berkinet

IMO...if you are looking for an off-the-shelf radio, look at the Midland MXT115 and MXT400. However, if you have the time, interest and skills, you might look at used Motorola equipment, like the CDM1250. Also, make sure you buy a good antenna and mount it properly. Look around this site for some recent articles on antenna mounting.

It is. However, the other option is for the vendor to decide how the channels should be organized (like the BTECH GMRS-V1). Personally, I'd rather have the freedom to decide. This can be important when the radios are used as part of some organization or service where you may want to monitor non-GFMRS services, and/or have the repeater channel(s) in specific memory locations, etc. YMMV

I don’t know... maybe it’s because I grew up in LA. But, I’d prefer an earthquake to a tornado any day.

I do not have that (NX-320) radio or the software. But, the concepts are certainly the same as any other repeater capable radio. BTW, I suggest a simple Google search like kenwood NX-320 programming software I did that and then looked for images and found the image below. I also found a number of videos and other helpful forum posts and blogs. Note, I am assuming the image I found is actually from the software you have. But, your software may differ, possibly significantly. Nonetheless, the concepts below should get you through this. You minimally need to know 3 things. The repeater's transmit and receive frequencies and the PL tone used to access the repeater. Kenwood uses the term QT or Quiet Talk​ for "PL" It may have a number, like "1", a 2 character name, like "XZ" or a frequency, like "67.0". So, based on the image above, I would put the repeater's Transmit frequency (462.550 to 462.725) in column one. This is the frequency your radio will listen on. Then, place the repeater's Receive frequency (467.550 to 467.725) in column two. The two frequencies must be exactly 5 mHz apart. For example: 462.550 and 467.550. Then, put the QT tone needed to access the repeater in column 6. If your repeater also transmits a QT (PL) tone, you may enter that in column 5. (This is useful if you can hear multiple repeaters on the same frequency). Channel spacing should be set to Wide. Good luck

We are looking to replace our GR1225 with something a little more robust and the MTR2000 is at the top of our list. I have a couple of questions: For GMRS use in a fairly RF intensive area (SF Bay) how important is the pre-selector? Are there any gotchas or beware-ofs I should know about while shopping? Any other hints, helps, or tips?BTW, I looked at repeater-builder and found a lot of info there (as usual, maybe even too much info, it is hard to know where to start.) I know Mike, wa6ilq from way back.

I agree it is probably the duplexer. But, I think it is a little unfair blaming the problem on the country of manufacture. There are at least 10s of thousands of these cheap duplexers in use and they do work (for some definition of "work"). The problem is not where they were made, but the basic, notch-only design. Additionally, in the truly low cost products, the tuning parts are cheap and likely to fail. But, again, cheap is cheap, regardless of who made it or where. If you want better performance, you will need a notch+band-pass duplexer, and those simply cost more, regardless of where they are made.

I am on a Mac, (current everything) and get no virus/malware warnings with Safari, Chrome or Firefox. Maybe it is safe for you to try again.

Found this... http://www.opg.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/IMG_20160826_115553.jpg on this site... http://www.opg.org/2016/08/26/wln-kd-c1-the-programmable-toy-radio/

Sounds like a good “acquisition.” This link might help a little. Though, it says the radio is not field programmable. Then again, to a true ham that just means try harder... http://www.repeater-builder.com/ritron/pdf/liberty-uig.pdf

I have found the View New Content link does not work when I am logged in - it always displays Sorry, no new content found. However, If I log out and then access the same link, it does work and shows me the new posts.

Take a look at page 17 in the manual*: Selecting a Privacy Code, Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) PL is Motorola’s name for CTCSS. While the term PL (from Private Line) is widely used, it is actually trademarked by Motorola. * https://midlandusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MXT400-Owners-Manual.pdf see also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_Tone-Coded_Squelch_System

Can you define “trouble.” Can you bring up the repeater at all or are you just having problems hearing or being heard? Just taking a guess a guess here, but it may be an issue with your PL settings on transmit. Check that you have the channel programmed for repeater use and have the correct PL tone selected.

As @WRAF213 noted, there is a significant difference in the way the various public radio services are used in practice. On CB people delight in talking with total strangers, particularly when traveling. Of course, there are also those who have regular conversations with other users, either locally, or at distances "when the skip is in." Ham users also tend to be gregarious, but not nearly as much as CBers and then generally when traveling or working the low bands. In my observation, GMRS seems more to attract small, closed groups. Often community or family centered. Conversations tend to be practical rather than general rag chews. Which is to say, you may not be getting an answer back because they simply did not hear you (radio config) or because they do not know you and aren't sure why you are calling.

Or, that the owner is not interested in adding you as a user and is not nice enough to tell you that. In which case, the wait would be infinite.

After transmitting, do you hear a short period of quiet carrier and then hear the carrier drop (i.e. a squelch tail) possibly ending in a beep tone? If not, you may have the wrong PL tone. You might try using a second radio to listen to the output to see if you can hear yourself coming back through the repeater. Also, it may just be that the regular users keep to themselves. GMRS usage can be quite different from HAM or CB.

I can’t really comment on the specific antennas in question. But, what I can say is the measure of a good antenna is far more complex than the ability to reach a repeater with a good (full quieting) signal. Impedance and SWR at the desired frequency are important. But, even more important are the quality of materials and construction. Unfortunately, those last two attributes may not be immediately apparent. However, thanks to Murphy’s law, you will definitely observe them at the worst possible moment.

https://www.google.fr/search?q=GMRS+part+95+certified+“repeater”

Ok... No argument with your interpretation. However, note the word repeater is never mentioned. Rather, they use the word transmitter. So, would that, by extension, allow any Part 90 compliant transmitter to be used in Part 95 service? Like as a base or fixed station? And, aren’t handhelds also transmitters? BTW, Inalso found this in the FCC’s response to comments on the (at the time) proposed GMRS rules changes: Several commenters are concerned that the proposal to prohibit combination radios would prevent GMRS licensees from using surplus Part 90 equipment in GMRS. See, e.g., Comments of Jerry Scott Parham at 3. This is not our intent. We will continue to certify equipment that meets the respective technical standards for Part 90 (land mobile) and Part 95 (GMRS) in both services, if requested. However, we are amending the language in new section 95.1761© to clarify the requirement in old section 95.655(a) that Part 95 GMRS radios will not be certified if they are equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service.

Is it legal? NO. Has anyone ever been prosecuted? Probably not. My own thought is use of a non certified radio on GMRS is probably not a primary offense. That is, the FCC is extremely unlikely to come after you for this reason alone. In fact, if the radio is operating properly there’s is no way anyone could tell it was not certified just by monitoring it. However, if the FCC had other reasons to go after you, like spurious transmissions, too much power, being a nuisance or other observable violations. Then, they would probably add a charge for use of a non-certified radio to whatever else they were pursuing. That is 100% my personal view and does not reflect this site or, possibly, even my view tomorrow.

Actually, depending on how you program them, they may be almost legal on FRS. You'd have to set the FRS frequencies in simplex mode and at low power. The main variance from the FRS rules would be the removable antenna. On the other hand, if you get a GMRS license, your grandson would also be covered by your license. However, since the 888 is not FCC accepted for GMRS, you would still technically be in violation of the rules. I would not suggest you violate the rules (it is against the policy to do so on MyGMRS anyway). But, you might goggle around a bit and see what the risks are of using improper equipment are on FRS or GMRS

Thanks for the comments. Do you have any guides to doing this? Good point on the charger. BTW, I mis-wrote above, the batteries are all NiMH. I will check that the chargers we have are specifically for NiMH. Unfortunately, we are pretty invested with the Motorola equipment. But, I will keep an eye out for some used Kenwood gear and give them a try.

Wow. The top guy wires are going to be over a 1/4 mile long.

Very nice.

We have setup a repeater for post-disaster (AKA earthquakes in our area) communications. The idea is to create a channel for neighborhood groups to communicate, principally for the purpose of sharing resources. This is important, because in a post quake situation official resources may be maxed out for several o=hours to a few days. We have looked at a range of HT radio options and have been principally using the Motorola P1225. This is a well built, sturdy radio that has ben well received. They are fairly inexpensive and we have the know-how and tools to program, maintain and repair them. We also have a number of people using CCRs, and their FCC accepted variants. But, this question is about batteries. The only batteries available for the P1225 are NiCads. There do not seem to be any Li-ion of AA/AAA adapter battery packs. So, the issue is: Leaving a NiCad on the charger is not good for the NiCad, and leaving it in a drawer is not good for maintaining a charge. What have other groups done to address this situation. Thanks

Don’t confuse the ARRL with amateur radio and don’t judge amateur radio by the attitudes, actions and positions of the ARRL. Just for starters, ham radio is global and the ARRL is in the US only. Even then, the ARRL only represents themselves and their members, not all ham operators. For one, They do not represent me or my views.