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The 50V2 is an SOC.. Also known as a HOMODyne radio... HOMODyne... You can tell by the price, and because nowhere in the sales literature do they brag about it being a SuperHet radio.

Well I just bit the bullet and ordered the Yaesu FTM-6000R. It was on sale with an extended warranty deal, and I added the MARS mod service. Let's see how this goes!

Welcome! You bit off quite alot for your first GMRS radio. Here is an article that is good for beginners to read: https://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2024/01/how-to-buy-your-first-gmrs-radio.html

Technically, you should pronounce each character, but realistically, for GMRS nobody cares. The fact that you even attempt to ID is better than most people do.

Welcome! 1. Listen for traffic. Depending on where you are you might hear a little or a lot. 2. I would program all of them. The repeater channels (15R - 22R, or 23 - 30 on some radios) receive on exactly the same frequencies as the simplex channels 15 - 22. 3. The 462 MHz frequencies are where your radio receives from a repeater. You transmit to the repeater on the 467 MHz frequencies. You transmit to the repeater’s receiver. The repeater transmits to your receiver. You encode a tone to open the repeater. You can either use a decode tone to hear the repeater or you can leave the decode tone empty and hear everything on that frequency.

Based on my tests of both radios, they absolutely will talk virtually the same fars.

I've gotten to where I say very slowly so I don't have to say it again. Sometimes I even say it phonetically for that very reason. For me, it can be frustrating when people say their call sign so fast I can't even begin to get it all. It's like saying ";alkdsjflsd;kjewl;knf;aej." And I'm like what?

See if this helps: https://www.air802.com/files/CN2NMOLP-TM.pdf

I am currently at my "opened" Anytone AT-779UV in the house, programmed for GMRS (but with more options), with Firmware 2.26 (my Radioddity DB20-G programmed for "locked" GMRS with firmware 2.30 is in the car right now), so my comments are based upon my playing with this Anytone. 1) Holding down the FUN key for a few seconds will LOCK the keypad/mic buttons (one beep). Let me know when you figure out how to UNLOCK it!?! hahaha. Of course, holding down the FUN key again for a few seconds toggles this feature (two beeps). You can also toggle this same "locking" feature by holding down the A button on the mic/keypad. 2) I believe you are referring to Menu 19: DSPSUB, which has these 3 choices of settings. You can get to this without the software by pushing the FUN button once and then scrolling through the Menu with the V/M (Up) and MAIN (Down) buttons. You then change the settings using the Up (Arrow) and Down (Arrow) buttons and when you are happy with your settings, push FUN again to exit this mode. 3) I am not sure what you are asking here, because I probably don't have any experience here. But I want to learn, so please educate me. Is this in the software? 4) By "Busy Channel Lockout" I believe you mean a setting which will prevent the radio from transmitting while it detects someone else using the same frequency. I am looking into this for you. UPDATE: Look at the manual's description of Menu Item !!: RPLOCK, below and see if this does what you want; again using the FUN button will get you into Menu Mode:

Fixed it for you: 亲爱的宝峰： 我看到不久前你们推出了新的GMRS HT（UV-5G Plus）。它看起来是一个相当不错的升级，但我认为您再次错过了将一个非常好的收音机变成一个非常好的收音机的机会。我的抱怨完全在于菜单系统。 1. 为什么我们无法在菜单系统中更改/输入频道名称？ 2. 为什么菜单系统中不能设置某个频道是否可以扫描？ 宝峰，我认为如果你解决了这两件事，你的收音机的价值/质量矩阵就会上升一个档次。 我真的很想买这台收音机来添加到我的收藏中，但我不想让自己感到沮丧。 感谢您的聆听。 WRPL700

Installed the new antenna tonight. I think it’s better - still the same swr reading (1.00 - 1.02). I think I’m getting a lot of popping and scratching from all the overhead lines around here. Seems to work well in the middle of my yard and I’m reaching repeaters 45 miles away. I’m done with the antenn for now. really appreciate all the help guys!!

You may already know this but here goes: A cheap SDR will give you the ability to see what's out there on HF, VHF, UHF, slow scan TV, track satellites, listen to the space station etc. Additionally, you can listen to international shortwave broadcasts, pirate and spy stations. Listening to active NETS is super easy. -There is a lot more but it's TLDR. You can program in all of the active frequencies within your antennas reach and use a scanner plug-in to monitor traffic. People get into the radio hobby for different reasons. I personally like to listen mostly. I humbly advise that if you want to be a HAM, check the radio bands chart and then use the cheap SDR to monitor the allowed bands that you are shooting for. This will give you a realistic idea of what is going on out there and help you decide if you would like to spend time and $$ to get in on it.

Hey everyone! Completely new to two-way radios and GMRS, etc… but I’ve been lurking and researching and reading through as many threads as possible for awhile and between y’all and the general internet, I feel like I’ve gotten a pretty good base understanding of everything. I’ve held off on asking questions bc most of them are already addressed either here, YouTube, RadioReference, etc… so I apologize if this information is already out there somewhere and I just missed it. 1 - As someone who doesn’t have a network of radio enthusiast friends, what’s one guy to do with a solo radio? I know the obvious answer is to buy a second one for my wife and hound her on it (ha!), but outside of that… what can I actually accomplish with an old analog radio? I want it in the event that cell phones are out of commission, power goes down, etc… and I picked the TK390 (450-490) after seeing enough positive feedback that I was confident in my purchase. I’m just curious what its capabilities are for a solo guy with one. 2 - When programming the channels into it, I assume just programming the 16 GMRS channels is a good place to start? Should I skip the FRS channels? With the Repeater channels being 15-22R, are those sequential AFTER the first 22 channels (IE: 23-30) or are those just the “second column” of the corresponding GMRS channels (Tx/Rx)? I know most of the local emergency stuff (police, EMS, etc) have likely switched to digital so I won’t get to eavesdrop on those frequencies, but everything I’ve read said to learn on an Analog first and then make the switch to DMR/P25 once I’ve gotten comfortable with/better understand the capabilities of two-way radios. 3 - When looking at Repeater info for programming purposes: is the Repeater’s (Tx) MY corresponding (Rx)? For example, if a Repeater says 462.500, does that number go in my Encode or Decode column? I’m assuming the Repeater’s Transmit Frequency would be my Receive Frequency, right? Do Repeaters generally Receive on the Low Frequency (462.500) and Transmit on the High one (467.500), or vice versa? I hope I’m asking that right… perhaps a better way to ask would be: if a Repeater says it’s Rx is 462.500, is that info telling me that MY Rx should be set to 462.500, or that the Repeater’s Rx is that and therefore my Tx should be programmed to that. Anyway, I’m excited to join the group and look forward to hearing any answers that you’re all kind enough to share! Thanks in advance! - Jeff

Yep, that’s the one! I actually acquired the cable and the software, and have been able to program a few local repeaters and write them to the radio. I’ve successfully one up, as identified by what everyone is calling the “squelch tail,” so I believe I’m on the right track!

Glad to help. I do not have that radio or know anything about it so I will let others answer your questions about it. Just looked it up for reference: https://www.ameradio.com/product/5165/description.html is this the one? I assume it requires software to program do you have that? It could be a project to get it set up for GMRS. Good luck!

I've had paint damage. Not so much scratches, but a permanent ring-shaped indention in the paint. I mitigated the issue by sticking a cheap plastic (not glass) tablet screen protector on the roof. I've since moved on to lip mounts on my van's liftgate because I don't want the coax draped across the roof.

First, assuming I got your location correctly, TN now is all on 700/800 P25PhII statewide. With one single exception, you aren't going to be able to monitor that with a radio, and it won't be certified for GMRS. Next, in dash mounts, you can look at Troy, Havis or Gamble Johnson for face plates for your chosen radio, but it may involve some work. That being said, Troy makes overhead consoles for all current pickup trucks: https://troyproducts.com/public-safety/consoles/?swoof=1&product_cat=overhead-console. A floor console is also an option, but beware, consoles are not inexpensive. Thirdly, for "OEM" location antennas, try Stico: Fender Mount Roof Mount Lastly, if you want to listen to what is available from public safety (that isn't encrypted), you should look at adding a scanner to your car. I have a SDS200 with GPS in one car, and my truck is a SDS100 with GPS on a cupholder mount. All of these would be able to scan the state systems and listen to what isn't encrypted.

Oh, if you want to find out what is on the various frequencies using the main digital modes, DMR - P25 - NXDN, this site linked below is a good source. https://digitalfrequencysearch.com/index.php

I’m interested in hearing how you like it.

WRUE-NineFiftyOne - And that's just the way it is...

The 470-512 MHz part of the spectrum is called the "T" Band because that part of the spectrum was originally reserved/allocated for TV Channels 14-20. However, the T-Band freqs may be granted for some LMR use, primarily Public Safety, and some specialized mobile radio systems, only in large metropolitan regions such as Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, New York, etc. Back in the early 80s, The Los Angeles Sheriff Department was using Lowband VHF freqs (39 MHz) and was in dire need of additional freqs to expand their radio system. There were no VHF and UHF freqs available so they initiated action to acquire spectrum in the lower UHF TV channels because they were not being used at that time in the LA area. The Los Angeles Police Department was also in the same situation with their VHF Highband system. The LAPD also joined the effort with the LA Sheriff which started the reallocation of the lower UHF TV channels be used on a shared basis for public safety agencies in certain metro areas in the country. The FCC granted the LA Sheriff use of the 480 Freqs, the LAPD use of the 500 MHz, and the use of 470-480 MHz freqs for Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) systems. Thus, the T-Band was born for LMR use in the subject metro areas of the country.

Yes. Where it says Mode, it will say FMN, (narrow FM), FM, which are both analog, or DMR, P25, NXDN, and posssibly others, which are digital.

If you have literally nothing else to do, you can take a look at RadioReference. I've linked my state below so you can get an idea what it looks like. Clicking on a specific link will show you what frequencies different organizations use. https://www.radioreference.com/db/browse/stid/6

If you get a certified GMRS radio you won’t have the ability anyway. FCC won’t certify a radio for GMRS that’s capable of being easily tuned to transmit on other bands.

I don't want to hog all your questions so I'll take the first one. GMRS is more suited for talking with people you know who also have GMRS radios, such as for camping, hunting, hiking, off-roading, that kind of thing. However, some repeater organizations have weekly nets, so you can check in and possibly talk with others that way too. You'll find the occasional conversation on repeaters. It's a good idea for your famiy members to have radios too, that way you have other ways of communicating. Going solo with GMRS may be a bit disappointing because there isn't a big user base out there looking to make conversations like there is with amateur radio. Some of us here are licensed in both services so we have more comms options. If you are out by yourself doing some sort of solo outdoor activity, you can definitely increase your safety margin by having a GMRS radio, because a lot of people carry them to communicate within their groups and they would possibly hear you if you needed help, either by simplex or through a repeater.

I would not sweat that SWR reading. Anything under 2.0 is fine. While fender mounts do work, getting the antenna up above the vehicle roof on a good ground plane is going to be better. Center of the roof is best unless you are dealing with a clearance issue. PS: don't test rubber duck antennas, They can be all over the place as far as SWR readings go but they still work just fine.

Height is might provided you have decent feedline. After that will be a good antenna. High gain for flatter areas, lower gain for hilly (usually). Directional (Yagi) for talking in THAT direction, and a little behind and the sides.

I would say your SWR readings are pretty good. Getting the entire antenna above the roof might help, but 1.5 or below is nothing to balk at.

Just for context. With a Midland MXT115 (15 Watt) attached to a Midland MXTA 26 (6db) mag mount on a metal sheet in the attic, about 25' off the ground, I easily have coverage to: Up to 20 mi to the large / tall repeaters Simplex to 5W handheld in the field with varied terrain. In some directions 2.5 miles, in other directions 8-10 miles. If I want to hike to the top of taller hills I would expect 10+miles in some areas. If you want range, follow the recommendations posted here on the purchase of an external antenna and mount it as high as possible. A line of sight map, just google the phrase, will give you some very basic estimates on ranges at the specified height you plug into your base. In other words, if you are using an antenna plug in the height in meters to your base.

Much easier to carry the instruction manual instead.

Exactly right. programming a radio with a computer enables a person to get the most out of it, but for those times when a computer isn’t available, the ability to program and use your radio without one is a necessity. I don’t want to have to carry a computer with me every time I travel.

I have and do use software, because I have to. Not so handy if I am out away from the computer. This discussion was aimed at what seemingly simple things could be added to make it better. So we don't have to use software when it isn't handy.

Yes. Wouxun KG-935G Plus, for one, lets you choose whether to scan a channel from the menu.

Is that really a bad thing?

It’s an individual choice. If you choose to violate the regulations that’s your choice. You’re correct in anticipating that nobody can discern by listening whether someone is truly your relative. But many people like to fully understand what the regulations actually say. That’s not “going too far into the weeds.” If you’re not interested, just ignore the conversation.

The problem is that there is no standard format for the exchange of GPS information between the different manufacturers. Wouxun has their own version in their KG-Q10G too. It's kind of like the digital modes for amateur radio. You have DMR, Fusion, and D-Star. None of them work with the others.

I'm pretty sure distance would still be typical UHF distance.