BoxCar

Marc, I'm sure you will get several good comments but, I would start with an admonishment that GMRS isn't going to bring the world to their doorstep. Give an overview of the coverage that can be expected with a 5W HH in the different terrains they most likely will be in. Talk briefly about increasing power doesn't always mean more coverage and how power only increases readability within your operating horizon. Ensure people understand line-of-sight coverage and how better and higher antennas function. Talk about the two services, GMRS and FRS sharing the same frequencies and stress the need for courtesy by the operators. Mention GMRS is a "bring your own contacts" service as there is little rag-chewing between operators.

Just on transmit

Do you have a programing cable? If not, order one from Radioddity and then download the programming software. Radioddity has tutorials one programming radios, watch a few. The steps are the key items, noy necessarily the radio used.

Wood screws?

FRS is narrowband while GMRS is wideband. The difference is the amount of the radio channel used. A channel is 25 kHz wide and wideband occupies 20 kHz and narrow 11.3 kHz.

There is no difference. The radios themselves are not licensed, the operator holds the license. If a GMRS radio is talking to another radio, no matter the type, on FRS frequencies then they are FRS units talking on frequencies licensed by rule and do not have to identify. If the channel is GMRS, then they must identify.

If you are on FRS channels, then no.

The Comet 2X4SR covers the bands with some antenna gain for increased coverage. The Signal Stalker by Signal Stuff also covers the bands very well but no antenna gain.

I use my Whiskey number from the 70's - 46W194.

Rather than modifying the 4 person intercom hardware and the work of trying to find and wire the necessary hardware, why not just buy a headset from Paradan and connect it to the radio? I have one of their headsets on my ICOM radios and it is extremely robust and comfortable.

I don't know why some people just think the regulations don't apply to them. Even unlocking the radio to operate outside its certified parameters violates the regulation.

Not approved for use in BOTH services. The Type Certification would be for GMRS with an additional statement it meets Part 15 requirements which is needed for Amateur use. Putting the radio onto Amateur frequencies negates the GMRS certification as stated in the regs.

Try Paradan Radio.

Welcome, and let the spending begin!

Father's old rebuilt Dodge

16K is also used by some.

SHEESH! Ever used Wikipedia or even done a search about Rosa Parks. You are obfuscating your lack of performing research and fact verification just like a prominent political candidate campaigning for relection.

Rosa Parks was sitting in seats marked for "colored" and not in seats for "whites." She refused to move from her seat when a white couldn't find another seat. Now, if you are going to make statements about historic events you need to verify your facts first.

A VNA can be purchased for around $75 that will give you all the information you would get from a dedicated antenna analyzer costing over $300.

Have you made any contact with a local ham club? Antenna tuners are pretty common equipment for hams.

Many antennas come with cutting guides, just remember to check and measure twice before cutting. You really need an antenna analyzer to tell you where the antenna is tuned before making any changes. An SWR meter isn't an analyzer.

That's not correct. When transmitting in DMR both time slots are sent so the entire 12.5/25 kHz channel is used even if it is carrying only one timeslot.

Personally, I would look more towards MURS for trail use rather than GMRS. MURS, being VHF vice UHF, will have better penetration in wooded areas and follows the earth curvature better than GMRS. 2 watts on MURS will give you about the same coverage as 5W on GMRS.

I use this on my amateur radios, not the GMRS ones.

WX is on the radios, set to activate if an alert is received.