WRXB215

@WRUZ229 Very interesting, let us know how that works out for you.

It's a good sign that your laptop recognized it but did you select the right COM port in the software?

@WSCD623 Welcome to GMRS and particularly, myGMRS.com. I like to refer to GMRS as the "Great" Mobile Radio Service. Lots of good people on the air and in this forum.

Hubs are used to link multiple repeater groups together. Yes, while use linked repeaters, if you transmit on repeater A it will be heard on repeater B even though repeater B is on a different frequency and vice versa.

That's what I did. I'm using a Nagoya UT-72. It's inexpensive and works well.

In chirp, select the Radioddity UV-5G.

@WSCD723 Welcome to GMRS. I'll second what @WRUU653 said about HamStudy. That is what I used and I was able to pass the tech and general in one session. I like that explanations they give, it's better than just memorizing answers.

Finally got a chance to watch. That was hilarious!

Haven't watched the video yet but that guy in the picture looks like a guy I work with.

On Friday, I received my order of: Baofeng GM-15 Pro Extra batteries Solar panels The radios seem to be working well so far. Still more testing to do here. Have only tried a short test with the stock antennas but sound quality was good. Friday evening, using the wall charger, I charged the batteries that came with the radios. I didn't time how long it took but wish I had. It seemed to take longer than I thought it would. Saturday at 10:00am I set the extra batteries outside on a table with the solar panels. The day started off partly cloudy. I was busy but checked them when I could. There were times of bright sunlight when the charge lite was red and times with clouds when there was no light at all. I thought this test was going to be a complete failure especially since it gradually became more cloudy/overcast. At 3:00pm I gave up and brought everything inside and decided to put the extra batteries on the wall chargers to go ahead and charge them up. To my surprise they were completely charged. Next step is to run the batteries completely down and try the solar panels again. I hope it will be a sunny day when I do that. But charging without complete sunshine is a more "real world" test. I will give an update in a week or so after I have more info to share. Special thanks to @Lscott, @Sshannon, and @WRXP381 for their input on solar panels. P.S. Someday I plan on getting the stuff I need to charge a UV-5R with solar.

@rdunajewski would have to do this.

You would be able to use the radio legally on the frequencies it is made for.

My GM-15 Pros are supposed to be delivered today. Can't say much about this specific radio just yet. I'm pretty sure it isn't really 8W like the add says. But I'm sure it will do fine. Welcome to GMRS.

Oops! Thanks for reminding me. @WSBT251 welcome to GMRS!

And don't double post.

Click on the gear icon in the upper left of the map and enable "Show Stale Repeaters." Stale repeaters are just repeaters that haven't had an update in more than 1 year. Also, checkout some local clubs, including ham clubs. Often times GMRS repeaters are owned by hams.

You can still register and use the site. It just doesn't say 100% until you add a ham callsign.

I'm not sure exactly what you are having a problem with. Try out this link and see if that helps.

The Baofeng UV-5RM is the ham version so maybe that selection in chirp will work.

Try the Radioddity GM30 in chirp. Edit: I'm pretty sure that was the wrong model number. Anyway, it is not uncommon to have to use a Radioddity model in place of a Baofeng model in chirp.

Steve is right. In that kind of setting, it's all about the obstructions, int this case, buildings. Increasing power doesn't penetrate a building. Where I live and operate, we have lots of trees. In this case power does come into play. If you can't get above the trees(and I can't) then you have to go through them. When I'm at my house and on a UV-5R8W, if I use medium power, I can't hit my favorite repeater. On high power, I can hit the repeater just fine. When I'm near or on loop 610 with my mobile radio, it doesn't matter how much power I use, I get picket fencing. You just can't punch through buildings with a GMRS radio. You can, however, sometimes bounce off of them. This is why trying to figure out the fars can only be done by a field test.

@kidphc Thanks for the info. I rag chew in the mornings on the way to work but I haven't had any problems yet. Perhaps later this summer when the truck is blazing hot.

KMZ is common for GPS info.

@WRYS709 I doubt CHIRP by itself is worth the extra price but there are other features I like. A little extra power and screen invert(I thought I would never use this but now I do). I am curious about the 779 and how warm it gets. It looks like it might make a real nice backpack radio. The 778 gets warm. Not alarming warm, but warm enough I don't want it in a backpack.

If you have a repeater near you that is linked to a repeater near them, it's easy. Otherwise it's very doubtful.