Lscott

If you want to stick with Part 95 certified radios, recommended for now, your choices are a bit limited. You have two routes to try, new or used. The prior posts cover the new more popular, and cheaper, Chinese radios. The second are the older used LMR, Land Mobile Radio, the type you see used by factory workers, security guards and some police and fire departments. My personal experience is mainly with Kenwood radios. The software is normally fairly easy to find and the accessories, battery packs - charger bases - speaker microphones - spare antennas - programming cables etc. are easy to find on line new and used. My top pick for everyday carry is either the TK-3170, or the version with trunking (which you don't use on GMRS) is the identical looking TK-3173. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/?context=new A radio with more channels and a few more features is the TK-3180. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/417-tk-2180jpg/?context=new The above radios are analog FM only. If at some point in the future you think you might want to try Armature Radio the above can be "pushed" to operate down in to the 70cm band to cover the repeater section there. Also there are some radios that include various digital voice modes, currently illegal on GMRS, in addition to the typical analog FM mode. A few of these are also Part 95 certified, for FM use. They also cost significantly more money even used. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/254-tk-5320-1jpg/?context=new https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/251-nx-300jpg/ If you don't care about Part 95 certification there are a bunch of Part 90 radios that can be used. Just be warned the FCC might not be enforcing the rules when Part 90 radios are being used, but that could change at anytime. Keep that in mind. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/418-nx-320jpeg/?context=new https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/261-motorola-xpr6550jpeg/?context=new And then there are the non US radios that don't even have a any FCC ID or certification. They were never intended to be sold here but can occasionally be found for sale. They are however perfectly legal to use on the Ham 70 cm band. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/255-tk-d200ed300e-fmdmr/?context=new

Then they go out and buy a horse because it runs on green energy, grass, and the waste product is good for the environment, fertilizer.

You can plug the numbers into this on-line range calculator. It's just a "ruff" estimate and the real range maybe a bit more or less depending on the local terrain. At least you'll get an idea what to expect. http://www.hamuniverse.com/lineofsightcalculator.html

I'm basically a Kenwood guy. I collect mostly HT's. I get most of my radios off of eBay. One has to be a real bargain hunter to avoid over paying. I'm on the look out for a super good deal on some NX-1200DVK2 radios. I want to pay significantly under $200 per unit. Last radio I got was an almost new NX-1300DUK5 with battery pack and antenna for $175. The seller was asking originally $280. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new All thought not Part 95 certified the 400 to 470 band split make nice radios for the Ham 70cm band and will work on GMRS using FM wide band only. My main GMRS HT is the TK-3170 which is Part 95 certified. This is my usual carry radio when I'm out and about. You can find these on eBay for reasonable prices if you shop for a while. Using a cheap 1/4 wave magnet mount it does a good job hitting local wide area coverage repeaters. It has enough range on the PLL to work down into the Ham 70cm band to access the local repeaters there as well. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/ https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/338-cheap-14-wave-gmrs-antenna/

There is a spring bottom section which will prevent damage to the roof top and antenna from tree branch strikes. https://cometantenna.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CA-SPR-instructions-x-1.pdf

Pirate mode? Unless you mean more $$$$.

That's about as good as it's going to get. The match should be fairly decent over the operating range. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/268-ca-2x4sr/?context=new

Just a general comment. That antenna does need a GOOD ground plane for the stated performance and SWR figures. I just wish there was a ground independent version.

You ever watch that movie "Born in East L.A." ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_in_East_L.A._(film)

I’ve ran into a few. Fortunately just a small number. Most are paranoid about getting ANY negative feedback. I’ve gotten refunds from sellers that said in their ads “NO RETURNS”. In general my experience has been pretty good.

As @kidphc mentioned this is an example of what a "read" of a radio can show you. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new

All of the LMR type radios I’ve dealt with were mono band. As pointed out there are a few multi-band radios. I haven’t ran across a radio that wasn’t dual mode, analog FM and one digital voice mode. There are some radios that have two or more digital voice modes, with analog FM, but are generally the newer more expensive models. If you’re interested in digital voice you need to decide which mode. I’m mainly a Kenwood guy but if you want to stick with Motorola I have a few that seem to be OK. Just be ABSOLUTELY sure you get the right band spread. If you want the cover the Ham 70cm band and GMRS then you want the 400 to 470 range. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/261-motorola-xpr6550jpeg/?context=new This radio will do wide and narrow FM along with DMR, Digital Mobile Radio, which is reasonably popular on the Ham bands.

Then I suggest you contact your local FCC field office. Since they have to do the enforcement actions that should settle it.

Looks like it. Of course you could buy the guy a cleaner power supply that doesn’t trash your radio. Then you two can be real buddies like you mentioned earlier.