a couple channels set for a 1 way crossband repeat. The remote head is great for flexibility, with the plus of being able to connect the mic to the control head or radio. Compared to the ftm400, I alsonget along better with icom's menus vs yaesu.. I haven't been super impressed with the Bluetooth, though., even with icom's Bluetooth dongle...it's good inside the car to not subject my passenger get to whatever I'm monitoring, but the range was maybe 10 or 15 ft at most when I had it on my desk in the house, and it's worse in the truck...much further than just out the door and it's breaking up.

I has considered the Icom, but after adding in the price of the mounting accessories (sold separately), it made less sense for me.

I don’t have any of these but I’ve been looking at them as well. Right now I’m leaning toward the Icom IC-2730A. 50 watts, duel band, made in Japan, duel receive (can cross band repeat) can be upgraded to Bluetooth if you want, relocatable face/controls and a MARS/CAP mod if you like and most of all for me Chirp. I really want my next radio to work with Chirp. Anyway I’ll be interested to hear what others have to say as well.

The top image shows an antenna with 3dbi gain, and the bottom shows one with 7 dbi. You can see how the higher gain concentrates or focuses the signal so less of it goes up in the air above the antenna, and goes out horizontally instead. But, if you were in a valley, trying to reach someone up on a mountain, the lower gain antenna could actually reach them better.

The most useful repeaters are located on hilltops, tall buildings or towers of some sort (water towers, antenna towers etc). A 10 watt transmitter mounted where it overlooks the surounding area is more useful than a 50 watt on a single story building with trees nearby.

A smart licensed operator and a properly tune antenna.

No, I just know that "some people's" entire hobby revolves around finding strange men talk with, and I think Grindr is a great way for them to do that. I'm just looking out for them.

That's what Amateur Radio bands are for.

Hello everyone, Mark here near Blanco. Thinking of putting up a repeater off 281 north of 306. have a 50' tower and up on a hill with pretty clear line of sight all around. Have a Vertex VXR-7000 with a GMRS tuned duplexer. I hear some traffic at my house on 462.550 but for some reason cant seem to get a radio check out. Any help would be appreciated. I am retired so pretty much available most days.

So... this horrible problem that you feel the need to complain about consists of two pairs out of eight being occupied by linked repeaters in your area. And that leaves you with 'only' six channels for your preferred 50W simplex activity. IOW, you have the exact same number of linked repeaters in your "general area" as we have here in the MSP/STP metro. Yet no one gets bent out of shape over that situation here. If they don't want to listen to linked traffic, they use the other six channels. Using a repeater is not "tying it up". Perhaps other people would consider your use of the other un-linked pairs to be "tying up" the frequency with "useless chatter" that has no relevance to their lives. It really doesn't matter why GMRS was created. Many of the Services created by the FCC have taken off in different ways than the FCC originally envisioned. What matters to the FCC is that they are used in compliance with the regulations. So please don't imply that the FCC is backing you up in your crusade against "useless chatter". CB, for example, strictly forbade "skip" contacts since its creation (QSOs over 150 miles, specifically). Yet, in the last Part 97 overhaul, they eliminated that restriction. CB was originally conceived as a licensed service, yet that didn't matter to the FCC when they eliminated the need for a license. VHF marine used to require an examination and a marine operators permit. Yet, the FCC did away with that and reduced it to a Restricted Radiotelephone permit with no exam. When the FCC created GMRS, they didn't envision the FRS. Yet, they made sweeping changes to expand FRS use in traditionally GMRS space. Certainly, linked repeaters were never envisioned when the FCC created the Amateur service, nor packet or satcom. Instead, these new uses were accommodated. There is nothing in the GMRS regulations that require conversations be erudite, sparkling, or serious. There are limitations on profanity, of course. But I've heard plenty of "family" conversations that would fit the category of "useless chatter". That doesn't bother me, or anyone else. Change the channel. You admit that only two pairs in your area contain this "useless chatter", so you have options. It's not that dead air is "worrisome", as you put it. Not even sure where you came up with that strawman. As a licensed ham, I can recall curmudgeons bitterly complaining about Echolink and IRLP traffic on local repeaters when that began a decade ago. They employed the same arguments as you do: it's not what 2M FM was intended for, and some people didn't have deadly serious discussions of RF theory. If that's what you want, you should get your General license and operate on HF, they said. They lost that battle to keep ham radio firmly in the past. As it turned out, a lot of hams enjoyed being able to talk to people in other countries simply by accessing their local FM repeater. Those that didn't like it went elsewhere, and nobody missed them. In short, it seems to me that you simply resent people enjoying themselves on the radio. I'd suggest that you move to amateur radio, but those attitudes have faded away in that service over the past decade. There are still a few sour hams shaking their fists at the clouds, snarling about Dumb People, and pretending the FCC would be outraged about it if they only knew. But they are dwindling rapidly. GMRS is now seen as a tool to build communities on-air. That's the purpose it serves here. And I really doubt the FCC is bothered by that. - KAF6430