TNFrank

The factory software won't allow airband inputs into memory, that's what I just posted above. Airbands would have been a plus but they're not a deal breaker.

This is interesting. Got this from Miklor web site on a review of the 5RM. Since I can't get CHIRP to work I guess IF I wanted to program Airband I'd have to do it manually through the keyboard.

I set CHIRP to 5RM and it couldn't read the radio, I tried a couple other options as well with zero success. The Baofeng program gave no option for AM, only FM xnd NFM. I can manually (VFO) type in an Airband and it takes but can't program one into memory with the software. Under the Baofeng software if you don't want to TX you just leave the frequency under TX blank. Also, I have the newest version of CHIRP installed so I do have the 5RM listed. I'll see if the UV-17 Pro will work but I'm not going yo hold my breath.

I just picked up an AR-5RM because I wanted a 10 watt radio. CHIRP didn't work for me, I had to download the Baofeng program which did work. I entered all the frequencies I wanted by hand(no copy and paste option from CHIRP) but I couldn't enter any Airband frequencies. I can go VFO mode and enter an Airband frequency so I know it's Unlocked and will accept them but from the Baofeng Program it's a "No Go". Not a huge deal since I've got my TalkPod A36's for Airbands but it would be kind of nice If I could program them into the radio.

Out of all the radios I've picked up so far 2 really stand out. The 1st is the Wouxun 805G. For a good, basic radio that's easy to use it's hard to beat. The battery also stays charged between times where it's not used. The 2nd one is the Talkpod A36 Plus. With 7 bands you can listen to a lot of stuff including Air Band. It also holds a charge during timed of non-use. These are pretty much my 2 "go to" radios. Which radios have ya'll found that really stand out?

So how would MURS do at 5 watts to put it on equal footing with GMRS/CB?

I'm running the same stubby antenna (only UHF so239 mount) on my truck znd it seems to work well enough for my needs. I wanted something that would be less profile and inconspicuous and this works well in that roll.

We use to get Norinco SKS rifles new for $79 and a 1440 round case of 7.62x39mm on stripper clips for $79. Those days are long gone.

Good luck finding 7.62x39mm ammo for the AK. Since the import ban on Russian ammo we've gotten very little in stock and what we did get is Winchester at $18/20 rounds. AK's and SKS's use to be a good way to go but today you're much better off with an AR in 5.56mm.

It's not a huge deal breaker since 90% of this radios use will be scanning the 4 local DPS channels when I'm driving to see what's going on with traffic on the highway. The other 10% will be when we're off-road looking for a spot to shoot so I'm good with what I've got. It would be nice to have more channels even though I'll probably never use them.

The BTech GMRS v2(same basic radio as the Baofeng UV-82) can go to vfo mode by holding down the menu button when you turn on the radio but it doesn't unlock it.

I went into vfo mode and put my local NOAA channel in so when I switch to vfo I'll get NOAA. I had hopes there'd be a single button to press and hold like they have for FM radio. I'd bet there's someway yo unlock it, just need to figure out the key/button combo to press. Maybe someone will figure it out and post it.

Also, not to change the subject but how do I "toggle" NOAA? No where in the manual does it tell how to do this. I see the FM button for FM broadcast radio but NOTHING for NOAS Weather radio.

Not asking if I'm "allowed", I want to know if there's a hack (Mars/Cap mod, unlock, whatever you want to call it)to be ABLE to transmit on 8-14 and on VHF/MURS frequencies?

Title says it all. Can this radio be unlocked? I'll receive VHF and UHF but in it's locked state it'll only transmit on channels 1-7 and 15-22 GMRS plus the repeater channels. You can't transmit on GMRS/FRS 8-14 or any VHF channels like MURS. It'd be nice to be able to transmit on a wider channel range for emergency use if needed.

So when I Tx the +5 is added to the 462MHz and the Rx is on the channel that listed, i.e. 462MHz. Ok, I've got things set right then. Thanks.

So the factory settings in ALL my radios are wrong then? This is the factory settings for repeaters from my BTech 20v2 and it's showing Tx on 462MHg.

Just to be clear, when using a repeater you transmit on 462MHz and the +5 offset lets you receive on 467MHz. I just want to make sure I've got this right.

I always disable that feature. One channel at a time is more than enough for me.

Checked my truck radio, didn't have an AUX so I canceled the cable. Also, I'm sure that big ol' truck hood will give me plenty of ground plane.

Well, that wasn't all that hard. Power port worked with the radio so no hot wire needed. Figured out a good way to mount the antenna and run the cable. Used 3M VHB double side tape to mount the bracket. Programed it with 1-7(low power)and 15-22(high power)plus the 8 repeater channels, 3 of which had tones so I can use them AND I got my 4 DPS channels(scan only)so I can hear what's happening on the roads. I think this'll work out fine for my needs. I did order a speaker cable so I can plug into my stereo's AUX port to use those speakers if needed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07PQVPNLQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title 04 Dodge Ram on the hood and my shoe size is a 13 wide, LOL.

I wanted to get a radio for the truck for a while now. I ended up getting a BTech 20v2 and a "Ghost" antenna for it. With any luck a buddy of mine will come over tomorrow to help me do the install. I had to order the BTech cable to get CHIRP to read the radio. I removed channels 8 through 14 since the radio won't transmit on those channels because the power settings can't go low enough for FCC requirements. 1-7 are hard set to "low" power which is supposed to be 5 watts and 15-22 along with repeater 15-22 are high power which should be 20 watts but from YouTube tests I've seen is closer to 14 watts. If all goes well I'll be mobile by this time tomorrow.

You can use the KG-UVD1P profile in CHIRP to program channels with the 805g but you'll have to do the settings from the buttons on the radio which isn't that big of a deal since IIRC there's on 22 of them and most of them you'll skip over.

The Talkpod A36 Plus has Airbands and has worked better for me than the H3's I sent back.