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There's a huge difference between "some guy who is a ham proposed this" and "hams want this". Apparently A ham wants it; that doesn't mean that ALL hams want it! I am also fortunate to live in an area with a friendly, welcoming, and active ham community. Yes, there are some repeaters that see little or no traffic, but there are others that are quite busy (both 2m and 70cm) and there is at least one informal net every night for those who are into ragchewing. Sure, a lot of local hams are into contesting (some very much so) but that's not universally true. Oh, and there's at least one "ham radio" breakfast or lunch each week. As far as GMRS becoming ham-lite, it seems to me that a lot of the folks setting up all these linked repeaters and holding ragchew nets on GMRS are NOT hams. YMMV, of course.

The proposal mentioned in the first post of this thread is not something supported by many hams, as far as I can tell. I certainly don't support it. I don't want or expect to be given access to GMRS simply because I'm a ham. I can (and did) pay for a GMRS license just like anyone else. Nor do I want GMRS to be made more like amateur radio. Personally, I want GMRS to remain mostly as it is, easy for anyone to become licensed, simple to access, compatible with FRS, and with reasonable limits on power output. If people want to experiment in order to learn more about radio than needed for GMRS, they should study, take the test, and get their amateur radio license. And quit whining about the tests.

Every time I read posts like some of the ones on the previous page I am very thankful that my experience has been diametrically opposed. By an overwhelming majority the hams I have met have been generous and helpful. Although I don’t have the experience some of them have they have adopted me and others like me, encouraging us to learn, showing us how they have built their ham shacks, how they have constructed their antennas, and telling us about their own histories. I’m truly sorry for the people who have not had such a good experience. I feel even sorrier for those who have become embittered.

I have to agree. I hold both and don't want to see GMRS turn into HAM LITE. The Elmers around me are more than willing to help anyone no matter if they hold an amateur license, GMRS license or both. I too am happy to help others. We have one member of our amateur radio club that is happy with just having his GMRS license for right now. We have been helping him get setup for mobile and a base station.

All it does is temporarily (while pressing the button usually) disable squelch for receiving. It does nothing to remove the tones for transmitting .

The Monitor button is just a shortcut to zero squelch. It's easier than adjusting the squelch to off then having to turn it back up. It's just for a momentary check if there is any traffic on a channel no mater how weak it is.

@WSAA635 make sure you choose AM in the mode column in Chirp. You may want to select "Auto AM in the radio menu. Also I believe your radio will only receive AM in the top section of your radio, not the lower. I hope this helps.

The KG935G is my favorite GMRS HT.

And if you look at the “Who’s Online“ page you’ll see the call signs listed below the login names for the members who are currently online.

The Cotres are not approved for service in any band.

Thanks to all who responded!

DMR is allowed on commercial radios and ham radio bands, but not GMRS or FRS (except for some experimental sites). So, you would need to use these radios on an appropriate service. Also, except for amateur radio radios usually must receive FCC certification. I don't know if these radios are certified for any service. I would be skeptical.

I totally agree. It is one of the reasons I invest in GMRS instead of Ham. My issue is Hams coming down onto GMRS to change it into Ham Radio. GMRS is analog with a certain bandwidth. If Hams dont like that, then they can go back to Ham Radio. GMRS needs to remain simple due to the fact that it is meant for people who are not radio geeks and who just need a simple means of communications, not a Ham Radio atmosphere. Many of the people I have met on GMRS and even FRS get utterly confused when you say repeater. Given that fact, they dont need anything more complicated. Just keep it simple. Overall, it is a very good tool to be used for non-hams and Hams to communicate.

It's just fine. I used my first initial and last name,but most places I use my first name and last name.

I went through my logs and only have data on two radios. My FTM-300DR and my MXT500. I know I tested a BTech/Baofeng, but can't find the data and don't have a radio to test right now. I tested using guidance per TIA-603, measuring the 12 dB SINAD reference sensitivity at 60% of the rated system deviation for the test signal. My FTM-300DR, which is a super-het, @ 462.725 MHz was/is -121 dBm or 0.2 uV. My MXT500, which is a direct conversion receiver, was -123.6 dBm or 0.14 uV. This is pretty important for people to be aware of. Just because superheterodyne receivers are known to be better technology than direct conversion receiver technology, that doesn't necessarily mean any given super-het radio will hear better than any other given direct conversion receiver. Brand and build quality matter. Midland is an icon in two-way radio and should not be dismissed as a player. Also, I did not measure my Moto's, but I can 100% tell you that while running both radios in my Jeep at the same time, I lost count of the number of times my Moto could here a signal well enough for a 100% copy, that my Yaesu couldn't hear at all. One of my friend is going to tune my Moto transmitter output power for me. I can ask him to run a 12 dB SINAD for my while its on the analyzer and share that info.

Actual measurements of signal strength performed by swapping between the OEM antenna on my UHF radio and a clone of the Nagoya (Tid Radio 771) dispute that. Sitting at my kitchen table I transmitted to a DMR repeater 16 miles away. I watched the signal reports using a Brandmeister connected dashboard. When I transmitted using the factory rubber duck the signal strength was reported as s6. Then I removed the factory antenna and replaced it with the clone 771 antenna. The signal varied between s7 and s8. Going back to the original antenna the signal strength went back down. Those are reproducible data. Since then I have replaced the original antennas on two of my best radios with Diamond 771 antennas. I consistently get good signal reports from other hams on both 2 meters and 70 cm when using these antennas. As an aside, I don’t know what the number 771 indicates.

Fortunately there are only a few of those kind of people here.

Even though Amateur has 420-450 officially, the practical use part is 441-449. One good reason for HAMs to use GMRS is communicating with non-HAMs. I recommend the owner rename this forum to HAM-HATE-FORUM.

Ham operators have from 420MHz to 450MHz to experiment and do what they want with it (with some exceptions due to shared agreements and line A and C restrictions) and now they want to take over something else? On top of this, let me make clear, that in many parts of the country, Hams not only do not use the 70cm band as it is, they flat out refuse to use it and will actually verbally spit on it. In many areas of the country, Hams barely use anything above 2 meters (144-148MHz) because they claim "it doesn't get out far therefore you cannot do anything with it". Hams do not need anymore frequencies. 420-450 is in the same band that behaves the same way as 462 and 467MHz. There is absolutely no difference between the two except for the numeric frequencies. If Hams want more to experiment with, go petition to allow more capability within their own 70cm band. Stop trying to ruin other services. DO NOT BE FOOLED! Ham Radio operators are not lacking in bandwidth to experiment and talk on surrounding the GMRS band. Something many people, Hams included, do not realize is that Ham Radio operators have the following bands outside of the contesting bands to fully operate in, experiment in and do what they want in with, in most places, a 1500 watt power limit - 50-54MHz (little activity except for band openings once or twice a year) 144-148MHz (Utilized the most for short range communications across the country) 220-225MHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned in many parts of the country) 420-450MHz (small amounts of activity depending on the part of the country) The same band that GMRS (462 and 467 MHZ) sits in. 902-928MHz (little to no activity) 1240-1300MHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 2300-2310MHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 2390-2450MHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 3400-3450MHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 5650-5925MHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 10-10.5GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 24-24.25GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 47-47.2GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 76-81GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 122.25-123GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 134-141GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) 241-250GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) and all above 275GHz (little to no activity if not totally dead and abandoned) I have personally heard Hams come out on the air and identify 50-54, 144-148, and 420-450 as being the only bands Hams have to operate on above 10 meters and how Hams dont have any room to play. GMRS operators have 8 repeater pairs and 14 simplex channels to use. Not chunks of bandwidth like Hams, only channels! So, no, Hams do not need "...allowing Ham Radio users more flexibility when operating on GMRS Channels." You want more flexibility, go back down on your own 70cm band and start utilizing it!!! GMRS is for people who need a means of communication and dont want to be hassled with becoming a licensed radio hobbyist. I personally hope the FCC laughs at this and throws it out. Hams do not use the bands they currently have and it is the reason the FCC is taking portions of their bands away. If Hams would get off of the HF bands and stop doing contesting and start utilizing the bands above 50MHz, they wouldn't have a reason to steal from GMRS, but that will never happen.

Why does the FCC allow people to see name and address with the call sign look up? It seems to me it's a violation of personal privacy. I know a governor got in trouble for releasing the names and addresses of CCW holders so how can the FCC get away with it. They could at the very least block your home address and just show name and maybe city and state but the home address shouldn't be posted. What do y'all think? How can we make them change this?

DOES ANYONE NEED HELP WITH EQUIPMENT OR EQUIPMENT PROGRAMMING?

The need to use plain language without attempts to decieve also goes for amateur radio too. And no new digital mode for amateur radio can be used without first making it public per the FCC. Business bands and public service band fall under different rules than amateur and GMRS bands.

Yes, this is all true, nicely said Sshannon. I went on and on a bit, my addiction to jabbering. Glad to hear that you tend to hold the radio vertical when using it. A lot of people do not. Have a great day

I agree that antennas don’t create power and I understand gain. I use my radios with the antenna vertical. For me, having a spherical pattern, like an isentropic antenna, would be wasteful because I don’t typically communicate with something directly above or below me. But I understand your point that having a high gain antenna with the radiation directed in the wrong direction can be even worse. I also agree that a low efficiency antenna is a bad thing. Unfortunately most of us (definitely me) don’t have an easy way to assess efficiency. Real world testing like I conducted are the best I can do.

New guy here. Always like to nerd out on this kind of stuff and have guys from work that want to go off-roading so I managed to convince them to get their licenses and radios. Now they're expecting me to get all the knowledge. Hah. I also travel from Arizona to San Diego every couple of months and want to be able to use the radio system in case of an emergency. Seems like there's a decent learning curve but I'm always down to learn this stuff especially if SHTF. Hope to learn some cool stuff here.

I found that video pretty informative. I also own an Icom IC-T10 along with the KG935G. Both are very good radios even being SOC. I know there is a difference when it comes to VHF compared to UHF. But I can use the IC-T10 inside my house and still be understandable by others when talking on the repeater 21.5 miles away. It is sometimes hit or miss with the KG935G inside the house. I can forget about getting into the 70cm repeater with an HT though. All three repeaters use the same tower. The 2m and 70cm antennas are 900 feet above the ground and the GMRS antennas are 400 feet above the ground - all of them are on the same tower.

I have a few Abbree 771 and Nagoya 771 antennas for 2m/70cm and GMRS. The 771 antennas do make an improvement on my Baofeng and Explorer QRZ-1 (TYT UV-88). But I did not see any improvement with those antennas on my Wouxun KG935G or Icom IC-T10.

Can you say that one more time? I didn't quite catch that.

I must be lucky, I've never had any problems with my CCRs.

Finally got everything to work! Still have tons to learn. Thanks to all for the help!

I use GMRS as another radio service to talk with many in local area and am also a ham. Gping forward many of the people on tbe GMRS repeater are also hams, but thjs is just one more resource.

never mind

When I was in the north we ran 4 and 16 depending on the club. My new CB scans and when I was in Moab last summer I heard chatter on multiple channels which surprised me.

Maybe it has something to do with the length of the antenna? I know they have a shorter 701 and the 771 is the longer of the two so it could be in mm or some such.

That was the thought I had also the first time I saw this proposal. My area is dead. The only activity is a couple stray 440 repeaters and maybe people with DMR hotspots. I say, take half of the the 440 Ham band and turn it into GMRS+. I understand that there are areas of this country where 440 is alive but for the rest of the country it is dead. Overall, from 50MHz on up, there is a TON of dead air on the Hams bands across the country.

Welcome @Nighthawk01, try Trigger/ed 700 maybe. Not sure if you are already aware or acquainted with the repeater map page but even though it is associated with the forum you still need to log in separately over there.

Most likely this repeater: https://mygmrs.com/repeater/6281

Sadly many repeaters talk out better than talk in. With a portable you may be able to hear but will not be able to talk. Its normal.

First, make sure you are transmitting on a repeater channel. They’ll be labeled either 23-30 or RP15-RP-22. If you’re on one of the Simplex channels (15-22) you will be able to hear the repeater but the repeater will never hear you. Second, make sure you’re transmitting using the correct access tone, whether CTCSS or DCS. Otherwise the repeater will filter out your transmission. Finally, it’s entirely possible that you can’t transmit that far from inside your house on a 5 watt handheld.

Welcome, Nighthawk01, If you look in the repeater database, at the map, you should be able to spot the repeater on that frequency.

No need to shout, really. Have you successfully programmed the Cotre ‎‎CO01D with a K-type cable that uses a chip other than the CH-340? If so, then that is different than the model that I purchased (‎CO06D). I always thought that all those cables were interchangeable too. Even though the Amazon listing called out that particular cable, when I ordered the radio I didn't bother ordering it, since I already had several other K-type cables that were known good and working. Much to my surprise and annoyance, none of those cables would work with the CO06D. And yes, I had the proper driver, and could program a different radio with the same cable plugged into the same USB port on the same computer. You don't know me, you don't know my level of technical expertise and experience programming radios, and you weren't here when I tried using other cables to program a Cotre CO06D. I offered that information hoping that I would save someone from the annoyance I experienced. If you think I'm wrong about a particular cable being needed I'm obviously not going to change your mind.

I use GMRS primarily to contact my wife when I'm out of cell service range, which happens frequently in our local mountains here in southern California. For me and many others, I use GMRS as a communications tool, and I use amateur radio for both a communications tool and socially.

I have an amateur general license and GMRS license. If I want to use digital modes I get on one of my amateur radios. I like the simplicity of GMRS and do not want to see it change.

I've heard you can use a PO box to register with the FCC. That's the only way I know of to prevent your personal address from being listed in ULS.

Who sits around and thinks up this kind of stupidity? No! Not just no, but hell no! This is another hairbrained attempt to make GMRS into "ham radio lite". I am an Extra class ham, and I am 100% against this. GMRS (Class A CB) was originally another means of personal (and at one time, business) communication. It should remain that way. It should remain 100% analog. GMRS allows for reliable communication with a short wavelength (think being able to use an ht in a car without an outside or excessively long antenna). It is great for families, friends, and even properly licensed hams, to keep in touch, especially with family and friends who just do not want to be bothered with testing, radio theory, etc. If someone wants to enjoy the hobby aspects of ham, play with digital, etc; then let them get off of their dead behind and study and take the tests or shut up! Those who are already hams and who want to turn GMRS into ham lite or other extension of ham radio, please use the privileges you have on ham or upgrade if that is not enough. People are continuously trying to wreck a great thing that GMRS is with these bright ideas.

Well put, and putting it nicely. It sounds like making more of a mess to me, and there's definitely an overtone of "hams are superior" in that document While I wouldn't mind seeing digital voice come to gmrs, it'd probably be best relegated to a new channel or two (maybe require narrowband there), and for simplicity go with one set standard...there's already a good variety of radios out there with DMR, from cheap to LMR. Along that line, how about explicitly making part 90 gear a-ok too? The one thing I wouldn't mind seeing that's definitely a concession to hams (and I'm not seeing any corresponding downside to gmrs, but let me know if I'm missing something) would be a pass on the 95e certification requirement IF the user holds both a gmrs license and a ham license, i.e. the ability to also use your ham gear for gmrs, subject to the usual power, mode and bandwidth requirements for gmrs. Hey, a guy can dream.

I agree. I intend to get my ham license soon and have no desire to use that to police or otherwise screw up GMRS.

Must be one of those with a stopwatch that jumps in at 10 min 3 seconds to yell at other about identifying. Must really drive him nuts that FRS has no obligation to acknowledge GMRS rules.

Yup hams trying to inter-fear in yet another service. My hopes are the FCC laughs at this one.

where you located?