WRXB215

There some repeater owners that have implemented repeater access control by using assigned PT-T ID. Without the proper permission and your assigned PT-T ID, using the MDC1200 signalling feature, you will not be able to access the repeater. If you misuse the repeater system by being a badboy your PT-T ID will be removed from the system will lose your rights to access the repeater system.
It is my understanding that there is another owner in the area may be implementing some sort of the same type of control.

On GMRS repeaters and people using GMRS radios, NO to all.
However if you give your callsign, anyone listening can very easily look it up on the FCC website and see your name and address unless you have taken steps to conceal it.

What, exactly do you mean by "nothing but static" ?
YOU hear static, or people are reporting that you sound like static? Or, something else?

Just because you can hear them does not mean you are close enough for them to hear you.   You may be right on the edge of the uv5s ability where you can open the squelch but not get a good useable transmission through.   I’d try moving closer to the repeater first.   A better antenna may help as well.   A hand held has anywhere from 1 miles to 30 or more.  But it’s all about line of sight and antenna 

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.

Based on this white paper I believe you would want DC Block:

Mine did not come with a programming-cable.. Scathing video review to follow..

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

Nice!  I just bookmarked both of those sites.  Sometimes I forget there are other places to shop besides Amazon.  

They already have. Done so for years in the commercial radio world. I own a bunch of them. Some even have Part 95 certification so are usable with FM only until the FCC approves digital voice modes on some or all of the channels.
The situation with mixing analog and digital on GMRS isn’t so dire. It all depends on how it’s done. Read the attached file for my ideas on the topic.
GMRS Digital Voice - 20231127.pdf

We do this with a 70 cm repeater here.  There’s not a lot of traffic for either digital or analog and it’s first come, first served.  Seems to work just fine.

One can absolutely run digital and analog on the same repeater as long as everything is setup correctly. This is done all of the time with 70cm repeaters using analog and DMR.
Now if the settings are not correct, then the digital side can interfere with the analog side and visa versa. 

The RT-97 doesn't have one.  If you have an RT-97s there's a port that can be used to add something that will ID automatically.
 

Not without knowing how YOU define the word "good", and/or what is important to you in an antenna and radio.. My "good" is probably very different from your "good".

I always like to recommend the Radioddity DB20-G a/k/a Anytone AT-779UV mini-mobile: 20 watts, cigarette lighter plug, 500 channels, and only costs $99-$109 for ease of entering GMRS and can always upgrade to a different radio later.
I instead purchased a 2nd one to use in the house.
Good luck!

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

I won't argue with anyone. Yes Motorola and Kenwood rails are nice and I have used them while in the military and civilian jobs. But most radios on the market now days work just as well for less money. This includes Icom, Yaesu, and Wouxun (for GMRS). And yes I do own and use Icom and Yaesu radios.
And the whole argument about Chinese products and/or components is moot since most consumer goods are either made in China or made from Chinese components. This includes everyone's phones, tablets, and computers that they use to post on forums while bashing inferior Chinese products.

Most if not al of us would love to have a real nice radio or two. Some people are on a hamburger budget and some are on a Filet mignon budget. One has to go with what they can afford.

Radios are like potato chips, you can't just have 1, 😆

And i just noticed in my example file pulling up my code plug for my mobile radio, for memory 166, I misspelled Knob as Lnob.  Great, I need to buy a laptop.  Its a pain to pull my mobile out and bring it in to reprogram from my desktop...
 
I could do it by hand, but im too old and need readers glasses, F that 😂