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Does this happen on all channels, like on the NOAA channels, and even when you hear static? ie; is EVERYTHING very low volume or just when someone is transmitting on GMRS?

The problem with people asking for opinions is where they get good advise then go out and buy the cheapest P.O.S. on the market. Makes one wonder why they bothered to ask.

IF only there was youtube channel out there that has done at least one video on every single one of those topics!

Touching on what @OffRoaderX was trying to help with (and hes on the right track) if you open the user squelch with no tone squelch or DCS squelch, so you can hear static, is the static also very quiet or is it loud? If it is quiet when the squelch is open (monitor mode, too) then the radio's output is likely damaged in some way. Either the audio finals are fried or the speaker jack is possibly causing a partial short. If the static is loud, then you likely have a programming issue leading to compatibility problems between wide and narrow band.

Could be true. But I swear some of the operators might be brain dead.

Your videos are why I'm here, man! However, it took me like 30-40 hours of watching your videos to get comfy, and even then, I had to come here asking stupid questions for months. I'm just looking to boil things down as an introduction, so newbs like I was two years ago have a smaller hill to climb. Of course, any introduction would *have* to mention your exalted poobah-ness!

@Lscott My wife came home from work yesterday with the new Kenwood calendar.

Thank you. I wonder why @JamesBrox doesn’t just ignore me if a post from me is a trigger for him. Maybe one of you can help him with that.

Whoever gave you that information is flat out wrong. JVC Kenwood is still making new radios. Just delivered 25 new units the other day, and they all worked quite well.

CB is definitely not dead in my area, but there is risk of reduction of IQ by listening for any extended period. Also suprised by the number of freebanders running amplifiers

Lately it seems like a few people are asking loosely worded questions and then snapping at people who give a knowledgeable answer. My ignore list has gained another.

If the reason you hijacked the thread was because you saw @OffRoaderX was here and you thought this was a good way to get his attention, a more appropriate way would be to create a new thread and tag him by typing the @ sign, then his username. Like this: @WRZM228 Of course if you’ve been ignored that won’t work. (How’s that for an attempt to bring the thread back to the OP’s topic?)

The eight current GMRS channels can handle eight simultaneous conversations today (in the same area). The proposal below would allow for 32 simultaneous conversations without expanding the GMRS service. For those not familiar with DMR technology, each DMR repeater signal has two "timeslots" which allows for two independent talk channels. Two DMR signals can fit within the same space as one analog FM signal today. This is possible because a DMR signal only requires about 7.6 kHz of spectrum, while todays wideband analog signals need 20 kHz of spectrum. Thus, four conversations can be supported within each of the current GMRS channels. The center frequency of each DMR repeater (and the radios it supports) would be programmed 5 kHz above or below the current center channel. +/-12.5 kHz might also be used. Below shows how this would work in reality. The FCC would not need to allocate new radio spectrum. They only have to allow more efficient use of what we already have. The other benefit of DMR is that two different repeater groups could invest in one DMR repeater, which splits the cost in two while each maintains their own "channel". As a DMR repeater takes the same rack space as an analog repeater and only requires one antenna, the repeater site lease costs could be split between the two groups as well. It would take the FCC some time to accomplish this, so if they started now, they might be able to complete this rule change in 2024.

Yesterday a friend of mine and I heard about a long truck carrying a big boiler during one of our ham radio nets. So we drove down to see it. The “truck” consists of a pull tractor, the load, and two pusher tractors. A notice from MDT says it’s 217 feet long and 29 feet wide. Another video said the boiler is 360,000 lbs. The truck travels at night on state highways to avoid traffic. While I drove my friend videoed the truck on my phone:

I dont think you, or I, or anyone else will get that through to these guys that want DMR on GMRS. Unlike the guys who want DMR or some form of digital on GMRS (probably because it is the way of the future) I and possible you and others have been on the other side or seen the other side of the coin where the analog user gets bumped out of the way for the digital user, or where the two cannot communicate. People like this fail to recognize one thing - while they sit up on their high thrones on digital, all shielded from the analog user world, the analog users are sitting on the other side being forced to listen to digital motorboating and what is worse, they cannot even communicate amongst themselves on analog. They aren't able to join, especially when it is on a repeater. Its essentially no different than a bunch of rich folk sitting at a window seat at a fine restaurant eating nice food in a warm room while, right below them on the other side of the glass sit homeless people who cant afford to eat and be in the nice warm room, but these people are so absorbed in enjoying their food and warmth that they dont see these people and if they do, they just figure that these people can just take some money and join them. This same attitude is in Ham Radio which is why it really confuses me why these people who want to turn GMRS upside down dont just go get a Ham license where they will have a HUGE amount of space to play with all the DMR they want. They have the same smug attitude as many of them do. Most users of GMRS wouldn't know how to write a code plug. I know a LARGE majority of extra class Hams who couldn't write a code plug to save their lives. Seeing how many forums they are on touting this digital idea and not listening to anyone who brings up valid points, they clearly dont know how radio works and the mess digital has created on Ham, and if I didn't know better, I would say they are trolling. I have read a lot of the comments just on this site and every knowledgeable person has thrown every single scenario at these guys and they still come back with "Yeah but..................".

Okay I'm throwing more darts here. Do you use an external speaker? If so are you sure it's plugged in all the way?

Forgive me if you know some of this already. Since you mentioned it only happens on repeater channels my first question may seem odd but are you using repeater channels to contact a repeater? You wont be able to use preset repeater channels for simplex as TX an RX are not the same frequencies. My second thought is if you are contacting repeaters It is my understanding that Midlands tone chart differs from others. Is it possible you have the wrong tones on RX. Try turning tones off on the RX of your repeater channels then you should hear all despite if it is through a repeater or simplex. One last thought if you have two radios close to eachother one may be desensing the other canceling out your receive. You may need to seperate the radios with some distance. I hope some of this helps.

All these back-and-forth ignore wars remind me of that old classic by Motley Crue. "Don't go away mad, just go away".

This is my second comment on the forum after joining yesterday, and realizing I should probably introduce myself before just jumping in. Been working my way towards a long term retirement plan over the last two years. Started off with applying for my GMRS license, go figure. Where else do you start the process of retiring? Long story short, travel will be a big part of retirement for the next several years and off grid will be a large part of that. GMRS just seemed like a necessity with that in mind. Got a new truck, mobile radio purchased. Recently got the travel trailer, "base radio" purchased. Just today requested and gained access to a big part of the Midwest network. Still haven't started transmitting other than simplex practice in the neighborhood. Of course monitoring the channels on the base radio in my "shack". I'm looking forward to learning from and perhaps connecting with the seasoned veterans and well as the rest of the community in due time. What else does a retired guy do with his spare time. So here's a "hearty greetings from central Indiana" to the greater GMRS family!

Hi, yes I hear you. There are some things that I didnt want to buy but I was forced to because I can see whats going on with the economy. I'm not really sure where its heading in the next 5 year but I just don't to wait in the end that I couldn't even afford it. Its a good thing I have 2 jobs but even thous its still hard. On top of these communication gear that I got 75%, there are things that I needed to do at the house including emergency power backup, I got the generator that will fire up my house and I got it down somewhere. Anyways O can run all the lights on my house, the big refrigerators, 1 upright freezer, backup computer, 2 box fan, 1 heater furnace. No the AC nor microwave although I have a 3 large stock LPG, 20 gallon gas for car and generator in the shed, 2 burner in case our natural gas cut off. I can power up 1700 watts all the consumption breakdown I did in 4-1/2 to 5 days. My generator runs on dual gas or propane and I also have an orifice unit if I want to run it on natural gas...... Anyways I'll be back a bit later. I have to go down to FedEx to send something before it hits too late. Take it easy.. I didn

Thanks for the help to everyone. I went with the MXTA24 cable, MXTA26 antenna and the NMO fender mount. Had to modify the plastic spacer for the cable to work with the mount but I'm used to doing stuff like that with jeeps. Hit the Sheraton hotel repeater in Dallas which is close to 30 miles away. Going to try again tomorrow at work which is to 40 miles away.

...or maybe @Sshannon was just trying to help someone out solely for the satisfaction of helping them. Unfortunately "some people" have no gratitude.

I gave an honest answer. I’m not sure what about my response bothered you but it’s an easy situation to rectify.

No reason except for Line A

Oh really? Did my "You must be new here" comment bother you that much? (BTW ... I knew you weren't new. That was a joke.) All the required digital settings? Really? OK I'll bite. What color code and talkgroup are we going to use on DMR GMRS? What if I don't like those settings, because there is another repeater a few miles away that is using them? Here's my opinion. If someone wants to get into DMR, they need to get their Technician license. I read every day how easy that is, so shouldn't be a significant barrier. One of the FCC rules for GMRS is (to paraphrase) "play nicely with others". A DMR repeater does not play nicely with analog users.

I will chime in and plainly state: MIXING DIGITAL AND ANALOG RADIOS ON THE SAME FREQUENCIES DOES NOT WORK -- PERIOD. We Part 90 coordinators fought through this issue when Moto introduced MotoTURBO. It reached the point where the 4 Public Safety coordinators froze all applications to either convert existing systems to digital or create new digital coordinations. We were finally able to create guidelines that often resulted in converted systems allowed lower radiated power or antennas being aimed lower on the horizon. New coordinations were also restricted on radiated power, often much lower than originally requested.

You must be new here. 50% of the new posters in these forums cannot even figure out how to program an analog repeater into their new GMRS radio. Do you seriously think that DMR will work for "every man"? And before you ask, I am *very* familiar with programming a DMR repeater and DMR radios, both Motorola and other brands. It's orders of magnitude more difficult than programming an offset and a tone or two for an analog repeater.