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Here's the whole truth about radios. They are going to work where they work... it might NOT be everywhere you trek, but it could be, there are too many variables to sit here and give a 100% definitive answer. But what radio brings to the table that cell phones and other means of communication doesn't is simplicity. You don't dial it, you don't have voice mail, it's basic. And you and your wife are NOT always going to be the only ones on the radio. So if there is an issue, someone else that might be able to assist in a situation may or may not be right there at the other end of the radio. Not having a radio means that you have no coverage from the radio 100% of the time. Because you just don't have it. But radios are a tool. Like any other tool, they are going to have use in certain situations and not so much in others. Radio, GMRS or otherwise, is never going to be a 100% all the time from anywhere and everywhere means of communications. And while the commercials for rapid radio and other similar systems SOUND like they will work everywhere all the time. Those are cellular system based. If your phone coverage sucks, chances are the coverage will be poor or non-existent for those radios as well.

If anyone is interested in a long distance simplex challenge. PROJECT LONGHAUL The purpose is to get more people interested in GMRS and get a message from Long Island to California, possibly NotaRubicon. (currently not aware of this project) This will be a massive nationwide undertaking , but if we can pull this off, GMRS operators will not be looked down from sad Hams. We have a purpose!! We will have two paths to confirm the message in the end then send the message back. This has never been done before. Hopefully we will get noticed by the FCC, news outlets or whoever wants to join and be a part of something so extraordinary! Program your radios with 462.675 PL 141.3, and call out on simplex at 8PM every night until you get a contact, then spread the word of the purpose and cause. Callout every day: 11AM, 2PM, 8PM, 11PM, 2AM, 8AM Call out message: This is <call-sign> calling any station for Project LongHaul, I repeat: This is <call-sign> calling any station for Project LongHaul, please reply. Link to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmateurRadioandGMRS

and the moral of this story????? Please finish it?? Im curious

Good Luck!! I'm not confident that the attitude of sad Hams towards GMRS users (or vice-versa) will change. No need to impress sad Hams.

There are times when being outside of wife cell phone and GMRS coverage may be desirable…..just sayin’

If anyone is "interested" in a long distance simplex challenge.

I don't live in one either, but you are correct. HOA's can be tyranny, especially if you have overzealous management. IMHO, they are to be avoided whenever possible!

You know exactly what I ment by "on". I'm watching videos ON YouTube ABOUT the RT-4D and this little $50 DMR radio is pretty impressive.

Sold elsewhere.

I did not realize that you can “watch videos on the RT-4D!!!” A bit dangling but fascinating!

He said “without a repeater” so I think it’s safe to say he understands that.

thats why God invented 'fishing and hunting'

No. I can count on no hands the times anyone has even asked me to give my callsign phonetically on GMRS. 'Round here we just call each other's last 3-4 numbers out if trying to make a contact with a known person. If it's a callwe've not heard before we'll just give them the (similar to the Hamway) "station calling, go ahead" spiel...

That was your job and you performed it magnificently.

@TNFrank I suggest you do a search on this forum and on the QRZ forum and radio reference forum. You will see that most do not want GMRS to turn into HAM Lite. PS: I do believe that the dead horse has been turned into a mince meat pie and it is over cooked.

Your mistake is that you think GMRS is "a hobby". GMRS is not a hobby and please stop trying to ruin it by H.A.M.ifying it. ...and, just to be clear, GMRS will never get those VHF allocations. Haters can bookmark this post and come back in 10 years to thank me for being right.

They are two completely different services with different uses and objectives. It’s about preserving the usefulness of GMRS. Sometimes less is more.

GMRS already has the ability to share locations in simplex. It also has the ability to send short text messages. I don’t see what it would gain by somehow being allowed to do APRS. Second, ham radio operators are allowed advanced privileges such as being able to build their own radio stations and conduct radio related experiments. All experimental equipment can pose a risk to the ability of others to use the same bands. In order to mitigate that risk ham licensing requirements involve an examination. That’s not gatekeepers trying to keep amateur radio exclusive for our own enjoyment; it’s a sincere attempt to ensure that only people who take the responsibility seriously become licensed. In that regard it’s similar to licensing to drive a car, pilot a plane, or practice as a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or engineer. It is true that people never get licensed because they’re intimidated. That’s on them; it’s simply not practical or even wise to make complex activities that can affect others available for just the cost of a license. Nor is it possible to make everything unintimidating. Life is intimidating. But friendly people can help others overcome the intimidation. There are a ton of us who are willing to teach people and to conduct the exams. We give our time freely and even at personal expense. Anyone who wants to become licensed should take advantage of these opportunities. In many places there’s no charge to take the exam. In other places it might cost $15. Our VEC charges nothing.

The misconception is GMRS is a hobby, that wasn't the FCC's goal. It's moving in that direction, but the FCC likely will resist it. I'm sure if one were to press the FCC on the issues they would point out if you want repeater linking, APRS etc. there is a service for that. Pay your $35 and pass a simple multiple choice test. The FCC has this to say about the idea: "In addition to violating Commission rules, linking repeaters is not in the public interest. Because GMRS spectrum is limited and used on a shared “commons” basis, the service only works well on a localized basis when users can hear each other and cooperate in the sharing of channels. Linking repeaters not only increases the potential for interference, but also uses up a limited spectrum resource over much larger areas than intended, limiting localized availability of the repeater channels." Remember there are only 8 "channels" for GMRS repeater use. For Ham Radio there is 20MHz of spectrum, 430-450 MHz, to pick from. At 20 KHz, that's the bandwidth spec for GMRS to keep things on an equal footing, that amounts to the equivalent of 1000 channels, far more that the 22 that GMRS has.

I swear...the amount of time some people have on their hands. SEVENTEEN minutes listening to some guy prattle on about an article that can be read in less than 2. It's your life, of course, spend it how you will. As to adding VHF to GMRS, which is a UHF service? Nah.

Do a search on this and other forums about giving a portion of the low HVF band to GMRS. It's not likely to happen. Plus the fact that the portion of the low VHF band is already allocated to the US Military along with federal, state, and local law enforcement and first responders. Even if a portion of the low VHF band was given to GMRS, there still is not enough band width available for voice and the different digital modes to include APRS. IF someone wants to use APRS, DMR, or any other digital modes, then they should get their amateur radio license. I have my amateur radio license and GMRS license, I sure don't want to see GMRS turn into HAM Lite.

What ? APRS is a HAM thing. Its not commercial and not GMRS. GMRS is UHF. On top of that what makes APRS what it is is the thousands of digi's, Igates and servers out there for the ham world. Even when we run sar events and switch to anther ham frequency we have huge holes in coverage and only use it locally to our command post. The majic in APRs is the infastructure thats been built for 25+ years. Our first digi went up in 1995 and was one of the first in the state. People get on here and complain about no good GMRS repeaters in their are already. How about we leave services alone and whats therei s there.

Plenty of options as everyone has said. I’ve been using the tidradio H3 most often recently. It is more compact with similar output as the GM-5RH that was my previous most frequently used.

That's why you have to keep it phonetically ambiguous like "Phuk" for "P" and "Kunt" for K. That way nobody gets into trouble.

Yes. But with physical separation and a directional antenna you might be able to avoid desense anyway. But the RSM might be all you really need anyway.

I enjoy my H3. I have it setup for GMRS simplex and repeater stations. Along with the NOAA stations, local police, firem EMS and LifeStar helicopter services. A couple of oddballs like WalMart and Costco which use the MURS frequencies. I also have the local airport frequencies programmed in and listen to the air traffic personnel bring in and depart aircraft. I usually have it set to scan while I work in my shop. Mostly have it setup for the local police and a few nearby repeaters. I can reach a couple local repeaters at 7, 17 and 21 miles away along with my own which I use to keep in contact with the little lady. For $50 a pair it's worth the chance if one of them might go defunct. Tidradio will replace them if you have a bad one anyway. Just an inconvenience of a week or so. Once you get a good one it'll usually stay that way.

Any idea on actual output power in the 900 MHz band? I always scoff at the handhelds claiming 8 Watts, in a radio that size.....and when tested it is only 3-4 Watts and then drops off quickly to something a lot less than that. I like the displays and the layout of the radios though. Seem a lot like my Anytone 878 variant.

I am considering the Wouxun KG-905G based on a test done recently by myself and a friend. His house is over 13 miles away from mine. While testing my 10-watt portable repeater he could receive on his various inexpensive handhelds but couldn't really make out any words. However, on his Wouxun KG-905G he could hear me clearly with little background noise. This may never be an issue for most folks (receiving while on the fringe of coverage) but it did show that there is a difference, at least on receiving. This is probably simply due to the Wouxun KG-905G being a super heterodyne radio.

I think GMRS would benefit by becoming "HAM Lite". Not everyone wants to bother with taking a test to get their HAM license and for some it's too intimidating. I think adding more function to GMRS would be a good thing. I know a lot of HAMs want to keep their little club exclusive with a barrier to entry and that's fine but if GMRS could be made to have more utility like adding APRS and the ability to link Repeaters for more range more people would take the time to get their GMRS license. We need to open the hobby up(both GMRS and HAM)to more folks so the FCC doesn't start selling off our bandwidth.

If you have to ask it's not for you. Have a nice day.