TrikeRadio

In GMRS MODE... channels 31-54 (I think) will automatically act like they are repeater duplexing channels... where they automatically transmit +5 from the receive frequency. Now, you can override that in chirp by setting the SPLIT instead of the + and entering the same transmit channel to make it a SIMPLEX. Here are some screenshots of my CHIRP screens and how i set up a simplex channel in channel slot 36 for instance: first one... shows how I am changing the + to SPLIT... (will be entering the same transmit frq as the receive freq to kindof bypass the repeater offset) Second image you get a popup to enter the tranmit freq.. make it the sameas you receive. thrid.. is is set... upload to radio. note that if you SAVE your chirp files... if you re upload them again at some point wihtout touching the settings for those simplexx channals it might still show it when you reopen the file like it has reset to the + and offset but it will be ok when you put it back in your radio... IF HOWEVER you do make any edits to that line... you WILL have to redo this procecdure or it will think you want it to just do a repeater offset. hope that makes it clearer and it helps you get it working.

Have you tried programming it from the keboard on the radio instead of using Odmaster? I feel like Odmaster is a abit quirky. or use Chirp to program it. what you are trying to do (use a simplex channed on GMRS1 (I assume) with a tone of some kind to elimiate other transmissions... and putting a simplex tone on channel 31 with that same frequency without tones... should work. my only thought is that you might have input the frequency on ch 31 and it thinks you are trying to put in a REPEATER frequency and is trying to offset +5 --- and telling you that you can't transmit as a repeater on the +5 offset from GMRS1 frequency.

I have one but have not really had a chance to use it. I bought it because a friend has a radio that needs an easier way to program it in the field using the cell phone. I don't really like the odmaster app as much as chirp for programming but it is convenient for doing changes away from the computer and without a cable. I have TD-H3 radios personally so they already have the bluetooth built in, so I didn't need the bluetooth programmer for my radios. (and actually I don't find programming most things from the keyboard on the radio to be that difficult) I have never tried a Baofeng, So not sure how easy or difficult that is to program. as far as powering it on... if you charged it, that little button on the side (small and kinda hard to see) should just turn the blue light on it and it should be on.

HA! Well.. mine has an asterisk at both ends.

i just put *NONE* in for my HAM license since I also do not have one.

Good to hear. Hope you get everything working.

What you might do is find and contact a local club (maybe one that owns the repeaters you are trying to use?) and see if they can help you locally. Like mentioned above, if someone can't help you get it working over the internet, a long distance phone call probably won't help either. or, if you want help here... a few things to help would be to give people on this forum some specific things to answer since we don't know what exactly you did or did not do to follow what you saw in various youtube videos or manuals. 1. Tell use which repeater you are trying to connect too. (can you find it listed here on the mygmrs map/repeater lists. 2. list out the settings you input for teh CTCSS or DTS you set... the frequency 3. are you using a GMRS pre-setup radio (in GMRS mode vs being "unlocked") with channels already programmed into it? 4. are you using the REPEATER channels for the right frequencies vs using the simplex channels which have the same frequencies? it might take a few steps but if a few specific questions can be answered one at a time instead of tryinng to guess at what might be wrong... we might be able to help give you some info and advice that will get you understanding it and the radio working for you.

Not sure what Mode you have your H8 set to... but if you have it set to the GMRS mode, all the NOAA frequencies are already set up by default in the last channel slots... like channels 189-199 I think.

Glad you found a good solution for your needs. I am surprised they work well enough when you are "caravaning" if they are being used as handhelds inside of the cars/trucks. But I guess close together it would work.

Horse pudding

The exciting and important job of FCC agents! LOL.

There are already two open, pretty wide coverage GMRS repeaters in the area around McKinney. Have you checked out those repeaters? There are also several smaller range repeaters all around the Dallas Area.

Maybe people you already know in the area would be interested in using radios to stay in touch or use for an activity where radio communications would be useful... you might be able to get them interested enough to get radios themselves to talk to you on your radio. There are repeater clubs out there where you MIGHT meet new friends and find things in common to do things with and use the radios too. But as others have stated, really... GMRS is meant to communicate with people you already know. but yeah.

I love that.

What do you mean exactly by a "24 ft room antenna" ? Do you mean your properly tuned GMRS antenna sits atop a 24 foot tower? is it indoors? is the actual antenna 24 feet tall? GMRS antennas are not that tall) Maybe clarify exactly how you have the antenna positioned and what make/model of antenna it is. That might help people give you helpful feedback.

You might be on the very edge of being able to talk simplex if you don't have too much between the locations. Worth trying. Might have to be outdoors to do it if there is a pretty clear line. I have been about to get 5 to 7 miles simplex in some locations. If the local repeater is not too far away and has some altitude for it's antenna that could work too. Everything depends on your local situation. I can reach a repeater from inside my house that is about 25 miles away, but it is also on top of a 5,000 foot mountain plus on a tower... and I am using a 771G whip antenna on my 5 watt HT.

Isn’t that a problem for people who are using radios that are not able to send that code?

LOL OK... I guess there are mobile MURS radios... But really? $370 for a two watt radio? This looks like a desperate attempt to separate money from a business that does not know better. "hey look... a no-license-required two watt radio for your business needs. Hmmm.

MURS is limited to 2 watts. I dont know about that mobile unit posted above but that is very uncommon. Most MURS units then are HTs. There is a height maximum of how high you can put an external antenna (can't find that at the moment) and the typical range you can expect is maybe 10 miles at most. so... yeah. More info onine: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/multi-use-radio-service-murs

or use MURS radios / frequencies... no license required, but like FRS it is limited in power output and other things. only HT (hand held transmitters) not mobile units. and limited range.

Some repeaters and repeater clubs might like users to Id at the start of a transmission too just for convenience but it is not something mandated by the FCC

Bought both of mine in a set… from Amazon. Never had a problem with either.

My two TD-H3s are blowing my mind. (I've seen so many reports by people bagging on the Tidradios but I have had nothing but great experiences with my H3. ) I'm up at my parents home about 8 miles east of Mariposa California... up in the foothills between Fresno and Yosemite Valley. I got permission from a repeater owner who has on setup overlooking Shaver Lake (I am not 100% sure of its exact location but from google maps it looks like it could be atop a ridge near Mt Stephenson). I'm able to hit the repeater with my two H3 handhelds using 771G antennas. The repeater has to be over 38 miles (60km) away but it seems I have a good line of sight through the hills from our location. The signal coming back does have a little static in it, but it is very understandable. I was amazed and very happy to find out this worked for me with this little amazing radios.

YIKES!

Thanks for your work keeping the site working for us!