[Retevis RT97 GMRS Repeater PowerDivider Dustproof 8CH Base Station+2*GMRS Radio]

Your biggest issue will be terrain between the houses and the repeater. 30' sounds nice but could be worthless in the wrong terrain. Make sure you can get line-of-sight from each house to the repeater and you will be ok. The line-of-sight doesn't have to be perfect like a laser but the closer the better.

If you still have trees in the way, more power will come into play to get through them.

[why are there 2 channels shown on grms radios?]

16 hours ago, WRQW589 said:

a tool in support of activities, not the activity itself

Bingo! Very well said.

[Mobile/ base issues]

@WRDJ205 I use that same mic when I'm at the park. Not a bad mic realy.

[Mobile/ base issues]

9 hours ago, WRXP381 said:

I think 1/2 the time people need to just speak up.

It's weird how some people will whisper on the radio. As if they don't way anyone to hear them. 

[Welcome!]

Welcome earthlings.

[A funny thing happened at my ham test today...]

@Davichko5650 I don't know what "caterwauling" is, but I'm pretty sure I agree with you. 

[Invalid call sign when adding to repeaterbook]

Repeaterbook is primarily for ham repeaters. They added GMRS but isn't very well populated yet and will likely never catch up to myGMRS.com for GMRS repeaters. For GMRS, like @WRQC527 indicated, myGMRS.com is the gold standard.

[Invalid call sign when adding to repeaterbook]

They have been making changes to the website and may have introduced a bug. Have you used the "Admin Contact" link to let them know you are having a problem?

[First "Mobile", stuck on what to get.]

20 minutes ago, nokones said:

has a ton of more features

My CCR has a little button on the side that I push and talk to people.

[New Repeater Channels for GMRS in 2024]

On 5/4/2024 at 9:05 PM, RenoHuskerDu said:

We're not giving up on analog until we have cold dead hands.

I'm with you on this one "till the wheels come off!" 

[Personalized Belt Clip With Laser]

21 hours ago, jsneezy said:

Except if the laser is operated on channels 1-15.

It will probably have that same channel 15 bug as a lot of radios. 

[Where to place a repeater]

19 hours ago, WSCF738 said:

When I'm on my roof I can see that I'm higher then anybody else even the trees.

If you are in an older neighborhood, you may be ok. If you are in a newer neighborhood, think in the future. Those trees may be young and have a lot of growing to do. While you are going through the trouble and expense of putting up an antenna, it might be good to make sure the height is good for several years. That way you are out there trying to raise it in a year or two.

[Where is all the info I need?]

@WSCJ959

Read this for an explanation.

[can I use a digirig on gmrs through zello to my repeater]

42 minutes ago, Davichko5650 said:

there are a couple in my area still out there

There are still some in my area but I think they are reserved for emergency use.

Ever since I started using the automobile insurance "safe pilot" app, I've realized it would be nice if I could use autopatch to call my wife while I'm stuck in traffic. That way I could talk to her and let her know I'm going to be late and still not get dinged on my insurance.

[How to register for membership without FCC call sign?]

12 minutes ago, Guest Kirk said:

I'm not going to visit the US.

Then US repeaters will not be of any use to you. If you are just wanting to participate in the forum, you can continue to do so just the way you are doing it now.

[Wouxun radio files]

@WRDJ205 If all three radios are supported by chirp, you will be able to copy from one to another easily.

1. Read from each radio separately.
   CHIRP has to identify the radio it's dealing with in order to write to it properly.
   Some radios are the same internally but many aren't. It's safer to use a separate code plug for each brand/model.
2. Save each file(code plug).
3. Now, it CHIRP, with all three files open, you can easily copy rows from one to the other even though they are different radios.
4. Connect each radio one at a time and use the matching file to write to the radio.

 

[Wouxun radio files]

@WRDJ205 You aren't supposed to copy from one brand of software to another brand of software. You copy from one code plug in chirp to another code plug in chirp.

[New to GMRS]

I think "Farz" is the European spelling. 

[Btech GMRS Pro illegal?]

15 hours ago, Adamdaj said:

the non-remove able antenna claws

Love the spelling. 

[FCC Improves On-line Interference Reporting]

15 hours ago, mlk32170 said:

everyone in this area wants to fight and argue

That's what forums are for. 

[Welcome!]

1 minute ago, WRXP381 said:

especially the uv5 radios

And they fit in your pocket.

[Retevis RA86]

13 hours ago, WRZD727 said:

The rinky dink antenna that came with it, left a lot to be desired!

That's interesting, I thought I had see good reviews on that antenna. Maybe I'm thinking of a different one.

Edit:
Just remembered, it was probably the small one from Midland that got good reviews.

[Midland MXT575 programming software?]

Yep, sure enough the MXT500 is in fact programable in addition to having software for a firmware update.

Here is the programming software:

Here is the firmware update software:

[Wouxun radio files]

@WSAV285 That is where CHIRP comes in real handy. Download from each radio to create a file specific for each. After that, copy the channels you want from one and paste into the other. Good luck.

PS
See here for an explanation of the columns, especially tones.

[Would like to know what radio you are using]

13 hours ago, WRZD727 said:

Retevis RA86. Works great for a plug and play radio.

I was really close to buying that radio. I like the control mic. Programmability wasn't quite what I wanted so I ended up with an AnyTone AT-778UV. Still like the idea of the RA86. Retevis has it on sale for $92.99 right now.