WRXB215

Yeah, having NOAA is useful if you spend a lot of time out doors. However that requires the radio to likely be based on a dual band design, a derivative of a VHF/UHF Ham type radio with GMRS specific firmware. Some of the GMRS radios are based on a single band design so that's why they don't have VHF and thus no NOAA station reception.
I would just go for a good quality GMRS radio and then spend a bit extra and get a cheap Baofeng UV-5R type radio for about $25 or so and program in the NOAA weather channels in it. You're not really going to be transmitting on it, just using it as a monitor. I typically carry a TK-3170 for GMRS and UHF ham. For VHF Ham and NOAA I have the VHF version of the radio, TK-2170.
https://pdfs.kenwoodproducts.com/9/TK-2170&3170Brochure.pdf
Of course you have to be within range of a NOAA station. Some places aren't covered, or not very well.
https://www.weather.gov/nwr/
https://www.weather.gov/nwr/Maps
Another advantage of a separate radio is you might have an active "Skywarn" group in your area. During extreme weather events this maybe a better source of timely weather updates.
https://www.weather.gov/skywarn/
https://www.weather.gov/sew/spotter
 

I would start with the D162N. That's for normal. Most don't invert DPL unless they are trying to eliminate users. 

That’s a nice gift.  Here’s a place that carried it before it was discontinued and it looks like they have connectors.
https://www.anixter.com/en_ec/products/FXL-540-NHR/COMMSCOPE-ANDREW-SOLUTIONS/Coaxial-Cable/p/438625
Here’s the data sheet: 
 

I would just like to point out that one need not be "a programmer" to setup a UV-5R radio. Investing a few minutes reading some online articles or watching Youtube videos is all you need to learn how to 'program' your radio.  You can even do it all by hand, right on the keypad, no computer necessary.
Virtually everyone here learned to do it ourselves, and we all have faith that you can too - We believe in you!

Ditto on firmware issues. The firmware that shipped with the radio was out of date and had issues with programing the PF1 and PF2 keys along with a number of other problems. I tried to do the update and ended up bricking the radio. Same thing happened with one of the H3's I had so I sent all 4 of them back. Tidradio HTs have been having a lot of issues and until they get fixed it's best to look else where.
 

Here’s a simple little site that answers the question.  Just type a ham or GMRS call sign into it and it will display both licenses if they have one. 
https://gmrs.app
 

Yes.  The frequencies of the channels are established in regulation:
§ 95.1763 GMRS channels.
The GMRS is allotted 30 channels—16 main channels and 14 interstitial channels. GMRS stations may transmit on any of the channels as indicated below. 
(a) 462 MHz main channels. Only mobile, hand-held portable, repeater, base and fixed stations may transmit on these 8 channels. The channel center frequencies are: 462.5500, 462.5750, 462.6000, 462.6250, 462.6500, 462.6750, 462.7000, and 462.7250 MHz. 
(b) 462 MHz interstitial channels. Only mobile, hand-held portable and base stations may transmit on these 7 channels. The channel center frequencies are: 462.5625, 462.5875, 462.6125, 462.6375, 462.6625, 462.6875, and 462.7125 MHz. 
(c) 467 MHz main channels. Only mobile, hand-held portable, control and fixed stations may transmit on these 8 channels. Mobile, hand-held portable and control stations may transmit on these channels only when communicating through a repeater station or making brief test transmissions in accordance with § 95.319(c). The channel center frequencies are: 467.5500, 467.5750, 467.6000, 467.6250, 467.6500, 467.6750, 467.7000, and 467.7250 MHz. 
(d) 467 MHz interstitial channels. Only hand-held portable units may transmit on these 7 channels. The channel center frequencies are: 467.5625, 467.5875, 467.6125, 467.6375, 467.6625, 467.6875, and 467.7125 MHz. 
 

It’s easy enough to find out once a person does the lookup the first time.
 
The radio is required to have an FCC ID tag on the back to be legally imported/sold in the US. Then look up the ID on this site.
https://fccid.io
 
Type in the FCC ID and click the search button.
Example for my TK-3170 HT Type-1 with ID ALH34713110. Then look at what’s under the Rule Parts in the grant.
https://fccid.io/ALH34713110
 
Anything that shows Part 95 is certified for GMRS. In the example it’s Part 95A which is the pre 2017 rules, but still legal. The new rule part post 2017 in Part 95E.
I do this for ALL my radios and keep PDF copies of the grants on file as part of the documentation set for that radio. That’s it. 
 

Why would it matter if there was a list posted ? Majority of the topics on this forum are about uncertified radios over and over and how to modify, program or use said radios. @OffRoaderX is spot on. If it says GMRS its probably certified....not always but mostly. 
 

50W is good, especially when you have a long-run of that leaky coax, to get more juice squirting from the antenna.
50W is also good to step on the other guy that is irritating everyone but only has 20W.. all else being equal.

The first thing that comes to my mind is that you can always dial the power down on a 50-watt radio, but once you hit the max on the 20-watt there is nowhere left to go.

Are there any GMRS clubs in the Houston Area?

It would be prudent to do some research first. Try to find user reviews online for the radio. 
 
Also if one has the technical background locating the service manual for the radio would be a good option. It would likely have the schematics. Looking those over would reveal how much frontend filtering is being done. 
 
For example I believe the Motorola XPR-7550e is one such example. Users swear by them and have very good frontend filtering and high sensitivity too.

I've gotten to where I say very slowly so I don't have to say it again. Sometimes I even say it phonetically for that very reason.
For me, it can be frustrating when people say their call sign so fast I can't even begin to get it all. It's like saying ";alkdsjflsd;kjewl;knf;aej." And I'm like what?

More than one person has argued over this.  There’s an entire thread about it.
You have to go back up to the Personal Radio Services and read the definition of Fixed Station. The differences boil down to this
that Fixed Stations are fixed in location, AND only communicate with other Fixed Stations, AND are allowed to transmit on the 467 MHz frequencies (as well as the 462 frequencies) even though they are not talking to a repeater.
Another curious thing about the rules is that where it lists the types of stations that may transmit on the 467 MHz Main frequencies through repeaters, Base Stations are not in the list.

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

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

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. 😮

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. 😁

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

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.

Thanks.  I did get some of them programmed in.   FWB-C-view-and South walton and milton.  I have a TID radio TH-8 coming today.  It's fun doing this at Almost 78 yrs old.
 

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

Channel 17 and channel 17rp both receive on the same frequency.  That's why you hear the same chatter on both channels. But the channels marked rp differ in their transmit frequencies.  They are for specifically configured for repeater use.
A radio set to channel 17 receives and transmits on the same frequency, 462.600 MHz.  That's referred to as a "simplex channel."
A radio set to channel 17rp receives on 462.600 MHz, but transmits on 467.600 MHz. That's the 5 MHz offset Randy (@OffroaderX) mentioned.
The repeater receives on 467.600 MHz and is designed to simultaneously transmit what it receives on 462.600 MHz.  Transmitting and receiving at exactly the same time is called duplex.  
 
 

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.