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Just taking the exam for "General" helps prepare you for taking and passing it next time.

BAOFENG MAKES A NEW RADIO THAT IS FOR GMRS!!!
 
the GMRS-V1   $55.00      https://baofengtech.com/gmrs-v1 
 
ALSO Tera makes one for GMRS as well.
 
the TR-505 GMRS   $99.00   and both are repeater capable!
 
https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr505-gmrs-recreational-handheld-radio

In that case...get some old cellphones without service and put them in the closets. All cellphones that are not activated can still call 911
 
AntiSquid Disclaimer: All comments are personal opinion only and may not constitute actual fact.

The radio comes pre-programmed with all GMRS repeater pairs. CTCSS/DCS tones are FPP (front panel programmable) and are remembered when turning off the radio and then turning on again.
 
One other neat feature is that you can "scan for tones" and quickly identify what tone is being used, then simply program that channel to use the detected tone.

I would run AC power to the location and keep all coax run as short as possible. As has been stated go with the higher location,

I tried the Disney repeater when we were there in July. Never made it in.
 
AntiSquid Disclaimer: All comments made are personal opinion only and may not indicate actual fact.

Sorry I meant 15 inches

The problem with any cable that uses 'foil' as the inner shield is that over time it will begin interacting with the braided wire shield and become 'noisy'. This doesn't happen immediately and may take many months to develop, but it isn't a question of "if" as much as a question of "when..." :
 
For detailed information, see here: http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/double-shielded-coax.html

Is to keep the HOA unaware of the antenna, but if they say something I will point out many TV antennas I have seen in the neighborhood that are in plain sight, with mast of 15', also keeps my wife happy. lol
 
Satellite dish and TV antennas can be installed in your property but not visible from the streets lol, it only worked the first month after the houses were sold
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Damn HOA's and their rules , they don't allow Ham radio/GMRS antennas outside our homes, so I had to put mine in a tree close to my garage.
 
Simple 1/4 wave Ground Plane antenna on a telescopic aluminum pool cleaning pole, painted camo and holded down with strong zip ties. The antenna is about 20'-24' from the ground connected to my Vertex Standard VX-2500 I'm using about 40' of LMR195 coax cable, with a SWR of 1.12
 
I plan to put a repeater for my area and the antenna will be installed on the pine trees behind my house with a repeater enclosed in "dog" house type of enclosure, I don't want to run hundreds of feet of coax to my home, I prefer just run AC power all the way to the pine trees and put the repeater at the base of one of them. I need to put AC power there anyhow so I will be killing 2 birds with one stone ;-)
 
 

If either of you guys want to try communicating on (462.675, 141.3) I can be on the air anytime listening. I usually have no problem hitting that repeater from my driveway, although with all this rain it's been a little iffy lately at 51 miles out.

You really need to give us a better idea of what you have and how you intend to use it. The antenna itself may not be as critical as how you plan to erect it when you set up. My radio club has a rollup J-pole that they fasten to a 15' extendable post and bungee to one leg of their shelter. It works great, but may not be so useful to others. More info from you means better suggestions from us.
 
And what's your budget?

I don't have the software or cable. I do have the full manual though and am able follow directions to program via the microphone's "PTT" button; a series of key clicks!

Thanks for that link, JohnE, That will come in handy. I just got in from Local "Ham Shack" with the re-tuned duplexer, he said it was way off. in other words, the E-bay seller changed the freq. on the radios, but not the duplexer. well all it really cost me was time. I couldn't even give the old HAM Beer money. anyway, i am about to hook it up. wish me luck. lol

Good to hear, Bill. I managed to find a local HAM to tune my duplexer, dropped it off last Saturday. he does it free if for a good cause, I am meeting him at the local Radio shop tomorrow to pick it up. he determined our GMRS repeater was a good cause. I am going to keep it  "Permission only"  to minimize abuse. However anyone that uses this site is welcome to ask permission on the air, if your in ever in the area, as i am usually listening to both repeaters.
 
Also, for Pastor Gary, I have had a request from a local user through myGMRS.com and I have replied to the request both times. I am not sure this person is getting my permission granted reply's to his request. this person is one of the few users that does not post his call sign in his profile. I looked so I could contact him directly, looks like only 5 or 6 users have no call sign posted.

I just bought a full-sized GE MASTR II repeater for $199.99. If nothing else, the two power supplies and two 100 watt continuous duty Class C amplifiers are worth far more than the entire unit, so I don't think I got a bad deal...
 
I already have a Decibel DB4076W-A copper duplexer that should work well with this.

Now I just need to make arrangements for a friend to drive me up to Milwaukee in his pickup truck to haul this H U G E monster back down to Hammond, Indiana. http://puu.sh/r5Csw.jpghttp://puu.sh/r5Cug.jpghttp://puu.sh/r5Cvk.jpg

450.00 is as close as you can get. Honestly there isn't really much difference in a propagation map of 450.00 versus 467.00... 
However, there is another propagation map generator here that will allow you to select a exact frequency. As long as you are fairly conservative in your input, you will receive a predictive coverage map that so far has proven itself as pretty accurate from my empirical tests in the real world:
http://lrcov.crc.ca/main/
 
In the example below, the colors are set as follows:
Light gray = HT coverage
Light blue = mobile coverage
Light red = sketchy at best for mobile, fairly good for a base station
 
Repeater is 467.675 40 watts at 42' on a 7.5 dB gain Comet CA-712EFC antenna.
 
BTW, unlike the other Canadian site, this map is generated almost instantaneously. I use both however using the same input data and compare them.
 
http://puu.sh/qZF3q.jpg

The UV5R is not part95 cert. and as far as I know, no Baofeng radios are. However as I have always believed, Part95 cert is in the programming of the radio, as seen with the powerwerx  made by Wouxum, this shows us that a radio once properly programmed is technically compliant. not certified until the manufacture applies for the certification. I myself also use Baofeng radios, since they are half the cost of similar part95 cert. radios. and 4 watt's is better than 1 or 2 watts. also versatility, Many Part95 cert. radios that include FRS are no so versatile. The GMRS service allow up to 5 watt's and removable antennas, FRS does not.  I have my UV5R programed for GMRS freq's only and when I am in my truck, I use an external antenna to prevent radiating my 4 watt's back into my head and my body. For less technical users I like the BF888 it has 2 watt's, comes with a gain UHF only antenna and works 2X as good at twice the range of a Motorola bubble pak radio, and only cost 19.99 shipped. I go to the airport once a week, the BF888 hit's the repeater at 7.6 miles as easily as the UV5R and the UVB5. for those of us not made of money, the value of these radios far outweigh the certification issues, However the use of non part 95 cert. radios is likely against the charter that allows GMRS service, even though the wording seems vague I am sure these radios were never meant to be allowed and against your license to use them. However with so many Hotels and taxi cab drivers illegally using and also using non part 95 cert. equipment, The FCC will unlikely ever get to prosecuting actual family use of non cert. equipment.  I say use equipment that is affordable and well within the spec's for technical part 95 certification, use good radio operating practice and you'll be fine. 

MURS does not allow repeaters.

To answer my own question since I've been experimenting, I've been able to talk loud and clear to mobiles in and around the Charlottesville, VA area from Warrenton, VA (61.5 miles) using my mobile transceiver with a mag mount. I can also talk from Culpeper (42 miles) but not as clear. I guess location is everything. 61.5 miles is a personal range record for me on GMRS.

I acknowledge that you meant to write "VHF" instead, but VLF is actually a thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency
 
Good for talking with submarines, apparently.

you could use better feedline. and I would get that antenna at least 20' higher than your UHF TV antenna, Higher watts could damage your TV tuner.

Try the rooftop-to-rooftop with both factory rubber ducks.
 
Double-check that you're both on the same channel, including the A/B setting.
 
Try a different channel.
 
Verify that both units can properly receive (use the NOAA weather frequencies in your area, they should be a good strong signal, although they are VHF).
 
Since you have 3 radios, try the range tests with all three (1 <-> 2, 1 <-> 3, 2 <-> 3). Also swap out the antennas that way to verify, once you know you've got good radios.
 
I've heard horror stories about the build quality of the Baofeng radios. I have a handful of them and so far they have been fine for my needs... but it may be something of a crapshoot.

According to the map page there is one in Woodbridge and one in Arlington (both suburbs in NoVa).  I am between those, but with just the stock antenna (and living down by the river) I haven't heard any traffic on them.

Hi Guys,
 
My GMRS licence was just granted but I've been benefiting from your expertise for some time now. This looks like the place to be for information and like minds. My thanks to the creators of this web site.
 
I've been playing with radios since the days of the superheterodyne walki talkies and once held the WN9MTA