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My fix would be to send it back and tell them to either send you one that works as advertised, or give back your money.. But, thats just me...

I would hesitate to say the rules make zero sense. Most of them make a lot of sense. The FCC has the daunting task of allocating a finite RF spectrum across an ever-growing array of multiple entities, from government all the way to personal users, including military, medical, commercial, broadcast radio and TV, amateur radio, railroads, aircraft, anything that uses RF to communicate. GMRS and FRS is a tiny portion of that. One of the gray areas of the GMRS and FRS rules is channels 8-14, because logically-speaking, the narrowband and half-watt restrictions make them effectively FRS-radio-only channels unless you have a GMRS radio that will transmit on a half a watt narrowband. So go ahead, use a half a watt narrowband on channels 8-14 with your GMRS radio and don't ID. The catch there is that I don't think you have an FCC-certified radio that will transmit on a half a watt narrowband. The FCC discontinued certifying combination GMRS/FRS radios about seven years ago. I don't claim to have the specifications on every GMRS-certified radio on the market, so it's up to you to find an FCC-certified GMRS radio that will do a half a watt narrowband. That being said, your unlocked FT-65 might be able to do it. And since you've made it clear that you would rather not get caught up in the rules, you're free to talk to your sovereign citizen friends on a half a watt on whatever radio suits your fancy.

I picked up the twin pack of the UV-5G Plus last week at Radioddity. The primary factor in choosing this model (my first GMRS radio) was that the batteries are chargeable via the included USB-C cable and AC adapter. Since these batteries supply a nominal 7.4VDC to the radio, I was curious as to what the charging voltage and current was for this setup. As per the attached photo, I found the voltage and current were consistent at 5.2V and 0.7A across the entire 4-5 hour charge cycle. Since the batteries normal operating range is from 7.0v to 8.4v we can conclude that the batteries have an internal step-up circuit to boost the charge voltage to an appropriate level. The USB charging capability will be useful in the field as I can use either the USB ports on my PowerWerx box, cell phone chargers, or truck USB ports.

The strongest by far repeater in my area runs on 462.575 with the standard input of 467.575. It also has an alternate input on 467.725 with a dpl instead of ctcss tone on the same tower. It gets interference every now and then on the primary input from foreign ships in the port and the primary input gets shut down. The problem is some radios don't allow for anything other than a 5MHz split or split tones and it kinda locks them out until the primary input is turned back on.

That's the usual offset, however the rules don't require it. Note the FCC rules simply state what frequencies can be used for communications through a repeater, sections A and C, but don't mention a required offset. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E/section-95.1763 Some have used a non-standard offset, still using the official frequencies, as a means to keep many users off a repeater since many radios "assume" a fixed 5MHz offset with no option for changing it. That leaves just those people with commercial grade radios that allow programming in separate TX and RX frequencies.

It's programmed to be +5.000 MHz for the repeater channels on commercially sold GMRS radios, but the regulations don't actually require that. They simply say that radios transmit to repeaters on the 467 MHz Main Channels and receive on the 462 MHz Main Channels. Some repeater owners have chosen to deviate from the 5.000 MHz offset. It's not technically non-compliant, but it effectively makes it very difficult for commonly available GMRS radios to be used. I don't know why they do that, but I suspect a bias against inexpensive GMRS radios. So, they end up with inexpensive ham radios instead.

It’s either a typo or not GMRS. There are no 466 MHz frequencies in GMRS.

I don't know. I think there are some reviews on YouTube on the topic. I would also do some research on-line to see if there is anything. As popular as they seem to be somebody likely has done some recent testing. One other place to check is the FCC site. If the radio is legally sold in the US it should, required, to have an FCC ID. Using that you can look up the grant and test reports. The grant by the way will likely just show just a certification for Part 15, not 97. The FCC's main concern is the radio is blocked from receiving cell phone frequencies. You can do an informal, crude, test using another radio. TX on 146.0MHz on the test radio. Then using a second radio some short distance away tuned for 438.0MHz, that's the third harmonic, and see if you can pick up a signal. If you can you likely have a problem. If not the radio "might" be acceptably clean, at least on VHF. It's no guarantee it's OK on UHF however. Dual band radios typically have two transmit "chains", power amp stages and filters, for each band. Both need to be checked. You can try the same kind of test on UHF but you'll likely will need a scanner that can tune up around 1.2GHz to 1.5GHz to catch the third harmonic. Your final option is try at a local Ham Radio club. Somebody there might have a spectrum analyzer, I have a model in mind on my wish list to get sooner or later, or access to one. You can see if a test of your radio can be arranged. I'm sure you won't be the first person in a club who wants to know if their cheap radio meets FCC emission limits.

You can use the FCC ULS website to search for other license holders in your area,

No, the rules are based on the type of “station” you’re using. If you’re using a GMRS radio you follow GMRS rules. If you’re using an FRS radio you follow FRS rules. FRS and GMRS share the same frequencies. There’s no such thing as a “license free” channel if you’re using a GMRS radio. A person transmitting on an FRS radio to a person on a GMRS radio doesn’t have to identify. The person with the GMRS radio does.

Wrong. FRS and GMRS channels are shared. All of them. The difference is bandwidth and power. If you are on a GMRS radio that is putting out five watts wideband, you are exceeding the watt limit and bandwidth of FRS, therefore you are operating as a GMRS license holder and you need to identify with your call sign. In their infinite wisdom, the FCC limits channels 8-14 to 1/2 watt and narrowband regardless of if it's an FRS or GMRS radio, which is why some GMRS radios cannot transmit on those channels. And not to put too fine a point on all this, but every question you have can be answered by thoroughly reading and understanding the information provided here by the FCC. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95

You can explain it to him, but you can't understand it for him.

Your radio encodes its transmissions which then go to the input to the repeater. Your radio decodes the signals it receives from the output of the repeater.

Honestly... I (mostly) agree with you. 100+ years ago, we didn't need permission from the government to grow food, fish, use a radio, etc. What was once considered our Rights have somehow evolved into us having permission to do things on a free-range human tax farm. The ATF/BATFE is a great example. Machine guns, short barrel rifles and suppressors are "dangerous and unusual"... but if you pay your tax, all of a sudden everything is fine. The whole concept is ridiculous. I feel like much of our government suffers from the same hypocrisy, with agencies like the FCC being almost as bad as the ATF, when it comes to rule making. The problem is, as part of living in a polite, civilized society, we have all agreed to live by these rules. If there are rules missing or rules we don't like, the people (at least in theory these days) have the ability to change those rules by petitioning the government. However, with very limited exception, if there are rules we don't like, we have agreed to live by them until the rule changes or is repealed. So, with that said, I provided you with fact about why things are the way they are. I don't necessarily agree with all of it due to a common moral compass that many of us share. However, that same moral compass guides me toward typically following the rules we all agreed to follow and not publicly condoning ignoring those rules. I share this at the risk of sounding too political, because I hope this helps you understand where I am coming from. And while I obviously can't speak for others, I have a funny feeling that many people who are protesting using non-compliant radios or FCC rule violations, likely feel darn close to what I do, if not the same.

I don’t think you have turned on us, but you have gotten to the point where you have expressed a disregard for the regulations and it’s clear you don’t understand (or even want to understand) why they exist. There are four sets of frequencies in GMRS. The requirements for bandwidth and RF power (and how measured) vary considerably with some of the frequencies (interstitial) wedged tightly in between others from other sets. You claim the right to transmit on these frequencies with whatever radio you want to use, but you don’t know what you don’t know. So, that’s kind of off-putting to people who are trying to help you learn.

You must use the repeater input tone as your TX tone. Otherwise the repeater will disregard your transmission. You may use the output tone as your RX tone. If you do, your radio will disregard (refuse to reproduce) any transmissions that do not include the same tone. But you don’t have to. If you leave the RX tone out your radio will reproduce all of the signals it hears on 462.675 MHz. The same frequencies are used to receive both simplex and repeater signals.

DOES ANYONE NEED HELP WITH EQUIPMENT OR EQUIPMENT PROGRAMMING?

Technically, by Rule your GMRS License covers your immediate family(wife,kids,brothers, sisters,etc.)that live in the same State AND they too need to give your(the)call sign every 15 minutes to stay in compliance. If you don't follow this "Rule" then you know what'll happen......NOT A DANG THING, that's what. Go watch NotaRibicon's latest video on the YouTubes and you'll see just how many and why people were busted by the FCC.

@SignallyCurious2 we are not doubting you about what you are hearing. A properly setup 70cm DMR repeater should not be bleeding over onto GMRS channels. And the frequency in the thread title isn't even a GMRS channel or an authorized 70cm band frequency. I saw that you asked this question on the Radio Reference forum too.

Not following rules because "I don't have to because I don't feel like it" is the reason CB is now useless. Espousing the same for GMRS hastens its similar demise as a useful band.

No.

Hmm. I guess I'll try +5. If I don't receive any responses, then we know they are using +4.

This ^ But it depends on the channels. Some channels don't allow that much and some channels require ERP calculations. § 95.1767 GMRS transmitting power limits. This section contains transmitting power limits for GMRS stations. The maximum transmitting power depends on which channels are being used and the type of station. (a) 462/467 MHz main channels. The limits in this paragraph apply to stations transmitting on any of the 462 MHz main channels or any of the 467 MHz main channels. Each GMRS transmitter type must be capable of operating within the allowable power range. GMRS licensees are responsible for ensuring that their GMRS stations operate in compliance with these limits. (1) The transmitter output power of mobile, repeater and base stations must not exceed 50 Watts. (2) The transmitter output power of fixed stations must not exceed 15 Watts. (You'll probably never need to know this) (b) 462 MHz interstitial channels. The effective radiated power (ERP) of mobile, hand-held portable and base stations transmitting on the 462 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed 5 Watts. (c) 467 MHz interstitial channels. The effective radiated power (ERP) of hand-held portable units transmitting on the 467 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed 0.5 Watt. Each GMRS transmitter type capable of transmitting on these channels must be designed such that the ERP does not exceed 0.5 Watt.

You need more than just a solar panel. The battery pack they use is a Lithium Ion type and has very specific charge requirements. That is satisfied by the charger base. You need a solar panel and some type of regulator to keep the input to the charger base within specifications. DO NOT try to charge the battery pack directly off the solar panel! Most solar panels for low to medium power applications output up to 20 to 22 volts DC, likely way to high for the charger base. You can use a DC to DC converter with a wide input voltage range and a fixed output voltage to feed the charger base. The Baofeng charger base has an input of 10 VDC, 12 VDC would likely work OK. Then you need DC to DC converter that would take a wide input voltage range from the solar panel and output a fixed 12 VDC. One example, don't take this as a recommendation, is at the following link. https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/mean-well-usa-inc/SPBW06F-12/7707012 Datasheet specifications. https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/2289/SPBW06%2CDPBW06_Ds.pdf The input voltage range is 9 to 36 VDC so this should cover a 5 watt solar panel. You can find some 5 watt solar panels on line. I've attached some photos of a few I have. You'll likely pay around $20 to $30 for one. You'll also need some cable and connectors to wire in the DC to DC converter and connect to the charger base. Solarverter.pdf Solarland SLP005-12.pdf 5 Watt No Name Light Aluminum Frame Solar Panel.pdf

It's just hammered to the wall. Likr I said, it doesn't go anywhere.

@WSAA635 Perhaps you would be interested in the Baofeng MP31. It's actually not a bad radio. I use them to talk to my wife every time I'm working in the attic on the AC or something else up there.

Yup, it's a multi-multi-band radio. You can transmit on a half dozen VHF and UHF frequencies all at the same time. I had a buddy at work who got one of those super cheap BF-888's UHF radios to experiment with it. There is a hack to program in some VHF frequencies. He tried it. It worked all right. Then I tuned my radio for the third harmonic. Oh-oh... I could hear him even better on the third harmonic spur! Well that ended that experiment. Never used that radio again.

CHIRP will work for programming frequencies if you use the KG-UVD1P profile. It won't let you do settings since the 805g is a single band UHF and the UVD1P is a duel band VHF/UHF but I set mine up today with that profile then went back in with the menu to do my settings.

WSAA635 I could not agree more ... My Immediate family can't even remember the callsign to use the radios.

True to form the FCCs like other government agencies have Rules that make ZERO sense. If I'm on GMRS/FRS channels 8-14 with my GMRS radio set to NFM and low power(1/2 watt)the isn't my GRMS radio effectively an FRS radio at that point? Same channel, same bandwidth, same power setting so how could ANYONE know that it wasn't an FRS radio. I think a lot of you guys are way to caught up in the "Rules & Regulations " instead of just enjoying the fun of talking to friend on the radio.

From the regulations: (b) Revoked or withdrawn certification. In the event that the FCC revokes or withdraws a grant of equipment certification for a type of Personal Radio Service transmitter, existing transmitters already in service may continue to be operated unless and until the FCC determines otherwise and gives Public Notice of that decision.

@WSAA635 Everyone here cares about freedom just as much as you. With freedom comes responsibility.

How, pray tell, have I "turned" on you? I simply believe as a Free American I should have the Right to use any radio I want to talk on the GMRS channels that I'm licensed to use. I'm not going to talk on HAM frequencies, I'm not licensed for those. I honestly don't understand why some make such a HUGE deal about the equipment when the REAL focus should be on the channels/frequencies we're using. If you're licensed for GMRS then talk on GMRS, the radio that's used shouldn't matter.

I have the UV-17R Pro GPS. It's okay, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it. The only real useful feature is the GPS for me.

You all should give this video that was posted by Randy to his YouTubes channel(NotaRubicon Productions) a watch.https://youtu.be/d2LIaKU-wo0?si=9Qb1svzHDYUo4wX6

You can either turn the receive tone back on, in which case you will only hear transmissions with that tone, or you can leave it off (and then you will hear anything on that channel, either from the repeater or simplex). Many repeaters do not send a CTCSS tone when they identify, so people running with the receive tone on don't [have to] hear the ID.

You should care. It has nothing to do with Ham radio. The main reason type accepting is even a thing is because there are emergency frequencies adjacent to GMRS, and at harmonic frequencies. Type approved radios have been tested and confirmed to not cause harmful interference on those emergency frequencies. Others have not. I know I wouldn't want to be responsible for loss of life or property because I didn't buy an appropriate radio. Also, you don't have a GMRS Operator License. You have a GMRS Station License that is only valid while operating a type-approved station. If you are not using a GMRS radio certified for use by the FCC, you are in violation of rules and the license is not valid for those communications. This opens you up to criminal liability if harmful interference does occur.

You're entitled to your opinion, but public disregard for the FCC rules is discouraged on this forum.

Strictly speaking, the MARS/CAP modification for amateur radios is supposed to be for the use of the Military Auxiliary Radio System or Civil Air Patrol frequencies specifically by those authorized to use those specific frequencies, not for every outlaw like me and half the other people with unlocked Baofengs to transmit all over the RF spectrum.

If I'm out in the desert hunting doves it be silly to give my call sign jut to tell my grandson something on the radio. If I'm calling for a radio check or joining in on a conversation with people that I don't personally know then sure, I'll use my call sign but it's going to be on a case by case basis. If I'm talking with family and friends it'd sound stupid to use my call sign.

No, tones don’t prevent interference. Tones are part of the received signal. A directional antenna might make it possible for you to selectively use one or the other repeater.

It's hard to find good help these days.

Sorry for the late response. Yes, actually I have. This is a common method used on the older cell phones that had external and/or extendable antennas. In those cases there was a metal piece inside the phone that was tuned to 1/4 wave (at the lower freq band if there were multiple bands in use) that ran down the edge or side of the phone.) We would try to put it in an area where the hand was not likely to cover it (much) or come near the face when being held against the face. I have not tried it on a GMRS radio, but RF doesn't know anything about the name of the device of course, just the frequency that is being used and Maxwell's electromagnetics still works. To WSAK691 who also mentioned a 1/4 wave antenna being good: bingo. Get the total system to be a 1/2 wave dipole and you'll get a nice donut radiation pattern that on AVERAGE is going to radiate the best to the radio you are trying to talk to. If possible have both radios held vertically so as to match the polarization as much as possible. At 460MHz there is some cross polarization taking place depending on the propagation path. The good news is outdoor environments are not likely to have as much cross polarization as indoors, so you'll get best distance outdoors with co-polarized hand held orientations. It's a subtle difference, but vertical is less impacted by ground (earth) effects that horizontal is at these frequencies, and holding the radio vertical is going to minimize the ground impact. Hope this helps

The Nagoya 701 I just picked up is GMRS tuned and is actually pretty compact.

Also, the good news is that it’s GMRS that we’re discussing here. No need to “dual band” anything.. We should enjoy the luxury of only needing to target one resonant frequency “chunk” and making the best of it… For 462-467 the quarter wave, purpose cut for that specific frequency (shorter) would provide a better balanced dipole to the radio body…

I don't have any GMRS traffic near me, so I just walk around with an HT and a dummy load and pretend

My main thing is, I'm the radio enthusiast. I'm the holder of amateur and gmrs licenses. I know (or to be more precise, I am learning) the rules, they are just here to hike or ride bicycles. I want them to have fun, not worry about identifying on the air because they made no agreement to do so. I'm the agreement holder with the FCC. And I don't even mind identifying on the air. If I ask my family, who rarely even uses the radios, to identify, it would go something like me identifying, then them trying, then them forgetting halfway through what the callsign was, then them asking me what it is, then me replying that it is on a little label on the bottom of their radio, then they will say it poorly, and several minutes and much more unnecessary radio chatter later, we are all happily identified. Or I could just say it once.

From more videos that I've watched the 5/8 Smiley Duck is suppose to be 6db and be equal to the longer Nagoya 771. I ordered one for my UVD1P since the Abbree 771 didn't fit this radio properly.

Well my license reads as "radio station license" so the grant holder, the radio station licensee themself should only need to identify once every fifteen minutes, not every one of us adding up to four or three or two or twenty times every fifteen minutes. I think we assign more rules to ourselves than is even required. No where did I read that this was expected. I'm not even about to ask my family, who does not even know or care about the rules, to come on the air and try to remember my callsign every fifteen minutes right after I do it. Just so we can keep in touch while hiking. I do not think that is the purpose or intention of GMRS. I'll identify every time as required, as we use the radios. EDIT: What I have been doing is when I first start using the radios, I'll find a channel that is suitable and seems clear. I'll then identify "WRZS227 and family operating on GMRS channel (whatever)" and will basically just yield to any other traffic, and then we just talk as we need to and as conversation dies off and comes back up I'll give the call sign "and family" again. So far the FCC hasn't rained down hellfire or sent any kill commands to our walkie talkies.