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Well, I tried it. It worked exactly as expected, finally making it possible to create channels based on frequencies imported from RepeaterBook or other online sources. I inserted channels and that worked. I think I tried every menu. There were no surprises. The radio I tried it with one of my two Rdioddity DB20G radios. I read from the radio first and saved that as a working file. Then I did an import from RepeaterBook of all the 2 meter and 70 cm repeaters within 100 miles of my zip code. I created a new file with those channels, then inserted a blank line at the top for our club's simplex channel. I programmed that channel and discovered that when creating a new channel it defaults to Low Power, which is about 6 watts for this particular radio. I changed that to High and wrote to the radio again. Everything worked exactly as it should. For me the lack of decent CPS was my only complaint (well, also how they labeled the FUNC button). After reading their cautions about using the AT779UV software with similar radios and their comment about having to correctly plug in the programming cable I had a tiny bit of trepidation. Neither of those things presented a problem. It worked with the driver that i originally got from Radioddity, using the cable that shipped with the DB20G. I did nothing special a far as plugging in the cable. Load the driver first, before plugging in the USB end of the cable. Have the radio turned off when plugging the radio end of the cable into the microphone socket. Of course the radio requires a power source. It does not get its power from the USB port. I used a battery. I also connected a dummy load so I had no fears about transmitting. For me it was definitely worth the $25.

At long last... RT Systems has delivered their $25 (download) software for the DB20-G/AT-779UV mini mobile radios (Version 5.00.04). It orders easily from their website and installs easily into Windows (11 in my case) and works with my USB to RJ-45 cable. RT indicates that the delay to engineer this software was due to some "incompatibility" in the OEM USB cable wiring, but indicates that it works with the OEM USB cables. I suggest that they may have been using the original Anytone USB cables, which has Windows 10 and 11 issues. But both Radioddity and newer Anyones now have an updated USB cable (albeit it looks exactly the same as the legacy Anytone cable!). RT does sell its own USB to RJ-45 cable for these radios, either separately or as a bundled combo. It is currently only available for Windows 8 and above. I have imported my current codeplug into their software very easily, saved it and now will begin the process of exploring it capabilities. For years, I have kept a CSV (Comma-Separated-Values) file as a master list of all of those frequencies I want to use in some or all of my various wireless radios. It easily opens in Microsoft Excel and now with the RT Systems CPS software, I can "import" and/or copy/paste these channels at will. This software now plugs the major hole that these wonderful radios had since their release. My other minor concern is that they do not "tone scan" but a $22 Baofeng UV-13Pro Ham Radio took care of that problem for me. If anyone has specific operational questions, shoot them at me, and I will be happy to test them out! NOTE: There is another new thread on this topic that insists on using the "Technical Discussion" - "sort by votes" system of discussion, which I abhor! These posts are all about date relevance and I, for one, do not want to subject other's posts, to be "down-voted" and hence pushed to the bottom of the thread. This is radio technology; not a popularity contest! Enjoy!

Don't ground your radio negative power lead directly to the battery. Ground the radio negative power lead to a factory chassis grounding point.

It depends on the brand of radio and on the antenna used. I have tried the Nagoya 771G and the Abbree version on my Baofeng UV-5R GMRS radios and on my Wouxun KG-935G. I saw an improvement with the 771G and the UV-5R GMRS radios compared to the stock antennas. It was just the opposite with the KG-935G, the stock antenna did better. I have tried the Nagoya 771 dual band antenna on the following radios: Baofeng GT-5R, Explorer QRZ-1 (TYT UV-88), and Icom IC-T10. GT-5R - 771 did better QRZ-1 - 771 no difference between the 771 and stock antenna IC-T10 - stock antenna did better. Your results may vary from mine.

Well, I bought the software and downloaded it. After ham breakfast I’ll get a chance to try it and see whether it works for my DB20G.

Ha! It’s already so stretched out and worn that things just fall out. I went looking for RTSystems coupons and found so many RTSystems receipts that they’ll be holding an intervention. I probably will later today after mulling it over.

Good idea. I may also swap out the operator.

So the common denominators are the computer, the cable and the operator. I recommend changing/replacing/testing each one, in that order, to see if that makes a difference.

Just for more infos: I live in an all Mac household and avoided doing this for years because I didnt want all the hassle. I was finally forced into trying it and installing/setting up Parallels was VERY easy - virtually automatic, and it works great. The worst part is paying for it but it really is worth it for running the manufacturers Windows-only programs.

This could solve the only issue I have with the DB20G. Who’s gonna be the first to try this? https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/AT-779UV_c_2218.html

yes.. on paper and when measuring with precise instruments .. in the real world, using human ears, is very different.. Stop trying to over-complicate it and just enjoy using your radio.

Since this is in your vehicle, I have to ask. Does it only happen when the truck is running? The reason I ask is that you stated that you do not have an issue when the radio is connected to a power supplying your house. This makes me think that you are getting interference from your truck.

You can't change anything except the Tones, PT-T ID, Display Name, and the wideband/narrowband emissions in RPT-23 channel.

Sometimes it takes a little while before the premium membership affects the other sections of the site. I’ll report your post so Rich, the owner, can check it.

In this instance - that field can't be changed. It's grayed out.

Yeah I don't have any trouble with Chirp either

I have never had a problem using CHIRP with my 778UV. Used the OEM software to set the frequency range and then just CHIRP ever since.

Give it time and RT Systems might come out with a Mac version. I run the RT Systems software for my Icom radios on my Mac. I would get the RT Systems software for my Wouxun radios if they had a Mac version. Edit: I just sent an email to RT Systems asking about Mac versions for the Wouxun radios and will update when I hear back from them.

I never thought this day would actually come. No Mac version yet but still it’s a good start. I wonder if now that RT has managed to achieve this if the folks at Chirp don’t take another stab at it. Anyway I imagine this software will be very popular. Bravo RT.

It's a little annoying that it even asks about a ham radio call. As if to imply some sort of relationship between GMRS and Amateur radio.

Nice. I made one exactly like this for 2 meters and it too works great. I used doubled up #12 solid wire and it's a little flexible for outside use, but works fine indoors.

Well here you go then: https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/AT-778_c_917.html

Yeah, a framing hammer taught my left thumb a lesson it will never forget.

Hello all! I just wanted to come on here and let everyone know about a new GMRS net that has just kicked off locally here in the Hickory, NC area (Charlotte, NC metro). It is called the Barretts 600 Net because the repeater is on the Barretts Mountain tower site. Frequency is 462.600, standard +5 offset, and the tone is 146.2 Hz. It's a wide area repeater and reaches at last count about 40 miles circumference to Hickory, NC. The net is every Saturday night @ 7:00pm eastern time. Please feel free to contact me with any questions/comments/concerns. Thank you and hope to talk soon! David (WRAX515 or AK4FD)

https://www.youtube.com/@TheNotaRubicon

Have you tried the kinetic reset yet? The procedure is generally listed in the back of the manual and very rarely printed in English. When all else fails, I generally take the radio with the power switch on and rap it against the work bench with moderate force. Sometimes it might take several tries. If that fails, take a 20 oz. framing hammer and tenderize it for about 3 minutes. While doing this don't forget to recite a few scriptures from the good book. And lastly, if it's still stubborn, just throw it against the sidewalk and walk away smiling as you finally got the last word in.

The FCC has not "stopped allowing it", they never allowed it to begin with but they did clear up some of the wording on their website so it is now less ambiguous/more clear, but no rules have been changed. You cannot "work around it" and "stay ok" with the FCC. The (many) repeater networks that are still online are simply ignoring the FCCs rules knowing that the worst that will happen is that they have 1 in 1,000,000 chance of getting a mean letter asking them to disconnect their repeater(s) from the internet/other network connectivity. There really is nothing more to "the situation".

Weird because the Coast Guard does not enforce radio regulations.. That is the FCCs job. Nope...

Yeah, nobody's really watching GMRS that closely. Even amateur. But I'm guessing if you looked at the enforcement database for hits on marine VHF and aviation there would be some stories. Marine VHF has become less strict in the past decade; it used to be that you weren't allowed to talk ship-to-shore except to licensed shore stations. But a web search says that "In 2016 the FCC relaxed its rules and now allows portable VHF radios to be used “in areas adjacent to the water” when this use relates to the “needs of the associated vessel."

That radio is not made for transmitting on airbands, and it is, in fact, illegal to use it for transmitting within the airband. There are a lot of areas where you may get away with dumbassery, but transmitting on an aviation frequency with a UV5R is likely to be one of those areas where you won't get away with it very long. https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/94091/what-licenses-do-i-need-to-transmit-on-airband-frequencies

That’s right, but not only that it’s not AM, which the air bands are. If I knew how to unlock it to transmit on the Airbands I wouldn’t tell you.

I just had one of my towers inspected today and I'm happy to say it passed.

On GMRS certified radios the channels [1-30] are already programmed. Channels 1-14 should have 4 digits after the decimal like 462.5625. These all end in 5 - they're 12.5KHz above and below the frequencies for channels 15-30. If you do a search you should be able to find a chart to help you visualize the relationship.

You would be surprised just how well it works. The match is far better than the screw-on antennas you can buy. Look at the simulated SWR match and the measured results. This shows a simple 1/4 wave ground plane has enough bandwidth to cover the typical usable range on the Ham 70cm band through the full GMRS range. That was the goal of the project. I’ve used this on a couple of trips to the Dayton Hamvention the past few years. Running my NX-1300DUK5 DMR radio at the 1 watt setting, on simplex, results in solid communications while keeping the RF exposure to about 0.5 watts average due to the TDMA nature of DMR.

However FRS is an UNLICENSED service which would be causing interference to a LICENSED service in this case GMRS. I would hope the FCC realizes GMRS users paid for the use of the spectrum and should have some reasonable protection from an UNLICENSED service interference.

Inspections are important. It would seem your inspector is a good boy.

Contact the Chirp developer. For whatever reason Chirp is expecting something different than it is receiving. That’s not the kiss of death while reading, but if you turn around and write something to memory that doesn’t match you could end up with unexpected results, including possibly bricking your radio. Or just use the factory software in Parallels.

The AR-5RM is a mean black radio that no one needs for hunting or self-defense. The founding fathers could not foresee this dangerous radio being developed when they spoke of the right to bear AR-5RMs. You may be a law-abiding citizen with outstanding morals, but these items should be controlled so only criminals can have one. Crap, I was wearing the wrong hat when I read and posted. (Takes off NRA hat and puts on radio nerd hat). I like my AR-5RM. I just got one (well two) and I have been sitting around learning how to program it with Chirp and listening to local amateur repeaters. Sitting for my tech licenses on the 9th. Can't wait to hit the transmit button. My only complaint would be that Boofwang needs to change the color of the menu letters. It is fine to read indoors, but not outside in sunlight. They need white letters.

I understand on how ctcss basically works, but If I want to use either CTCSS or DCS for privacy (I know its not private) due to busy high traffic area, my radios (Baofeng UV-5G Plus) allow for both Transmit and receive settings. Which do I turn on? or both to quiet down the channels outside my group? I go off roading with a group and GMRS is used heavily at the 3000 acre park. (Menu Settings 10 = R-CTCSS, 11 = R-DCS, 12 = T-CTCSS, 13 =T-DCS) I hope I explained what Im trying to do well enough.