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Hi Mark, I commend you for wanting to do things right. Unless you are working as a “representative of a foreign government” I don’t know of any reason you couldn’t obtain a GMRS license. It’s only $35 and it lasts for 10 years. The tallest hurdle will be navigating the FCC ULC system. Notarubicon has a guide that takes you through that step by step. I believe you need a U.S. address for a GMRS license. It’s just a mailing address, not a transmitter location. https://www.notarubicon.com/how-to-get-a-gmrs-license-easy-guide-to-gmrs-licensing-on-the-fcc-website/ In general you register for an FRN first. That definitely allows international addresses and there are 2244 Australians with FRNs already. Registering for an FRN is free. Then you apply for the GMRS license using the FRN you just got. It takes a separate step to pay for it. Please don’t judge all of us in the USA by the FCC licensing system. It’s terrible and we know it. Hopefully you’ll also bring a dual band ham radio handheld. There are a lot more ham radio repeaters across this country and as you probably already know amateur radio operators can operate in the amateur radio service in many countries they are visiting without needing to obtain that country’s ham license. Many people do operate without a GMRS license in the USA, but if I were doing that I would not provide an easily identifiable call sign for another service. Choosing to disregard regulations is a personal choice and a lot of my friends do it, but they don’t complicate their situation by providing a ham call sign that can be traced. I hope you have a great time in the USA. 73 de AI7KS

Welcome to the Internet, where the strongest opinions are the ones who prefer to shoot down the question rather than leaving room for it to be answered by those who may have ventured beyond the immediate obstacle. I do have one observation, though. The MXT-575 has a total of 23 "channels", where a channel is a frequency (simplex) or a frequency pair (repeater). You get one configuration per channel. Configuration on all simplex channels consists of PL/DCS tone or code, power level (which is limited to Low for channels 1-7), and channel bandwidth (narrow band - default, or wideband). On the repeater channels, you add both Tx and Rx tones or codes to the configuration. The 23 channels are directly tied to immutable frequencies; 1-7 and 15-22 for simplex, and 15r-22r for repeater frequency pairs. Channels don't get to be named. What I'm suggesting is that the configuration is very simple, to the point that you wouldn't have as much need for CHIRP or other software support. Radios that benefit more from supporting uploads from a computer generally have 100+ "channels", but in their case, the channels have configurable frequencies within the range of GMRS frequencies. So if you take a Baofeng UV5G radio as an example; each of the 100 channels can be set to any frequency within the radio's range. You may have all 100 channels on the came frequency if you want, each with different permutations on tone/code, power, and memory bank name. The point being, many radios equate channels to memory slots. And the memory slot can contain name, frequency, power level, bandwidth, tx tone/code, rx tone/code, and possibly squelch. And there will be 100-999 memory slots. Compare that to an MXT-575; it has 23 memory slots, and the slots do not allow you to set the frequency or a name. That means you get only ONE repeater on "channel 15", or on a particular frequency. One could argue that this reduces the need for programming capabilities, though I can see the opposing argument that if I'm heading across the country and want to use repeaters local to the map I'm travelling within, programability would be very useful, to avoid having to change "channel 15r" again and again manually to the repeater tones in use in that area for that frequency.

Start by doing lots of reading here on the forum, then listening to see how the folks do it around the area. Lots of nice people, mostly hanging out on channel 18. Tiger/Oly3 is an open repeater and it’s pretty active. Some info here: https://www.radioofhope.org/oly-comm-volunteers

A quick sketch as to how to wire the radio so it will turn on and off with the vehicle: (The relay addresses your point 3 in your original pos, and you should be able to find a fuse on the fuse block that has 12VDC only when the ignition is "on." (Vehicle radio power would be one example.) Referencing the linked relay above, the coil is terminals 85 and 86. Terminal 30 goes to the cable from the fuse, and the radio connects to terminal 87. (not 87a!)

I fear it may already be too late to save yourself, nothing to do but say welcome! One of us, one of us…

Hello! New user here, Gary from Burlington, KS. Just got my license yesterday, radio came this afternoon. Ready to jump in and learn more about GRMS GMRS.

Thank you!

Received and installed my MXTA26's on both Jeeps and hit 40 miles on a radio check through urban terrain via Lakewood repeater.

Just for the line I emphasized above I think you’d be fun to drink with. Unfortunately I don’t have the answers you’re seeking, but I like your delivery.

The USB-C port is for charging external devices such as a Cell Phone, etc.

Here's what would need to happen. It's likely that if one had access to Midland's MXT-575 firmware source code (which is probably a proprietary, copyrighted trade secret), they would probably determine that the "channel" frequency configuration is hard coded into the firmware, while other variables such as PL tones are configurable through the keypad. And the firmware does not provide a protocol for altering configuration by way of programming cable. There is probably a bootstrapping system available for Midland to tie into for firmware updates, but that system would be for the purpose of overwriting the entire firmware. If you look at other embedded systems such as home routers, you'll see that there is an open source software project called OpenWRT that allows enthusiasts with sufficient technical understanding to load OpenWRT firmware onto their router (as long as they own a supported router). This OpenWRT firmware is designed to provide configurability in areas that stock firmwares from manufacturers of routers don't typically provide. OpenWRT sprang into existence for *routers* because routers are a large market, they typically, internally, run a tiny version of Linux, and have a lot of potential for firmware improving their configurability. In this case, what you're desiring would probably require a custom GMRS radio firmware first, that exposed capabilities not built into the stock firmware. Such a firmware could provide programming capabilities via USB cable. The problem is that this doesn't exist. Midland GMRS mobile radios are too small a market to spawn a group of enthusiasts to develop their own firmware, engineered to leverage Midland's boot loader and to fit within the hardware constraints of Midland GMRS radios. In the case of routers, it's a huge market; every home has one or more router. But GMRS, overall, is a smaller niche market, and there are options from other manufacturers that allow for programming without going to all the trouble of creating custom firmware for a Midland radio. So this side-loadable firmware just doesn't exist. Enthusiasts of GMRS don't go to the trouble of building custom firmwares to side-load into their GMRS radios. They buy radios that have the capabilities they need, and get a CHIRP profile added for that radio. The MXT-575 is a very useful radio, easy to use, nice quality, nice design. But for a radio that provides programmability via USB cable, and that provides 999 memory banks, a KG1000G-Plus is $389, and an MXT-575, in good condition, should fetch at least 250 on eBay, freeing up a little cash to use to obtain a model that is better for your needs. (When I say "that doesn't exist", I've looked; I checked Github, where many open source projects store their code, I've searched using search terms that would be common in such projects, I've looked in PyPI, CPAN, Node repositories, Java repositories, C++ repositories... I'm a software developer, and while there are millions of places to look, I've covered the ones that would usually matter.)

Well lets start from the basics. I assume you have the power switch in the on position on the RICK ? The picture shows it in the OFF position. The CDM Radio has 12+ on the 16 pin connector Pin 13 (Switched A+) Also the RICK has dip switches in the unit for COR/PL Detect pins as well as remote enable. Did you look at the RICK manual ? It appears you are trying to use PIN 8 for COR so the RICK must be programmed to use that pin. On the TX raido that should be blank or null as there is no need for COR on the TX radio. On the RX radio Pin 3 should be null also as there is no need for TX on the RX radio. The CDM and Rick are pretty basic. RX Radio just needs PL Detect (Pin 8), Discriminator audio (Pin 11) and Ground (Pin 7). If your trying to use remote control then of course those wires are needed also. TX Radio is similar however the only pins you really need are Mic High (Pin 2), PTT (Pin 3) and Ground (Pin7). To power the RICK you need Pin 13 Switched A+ from one of the radios only. You can view the RICK manual here - https://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/manuals/rick-manual.pdf The work well when configured properly. I used to maintain 100's of them back in lowband days as they were used for vehicle repeaters from Lowband to UHF. Still have many in service and a few NIB in my shop. They are very basic but work.

I would look up by search online for local radio clubs for your area. That would be the greatest support locally to learn. If you were on the Tiger Mtn. (Oly-3...) repeater, there was a CERES net at that time.

Some Phantom antennae are no ground plane antennae and some require a ground plane. The non-ground plane antenna is still available and in stock at Talley Communications as Lscott pointed out with a link I have been using that antenna for the last 20 years on composite bodied vehicles and have had great success with them.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E/section-95.1705 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-A/section-95.305

Just my little $0.02 of an update. According to the man that spec'd the KG-1000G with Wouxun, all of the GMRS rules & restrictions are burned into the firmware, and according to him, the radio cannot be unlocked.

Probably watched someone on Youtube remove one..Thusly voiding the warranty.

What does “duty cycle” mean? I bring up duty cycle every time I hear somebody talking about making a repeater out of cheap Chinese mobiles and worse any type of handhelds. Duty cycle is the maximum time an amplifier may transmit within a five minute interval, expressed as a percentage, to avoid overheating. Suppose a mobile amplifier is rated at 30% duty cycle. This means that it may transmit for no longer than 1.5 minutes and must remain off for not less than 3.5 minutes. Some people forget that a repeater is transmitting for 2 or more people, duty cycle will be reached quickly if you get into conversation. More people in the conversation just amplifies the issue. Once a radio reaches it's thermal design limits it will no longer be able to adequately cool the output transistors. Even if a radio is not hot to the touch the transistors are, in part because of the inefficient transfer of heat to the units housing or internal heat sink. The longer you exceed the duty cycle the more heat builds on the transistors, surrounding electronics and heat sink effecting it's ability to remain on frequency without spurious emissions. Exceed duty cycle long enough and you will need a new transmitter or radio. I have tested a few Baofang and TYT radios on my service monitor without great results. All of the radios started deviating outside of the allotted channel bandwidth after simulated conversation at 50% duty cycle, the longer I allowed this the worse if got. Testing was done using an Aeroflex 2975 IFR recently back from the calibration lab. GMRS is a tiny sliver of spectrum surrounded by the commercial land mobile part 90 service. It is important that any repeaters that are built or re-purposed are held to the highest standards and operated as to not cause any interference inside or outside of our allocated spectrum. I wont get into the part 90/95 debate but i do stand firm that non certified import equipment has no place on GMRS.

Here is a basic diagram on how to wire up a 12V relay. So for a radio, you wire the ground lead directly to a chassis ground. The radio's power lead goes to pin 87 on the relay. Run a wire from the relay pin 30 to the battery positive post. Find a switched power source and wire it to the relay pin 86. The relay pin 85 also goes to a chassis ground. The nice thing about relays is that you can use a lower amperage circuit to control the relay. The relay will close when power is applied to pin 86. Using a switched power source to control the relay will cut power to the radio when the vehicle is off. It is recommended to ground accessory, such as radios, directly to a chassis ground for newer vehicles with the auto start/stop system. The reason is due to the battery control module that is connected directly to the battery negative post. Hooking accessory grounds directly to the battery negative post can mess up the Auto Start/Stop system and the Battery Control Module.

Also most radios come with the wire and fuse's. The KG1000G+ does.

A 50 Watt Output radio will need about twice the current to actually produce 50 W out, so a 10-15 Amp fuse would be close. (roughly 14 VDC at 10 A is 140Watts.) Depending on how the car battery cable is connected to the battery, you might be able to use an existing bolt along with a ring terminal, as nokones said. A current draw of about 15 amps would mean using 12 or 10 gauge cable, especially if it is along run from the battery to the radio. If you want to disconnect when the vehicle is off, then a relay connected to a switch power line would be the way to go. The power cable would connect to the relay's terminals, and the relay would be energized when the vehicle is switched on. You would need a relay capable of handling the possible 10- 15 amps current of draw. One like this: It can be wired under the hood, near the battery, and would need a small gauge (AWG 14 or 16) to connect it to the switched line. https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-0332209150-Fuel-Injection-Relay/dp/B004Z0U1IW/ref=sr_1_10?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6CiXZXcyMGg2s9FmvU_NFD_Mn9BDoW6bjYpTM_FSQloeyDfoCgJX4-e_vZlL8hliWO7eqhhc9Rny31HhLnaQr_ByzSTtIeO-qSFCEnz94bLiGSq90Bsaj8oLEXfxO3qmhnktxHf0D4cMOmh5oREUzHFLd_VpX7bgoHCMHL0HdfvyCRvoCSRPdOL9KLGk-np8QWAVEXBdltaAKnlmg6Bv_VLLxeKePEbJlfcmiGAALos.FszfNxua0PJmmlnp5Kj8u-SpIuFUBOlB0KiRV1-l_bE&dib_tag=se&keywords=12v+relay&qid=1714702608&sr=8-10

The appropriate sized Ring Terminals and connect to the battery terminal and a grounding point for the ground wire. It appears that your radio draws very little power. I would say 7.5 amp or 10 amp fuse. Check your owners manual and see if there is a switched ignition circuit power point for auxiliary devices and if there is one verify the maximum load. If there is no auxiliary circuit power point do not splice into an existing circuit. The electrical systems for modern cars are not like the old days and could be part of a network and they are not engineered for any additional loading.

Forgot to ask where you hang your Mic? I do as Dan mentions, monitor Ch 20, but usually listening on Metro 4 and Falcon Hgts machines. Not a lot of traffic, but get an occasional chat in there! Dave WRJG283

Getting into using it here in the Metro more myself. Have a couple of the repeaters in. BUt looking to upgrade beyond the MXT275 as I need split tones and more than the 8 repeater channels!. Mostly have been using GMRS up north out of cell phone range for mobile to base and marine mobile to base comms with Wifeypoo, and a bit of commo at home when in various parts of the slightly bigger than normal city lot. Hope to "see you on the radio" Dave WRJG283 (ex WQUR589 - long story...)

Remember, your antenna will not be tuned for GMRS.

Welcome!

@WSCS844 welcome to GMRS. What radio did you get?

Yes, this is what my research showed, too. We would need to purchase a handheld Garmin that is compatible with the InReach service and are currently considering perhaps the Mini since it appears that is the lowest price-point model.

It’s strictly for people with GMRS licenses. You could get a GMRS license and then register.

The MTX575 does not have the ability to program via a PC or clone or any functions such as that. The MTX500 is the only radio you can program via PC from Midland at this time. If you read there is programming software for the unit you read wrong. Midland has stated this also in the questions on their website to others that have asked. The radio is not marketed to folks who want to add tons of stuff to the radio. Its marketed to the KISS method and they sell thousands of them for that reason. I'm not sure why its so difficult for folks to program. Mine took 15 minutes as did all my MTX275 mobiles to add DPL tones into my repeaters.

The KG-UV9PX very well could be capable of being unlocked. From what I could find, and as @OffRoaderX said, the Wouxun GMRS certified radios are locked down in the firmware. I also haven't found any easy way to unlock/modify any of the Wouxun amateur band mobile radios either. I was surprised on how easy it is to unlock the KG-Q10H hand held and how quickly that information came out.

Hello Sonicgott and welcome! It would be better to start a new thread asking your question. You will likely get more answers. Going directly to the battery helps avoid possible noise being picked up from other circuits. That is why it is recommended for radios even car stereo systems. Also a 50 watt radio needs more power than a cigarette lighter plug can provide so you have to make sure whatever circuit you use is rated high enough.

That's what I normally had always thought. However this antenna was mentioned as no ground plane required. The poster who pointed it out said they had one and it worked fine. I have no experience with this particular one so I can't comment about it one way or the other. https://www.talleycom.com/product/ANXTRA4500N

Your statement about losing 180 degrees of radiation is incorrect. An omni antenna has a larger lobe facing the ground plane and will still radiate in all directions. The increased radiation is from the opposite side of the radiation pattern.

Updating the firmware is not the same as programing the radio for channels etc.

Yes I read all of that. And the only way to program a MXT575 is through the hand mic I know this first hand when I had to help a family member program his MXT575.

This is actually a VERY good point.. I am The Queen Of GMRS, and even I dont rely on GMRS (or H.A.M.) for emergency communication when out off-roading because 90% of where we go has no Cell,GMRS, or H.A.M. coverage.. I carry a Garmin Inreach, and I too have NEVER had a message not go through.

If I'm on a handheld and my wife is at home with a radio, I say "Mobile to base" after our call sign. But, I'm old and set in my ways. Now, get off my lawn.

Amateur Radio and GMRS.......They are separate services, I'd like to see it stay that way......Why usurp another radio service and ruin it????? GMRS+ is a load of crap - It is the last sheet on a roll of TP, worthless. The whole idea is NO EXAMS to use GMRS. Just because "we" hams can do it, doesn't mean we should on GMRS - experimental use? Aren't our amateur bands underused as it is? Policing??? "Self Policing" simply means YOU are policing YOUR OWN operation, not anyone elses. Channel cops?, Lets get them kids using their radios illegally --- That'l teach 'em -- we can hold their parents liable. It's ridiculous Get real.

There is nothing to establish.. Talk to whoever you need to talk to, however you want. The FCCs says to announce your callsign every 15 minutes and refrain from profanity but since they dont bother to enforce the rules, it doesn't really matter.

Minnesota - While it is interesting to see all the FCC Licensed GMRS People/Families and their locations, if you were to try and chat up or try and start a conversation on GMRS like you would Amateur (Ham) Radio, you would probably be met with the following comment: "Get OFF Our Channel!". I've actually heard a few amateur radio operators I know of here in the Twin Cities area, that tried to bring their ham radio operating ways, over to the folks on GMRS. To say it was not well received, was an understatement. Afterwards, the well known Hams left GMRS with their tail dragging between their legs. A few days later, these very same ham operators were on all the local amateur radio forums writing about how GMRS Sucks and the people there are like CB'ers. They berated GMRS. GMRS is not, Ham Radio Lite. Most people get a GMRS radio to communicate with: Family, Friends, or Groups they are involved with. Not, conversation with random strangers. Although, that can sometimes happen, but not very frequently. GMRS and Amateur Radio are two completely different radio services, which may be a very big disappointment to some who want to turn GMRS into HamLite. On our Trail Patrols, Ski Patrols, and Event First Aid Stations, we never come up and chat with random people unless we can Hear Distress or the word Emergency spoken. Then we pop up on their GMRS radio channel, identify ourselves and ask if they need assistance. If the person doesn't need assistance, we immediately wish them good luck, sign-off with our FCC callsign and no longer talk. People can get extremely territorial on GMRS, especially if there are family members or club members involved in conversation on the radio. It's rare that strangers are welcomed into an existing conversation. So, we tread lightly and are respectful when popping up on someone else's channel. So, if you want to chat with someone you've never met before on GMRS, my advice is: be polite and extremely respectful when busting into an existing radio conversation 462.675 / Channel #20. Calling/Travel/Motorist. No CTCSS/Tone. Simplex. In Minnesota. For those people also in Minnesota, especially the Twin Cities. Try tossing your FCC Callsign out on Channel #20, Simplex. You might be pleasantly surprised if or when someone comes back to answer your call Hope to hear you On-The-Air. WRPG537, Dan.

The Southwest Community Radio System (SWCRS) has two separate simulcast systems. I believe both are a three site system with one in the Tucson Area and one in the Albuquerque Area. You can reach them at swcrs.org or tucsongmrs.org for the specifics of their systems. They have the Tucson system phased pretty good very seldom do I here any wah wahs and warbles.

You have three problems that team up to cause you problems. Length, resistive losses, and mismatched impedance. First, RG6 is the wrong impedance. It’s 75 ohm, which matches television equipment but not two way radio equipment. For very low loss cable that would not automatically be a problem but as WRYZ926 pointed out you’re working with UHF here which leads to: Second, it has high resistive losses. The losses for 100 feet of RG6 are a little more than 6 dB. That’s 75% of your signal that would be converted into heat by your cable. So if you’re using a 50 watt radio the antenna would only ever see 12.5 watts. That’s on transmit. The same thing happens on receive. Your antenna is acted upon by a certain number of micro volts of RF but only 25% of that reaches your receiver. A mismatched impedance alone isn’t a kiss of death but combined with a lossy cable it is. I absolutely agree with LScott that you should use at least LM400 or a high quality similar cable like M&P 10 mm Ultraflex. Either of those will “only” cost you 2.7 dB of the signal, or just under half. And I agree with LScott that LMR600 (or its 13 mm equivalent from M&P) would be much better.

You might want to consider up-sizing the coax to LMR-600 for that long length.

Well probably not. But maybe you can use it to pull in some LMR-400. What length?

Be careful watching those videos! Many people here have decreed that guy is just a shill and will say or do anything that the cheap-chinese-radio manufactures tell him to say or do. This must be true because everyone that proclaims this has a forum signature that say they have had a H.A.M. license for 20 years or more.

I know a guy that can get me lots of these, for the right buyer. Unless you're a narc.

"illegal"? No.. Not complaint with FCCs regulations? Maybe.. But, the FCCs certified the radio sooooo.. Does the FCCs care? According to the FCCs' lack of enforcement, No Do any normal people care? No

Nice job documenting the problem. Ignore the naysayers. They’re just upset because you’re smarter than they are.

Your group should invest in radios on a service that allows encryption.