BoxCar

Kenny, You are flat wrong in stating that a transmitter location defines how it is classified. The use of the station determines the class. If a station only communicates with one other station, then you could consider it a fixed station. Yes, some fixed stations do communicate with more than one other station, but the others are usually receive only. Golf course or farm sprinkler systems are examples of one-to-many, while microwave is an example of a one-to-one system. Radios used under parts 95 and 97 are either base stations, control stations or repeater stations.

Look for two-way radio dealers near you. They will either do the install themselves or recommend someone.

You are suffering from "analysis paralysis" in that you are so wrapped in your comparisons that you've lost sight of your original objective.

Anderson power pole connectors will fit the tabs on the battery perfectly.

Does your manual show the menu tree? Look through the tree and see if squelch is listed and the menu number. Then, go to that menu number and set it.

A common misconception. Tuned antennas are needed for transmitting, not for receiving. The radio receiver tunes any length of wire to the desired frequency but the longer the receiving antenna is, the stronger the received signal. (More surface to pick up signals.)

Places like the UPS store also offer boxes.

Hams have been using house gutters for antennas in HOA restricted areas for years.

RTFM - Read The FULL Manual. You are probably listening on a simplex channel where you need to be on a repeater channel. Repeater channels usually have some identification such as the letter R after the number.

https://www.otto-comm.com/products/speaker-microphones/accessories

Having the collar above the hole allows the antenna to make a better water-resistant seal for the connection.

There are more ham repeater sites than GMRS.

I disagree with your assumption that phone service would fail nationwide under most conditions. A SHTF situation is generally localized, but the locality may cover a large area. Hurricanes and wildfires are fair examples, as those affected would treat the problem as a SHTF event, but 100 or more miles away, there are no problems. You would probably not be able to communicate outside a small area around you using GMRS or FRS due to the frequencies being used. Amateur radio in the 2 meter and 70 cm bands would likely experience the same problems. However, not all frequencies would be effected the same and hams, having access to many other frequencies, should be able to relay messages and even phone patches to other areas.

Doesn't matter as long as the primary call sign is given as required.

10 and 11 meter refers to the wavelength of the signal. To get the frequency, divide 300 by wavelength. 11 meter is the CB band and 10 meter is the ham band just above the CB frequencies. Radio frequencies are fickle in that they generally follow what we've been saying. But then the signals can do strange things because of outside influences like sunspots where they often skip hundreds of miles or can't make it around the block. Generally, lower frequencies (longer wavelength) will travel further than high frequencies. I will suggest mobile radios over handhelds. A good mobile radio paired with a permanent base station antenna and power supply for use in home, with the addition of a cupholder radio mount and magnetic base antenna for the vehicles, as the most flexible. For the home power supply, I recommend the Mean Well brand (https://www.amazon.com/MEAN-WELL-LRS-350-12-Single-Switchable/dp/B0109IMRPS/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._BDCCr0pNIzZtbfN4znPqD0sp75Oamcg8qWIuJj2Y_wc4n6lpr_DcDdX4Bfb1VBV9MEn8GyEEDIwCKD5JjcTGHUnd_QGIX-gzZDRwz9tUAr0pmpBOWK6YJxmlZKh7KdCFePnOnfd3z-PFZ5T8FIVeEy48bXYckkvye3ryKwQ7Yb_ra3PIC9hSx0BhSSsSA9gxXnGhl5QG_24_3bqM7-pGlbNmcZUuvrO44yg6cgK5bxzgUggejhovVuJwZg7u_0v5TKjgA18hoP3nMOf4-CGKMTdKse1Sm9F9lf1eFOP6h0.1a4veoZni7XELGVaPS1-RE0DXk7-8jy5542tzhGgsCg&dib_tag=se&keywords=MEAN%2BWELL%2BLRS-12&qid=1708898002&s=pc&sr=1-3&th=1) as these are public safety grade units without the high premium attached to "radio" units. This particular power supply will not only operate your radio but also charge a battery system concurrently.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind. First, a repeater is a separate transmitter and receiver interconnected, so the receiver triggers the transmitter to send everything it "hears" on another frequency. The two frequencies, or repeater pair, are fixed in the GMRS allocation, with the receiver set to one 462 MHz frequency and the transmitter sending its signal on the 467 MHz channel of the pair. The repeater should be located somewhere all stations can reach or access, usually about equidistant from your three sites. The repeater can carry only one transmission at a time, but anyone can listen to what the two parties are talking about. Secondly, as you know but have not truly researched, the repeater requires power, and if that power source is not available, the repeater stops working. Therefore, in an emergency, all your nodes (radios) need an alternate source of power. That's usually done by batteries. The size or capacity of the battery system depends on how much power the repeater requires and how long you want it to remain in operation. The other point I wanted to make is about antennas. There are two types, omnidirectional and directional. Your repeater will need an omni and each of your houses could use either. A directional would be pointed at the repeater location and be mounted high enough so it would overcome obstacles between it and the repeater. There are formulas available that can be used to calculate the height needed to reach your repeater as well as the height the repeater antenna needs to reach the furthest point you need coverage. The other option you have, which requires more work but could be less expensive, is for each of you to get licensed as an amateur operator and use any existing 2 meter repeater system already in place. Getting ham licenses isn't difficult, but it does require study of the material and then passing a 35 question test covering the requirements. Ham radios are generally more expensive than GMRS radios, but they are also more powerful and have better receivers. Some ham radios can be modified to use GMRS frequencies, but that is against regulation. The cost for a license is the same for both services, $35.00. If a person without an amateur license wants to use the ham radio, the licensee must be present and able to control the radio. It's not the same as GMRS, where the license covers all family members but is workable in any setting.

I use this mount. https://www.lidoradio.com/collections/buy-with-prime/products/lm-803-amp

All this arguing about interconnecting repeaters doesn't mean squat. What is important is how the FCC and its bureaus interpret the regulations. The FCC's interpretation of what constitutes an emergency responder is an example. The FCC interprets it to be law enforcement, fire services and medical response only which is in direct conflict with the public law establishing Homeland Security stating the groups it includes as emergency responders. The only way their interpretation will change is if a federal judge rules against their current understanding of what the regulation covers.

You're just backwards. The receive tone governs what you hear from the repeater. Transmissions to the repeater are on the offset frequency.

The size of Heliax needed depends on the three variables of frequency, length of run, and power.

Digital signals are decoded until the bit error rate reaches the point the signal can no longer be decoded. That said, it means the signal doesn't fade, it just drops off entirely. Analog FM fades as it gets further away but digital is there till it isn't.

Its another network isn't it?

Lowering the squelch will have an effect on the receive but if it helps is unknown. I usually run my squelch on either 1 or 2. But then my HTs run around $100 each. They are similar construction to yours, as in they are SOCs but their SINAD is .2 uv.

For a calibrated source to check the SDR use WWV at 10.0 MHz.

!.5 miles is pretty average for an HT in an urban area. The key point is antenna height. That goes for both your transmitting antenna on the HT (about 6 feet) and the height of the receiving antenna (your repeater). The buildings and trees interfere with the path, so that's why only the short distance. You would get about half the distance going HT to HT. The receiver in your HTs is not real good, it needs. 25 uv for a decent receive signal. I'd say the problem isn't the installation as much as it is the HT receivers and the only fix for that is a better radio. At $30 ea. for the pair, you got what you paid for them. Me, I'd throw them in a box for a SHTF event and get a couple decent mobile radios. Right now, Radioddity is selling their 25W mobile for $99 which is less than they are asking for their 20W model. Radioddity DB25-G GMRS Mobile Radio | 25W | Quad Watch | UHF VHF Scann