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Technically illegal.. with the recent changes they allowed gmrs to send data. Such as gps location and small text messages. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E "Digital data. GMRS hand-held portable units may transmit digital data containing location information, or requesting location information from one or more other GMRS or FRS units, or containing a brief text message to another specific GMRS or FRS unit." But went as far as saying not over the repeaters. "Digital data transmissions. Digital data transmissions are limited to the 462 MHz main channels and interstitial channels in the 462 MHz and 467 MHz bands" "5) GMRS units must not be capable of transmitting digital data on the 467 MHz main channels" FCCs way of saying don't do it on the repeater inputs. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Are they using call signs? I'm wondering if they are goofing around on FRS. Except GMRS is not an unlicensed spectrum. Not a bad idea though, I started my grandson off with FRS so he can start learning if he finds it interesting. We are very much goofing around on FRS with each other.

...Thats why they're called Sad Hams.. Killing their own hobby, one potential new member at a time...

Look at it this way. What if you were taking an expensive roll of coax to your repeater site and it bounced out of your truck. What would you like someone else to do?

Two big ones Eliminate the elitist attitude too many of the old hams have regarding those with a Tech Class License. There are Hams out there that won't even respond to a call that is a Tech Class. WTF? Same goes for Morse Code. There are those out there that remark, often, you're not a "Real Ham" unless you can pound out CW at 50 WPM. Sad.

I've replaced the mic and that seems to have cured the problem. Thank all of you who responded!

Not even with permission. 95.1787(a)(5) GMRS units must not be capable of transmitting digital data on the 467 MHz main channels.

In this image from a recent amateur radio licensing class, we can see one of my fellow amateur radio volunteer examiners explaining the function of the PTT button.

I just saw this new Retevis (Ailunce) HA1G radio this morning. Looks pretty good. Here is the link: Retevis HA1G IP67 Waterproof 220 Customizable Channels GMRS Radio The prce is $65.99, so not bad.

Those six words are the bane of amateur radio. Unfortunately, it's not just CW. A lot of the old farts who complain about the lack of CW testing also whine about internet linking and digital modes as not being real ham radio. The reality is there are more high-tech opportunities with amateur radio now than there ever were. That's what should be sold to young potential hams. Not talking to Santa on grandpa's HT. I know a kid who got his ham license a few years ago in high school and was working on a CubeSat that went into space. He's at Embry Riddle now. When I was in high school I was in auto shop learning to change the spark plugs.

Leave it. Not worth the hernia trying to load it up.

It's valuable and it's on the road to a cell site. I'd leave it. It's pretty obvious that it belongs ro someone and they may be looking for it. I've been on the wrong end of dropping something valuable and going back for it only to find it gone. It's not a good feeling.

I would let the tower owners know if I could determine who they were. But I certainly understand the temptation and I don’t claim moral superiority.

I disagree. Many of the questions that GMRS users ask on this forum are basic skills that hams learn when they’re studying for the Technician exam. People can easily start by using FRS radios and graduate to GMRS as they become more interested. If they want fewer limitations and more rights they can continue to ham radio. I don’t remember exactly what the quantity was but each of the past several years the numbers have increased.

Or it could be grandfathered business transmissions.

If you are only worried about one direction, a mobile antenna outside on that side of the building would work well, for better range in all directions, a mobile mounted at the peak of the roof would work. If FRS is working, you may have success with GMRS even with cheap coax to an antenna at the peak of the roof.

Do away with the written test for the Technician Class license. Memorizing answers to test serves no real purpose for an entry level license. No one is going to remember what the answers were and cares. So, why have a test. It's a waste of time.

This is just a semi-informed opinion with anecdotal experience, but for my handelds I have found that the dual band antennas are a compromise. You can TX/RX with them but they are normally not as good as an antenna tuned to a specific band. On a dual band, tri band, or quad band radio you need that dual (tri or quad) band antenna if you plan to use more than one band on an outing and done want to haul around an extra antenna. I have an amateur band Yaesu VX-6R and a VX-7R. The multi-band antennas that came with them work well enough but if I am headed out with other people I will normally switch to an antenna tuned to the band we are planning on using. Your H8 is (I think) a modified HAM radio. It probably comes with the same antenna the HAM version came with. Since you are going to be TX on GRMS frequencies I would be inclined to use the antenna that is tuned for those frequencies (771G). It has been my experience that you will still be able to RX reasonably well in both 2m and 70cm bands with the 771G. On my GMRS handhelds I either use the OEM antennas or a 771G. And, of course, as Sshannon said, try it and see what works best for you.

It can make quite a bit, or not. Try it and see.

I have a question for all of the gurus out the I recently bought a tidradio H8 gmrs . It came with the standard rubber duck antenna and also with one of the tidradio 771 antennas. the antenna says on it tuned for 144-430 Mhz. I also have a Nagoya 771G tuned for 462-467 Mhz. In any of your more learned opinions how much difference does it actually make in performance? Thanks

I think most of us in engineering have had a professor like that at one point. It's not the wasted time copying down the worthless material I hated. It was suffering with writer's cramp doing it.

Yes

Can you spot the error in one of the formulas?

I dont think there are any good deals out there on used Repeaters.. Sellers on Ebay are getting high dollar for used radio equipment. Lots of things you need to look out for.. Programing is the biggest issue, getting the software to program many of these used radios on the market is very hard if not impossible. proprietary software, cables, power feeds and program cables is another issue.. Many times you'll buy a used repeater radio and end up spending as much or more for all these 'special' adapters, cables and software to get it going.. Personally i would not waste my money on a used repeater unless i've gotten a squeaking clean deal that includes all the bells and whistles. There a lots of good New repeaters on the market today, Bridgecom, Hytera, Maxon, Wouxoun etc.. In fact, you can buy two Maxon 8402 radios for around $600 bucks and build the same basic repeater Bridgecom offers for a grand less then what they are selling.. Many folks love their repeater and the Maxon 8402 is the heart of their jewel... Don't get me wrong, there are some damn good used Motorola repeaters out there but unless you want to spend a lot of time and $ to get them going,, Might now be worth it for the GMRS band..

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.

LOL! Good stories! It's amazing the things you hear sometimes. So many people seem to think that their radios com's are private.

UPDATE: One new coax later, with the excess coiled by the air cleaner, I'm getting 1:1.02, mounted on the roof rack.

Our Zello channel is linked to our Southern California repeater -both the Zello and the repeater are open for any licensed GMRS user to use.. Zello channel is named 'Notarubicon GMRS 700 Repeater' .. https://zello.com/NAR700 Almost 5,000 Zello users are approved/subscribed to use this channel but most are extremely shy and never talk/transmit. We also just changed frequencies on the repeater so its a bit quite right now while everyone figures out that its changed.