JoCoBrian

Easy way to remember the bands 80m - 3.5 Mhz 40m - 7 Mhz 20m - 14 Mhz 15m - 21 Mhz 10m - 28 Mhz The higher the freq, the smaller the meters.

When we turn in test results from a Saturday session...we usually get calls on Monday Laurel VEC FCC scoops up the results on Monday - Friday at 7AM, 3PM

They don't work on weekends. So maybe you get it Monday or Tuesday?

I agree. The Radioddity GM-30 is a great GMRS radio. We bought a pair last spring and they have been great. We did buy the extra RD332 antenna for a little more gain. We typically get 2 miles range.

What's the proper 10-Code for " I got a cabover Pete with a reefer on, and Jimmy haulin' hogs."

I have never been happy with any Baofeng radio. But that's just me. We settled on GM-30's and they seem to do everything as advertised. Which is rare in Chinese radios.

Hook it up to a dummy load and a watt meter and check it.

For my portable HAM radio operations, like sitting in the woods doing what they call Parks on the Air, I use a 12 AH LiFEPO4 battery. Works for hours and hours, and then I charge it when I get home. LiFePO4 is the only way to go. Light weight, 90-95% usable capacity. I don't have a solar charger for it. Bioenno is a good brand. Thousands of satisfied customers but over priced. But to each his own. I use Miady and Expert Power brand LiFePO4 batteries. They last for years and years. Juts make sure your charger is rated for LiFePO4 charging. Those batteries have a BMS (Battery Management System) that communicates with a smart charger so the thing doesn't burst into flames, or overcharges.

If you need VHF scanning for MURS, HAM (AKA Amateur Radio), and the local skool corp maintenance garage...plus other handy UHF frequencies... I recommend and personally endorse and use the Radioddity GM-30 It is on Black Friday Special on the AMA-ZON for less than THIRTY clams. GMRS, repeater ready just add tones, codes, etc...receives NOAA weather (or WX as we radio know-it-alls call it), receives the FM broadcast band so you can listen to Bob and Tom or Dave Ramsey or whatever commie left-wing pinko radio show you personally enjoy, it can be programmed (buy the programming cable and download the free computer programming software (CPS to those that know)) to copy MURS, HAM, maybe your local high school, Walmart, Piggly Wiggly, or local Chinese Buffet. It comes with a battery, an antenna (buy the RD332 antenna for more range and more money), suggestive wrist strap, ear piece with external mic, and a fully written in English (not Engrish) how to operations manual.

How tall? And do you brace it against anything?

First bird is in the roaster. This year we will have three birds. Roasted, smoked, and fried. About 50 people showing up. Thank God for the food, the family and the friends. It's been a tough year.

Amen to that. We don't need DMR in GMRS.

Don't do it. When the sun comes out that PVC will probably flop around like a spaghetti noodle. 20-25 feet doesn't seem to do that so bad in PVC but I have seen 40 footers wilt and flop over in the hot sun.

I'd rather have TWO good well engineered working radios than a sack full of junk handies.

Get an HT...AND get a 15 or 50 watt mobile. Don't forget an external antenna up as high as you can put it. And personally speaking, not sure I'd want 10w of UHF RF 3 inches from my face.

I have a pair of GM-30's I got one from Radioddity direct and one from Amazon. Radioddity doesn't care where I got them, they gave me great customer service on both. I would buy these again. Had them since February and my wife and I use them almost weekly.

What's your budget? (what's max you can spend) Do you have HOA restrictions on Antennas? What's your living situation? (home, apartment, camper?) You can study for your Technician and General Class license at hamstudy.org - my grandkids studied for two weeks and passed Tech on the first try. They were 12. 73 de KB9BVN WRWI253

Since I have installed privacy codes on all my channels, I can't hear anyone, nor talk to anyone, and my battery life has improved dramatically. I left MURS freqs wide open though so I can listen to the maintenance guys at the middle school tell dirty jokes and make fun of the teachers.

Places I never buy radio gear from: QRZ.COM eBay Door to Door Used Radio Salesmen

PL tones, no PL tones...neither can keep anyone out.

You may need to retest again...not sure.

Do it without fear!! Great little radio. I love mine.

I have had a GM-30 since February, it's been a GREAT HT for us. I monitor the local 2m repeaters with it, comes in handy when ta severe weather net is up and running. I like the fact it receives MURS, I like the fact it is very easy to program with the FREE software from Radioddity, I like the way the wrist strap makes my bulging fat wrists look tiny, and I like the way it fits in my hand...and I like the fact it isn't a Baofeng.

Master Class...but it's top secret. You have to be invited by two other Master Class ticket holders and then approved by the Master Class Board of Scrutiny. It can take longer to get approved than the FCC takes processing licenses.