amaff

Quitter!

Pretty much this. You've got to try pretty hard to actually get into real trouble with the FCC. And even then...

All of mine that can be unlocked are (well, they're ham / GMRS radios that are unlocked) because most of the cheap radios' software is really restrictive. They're unlocked so I can configure them how I want. Following all the GMRS rules (my mobile won't transmit on 8-14, for example, and runs 5W on 1-7, etc), but I can put the channels I want where I want in the radio's memory.

A lot of folks use Ham radios. A lot use commercial / LMR UHF radios. I often joke that "How do you know if someone's using a Motorola? Don't worry, they'll tell you."

It's not a "GMRS Radio" thing, it's a "Baofeng quality control" thing. Some are great. Some are less good, and you never know which one you're going to get. Your expectations aren't wrong about GMRS in general. But you might have gotten a pair from a bad batch, unfortunately.

I guess these are fake then

So that's what? Just a CR then? Because while not cheap, those are made in China.

Another DB20-g user here. It's not perfect, but for <$100 it's hard to beat. More money to spend on a good antenna mount and antenna. And it meets your brief. Will receive NOAA radio, dual band listening (...unless you unlock it). And like WRUQ357 said, it's as easy as changing to a repeater channel and setting the tones. You can even program in channel names from the face of the radio (ie: without plugging in a computer) if you want. My only real complaint is, like many cheaper GMRS radios, it's super restrictive on what it'll allow you to program (ie: it wants the channels in very specific places. Channel 1 goes in memory slot 1, etc) and it only has 8 or 9 'extra' repeater channels. But that can be... fixed (see above). Something to note: The Retevis flavor of this same radio (they're both basically Anytone 779UVs with different stickers on them. My DB20-G even said "ANYTONE" on the power up message when I first got it) does *not* come with a programming cable, that I've seen. The Radioddity does. So if that's something you want, keep that in mind. You can buy the cable for a few bucks, but Amazon shows the Radioddity $10 cheaper than the Retevis that doesn't come with it. There are some programming quirks (and the manual sucks) but there's plenty of info out there, including on this site, with user guides. TLDR: Not the best radio, but does what you want for relatively little $.

Yup. It's an amateur radio. It won't (...by default...) transmit on GMRS. But with the barest minimum of effort, answers are out there... https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=UV-82HP+unlock

As an example using both PL and DPL tones on various channels, should give you an idea of what it should look like

Ah, I misunderstood then. I thought you were also of the position that GMRS was a gateway for amateur radio in more than a minority of cases.

Might be the same problem this person is having. You can't toggle the repeater function on / off in Memory mode. Since it's a GMRS radio, are you using one of the baked in repeater capable channels and has it been configured w/ the correct tones on that channel?

You're kind of countering your 1st point with the 2nd. I think *most* GMRS licensees aren't looking for a hobby. They're looking for decent radios to fill a communications need better than blister pack radios will. If I've got family coming with me to the race track for the weekend, they don't need to go and sit for a test for a ham license for me to throw them a radio and headset to spot for me.

The owners of those repeaters haven't put them on the map.

I didn't say it wasn't GMRS. I said it wasn't GMRS 1. If they're trying to talk on GMRS 1, and have another radio listening on GMRS 1, transmitting on GMRS 8 isn't helping them any

It's not how close. It's how well can you see it. I mean, not literally. I can't see an antenna 50 miles away from me. But there's nothing but clear air between me and it. Down in a canyon you'll be lucky to get out 1/4 mile because you're surrounded. Trees are often a middle ground. Signal can get out further than being down in a hole, but not nearly as far as in clear air. Do you have another radio you can test with to see if you can talk through that repeater on it?

Sounds like you somehow managed to set an offset onto GMRS 1. So you're transmitting to a frequency that isn't GMRS1. Disable the offset and try it again?

Is... is the not GMRS frequency... considered GMRS? .........no. Still no. A GMRS locked radio wouldn't let you do that anyhow. They'll usually let you *listen* on 441, but it wouldn't let you transmit. Just because you can put a frequency into a radio doesn't change the FCC's frequency allocation.

Wouldn't be the first time that a "private" repeater's tones were readily available. If it's not really explicit that it's an open system and go ahead and use it, it's good etiquette to at least ask (even if that's keying up, identifying yourself, and saying you're looking for permission to use it and, if the owner's not on, if anyone could put you in touch.

Because oftentimes, this is where repeaters are located: And this is where you and your friends are located Ok, I don't actually know that, but...repeaters are often powerful radios with big antennas located somewhere high up. You're holding a handset on whatever ground you're standing on. I can reach a repeater on a mountain 50 miles from my house, but if I'm hiking in a canyon, I'll be lucky to get half a mile depending on where the other radio is

It is. Ensign Peak's less than 5 miles from the airport, and far and away the closest mountain-top.

Yeah, the channel programming is SUPER restrictive in GMRS mode. But it's also really easy to program in the GMRS rules once it's opened up. I also really like that it has a "TX OFF" function for each memory channel that you can set from the face of the radio, if you want to program in, say, ham frequencies that you don't usually have permissions to transmit on.

Similar thing with a GMRS repeater that has incredible coverage of the Salt Lake valley (colloquially named the Capitol Repeater as it sits on a mountain overlooking the State Capitol building) Anecdotally, the owner passed away years ago. The equipment and site are still active. It's on a site with, IIRC, FAA radio gear, as it's near the SLC airport. No one seems to know why or how it got there, it's just 'always been there' for most of us, and a ton of folks use it. Some of the more stalwart members of the GMRS community in northern Utah have tried making contact with the family to see what it would take for someone to take over stewardship of that repeater, but so far, to my knowledge, haven't gotten very far.

Menu 25 (SFT-D, ie: Offset) does have an "OFF" setting, but I'm pretty sure that just means no offset. I don't believe it has the same effect as setting the Duplex to Off through Chirp. Might have to play with that some tomorrow.