WRXB215

Same for everyone else.

I wouldn't give up on GMRS just yet. Ham does offer more options but you may still be able to get what you need with GMRS. Describe your last test a little more. Your antenna, buddies radio, trees, distance etc.

Welcome to GMRS Addicts Anonymous. Yep, great bunch people here.

LOL! I suppose it's because I've never installed Windows before I don't know what the install process looks like. I've installed various *nix systems and I use Windows daily but I've never installed Windows.

@WRYS709 What do you mean when about activating it?

Good advice. And remember, UHF will only get you so far. That may be far enough but if you intend to reach for hundreds of miles, you are going to need HF. To use HF, you will need at least a Technician license. And that only gives you a little sliver of HF. Bumping up to General opens up much more HF.

@Sshannon Ok, I get it now. I just wasn't seeing the target market. It's all making sense now. Even with so many of their advertising photos of farms I still missed it.

I agree. Another reason I'm very grateful to those who do.

Just save your batteries until everyone else's batteries die.

Midland radios may be common but I do not see them as any kind of standard for the industry at least as far as programming goes. They seem to be solid radios but I don't understand why they don't up their game in programming features.

Man, you are going through a string of bad luck. Hope you get what you are looking for soon.

LOL! Yep, reverse-psychology works well on children.

Yes, that would be nice.

It happens sometimes. Don't let it get to you and certainly don't let it turn you off of radios. Be patient and keep on plugging.

Good advice.

That's a good thing.

Physical locations and online. https://www.retail-insight-network.com/news/radio-shack-is-coming-back/?cf-view https://www.amazon.com/stores/RadioShack/RadioShack/page/428CD7AB-87FF-4B6C-B5C3-96B7B297DFC4

Yep, could be rudeness, or could be they don't know you and just don't know what to say.

Yes, some radios actually do this. I like to refer to it as "self preservation."

I was not into ham radio at the time but it's my understanding that he was the guest speaker at the Baytown Hamfest last year. I'm sorry I wasn't there to meet him. He sounds like quite a gentleman and scholar.

For me, its the D that's the problem. People will typically hear it as a T if I don't use phonetics. That happened just this morning driving to work. "TYT!? That's a cool call sign!" And that is not the first time I've heard that. On the other hand, I get the CW thing. I'm trying to learn Morse code now. 20wpm isn't for the faint of heart. And to think, some people go way faster than that.

I agree.

If you don't understand what @Sshannon said, start with the instructions below. When you are done with that, go back and re-read what Steve wrote. By that time, you should be able to program your UV-5R. If not, let us know exactly what problem you are having. For the AT-778UV: First, using the OEM software(this can't be done in CHIRP) click on the Model menu and select Model Information. Make sure Band 2 is selected. After setting the band, double click on a channel/memory space in the grid to get to the settings for that line. Your results should look like this: In CHIRP, it should look like this: Read this to get a better understanding of CHIRP, especially the Tone Mode column. EDIT: I forgot to mention, one of the strengths of CHIRP is that after programming your repeaters in one radio, you can copy the lines and paste them into the file of other radios. If you have multiple repeaters and multiple radios, this will save you a lot of time. NOTE: When using CHIRP, first read from the radio and save the file. You will need a different file for each different model of radio. You can't load the AT-778UV file into a UV-5R. There is a lot of other specific things CHIRP has to know before trying to write to a radio.

Keep in mind, the higher the wattage, the faster you drain the battery.

When the grid goes down, repeaters may not be available either. Batteries and generators only last for so long. As far as satellites go, you can only communicate on them for a few minutes at best while they are in range. Then you have to wait for a while before you get another chance on another satellite. And not only that, the other person you are trying to reach has to be on the same satellite at the same time. If you want to use satellites at any given time you need to use something like the Garmin Rino. Otherwise it is really hit and miss.