[Wouxun-KG-905G-Programming-Software]

If you right click on the software and run as admin, then you can change your com port. I believe this is a permissions issue.

[BTECH V-1 Help]

Interesting I had the same problem today. Key up, talk, tail end of the repeater blip. I turn on my other GMRS to the same repeater and I don't hear my self, I just hear the repeater tail end. It is just a matter of being a weak signal and out of sight? Supposedly this repeater has a 13 mile radius and I was maybe 8 miles away.

 

Is the fix to get a better antenna?

[How can I tell of a repeater is using a CTCSS or a DCS code?]

Scan one, if you dont pick up a code within a few minutes, try the other.

Like the MTX115 what if you don't have a scan feature? It's just a matter of trial and error I guess.

 

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

[How can I tell of a repeater is using a CTCSS or a DCS code?]

There are a few repeaters in my area but I can't find any of the info on them on here. So I'm trying to do the right thing and ask for permission. I'd like to chime in on the repeater and ask. I have a MTX115 and a GMRS-V1. The GMRS-V1 lets me scan for the used codes. But How can I tell if a repeater is using either or?

[Looking for a new antenna for my MTX115]

Some time back I had posted my experience with four different antennas from an intentionally marginal location which was several miles from the home base and hundreds of feet lower in elevation, using Midland MXT400's at each end (running at mid power setting) and and with a GP-9 2m/440 ham antenna at 40 feet on our ridge top farm base location. The GP-9 is not optimum for GMRS due to being quite a bit off the design frequency and has nearly 2:1 SWR on the 467 channels but reasonable SWR on the 462 channels helped by the coax loss of course. Results surprised me somewhat:

 

- 2m/440 ham antenna retuned for GMRS generally showed one bar on transmit and receive

- 6" Midland stock mag mount quarter wave showed two bars and much better signal copy

- so called 3 dB Midland NMO antenna showed three bars

- so called 6 dB Midland NMO antenna showed four bars

 

I read that at least one person had problems with the 6 dB antenna melting the center coil, but so far we have not had that happen with only limited transmission time when mobile.

 

We use Midland magnetic NMO mounts on our vehicles. My wife has the MXT115 with the 3 dB antenna on top of her Equinox SUV and I have the MXT400 with the 6 dB antenna on my Malibu rear trunk lid so that we can clear the garage door. Range between vehicles is several miles and not that much different than when we used simplex on 2 meters when we use ham equipment. 

 

The 6dB antenna it is then. Thank you.

[Looking for a new antenna for my MTX115]

I've finally went out and got my self a starter radio. But looking at that tiny antenna they ship with the radio .. I feel the need to upgrade. I'm going to go with the Midland NMO mag mount. But I'm not sure what antenna to go with. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you.

[Another New Guy]

Welcome! I'm also a newbie with the same radio.

[Why are so many repeaters private?]

1 for the most part GMRS is intended as a Family radio service.

2  cost. I have $$$ into 3 machines. my time, my $$, it is at my digression to let others use it.

3  people can be idiots. you want to act like a fool on my machines I shut them off.

4  this is not HAM

as to being a member, you would have to ask permission and/or seek out the groups repeater you wish to use.

given your location you should/could be hearing machines in LI possibly  a couple of NYC machines.

 

Thanks. Yea I can see how it would cost a bunch of money and you have to police the idiots some how. But membership fees..I don't know how I feel about that. 

[Why are so many repeaters private?]

I'm pretty new to GMRS and I've been dabbling with it on and off. Many of the repeaters near me or what I can here are "private" . I'm curious as to why? Which leads me to my 2nd question. Do I have to be a member to all these repeaters to be able to transmit? 

[Good 2 way repeater ready radio]

You could do like I do as well. When I'm in my car I hook my Handheld up to a mobile antenna, at least until you find a good mobile radio that you like.  

 

What antenna do you have?

[What radio do you have for your car / truck?]

A tip on reading the advice regarding radio suggestions.  There is a tendency for ham operators to be more willing to use commercial and/or used equipment. On the other hand, those who started with GMRS or came from CB tend to prefer turn-key purpose made gear.  Neither is better or worse than the other. But, depending on your needs and abilities, there might be a difference to you.

 

You check under the avatar to see if a member lists a ham license. Most, but not all, hams do.

 

Personally, I like Motorola equipment and the M1225 is a fine radio.  But, consider the info under my avatar.

 

YMMV

 

And, +1 on bluemax49ers for your programming cable needs.

 

 

You hit the nail on the head right there. I'm looking to have fun, chat on a few repeaters. Maybe get my son into the hobby. I'll look into the M1225, thank you guys for the suggestions. Preferably I'd want something I can turn on, program, and get going ..for now that is. 

 

So when Midland advertises repeater access in their MTX lines, that's not fully true?

[What radio do you have for your car / truck?]

Hey new guy here. I'm looking at a few radio's right now. I decided to get my license after have some fun on CB. I'm curious as to what radio's you guys are using, so I can get an idea of what to get. I'm looking at the MTX115.