WRXB215

Yep, and zinc and aluminum are a bad mix. I've seen star washers turn into dust. Stainless bolts into aluminum and you get gauling if you don't use some kind of anti-sieze.

Welcome. Here is some documentation on CHIRP you should read. Here is a video on CHIRP that will help you get the most out of it. It isn't for your specific radio but you will get the idea. When you have more specific question, don't hesitate to ask.

@WSAG845 Matt: Carson do you copy? Carson: Read you loud and clear. Of coarse use your call sign as well. You can also ask for a 5 count or something like that.

@WSAG845 My apologies, I misread your question. Yes, same repeater channel for both or same simplex channel for both.

I'm quite new to ham but so far my experience has been very good. The South Coast Reflector is very active. I don't have much experience with the East Coast Reflector (South links to East sometimes for nets) but the one net I took part in seemed like there were plenty of active users over there. I sympathize with everyone who has a bad experience with sad hams, sad GMRS, or sad anything but don't let those jerks take anything from you. I like GMRS and HAM and no jerk is going to turn me away from either.

@WSAA635 I prefer *nix systems myself but I have to use Windoze for work. The plus side of using Windoze is that you can run pretty much any radio programming software on it. Just get a cheap, Win 10 laptop and you'll be set.

No programming required to do that. Just select the same simplex channel (1-22) for both radios and talk. Of course they need to be some distance apart to prevent that old desense thing from happening.

According to the FCC filing the frequency range for that radio is 450-512 so seems like they would work.

Look in the program file you uploaded. It seems as though there may have been one there. Otherwise download from the radio and see if it will retrieve it and display it. If none of that helps, I'm at a loss.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

You might have a reason to limit the radiation to the sides and rear.

@OffRoaderX, @Sshannon, @WRYZ926 Thank you all for your replies. This has helped me to think this through a little better. @Sshannon I do want to get into HF some day but it will probably be a while before I do so for now it will just be VHF/UHF. I think I will stick with the Surecom SW-102 and save a little money. I'm sure I'm going to have to buy some adapters and a dummy load anyway. 73

I'm planning on buying a meter soon and believe I have it narrowed down to these two. Surecom SW-102 (57.99 on Amazon) MFJ-842 (82.99 on Amazon) My two questions are: Is the MFJ worth the extra cost? Is there another meter in this general price range I should look at? Thanks for the help. 73

@WSAH394 Your post is a little confusing. By definition "kerchunking" means keying without saying anything. Are you saying that you are "activating" the repeater and speaking with no audio?

@jwsmith2316 Welcome to GMRS. It may feel like drinking from a fire hose at first but be patient, you will get it just like the rest of us. Mark has a video for learning GMRS. I don't have the link handy but I bet someone will chime is soon with it. A few points up front: Channels 1-22 are "simplex" which means sending(TX) and receiving(RX) on the same frequency. Channels 23+ are usually "duplex" which means TX on one frequency and (RX) on another. You will use this for repeaters. (+5MHz offset for GMRS but your GMRS radio should already do this for you.) PL tones aren't private, they just filter out any signal that doesn't have the same tone. You will usually use this for repeaters. Split tones just means a different tone for TX and RX. Some repeaters use this, most use the same for TX and RX. Hopefully this background info will help you understand everything else you read.

I agree with this also.

Agreed.

Well, I sure am enjoying whatever these two radios are that are disguised as Baofeng UV-5R8W. Only my batteries apparently don't last as long as yours.

@WSAK691 I agree with you. People talk about antennas and "height is might." And they are right about that. But wattage is absolutely a factor as well especially when trying to punch through the trees. People have a tendency to downplay wattage more than they should.

A buddy of mine has about that many guns. Where do you guys get that much money?

Don't leave the hobby. Just do like the rest of us; keep learning and enjoying it. 73!

Some GMRS radios can be hacked and some can't. It's easier to just buy one that's already open like the UV-5R8W. Who said that?

They must be random about this or maybe it's a new thing. I got an email for my GMRS and my ham.

@Sshannon It's great that you are helping him out like that. Guys like you restore my faith in humanity.