WRYS709

I rarely use Rx tones; I want to hear everything and rarely confront two repeaters on the same frequency.

Yes, that's my backup plan if Plan A does not work, but if they use a DCS tone, it is quite a feat to figure it out. Plan A for me is to take my Baofeng UV13 up to the repeater, tune it to the input frequency and scan for the Tones when the repeater is being actively used by others.

Tell us your methodology to "just use it" and I will tell you mine!

Welcome! Did you request access from the Maps here on myGMRS, or elsewhere? Sometimes those requests are just ignored. I try to make contact with users of those repeaters and just ask for permission, by going on the output frequency simplex.

Attached below is a Codeplug that mimics the Part 95e Rules for GMRS once the radio has been "opened." This will allow you to have more control while following the "rules." Be Sure the Model Information menu detail is the same as the Band that you opened it to Anytone AT-779UV GMRS 202310130140.dat

I have purchased four: 1) The Anytone AT-779UV for the car with a cup-holder mount and mag-mount antenna 2) The DB20-G for the car and moved the Anytone to my home 3) Another DB20-G when the mobile DB20-G was stolen; with the plumbers cup-mount holder suggested elsewhere on this Forum; and 4) The DB25-D for the car, when I decided I wanted a radio just like the DB20-G that also had DMR capabilities (now I have two DB20-Gs at home!)

Sounds like more limited range is a negative factor compared to the DB20?

I have no experience with the DB25-G, so I can't advise you on Chirp. I am also a Mac guy, so for years I have programmed my non-Chirp radios with Windows (first XP, then 10 and 11) using Parallels on my Macs. I do have the Radioddity DB25-D, which is like the DB20-G but with DMR and it also requires Windows to program. I am not sure why Radioddity chose to confuse two completely different radios with the "DB25" moniker!

I am a big fan of its less expensive cousin: the Radioddity DB20-G

I believe the Baofeng GM-15Pro is a clone of Radioddity's GM-30 GMRS HT and as such you can use the Radioddity CPS software with an appropriate USB to K-1 cable (I recommend those with a FTDI chip) to also program the unit. I also have the Baofeng UV-13Pro which is the Ham Radio version of that HT and, at least when I purchased it for about $20 from AliExpress, it was open to GMRS as well. It does use a different, Baofeng supplied CPS programming software.

Living in an area that has high QRM, I find it helpful to listen on a WebSDR, such as the Half Moon Bay, CA WebSDR or even the Northern Utah WebSDR. Of course, these are focused mostly on the Ham Bands and in some cases the International Shortwave Bands and not on GMRS so much. There is even a Windows program, CATSync, that will actually control a transceiver such as to allow more easily listening on the WebSDR, while transmitting on the transceiver (and again, of course this is for Ham Radio).

My Baofeng UV-13Pro (the Amateur Radio version of their UV-15Pro) works on MURS as well. I purchased it from AliExpress for about $20.

Are there any similar VHF 2 watt HTs that you could just program the MURS channels into?

Perhaps but using the same directions, it can be returned to GMRS Mode for those concerned. I purposely left out that discussion...

As this topic comes up now and then, I thought I would summarize, again, how to expand the versatility of these inexpensive mini-mobile devices for use on GMRS: 1) With the power off, hold down the V/M button and turn the power on 2) Note the firmware version number and jot it down for future reference, such as "V3.0" 3) Note that the MODE is GMRS. Using the Up and Down arrow buttons, change the Mode to (136-174)(400-470) and turn off the Power. 4) Using the CPS programming software (I prefer version 2.02 of the Radioddity programming software which works on both radios), install the GMRS code plug attached below. You now have more control over the radio using the microphone buttons, as well as other expanded features, such as full 500 programmable channels available for many more repeaters as you travel. Enjoy! Anytone AT-779UV GMRS 202310130140.dat