amaff

I guess my question is, how did you arrive at 462.600? Is there a repeater out there that you're hearing on that frequency? If so, it may just not be listed (at least, not on MyGMRS). Your radio may have a tone scanner function that you can use to listen for the output tone, and hope that it's using the same tone for both input and output (but we won't know without knowing what radio you've got). But given that I'm not seeing anything on here near you on that frequency, or on RepeaterBook, that may be your answer as to whether or not they want random people hopping on.

Is there a specific repeater you're trying to access on .600? Usually it's pretty straight forward. Sometimes the information is published plainly (generally, "open" repeaters), other times they ask that you request access and they'll send you the details. The only one I'm seeing near Plano that MIGHT work (it's a ways away) is this one, on 625. Looks like you can request access for the info. "Open" repeaters will usually have info like this:

This. There's almost 600 repeaters listed, plus who knows how many that aren't on MyGMRS, just on 462.600. You'll need to narrow it down a bit ...

Is it because those people don't realize that there is no such thing as simplex "GMRS channels" and "FRS channels" because all 22 are shared? (ok, there are ERP and bandwidth difference, but the frequencies are all the same)

Hol up...so those mobile starlink units don't actually use the starlink network right now and just use the cell network?

No matter how much new tech comes out, many people (some might actually say "SOME people") like having independence from infrastructure they don't own and control. One day, someone can flip a proverbial switch and turn off starlink. It's space-based, but still relies on ground-based control and networking. Ground-based outages still affect them, depending on what's having issues.

Woah! Oh.

That REALLY depends on terrain. I can talk to my parents almost 5 miles away as the crow flies, simplex, with 5W handhelds, but we're both up on opposite hills overlooking a valley, so we have basically clear LOS to each other. If we were both on flat ground? Maybe if we were out on the salt flats in the west desert. But other than that? It would take some experimentation at a minimum. Antennas on roofs would help a lot. Or if 1 of them is on elevated terrain relative to the others, maybe get a 'portable' repeater set up with an exterior antenna at their place that they can all talk through. There's certainly options, but being 200 miles away doesn't help.

"shut down" implies they actually did something about it beyond writing a couple letters. They're definitely not "shut down" in many cases.

I DIY'd a couple of storage solutions for most of mine. I need to do the same thing for my UV-5R, 5RM and UV-K5 at some point.

Half a watt for mine, and 70 mile distance to the repeater. It's definitely a thing. Power helps punch through obstacles a bit, but LOS > *

No.

Or one that can transmit where you can't. My car can do felony speeds, but I have control over the throttle pedal. Which is to say: basically all of my radios are capable of transmitting where I'm not allowed to. But they are set up to not transmit in those spaces.