Adamdaj

We’re all capable of making comments that are baffling in retrospect. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You seem like an honest and humble person which is much more important than being a smart-ass. 

Like you, I'm dual licensed so I just argue with myself. 🤣

Someone thinking about getting a HAM LICENSE. I say, go for it if that's what you want. Although, unless your family members also have their licenses or going to take the test with you, you won't be able to stay tough via radio as you can on GMRS under one license.  

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

Midland is a good manufacture of two-way radios and follows the FCC rules and regulations to the letter. So, I couldn't imagine why an FCC Part 95 E equipment is unable to be programmed to it's authorized use. I contact Midland to find what the reason is that the bandwidth can't be change.
 

I saw a YouTube video that was posted the other day. The person in the video demonstrated how you can transmit through your APP which then goes through your radio to transmit to another radio. It looks like he’s using an android in the video but I’m not sure I am on iOS with the iPhone and the button he presses to transmit does not appear to be available in the iPhone app. I was wondering if anybody knows anything more about this? Here’s a link to the video I’m talking about. https://youtu.be/zuoU2Fe8a7s?si=IanLQAxMth6D10QS

Sorry for you to hear that.  I use Android and very much like that feature when using my GMRS Pro.  I can set it up on a high shelf and use my phone to talk.  It is also handy when in the car with a mag-mount.  I can leave the radio in the cup holder and use my phone mounted on the dash.
Perhaps they will make an upgrade to the app?

When I think of GP9, I'm thinking of General Motors EMD GP9 4 axile locomotive, I'm not thinking about radios. Of course, if Amateur Radio Clubs had Field Day trackside, a locomotive could power several stations without a problem. Of course, you want to stay away from overhead catenary, especially when setting up antennas.

We're not trying to come up with what's best. We're experimenting with all different modes. CW, SSB, AM, FM, systems like APRS, sound card modes like FT8 and a bunch of others, digital modes like Fusion, DMR, D-Star, and  others, EME, microwave, you name it. GMRS is not so much for experimenters. It's for people who need to communicate. Ask anyone here with just a GMRS license how they set up their Jeep radio. They'll say they mounted their radio, they mounted their antenna, they (presumably) checked the SWR, and off they went. Ask a ham operator how they set up their mobile radio, and you'll hear the ARRL Handbook read to you.

Welcome to wonderful world of Radio Communication! Obviously, you obtained your GMRS license for reason other than emergencies. Don't be afraid to ask questions, because that how you gain knowledge.
 

Re-Examine what you have posted. I assume forum was on providing communications during SHTF when commercial landline and cellular are not available. Sure, providing phone patches for people is fine and dandy, but during a Real SHTF situation, it's a guarantee that commercial landlines and cellular systems won't be functioning. So, having a patch from an Amateur Radio to a phone is useless.

Carrie aka Frog: Would a cop, taking a leak on the side of the road interest you?
Bandit:  Yes, it would! He's taking a 10-100.
Carrie aka Frog: At least, it's better than 10-200.
 

Just declare GMRS is the novice class for amateur radio and allow access to 70 Centimeter band Problem solved.....

I don't mind Roger Beeps, but those call-tones can be annoying at times. 

The Daj at the end of my name comes from my Mother's maiden name, Dajnowski. 

The Daj at the end of my name comes from my Mother's maiden name, Dajnowski. 

Your Baofeng and the hypothetical baofeng standing next to the repeater have 6 inch antennas, low quality components, and output only a couple of watts..
The repeater has (probably) a perfectly tuned 10-foot or larger antenna, (probably) very high-end expensive and very sensitive components, and is outputting (probably) upwards of 50 watts.. So not only can the repeater hear everything much better than your $19 Baofeng, but it can squirt it's RF electricities many more fars as well.

Just had someone testing my repeater with his Baofeng and stock antenna and he was hitting it from 45 miles away.  But that was with decent line of sight, your fars will vary.

The more succinct answer is that repeater antennas are up high. If your friend with his handheld was dangling from the same tower, he'd hear you fine on his Baofeng too.  It's about line of sight. But at that same distance if he were standing down on the ground, probably not.. So yes, they increase YOUR capability of reaching them because they're up high and listening with relatively clear  line of sight..
It's why we all try to put our VHF/UHF antennas up as high as we can. When you get up on your roof, how far can you see on a clear day? And how far can you see from the sidewalk? It's basically that simple.

Amateur radio licenses and HF radios on 40 meters with a wire antenna is your best option.  I use it every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning to very reliably chat with folks from Canada to western Washington, distances up to 450 miles.

You got me lost; I know you're the licensee, right? I realize as a licensee, you're responsible for IDing your station. Your family members are able to use the radio. 
The same rules apply, even though your name is attached to the license.  For example, your call sign WXYZ123, your family members would Identify with your call-sign and maybe add WXYZ123-A -1. Depending on how you and your family members want to set up communication procedures.

You got me lost; I know you're the licensee, right? I realize as a licensee, you're responsible for IDing your station. Your family members are able to use the radio. 
The same rules apply, even though your name is attached to the license.  For example, your call sign WXYZ123, your family members would Identify with your call-sign and maybe add WXYZ123-A -1. Depending on how you and your family members want to set up communication procedures.

You got me lost; I know you're the licensee, right? I realize as a licensee, you're responsible for IDing your station. Your family members are able to use the radio. 
The same rules apply, even though your name is attached to the license.  For example, your call sign WXYZ123, your family members would Identify with your call-sign and maybe add WXYZ123-A -1. Depending on how you and your family members want to set up communication procedures.

Well my license reads as "radio station license" so the grant holder, the radio station licensee themself should only need to identify once every fifteen minutes, not every one of us adding up to four or three or two or twenty times every fifteen minutes. I think we assign more rules to ourselves than is even required. No where did I read that this was expected. I'm not even about to ask my family, who does not even know or care about the rules, to come on the air and try to remember my callsign every fifteen minutes right after I do it. Just so we can keep in touch while hiking. I do not think that is the purpose or intention of GMRS. I'll identify every time as required, as we use the radios.
EDIT: What I have been doing is when I first start using the radios, I'll find a channel that is suitable and seems clear. I'll then identify "WRZS227 and family operating on GMRS channel (whatever)" and will basically just yield to any other traffic, and then we just talk as we need to and as conversation dies off and comes back up I'll give the call sign "and family" again. So far the FCC hasn't rained down hellfire or sent any kill commands to our walkie talkies.

I’m new. Just saying hi. I have 2 Tidradio GMRS H8s. Seem like pretty solid radios. I also just got a mobile station setup. Got it for a base station in the house. A Wouxen KG-1000G. Have an Ed Fong GMRS antenna mounted to a telescopic fiberglass pole clearing the peak of my house.  Mainly wanted backup comms. And take the handhelds for hiking.