Durake

The It’s because we have super secret thoughts and ideas here......and we had to put them away before new people found out!

The PA doesn't work on that frequency, so they just pass the exciter output to the antenna port.

Actually since the FCC is issuing call signs in strict alpha/numeric sequence still, "triple-seven" would not be out of possibility... 
...numbers run from 100 to 999.
 
Just to think that there are now potentially 899 folks with the WQWU prefixes is a lot of tongue-twisters out there!

The FCC’s Consumer Complaints page for reporting interference recently added a category for reporting interference to GMRS stations.  Previously, there was no way to report issues specific to GMRS, but there was for Broadcast, Amateur, etc.
 
This is a small but important development and may help combat the FCC’s recurring claim that “…we have received no reports of interference...”.   This statement has been common in most all Part 95 and GMRS rule-making proceedings over the last few decades to help justify further encroachment of FRS and support other policies that licensed GMRS licensees generally opposed.   We are not suggesting the Commission lied about the lack of complaints – they had not provided a way to report, categorize and centrally store them!     
 
The Northern California GMRS Users Group (NCGUG) encourages repeater owners and users to report recurring interference problems, such as unlicensed operation on repeater uplink channels, intentional jamming and abuse, and of course interference from FRS (co- or adjacent-channel).
We have been reporting recurring interference from maritime operations on our repeater uplinks for some time.
 
While the FCC rarely responds to such complaints, this may go a long way to eventually reducing the rising tide of interference sources that we all have to deal with.  
 
Brief instructions on how to use this site follow.
 
____________________________
 
https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us
 
Create an account (different from your ULS account)
 
File a complaint
 
Radio
 
Fill in Subject and Description
 
Radio Issues: INTERFERENCE
 
Radio Interference Sub Issue: TO LICENSED TWO_WAY RADIO SERVICES (LAND MOBILE, AVIATION, MARINE)
 
Your Radio Method: PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES (CB, FRS, GMRS)
 
Fill-in the remaining fields marked with “*”.
 
The site provides a selection of “To Unlicensed Service (CB, FRS GMRS)” under Radio Interference Sub Issue.  This incorrectly refers the GMRS as an unlicensed service, which it is not.  While we have requested a correction, we recommend using the “Licensed….” selection noted above instead.
 
Greg 
 

Most people that I talk to about radio have a basic.........................
understanding of CB radio, the "truckers" they say. And of course I know a CB'er right off the bat.
 
But when I say "I operate GMRS as well".............(insert the sound of crickets here).............I usually get "whats GMRS?)............even the people that use bubble pack radios on FRS/GMRS most don't know the difference...............just a walkie talkie. Heard some "kids" yesterday down on ch3.............buuuut, as soon as I say I'm also a prepper, folks sort of put it together what GMRS is.
 
Its a good opportunity to explain it to them.

Being realistic, there is minimal possibility of causing harmful interference and obviously the FCC won't be sending jack booted thugs thru the door the second you key up.  But considering this is a GMRS forum, nobody here will help you use any radios in any illegal fashion, on GMRS or any other band.  The bottom line is that there is no scenario where you can use those Retevis RT5 (re-branded Baofeng UV-5) radios on the GMRS band (with or without a license) and be in full FCC compliance, as the radios lack the proper FCC type certification. 

Same here, as I'm into high end custom CB (30+ years) and now GMRS........

I'd agree with Hans - I'm a radio communications enthusiast.  Being a GMRS operator is just one part of that.  My main interest as a radio enthusiast is applications in off-roading, camping, outdoor recreation, etc.  Many people here in AZ can relate or at least see the benefits of having a two way radio, as there is extensive forest and desert area where cell phone coverage is sparse or non-existent.

I like that viewpoint. I also like your call sign, as it simply rolls off the tongue... 
...unlike mine that's decidedly a tongue-twister! WQWU626
 
Folks are all the time asking me how I got a call sign with only three letters, 'cause all they hear is "WQW626. The last "U" is elided into the preceding "W" unless I enunciate the letters s l o w l y.

Having an alternate means of longer range communications in times of duress or when commercial communications have failed for whatever reason.

Make sure you've got the duplexer connected properly (LOW to transmit, HIGH to receive) and you don't have a cable or connector issue on the jumpers. To me, that's your likely problem from what you're describing.

In my case, as a Chaplain Responder, "Relying on communications equipment for family safety, as well as coordination with other GMRS licensed Chaplains in post-natural disaster situations when phone service is interrupted for days or weeks."

UHF and Radio Enthusiast is my standard answer.

I climbed a 40ish foot Rohn tower, not like that's really impressive but I enjoyed it lol. It had a 10 foot UHF antenna for the GMRS repeater at the very tip top, then had 2, 180 degree antennas on both sides for internet. If I remember I'll post the pic here when I climbed it.

Since none of my radios has MDC, I simply make the noise myself (I am amused easily)...

Hellooo, I've been using GMRS since about mid 2016. Absolutely love it. 
 
Radios I use for GMRS are as follow:
Motorola PM400 (mobile)
Motorola Maxtrac (base)
Icom F6021 (base)
Motorola XTS3000 (portable)
Motorola XPR3500e (portable)
Motorola HT1000 (portable)
Motorola CDR700 (repeater)
 
I've always been a fan of Motorola, just the strong build quality and how durable the radios are. I do have a couple Baofeng portables in my car and use them from time to time. 
 
I use GMRS to talk to mainly friends, occasionally family as well. 

Another example, I listed mine and a repeater owner contacted me the next day letting me know I'm on the same pair and tone as him, so I changed tone and if it gets bad I'll change frequency.
 
Had his repeater been listed I wouldn't have had to go through all of that, so it is very helpful as far as frequency coordination goes.

Another example, I listed mine and a repeater owner contacted me the next day letting me know I'm on the same pair and tone as him, so I changed tone and if it gets bad I'll change frequency.
 
Had his repeater been listed I wouldn't have had to go through all of that, so it is very helpful as far as frequency coordination goes.

I did this on a motorcycle once. Not down I-95, though. I didn't want to go through a u-turn a drive all the way around a curve, so, I drove the wrong lane. All of the other drivers were far off (it was night). I don't know if anyone noticed. I only did that once, though. I try to follow rules.
 
Edit: Did I just admit to a crime?

An elderly man with a GMRS radio in the car was going down the interstate when suddenly his radio crackled his call sign.  Answering...he heard a fellow GMRS operator's urgent warning....."Hey, just heard on the news that there's a car going down I-95 the wrong way, please be careful"!!    The elderly driver replied, "Well, now, it's not just one.......
there's hundreds of them'!!!!!!!!!

I bought a Zastone D9000 Mobile radio for mt truck and my HAM problem. lol. But it has a same band and cross band repeat function i was wondering if anyone had used this or something like it to make a GMRS repeater? i would mostly want to use it while on camping trips and ATV outings. Im pretty sure i need a Duplexer but im just looking for someone else who had done it before i drop the money.
 

If all you want is great, quality communications, check your local Craigslist for used Motorola radios.  I've seen Motorola UHF radios for sale as little as $50.  Tx and Rx is crystal clear, but it's not something you can program on the fly and has no options other than communications.  If you want something with more features and don't want to go really cheap, a good place to start your search is with Yaesu and Icon, but you'll likely have to modify your radio for GMRS frequencies. 

Check out some Motorola gm300's good solid radio and cheap. I've used them for over 30 hard to kill. Easy to program up to 40- 45 watts all day

I started out with the MXT100.  Great little radio.  Now you can get them cheap on ebay.  I bought the MXT400 as soon as they were available.  40 watts is nice and it's FCC approved.  I agree with buying used.  You don't really know if there are any problems or not with the radio.  IF the radio is cheap enough then maybe it's worth a risk.  One thing I enjoy with Midland is their warranty.  There is a one year on the MXT400.  I recently returned a GXT5000, three years into a five year warranty and they send me a brand new one. 
Whatever you go with, make sure that you get a decent antenna.The magnetic mounts are good in a pinch but won't let you use the full potential of your radio.  If possible, get an NMO mount and get an antenna that you can trim to GMRS frequencies.  Tram, Comet, Larsen all make good ones..  Some people have their preferences.  They are all reasonably priced too.  Check ebay.

That's what I use right now, absolutely love it. I agree with zap.