amaff

So then what's the issue if they're not using GMRS radios but more than likely using FRS radios legally?

You should do a quick web search on what frequencies FRS blister pack radios use...

Yes.

Power Save.

I'm pretty sure that's just the Motorola screech

Apparently there is programming software for these. It doesn't LOOK like you can change the tones from the face of the radio, but this would do it. Alternately, it'll give you some idea of what tones are set. If you watch their video, when they read from the radio to the software, EVERY channel has tones set. I have no idea why they do this.

They're not trying to connect to a repeater. FRS radios absolutely can talk to a mobile GMRS radio if they're set up correctly. My bet is the Midland has some tones pre-set that it's listening for and the FRS radios don't. Or vice versa. Edit: oh hell they're Retevis radios. Retevis LOOOOVES pre-programming its radios with tones. If the walkies can talk amongst themselves but can't hear the mobile radio, my guess is that is the problem. But on the bright side, their manual is also terrible

There's no monthly fee, just a yearly fee. It's tOtAlLy DiFfErEnT.

I'm not sure how anyone could use an H3 and a UV-5R and not see that one's got a good bit more capability than the other. I have multiple of each. Haven't touched the 5Rs since the H3s came in.

That's correct. And annoying...and why I have mine in 'Normal' mode. I have a separate list of 22 channels with tones that all my radios run for when we're out doing stuff, but I want to have the plane jane ones on there as well and Chrip at least was unhappy about letting me do that. With it in normal, you can put whichever GMRS channels you want wherever you want.

If we're just going to straight up ignore the simplest explanation of why there might be morse code on repeater channels, screw it, let's just say it's aliens

It's stupid not because it would hurt anything, but because it wouldn't do much. The battery negative is already connected to the frame. It wouldn't fry the radio (it's just...ground). But also, there ain't but 1 wire in the antenna. Does he mean connect the core to the battery negative, and the shielding to the chassis (...which is also connected to battery negative?) You might be correct in your assessment. Or maybe he's a mad genius

Woah...didn't see that...twist...coming

It's repeaters identifying themselves periodically. 15-22 share the same frequencies as repeater output frequencies for GMRS.

The 935G actually isn't. But I think that further illustrates your point. Half the price of an Icom, with a better front end.

And yet you seem to care so, so deeply. Enough to comment anytime you can that they should have bought a different radio.

double post

Indeed there are, but I'm not a ham. Those are among my 'just in case' frequencies tho.

We're going to be spending about a week in and around Yellowstone (primarily) and Grand Teton NPs I checked the usual suspects (myGMRS, Repeaterbook, RadioReference, google generally). I found a few frequencies I want to have on hand just in case but nothing I'd be able to use for general usage. Are there any unlisted GMRS repeaters around those parks 'we' are aware of? Thanks

You can sort it by date (just under the 1st post), but it really does make trying to follow a discussion damn near impossible if you don't immediately realize that you're in "that" forum.

The main difference I've been able to actually notice in real life use... ...is that the GMRS antenna is ~2" shorter, which means I can store them in 1 of my cases with the antennas on, but can't with the ham antennas I'm sure there is some difference at the very edges of the performance envelope, but the ham antennas seem to do fine on GMRS for me. They can talk on the same repeater at 50 miles as the GMRS antenna, with similar signal reports, and can talk simplex to my family at 4 miles (we're up on a hill, which obviously helps). In my use, I've not been able to tell any difference.

I wouldn't have put a single dollar on them being different for a $35 radio, but I bought a pair of GMRS, then needed a couple more and liked them enough and accidentally bought a pair of Ham. They are indeed different. GMRS top, Ham bottom: GMRS: Ham:

I honestly can't speak to the Retevis software. I've only used the DB20-G software (as that's the radio I have)

Yup, the use case is very different. With a few linked repeater networks (or if you happen to be in a busy area) you definitely can 'make contacts' with GMRS. But that's not remotely what the majority of people use it for, nor is it its intended use case. They're great tools for solving a comms problem for another activity. A lot of people seem disappointed that 'no one wants to talk to me on GMRS'. Because that's not really what its for. If I'm talking to my friend spotting for me on at the race track and someone else comes on frequency, the first thing that's going to happen is we're moving to our backup channel lol

Oh, there are certainly "some people" who care. You shouldn't care about their opinions, but they are definitely out there.