WRYZ926

I can't speak for the 935G Plus software working for the 935G. Everyone in my local radios club has either the KG935G Plus or KG-Q10G, including myself. I do know that the KG-1000G Plus softwares works just fine for the KG-1000G. The Wouxun software is free from Buy Two Way Radios and easier to use compared to CHIRP. You do have to have a Windows computer or run the software in an emulator if you are running Linux or MacOS.

You don't need Heliax for your uses. LMR 400 Ultra Flex and similar will work just fine. And you shouldn't hurt LMR 400 Ultraflex as long as you don't loop it too tight when you are finished with it.

I don't understand why Midland did not make the MXT575 have the ability to be programmed from a computer nor have more channels slots. The MXT500 at least can be programmed by computer and can be opened up to have more channel slots in the memory with a firmware upgrade. And yes I replaced my Midland MXT500 with a Wouxun KG-1000g. I like the KG-1000g better overall. I won't even mess with a BTech mobile.

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I have an amateur general license and GMRS license. If I want to use digital modes I get on one of my amateur radios. I like the simplicity of GMRS and do not want to see it change.

I run LMR400 or equivalent for all of my VHF and UHF base antennas. You will definitely be better off using a single run of LMR400 for GMRS.

Without getting too technical, yes high SWR and/or lossy cable can lead to power loss. Basically what happens is power is reflected back down the coax to the radio. And any multi band antenna is a compromise. While they work on multiple bands, the bandwidth will be narrower on each band. I suggest getting an antenna tuned specifically for GMRS or finding a dual band 2m/70/cm antenna that also has good SWR on the GMRS band.

I have to agree that most 2m/70cm dual band antennas will have higher SWR reading on GMRS frequencies. Lossy cable and a higher SWR reading on your mobile antenna could very well be what the issue is. Especially if it is a quad band antenna. Multi band antennas are a bit of a compromise in that the bandwidth for each band will be narrower than a mono band or dual band antenna. A higher SWR will show power loss. Add in poor quality cable will only make things worse. I run a Comet 2x4SR dual band antenna on my SxS. It is tuned for 2m and 70cm. The 2x4SR is one of the few dual band antennas that have good SWR for GMRS. I get 1.1 to 1.3 on channels 1-22 (462 MHz) and I get 1.8 on repeater channels (467 MHz). A good dual band base antenna that also works well for GMRS is the Comet GP9. I suggest trying a different antenna instead of the quad band antenna you have now.

There is no such thing as privacy in the digital age. Especially with cell phones and tablets, etc. Even newer cars are just computers on wheels that track you all of the time (just like your phone). And most of the cameras seen at intersections, etc also have license plate scanners built in. If you served in the US military since 1993, then the government also has your DNA on file. And don't think for a minute that your information is safe on all the different DNA ancestry websites either. If you have ever had any type of security clearance to work with the federal government then they have your life story on file. What I am getting at is it is quite easy to track people down and/or get their personal information now days. If you are that worried about it, then throw away all of your electronic devices, to include phones, tablets, computers, and newer vehicles. Then you need to go off grid an not use any banks along with paying for everything with cash only. PS: Yes Missouri released the entire list of conceal carry permits to the feds years ago without permission. And yes those that released said information did get into trouble.

If it works, it works. Nothing wrong with using what you have.

You always want your base antenna as high as you ca get it. As mentioned - height is might. When I was talking about being in my driveway, I was talking about using a hand held radio or the radio in my car and SxS to talk on the repeater. Repeater antennas will normally be installed on a tower or tall building to get the best coverage. I do have an advantage when it comes to our local repeater. The repeater antennas are on a local radio station tower at 400 feet above ground level. Our 2m repeater antennas are on the same tower at 900 feet. @WRZX542 in your case, you will want your repeater/base antenna above your roof. And when I say above your roof, you want the base of your antenna above the roof. Again the higher the better.

I run a KG-XS20G in my SXS because it is dust and water resistant. The KG-XS20G is IP65 rated. And it works just as well as my KG1000G in my car to access the repeater 21 miles away when parked in my driveway.

I have been very happy with my KG-935G. It is a good hand held and I have no problems talking on the repeater 21 miles away when I am outside. In fact I have been happy with all of the Wouxun GMRS radios I have. The KG1000g Plus and KG-XS20G Plus are both excellent mobile radios.

@UncleYoda and @RayP bring up great points about linked repeaters. We have had issues on our local 2m repeater when someone linked another repeater to it and then left it linked for days on end. We had a lot of kerchunking and other issues until that other repeater's link was shut down. And we have quite a bit of traffic and rag chew on our GMRS repeater that having other repeaters constantly linked would also cause issues.

It never hurts to have multiple tools when doing antenna work.

I've used my Surecom meter, a NanoVNA and the Comet analyzer. They all have their place but I find the Surecom not to be as accurate as the Comet analyzer or NanoVNA. And the NanoVNA's have a learning curve to them.

I know that good antenna analyzers are expensive but you do get what you pay for. I will most likely buy the Comet CAA-500MARKII analyzer. I have used them and they are well built and easy to use. I've used one to test all of my antennas and tune as them as needed.

Personally I would get the Wouxun KG-Q10H instead of the KG-Q10G. The Q10G firmware is more locked down

That was both. Here is a screen shot of the specs from Buy Two Way Radios.

I have only seen the UC-920P listed as a dual band 2m/70cm radio. Wouxun did make a UV-920 that was 2m/1.25m, but I haven't seen one available. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-uv920p-a.html?___SID=U From what I could find online, the UV980P is only 10 watts on 6m and 10m.

Unfortunately the 1.25m (220 MHz), 6m, and 10m bands are all low power when it comes to tri-band and quad-band radios. And that is a shame since it forces you to buy additional single band radios if you want higher power output. One would have to step up to the Icom IC-7100 to get 100 watts max power on 6m through 160m bands with 50 watts for 2m and 35 watts for 70cm. The Wouxun KG-1000g (not plus) still has some of the RX features of the KG-UV980. It will receive a wide variety of bands/frequencies. While there is no performance differences between the KG-1000g and KG-1000G Plus that I can tell, the Plus version is easier to setup and use right out of the box. While I have no experiences with the TYT TH-9800, I have been very pleased with the TYT TH-7800 dual band radios.

Yes generally you will have to manually set the offset in CHIRP when adding new repeater channels. You should be able to copy existing repeater channels and then add tones along with renaming them.

Then you would benefit from using a 50 watt mobile. I get in areas around here with lots of pine and cedar trees that cause issues. The worst is when those trees are right along the edge of the roads.

I have the Midland MXT500 and two Wouxun KG-1000G's. The Midland is sitting in a box while the two KG-1000G's are in use as my base station and in my vehicle. My base station is a KG-1000G while my mobile setup is the KG-1000G Plus. Both radios are very close in price but the Wouxun is definitely better. The KG-1000G has better transmit and receive audio, a removable face for mounting in vehicles and just seems better made than the MXT500. Even though I don't care for the Midland I would still take it over the B-Tech GMRS 50v2. @WRZX542 you didn't say where you are located. Location, terrain, etc will affect how far you can reach out. You will have farther range in places like the desert southwest or the Great Plains without a lot of hills/mountains or lots of forested areas. A 50 watt radio will help push the signal through forested areas compared to a 20 watt radio. You won't see much of a difference in open areas with a clear line of sight.

One of our club members has the TD-8H and hasn't had any problems getting out on any of the bands. He did use the app to program the radio from his phone.