berkinet

Ditto what @marcspaz said. And, I'd ask, what is your use case? Do you have a portable you want more power output from? Are you talking simplex to one station, or many? Are you using a repeater? Another thing to consider is the receiver. If you hook up a cheap radio, with a low quality receiver, to a 50 watt amp you will have a giant alligator... Big mouth, tiny ears. You will probably not hear 1/2 the people responding to you, and the half you do hear, you would probably hear without the amp. Honestly, if you really need the power, you would probably be better off looking for a good quality 40 or 50 watt mobile radio. Personally, I would look at a used piece of commercial equipment - you will get a much better receiver than any mass-market Part95 certified radio. . You will easily find plenty of Part-90 radios, and if you care about certification, Part-95 radios are also available. This topic is commonly addressed on the MyGMRS forum. Search through the threads for Kenwood, Icom, Motorola, and Vertex to see what might work for you.

Congratulations. You will just have to live with Ludvig Van. In tact, from the wikipedia... [beethoven's 5th symphony] has sometimes been referred to as the "Victory Symphony".[13] "V" is coincidentally also the Roman numeral character for the number five and the phrase "V for Victory" became a campaign of the Allies of World War II after Winston Churchill starting using it as a publicity stunt in 1940. Beethoven's Victory Symphony happened to be his Fifth (or vice versa) is coincidental. Some thirty years after this piece was written, the rhythm of the opening phrase – "dit-dit-dit-dah" – was used for the letter "V" in Morse code, though this is also coincidental. As to the Q. That one is easy. The ham code to call for a contact is CQ. -.-. --.- (repeated seemingly endlessly) That can get stuck in your mind even worse than ...-

If you only need to talk to the local repeater, the stock antenna will probably work fine. I am not understanding what you think will be different between daily operations and in an emergency situation. If you will be crawling through collapsed houses after an earthquake, you will want the smallest antenna possible. If you expect the local repeater to fail and need to talk simplex to another station 10 miles away, you will want a directional antenna you can mount in a tree. You pick an antenna based on your specific communications needs, not on normal vs. emergency conditions. On the other hand, you should consider how you will power your radio in event of a long term power failure. I would strongly recommend an alkaline battery pack and a lot of spare batteries.

It really depends on your needs. Who/what will you be connecting to, at what distance, and terrain?

I do not doubt what is printed on your licenses. What I do doubt is whether or not it is current and applicable. Take a look at this post in a thread from 2017. Then note the limitation is specifically mentioned in the old regulations, but not in the new version. If there is such a rule, it must be written somewhere, but I sure can't find it. Since I am far from any US border, this is just of academic interest to me. However, my guess is that after the FCC updated the regulations in 2017, someone forgot to turn off the software that checks for location and adds the warning. Perhaps someone who is directly affected by this might want to write the FCC and ask.

Several members here have done so. Search the forums for reports. There seem to be three issues that are commonly reported and which may, or may not, be important to you. The Midland radios operate on narrow-band FM while most repeaters operate on wide-band FM. This tends to result in the Midland's broadcasts being heard at a lower volume by listeners. The Midland radios must use the same tone or digital squelch on transmit and receive. So, if you have a repeater that uses different schema on transmit and receive, you will not be able to easily use the repeater. The Midland is missing a small number of PL tones. If a repeater requires one of those tones, you will not be able to access it.Again, I suggest you search the forum for reports and to determine if these issues are significant for your planned usage. And, note also, the built-in search feature tends to miss things. I'd suggest doing a google search for something like: site:forums.mygmrs.com midland review repeater

Have you re-checked since the rules were changed in 2017 (When Part95-A became Part95-E)? The border area rules used to be in Part95-A § 95.25 Land station description. But, I do not see any such reference in the new Part95-E.

Are you sure you weren't hitting the repeater? Hearing a short burst of static (called the squelch tail) after un-keying the transmitter is normal, and a sign you have keyed up the repeater. Unless you have a second radio, with a good (I.e. well designed) receiver, to use as a monitor, all you will get is the squelch tail, and maybe that awful roger beep. However, not all repeaters have squelch tails. So, in that case, you would have no indication as to whether or not you had keyed the repeater. Also, if the repeater has been quiet for over 15 minutes or so, and you key it up, it should ID itself. Though, again, while generaly required, it does not always happen.

Unfortunately, most big companies are not motivated by such claims of interest. They are thinking about market share, not individual buyers. Also, they know that most such statements are hollow, and, in any case, have no way of being tracked. Now, if you used a similar approach with a dealer, they might show more interest. And, in turn, the dealer might have more influence with the vendor.

I think you missed the "and." A repeater does not have to ID itself if both paragraphs (1) and (2) are true. In other words. If all users ID (2) using the call-sign of the repeater owner (1), then, the repeater does not need to ID. Or inversely, if any user operates under any call-sign other than that of the repeater owner, (either (1), (2) or both (1) & (2) are false) then the repeater must ID itself.

Try using a VM, like VirtualBox (free), Parallels or VMWare.

Thanks. That helps understand your view of this. May I suggest that you look at what GMRS is intended for. From the regulations 47 CFR § 95.1703 - Definitions, GMRS General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). A mobile two-way voice communication service, with limited data applications, for facilitating activities of individual licensees and their family members, including, but not limited to, voluntary provision of assistance to the public during emergencies and natural disasters. So, while there is nothing to prevent GMRS from being used as a general CB like service. That is not part of the basic intention. This is further supported by the identification requirements for repeaters... no repeater ID is required as long as all users operate under the license of the repeater owner. The point of this is that most repeaters are formed by and for the use of limited numbers of users. Usually members of a family or small group and they usually have relationships outside of the radio world. As such, there is no broad community, and therefore, no real concept of new-comers or old-timers. At least not like there is in more open community services like ham and CB. On the other extreme are GMRS repeaters for travelers, etc. In these cases many users are transient, and again the idea of new or old doesn't really apply. To expand this a bit, look at ham radio, especially UHF/VHF repeaters. There you may often see tightly knit communities of people who's only relationship to each other is solely via the repeater. In these cases you do sometimes see people tagged as new-comers, and there are definitely elitist communities. So, I'd say take an objective look at GMRS and then see if your feelings change.

There are many, from inexpensive to professional quality: Just google uhf swr meter Bird is very good, but expensive. Probably more than you need for infrequent use. Other than that I cannot really recommend one over another. Perhaps someone else here can make a suggestion.

Assuming you have an inexpensive meter designed for CB... Yes, you can use it, it won’t hurt anything. But, no, it won’t give you accurate readings. For GMRS you need an sur meter that operates at UHF frequencies. However, there are meters that operate over a broad range of frequencies. These tend to be more expensive and often require different “slugs” for each frequency range.

I don’t believe that offer is on the table.

I think you may be missing a few things... You quote 1 repeater operator, and then use that as a basis for deciding some policy is elitist. Repeater owners do not need to use technical specifications to limit who can use their repeater, then can decide on any (legal) basis they want​. (I.e. they probably can't discriminate based on race, religion, etc.) But, even that is questionable since a private repeater is like a private club and not normally subject to such legal restrictions. It is quite possible that the base issue was narrow-band vs wide-band. In which case adding configuration settings to restrict the offending radios would be warranted.In other words, as Groucho Marx said "...I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member".

If it can work a repeater, it is not FRS. This thread is under the wrong topic.

I think that is an unfair accusation. Corey's repeater is not a public utility or a public service. He owns the repeater and lets other people use it. It is up to him to set whatever standards he wants to: technical, behavior, content, etc. If people don't like his rules, they don't have to use his repeater. Since he has already made the capital outlay to build, house and operate the repeater, I see no reason why he should now have to support the equipment needs of the people who wish to use the repeater. OTOH, you should buy the equipment that meets your needs for communication, reliability and price. That is strictly your decision. Should your equipment need to meet the standards of a repeater operator, that is then one more item you need to factor in to your purchase decision. Here is an example of a similar issue that may help make this clear. The Midland MXT400 is a popular GMRS certified radio. However, because of some design decisions on Midland's part, the MXT400 is not be able to operate with some repeaters. (Available PL tones; split PL operation; and only narrow-band transmission.) If you own an MXT400 and cannot access a repeater, who's responsibility is it to address the problem? Should the repeater owner change their configuration to accommodate you, or should you change your radio to meet the repeater's requirements? By the way. You present the situation as binary: CCRs, vs. expensive equipment. There is another option, high-quality, used equipment - Part90 and Part95. For your same $200 budget you could find decent gear - perhaps with cosmetic or other minor issues.

First of all, repeaters are neither allowed nor possible on FRS. There is no provision for repeater inputs in a separate band segment. There might be operators in other radio services using FRS as an input to a cross-band repeater. But, that is distinctly and strictly prohibited by the rules. As to ham operators who do not have GMRS licenses. If they are talking on the GMRS frequencies, they are doing so illegaly. Otherwise, there is nothing compelling a ham operator to have a GMRS license. And, yes, there are no doubt hams operating on GMRS using ham equipment. However, they typically do not go around announcing that is what they are doing, and they certainly do not claim that they have some special need or right to do so. But, regardless of examples of others who might be flouting the rules, their indiscretions do not in any way change the licensing requirements you agreed to to get your GMRS license. And, to be blunt. If someone is unwilling or incapable, regardless of age or other reason, of correctly operating under your GMRS license. Then you, as the license holder are responsible and you must prevent them from using the station. If your grand children cannot comply with the rules, they cannot use a radio operating under the GMRS rules. Period. By and large, the people on this forum support the GMRS service and want to see it remain useful and relevant. Arguing publicly that the rules do not apply to this or that special case is counter to those ends. If you still think you know better, or that your needs are special, or whatever, then go ahead and do whatever you want. Nobody will ever know anyway. But, please do not claim that your special needs come first and expect others to support you. And, please have a little more faith is your grand-children and children in general. They learn quickly and like to do things right.

You are free do do as you please. But what you cannot do is change the rules of the radio service (GMRS) you operate under. A condition of your license, that you agreed to, is to follow the rules. Part 95E § 95.1705 ( Individual licensee responsibility. The holder of an individual license to operate GMRS stations is responsible at all times for the proper operation of the stations in compliance with all applicable rules in this part. and (d) Individual licensee duties. The holder of an individual license: (1) Shall determine specifically which individuals, including family members, are allowed to operate (i.e., exercise operational control over) its GMRS station(s) (see paragraph © of this section); It is no different than operating non-GMRS certified equipment. People are free to do as they please. But, it is not ok to tell others that is an Ok thing to do. And, by the way, why not teach your grand-children about proper radio use? They might not only find it interesting, but they might also take the use of the radios more seriously, and even develop their own interest.

Slight correction. Old and wise is an absolute state. Older and wiser is a comparative and does indeed imply some other, less old and wise, state. And, the English lover in me adds, the sender implies, the receiver infers.

FCC station identification requirements do not specify age. So, whoever is operating a radio under your license will be expected to identify per the rules. That is, after 15 minutes, then every 15 minutes, and at the end of the conversation. so, to answer your question if your children are not old enough to understand when to identify they probably should not be allowed to use the radio when they are totally on their own.

A reverse image search turned up this page: http://www.hammacho.com/2016/12/the-fabled-red-porcupine-car.html

The URL you posted was mangled. The correct page is here. As you note, other than the 8 467mHz repeater input (467 MHz GMRS Main) channels, the two services now essentially only differ by power and bandwidth restrictions.

A few errors here. GMRS regulations were updated in 2017 and are now Part 95 Subpart E The full text of Part95E is available here. To be legal on GMRS, radios must have been type accepted or certified for: Part-95, Part-95A or Part-95E The icom IC-F6021 is Part-90 certified, but not certified for GMRS. However, it will operate on GMRS frequencies.There have been several discussions about using Part-90 radios, and other "ham" or Part-15 certified radios on GMRS. Many people do this, many don't Search through the threads and you can read the various opinions.