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Sorry, but I had to do it. I went and looked up ham call "N0NE" or N (Zero) NE. A gentleman in Tennessee has that as his call sign.

That is the way both of my 935G and Plus work. The phone looking thing lets you know which area was the last to receive a signal. I find it pretty handy once I figured it out.

I don’t think you’re alone in wanting a more accessible squelch adjustment, but apparently I fall on the other end of the spectrum. I almost never adjust squelch. I set it once, when I first get a radio, and almost never have to go back in and change it, which makes me curious why some people adjust it frequently and others very seldom do.

Very satisfied with mine. Far better than the DB20G it replaced, which in turn was better than the Midland that replaced!

Yep, last active notification. It's now a must have. I usually monitor two frequencies and if you are not looking at the screen (and you wont be) when a call comes you won't know which one it was without it. I had it not working on one radio and I found I just wouldn't use that radio.

@WSFP960 It wont effect you one way or the other, you're good. Wecome to the forum.

The Retevis RA87 has a squelch knob, I beleive it was a reset up Amateur radio so that might account for it. My Icom 2730A Ham radio has squelch knobs. It isn't very often I mess with them though, I might occasionally if it seems like I am picking up a higher noise level on a channel that isn't usually there but then that's it, that's the new setting I don't go back to it.

Yes it does. I always forget about that since I hardly ever adjust the squelch. I usually leave the squeal set at 3 on my KG-1000G's which works well for me.

The kg1000g makes it pretty easy to adjust squelch. Just press the squelch hotkey on the mic and then use the up or down buttons to increase or decrease the squelch level. The db20g has a similar squelch adjustment, “fun” key, “1” key, then up or down buttons.

We are using an Arcom RC-210 controller on our 2m repeater. It is setup with a 5 second squelch tail and a curtesy beep. The time out timer is set to 3 minutes. The way we have the RC-210 setup is that the timer resets right after the curtesy beep. So if you tail gate another person before the curtesy beep then the timer will not reset. The timer will reset if you wait for the curtesy tone and then transmit before the repeater drops out. We are going to set things up the same for our 70cm and GMRS repeaters once we get another Arcom RC-210 controller. I don't care for that setup 100% because too many people like to tailgate which doesn't allow others to get into the repeater without doubling. I do understand why it is done since it is easier on the repeater. I am giving a quick class on repeater etiquette at our monthly meeting this Thursday and will discuss allowing the repeater to drop completely out now and them so others can use the repeater. It can be frustrating at times when you can't get a word in due to the quick keyer's AKA Ricochet Rabbits.

Having a dial to fine tune squelch on GMRS mobiles would be nice. My Icom and TYT dual band mobiles have a dial.

I think I want easier adjustment because I’m looking into a vehicular mobile mounted unit. When traveling it’s rather common to get electrical interference breaking the squelch often enough to be aggravating and a quick reach for a knob is far easier than getting fiddly with menu access buttons and what not. For instance I’ve got a stretch of state route I run regularly that has old powerlines that just bleed noise into the radio frequency spectrum badly…. And when I’m in unfamiliar areas this same type of interference can come and go throughout a days drive. Maybe the higher end gmrs mobile radios are capable of programming a special button to expedite the squelch adjustment process?

I'll correct that. My typing isn't the best and it doesn't help that auto-correct is always messing with me.

Yes "main" notifies you of which area you're currently using. And after some testing I believe you and @radiozipare correct as to it showing the last area that was active. This is some relief. This radio is more advanced than my 905G. When I programed it at work the other day, I wasn't able to hit the usual repeater and I was sure I had a setting wrong. Well once I switched to my Nagy 771 antenna and got outside, all was well. To say the advancement of this radio over the 905G has had me in anxiety, and I don't get anxious for anything, is saying something.

Isn't that icon for the last active area? So either the last area you transmitted, or received something. Helpful if you hear something and just miss what frequency it was on (A or B area). Not sure if it can be turned off, probably not.

In my Motorola XTL5000 UHF mobiles, I have 35 Zones with a combined total of 860 channels programmed with GMRS for coverage in six states, and several business radio service channels. In my Motorola XTL2500 VHF mobiles, I have several business radio service channels in about ten zones in various channel configurations. In my XTS5000 UHF portables, I have 43 Zones with about the same number of channels, not to exceed 16 channels per zone. In my Motorola XTS5000 VHF portables they are essentially programmed the same as my VHF mobiles. Oh, by the way, it appears that these series radios will not allow you to program more than 50 zones. I think it is stupid that radio manufacturers design a 1,000 channel radio without any zone banks. Can you imagine trying to zip through a gazillion channels in one zone. Typical $20 POS CCR, and without PL Defeat/Monitor, Home Channel, Display with more than 6 characters, and Talkaround features.

It's voluntary. You can put as much in your profile or not. I kept mine blank.

Why the Baofeng UV-5R of course! Everybody knows that!

Something that is commonly overlooked is many repeaters can use several different tones to open the repeater, and can transmit different tones based on what tone was received. For example, on one of my repeaters, there are two tones that can open the receive. Either 141.3 or 156.7. If 141.3 is heard on the input, the transmitter will encode the 141.3 tone. If 156.7 is heard on the input, the transmitter will encode the 156.7 tone. The 141.3 tone is for everybody to use, but if I want to chat with someone and not hear 141.3 traffic, me and the person I am chatting with will switch to the 156.7 tone (which isn't advertised for use). Some GMRS radios don't have the ability to only transmit a tone. So they are limited to a tone squelch that is both transmitting a tone AND requiring a tone to be heard before it opens the audio for the receiver. Still other people will program their radios with a tone squelch. What is likely happening is, if the GMRS repeater you are trying to use is setup the same way as my repeater, the one person who could hear you was probably operating in monitor mode (only transmitting a tone) and can hear everything, while everyone else was using tone squelch on a different tone. So, that one person hear everyone, but is the only person that can hear you.

If you are barely hitting the repeater, then those that could not hear you whilst the host could hear you probably just did not have the ability to discern you voice from the static as well as the host. Because you were on a repeater, other users squelch setting would not affect anything as the repeater is presumably hitting them with a good signal, it was just repeating a weak signal. Also - if you have a weak signal and your radio happens to be transmitting in NARROWband instead of WIDEBand, it would be even harder to make out your voice.. Also, always be sure you are speaking loudly and clearly with the mic no more than 1-2 inches from your noise-hole. More power might help, but a better/bigger/higher antenna WILL help - upgrade antenna first, power second. As for not hearing your own voice, try getting your test-radios at least 50 feet away and trying again.

I am curious; Why doesn’t it seem any mobile GMRS radio units have a knob dedicated to squelch adjustment. It seems like this would be far more intuitive and useful…. most gmrs units I’ve looked into have a bunch of menu hoops to jump through to access the squelch control gate. And then when you do access it you have to enter your squelch adjustment then exit or save it to see if it’s at the level you want rather than it adjust in real time. Seems like a simple thing that is missing amongst gmrs units. Am I alone in thinking this ?

My Retevis RA87 has a squelch knob concentric with thee Volume knob. It can be defeated through the Menu using auto squelch settings. I have that off so I can tweak it for intermod or other non signal things that open it. But does seem most mobiles just have the quto type that's adjustable in the menu somewheres.

Cool, I’ve read up on the ra87 and it’s a pretty stout fully featured gmrs radio from the looks of it. I need to setup a base annd have another mobile to do and might use that radio to do double duty as a home base and mobile just swap it in and out of spare car when needed.

HA! Well.. mine has an asterisk at both ends.

Ok ok good to know. Thank you. I’m learning so much so quickly. You guys are great !!

Copy that. Glad yours are setup nicely like that. I am stuck to part95 gmrs gear and I don’t want to be running gear not “certified” for gmrs. Trying to stay as legal as possible. That’s why I am going gmrs to be able to run the 50watt maximum when needed to make contact.

Well I gave up and figured I’d just not replace the battery and just charge it in place. I tossed it on the bed and the battery came off! What I was doing was trying to slide the battery off when it actually lifts up and then off.

Like my census form, I like my profile at 1% complete.

You get a big round table going it's not unusual to time out the repeater if somebody doesn't let it drop out periodically. Also when running a net too.

I use my radios a lot for scanning. Having multiple zones organizes the memory channels neatly. The radios I have allow me to activate each zone, and select which memory channel in the zone for scanning. When operating DMR you really use up memory channels like crazy. The usual practice I use is one zone per DMR repeater, and one memory channel per talkgroup and slot number. If you travel around to different areas you end up with a huge collection of zones for each repeater loaded up with memory channels for the supported talkgroups. Other digital modes, like P25 and NXDN, end up being programmed in a similar fashion. Most of my radios are commercial types with no front panel programming, or VCO. So, to simulate a VCO I use one zone and enter sequential memory channels like 446.000, 446.025, 446.050 etc. for the simplex section of the band. The memory name mirrors the programmed frequency. Thus when turning the channel selector knob you see a sequence of memory names which looks like you're just adjusting the VCO with a 25KHz step size. You need a lot of memory channels to do this since the UHF simplex band sections might require around 80 channels each, and there are multiple sections. Doing the above on VHF isn't so easy due to various states use either a 20KHz or 15KHz channel spacing. In that case I did a spread sheet starting at the simplex section band edge and calculated a sequences of frequencies using both channel step sizes, then eliminated the duplicate frequencies. Still ended up with a lot of memory channels to program.

I thought main indicated the area you're currently using, so it can toggle between A and B? Whereas the green phone shows what area was just active, either last received a signal or you transmitted.

I just had the same thought

I thought that at first too. But from what I saw in the manual, the MAIN on the display shows you what area is currently active. @brasda91 I would maybe send the picture to the retailer that you purchased the radio from in the meantime. Who knows, you may actually receive a reply.

i just put *NONE* in for my HAM license since I also do not have one.

In the fringes, antenna polarization is critical. The HT antenna must be in the same plane as the receiving antenna. Do not hold the HT sideways. Hold it straight up so the antenna is oriented the same way as the repeater's antenna.

That would certainly make sense. Unfortunately it’s not what I experienced on our repeater. I wish it were because I could understand that.

So it only happens when Jeep is on ? Alot of folks add aftermarket LED lights to jeeps that casue a ton of interfearance. If its only when key is on or running I'd check to see what turns on with the key. If its present regardless then its a radio issue.

The biggest improvement you can make to your hand held is to use a mobile or base antenna with it. Either way you want to get the antenna as high up as you can. A mobile antenna with a magnet mount stuck onto a pizza pan or 9x13 baking sheet will work well, again get the antenna up in the air. A mobile or base antenna up high will make a big improvement over the best hand held antenna.

The VXR-7000 UHF version will transmit only from 400-430mhz and 450-480mhz. Remember that if you change the frequency you will also have to re-tune the duplexer .. but an out-of-tune duplexer will not prevent you from making the change. SOURCE: I have one and I read the user-manual.

Send the radio back. Or at least try a different radio to see if the problem persists.

HT’s are fun since you just pick them up, turn them on and you’re ready to go. They fit in a pocket or briefcase easily too. With mobile radios you need to install them somewhere and require external power and antenna to use. I stumbled on the files for a 3D printed desktop stand for a Kenwood TH-D74A. My sister has a 3D printer and made one for me using the project files. She said according to Slicer it only cost $1.24 to make. Now I have to drive across town to pick it up soon. This is the link for the project files in case someone wants them. https://forums.mygmrs.com/discover/unread/?&stream_date_type=relative&stream_read=all&stream_date_relative_days[val]=365&stream_date_relative_days[unit]=d&view=condensed

Tesla would've put electricity over the air and ruined all possibility of radio lol. Great guy,.. Not a friend of radio though...

I think that was his seal of approval. He did note that I had a good grounding system, but need some soil conditioning to improve the grounding characteristics.

I see he left his calling card

I'm not going to upset myself by testing that with the Mex 600 repeater since I am the one that maintains it. Edited to add: None of the other users would get upset at me as long as I announce that I am testing before hand.

I'm pretty sure Kenwood would say "That's weird, we don't make GMRS radios."

Yes, ASAP!!!1 Because if you ever accidentally transmit on one of those channels with that radio you will get a $10,000 fine. Its your choice, but are you willing to take that risk? SOURCE: "some people" on this forum

Who you talkin-bout Willis?

As the one who shall not be mentioned says, perhaps Grinder is better for contacting strange men. The intent of GMRS is different.

True. My point was more to the fact that tapping a physical key, if you have one, is necessary. My physical practice key feels very different from a touch screen.