WRCZ387

Because they were written by bureaucrat lawyers, not 'normal' people.  LOL

I guess the question at this point is WHY is there 5 pages of discussion on a topic that is simple to answer.
A radio that is PART 90 certified for commercial radio use is acceptable and legal for use on GMRS.
Modified ham radios are NOT PART 90 certified and therefore are NOT allowed to be used on GMRS Although the will 'work'.
This applies to repeaters as well as portables and mobiles.
We seem to want to beat this stuff into the ground here and I fail to understand why that is.  GMRS is in the middle of the UHF PART 90 frequency allocation.  So from a technical standpoint, there would be no reason to think they wouldn't be allowed.  Keep in mind that a ham radio for UHF (420 to 450Mhz) operated on GMRS is being operated 17Mhz outside of it's design parameters.  Where a commercial radio that is PART 90 (450 to 470/512Mhz) is running INSIDE the design bandwidth of the radio.
Now of course, there are considerations for power output that have to be followed.  Some frequencies are lower power and some mobiles and portables will NOT turn down far enough to be legal to operate on the simplex GMRS frequencies.  So you simply set those channels as receive only or don't program them in radios that can't turn down to a legal power output level. 

My goof, when I searched, I didn't look at all the results well enough
I quoted the N connector for a TRA4503P
I did see the detail about the ground plane being necessary
I was getting ready for work when I was reading the forums & responded, I rushed & I goofed
I apologize for my mistake

From what I searched, the 4500 is NMO base which is what you want for mobile antenna mounts
The 4503 is N female which is usually used for base/fixed locations
73

From what I searched, the 4500 is NMO base which is what you want for mobile antenna mounts
The 4503 is N female which is usually used for base/fixed locations
73

I don’t own any “purposely manufactured” GMRS radios. I use new or used commercial gear, many with Part 95 certification, programmed for GMRS. Generally the commercial gear works better, has more features and more flexibility. A few of the hand held radios I own are 4/5 watts with up to 512 channels, plenty for any uses I need. 

Some of the NGGMRS repeaters are tagged with: Open to all transient users. permission required for local and regular users.
A few years ago, I was in Hixson/North Chattanooga & was a guest on their weekly net on the Lookout Mountain machine
It looks like they reopened the .700 machine, it wasn't activated when I was there, only the Lookout .650 & the non-linked Chattanooga .600 were live
While you're there, I would announce my call with 'traveling' or 'visiting'
Hope my advice doesn't step on any toes
73
 

I read a post over on radioreference awhile back, that there is a legit experimental licence for digital on GMRS, it's in Alameda, CA
https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=234790&x=

Uh, no
Bad catch on my part, I didn't look at the modes being used
LAPD is P25, oops,
My bad is a severe understatement [hanging my head in shame]
At least LASO & LACoF are a mix of narrow band & wide band FM
Send me to my room to reread Frequencies & Modes 101 again

Uh, no
Bad catch on my part, I didn't look at the modes being used
LAPD is P25, oops,
My bad is a severe understatement [hanging my head in shame]
At least LASO & LACoF are a mix of narrow band & wide band FM
Send me to my room to reread Frequencies & Modes 101 again

I have a BTech GMRS V-1 in the car for my lunch time at work
I have the local GMRS repeaters & rail frequencies programmed in
And the NOAA weather channels, this is the lousy weather season in Florida
My Alincos are my better quality rigs for everyday carry

I just looked at the specs for your GM-30 on Radioddity's web site: 
Specifications:
Default Channels: 30
Channel Capacity: 250
Battery: 1500mAh, 7.4V
Output Power: 0.5W / 5W
Tones: 50 CTCSS / 104 DCS
Tx Frequency Range: 462.5625-467.7125 MHz
Rx Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz, 136-174 MHz, 400-470 MHz
Your UHF receive is 400 - 470 MHz, it doesn't tune high enough for those departments
According to the Radio Reference.com data base for LA County https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=201 
LACoF starts at 470 MHz
LAPD uses 484, 506 & 507 MHz
LASO runs between 482 -485 MHz
LAFD isn't even in the ball park, it uses higher 800 MHz channels
Have you updated the firmware & software to the current version? Maybe that will give you expanded receive

I just looked at the specs for your GM-30 on Radioddity's web site: 
Specifications:
Default Channels: 30
Channel Capacity: 250
Battery: 1500mAh, 7.4V
Output Power: 0.5W / 5W
Tones: 50 CTCSS / 104 DCS
Tx Frequency Range: 462.5625-467.7125 MHz
Rx Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz, 136-174 MHz, 400-470 MHz
Your UHF receive is 400 - 470 MHz, it doesn't tune high enough for those departments
According to the Radio Reference.com data base for LA County https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=201 
LACoF starts at 470 MHz
LAPD uses 484, 506 & 507 MHz
LASO runs between 482 -485 MHz
LAFD isn't even in the ball park, it uses higher 800 MHz channels
Have you updated the firmware & software to the current version? Maybe that will give you expanded receive

I just looked at the specs for your GM-30 on Radioddity's web site: 
Specifications:
Default Channels: 30
Channel Capacity: 250
Battery: 1500mAh, 7.4V
Output Power: 0.5W / 5W
Tones: 50 CTCSS / 104 DCS
Tx Frequency Range: 462.5625-467.7125 MHz
Rx Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz, 136-174 MHz, 400-470 MHz
Your UHF receive is 400 - 470 MHz, it doesn't tune high enough for those departments
According to the Radio Reference.com data base for LA County https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=201 
LACoF starts at 470 MHz
LAPD uses 484, 506 & 507 MHz
LASO runs between 482 -485 MHz
LAFD isn't even in the ball park, it uses higher 800 MHz channels
Have you updated the firmware & software to the current version? Maybe that will give you expanded receive

I found this page dated May 19th, 2021:
https://radioaficion.com/cms/midland-mxt500/
It has specs, pics [probably from the FCC] & a link [definitely from the FCC] to the owners manual
Just wanted to share
73

When the weather permits, you can get band openings on UHF
I live in North Clearwater, FL
In February & March, I have hit a repeater 57 miles away from me in Bartow/Polk County with my h-t when the band was open
One of the ops I spoke with was in Orlando, 10 miles north of the airport, which placed him 75 miles away from Bartow
On that night for only a minute before the conditions changed I spoke with an op from Perry, FL, in North Taylor County, that repeater is on the same frequency & tone as Bartow
North Clearwater to Perry is 153 miles as the crow flies
It can happen
I check the NOAA frequencies, when I start hearing out-of-town NOAA broadcasts, that's a good sign that the bands are opening up
Edit/addition: WRMC383, I looked your location up just to see where you are
Just a few nights ago, a gent in Grand Island which is in your neck of the woods made it into the Tampa .575 repeater, that's about 78 miles from him
I spoke with him just before midnight & conversed for about 20 minutes before he said goodnight, I forgot which day it was, but it was earlier this week
If Mother Nature is in a good mood, it can be a good thing for us radio ops

The NA-771 is tuned to the amateur frequencies, not GMRS, that's why the SWR was so high
440-450 MHz compared to 462-467 MHz, that's a 20+ MHz difference
 
The stock antennas are usually very broad-banded & inefficient
 
I just looked at mine & it's labeled 136-174/400-520
That's probably the antenna from the UV-82 radios
 
The least expensive quarter-wave for GMRS [that I know of] is a Nagoya NA-701C,
which is tuned to the VHF/UHF commercial frequencies [so it would also cover MURS on VHF]
and is way closer to GMRS
 
It's sold in the mygmrs.com store for $14.99
https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/antennas/products/nagoya-na-701c-antenna 
 
You spent $7.79 & some time to get an antenna that will perform on the GMRS frequencies
I'd say that you broke even

It will be easier to use channel mode instead
For example:
Say your repeater is on 462.600
Arrow to REPT17
Say the CTCSS on both input & output is 100.0
Press Menu, then up arrow until you see R-CTCS OFF,
press menu again, up arrow until you see 100.0 HZ, press menu to confirm
Up arrow to T-CTCS OFF, press menu again, up arrow until you see 100.0 HZ, press menu to confirm
 
You should now be set up to use the repeater
The radio will automatically know the receive & transmit frequencies
and you have manually entered the CTCS tones
 
If the the repeater uses split different tones for input & output, the steps are the same, 
just select the tones that you need

If I'm wrong, I know someone will have the correct info
 
Blue & Green are 154 MHz & use wide-band which some ops say will give you better audio quality
 
The other three are 151 MHz & use narrow-band which some ops say lessens your audio a bit
 
If you do go the MURS route, you're limited to two watts, but you can use an external antenna
like replacing the stock antenna on hand-helds,
or connecting a base or mobile antenna to them, depending on where you're using the radio
 
GMRS lets you use more power, but MURS may work better for your situation, being VHF not UHF
sending your two watts into a better antenna may level the playing field so to speak
 
It's a situation where you may have to try both & see which works out better
 
73
Greg

Merry Christmas to all
 
I hope Santa is good to everyone
 
73

You're welcome
 
73
Greg
WRCZ387
Clearwater, FL

Good Morning;
 
Have you considered Alinco?
 
They offer a Part 90 200 channel UHF mobile with 45 watt - 25 watt - 10 watt transmit,
the DR-438 is UHF, the DR-138 is VHF
 
http://www.alinco.com/Products/ham/mbl/DR-138HT/
 
http://www.alinco.com/Products/ham/mbl/DR-138HT/DR-138_438brochure.pdf
 
Remtronix is the USA distributor for Alinco,
I did need set-up support for my first h-t and they were great,
both over the phone and via e-mail
 
https://remtronix.com/land-mobile-radio/analog-radios/dr-438t/
 
The list price is $249.99, but shop around on the pricing
 
Remtronix is selling it through Newegg:
 
https://www.newegg.com/alinco-dr-438t-two-way-radio/p/16Y-0031-00004?Description=dr-438&cm_re=dr-438-_-9SIA5RC1W26967-_-Product
 
Programming software and cable package:
https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/DR-138-programming-software-and-USB-cable-s/2266.htm
 
I almost purchased a new-in-package Midland mobile for $50.00 at a pawn shop last year (I don't remember which model)
 
I passed on it and after reading all the posts here, I'm glad that I did
 
I have not read any negatives about Alinco radios
 
I have two different Alinco Part 90 h-t's, I intend to get a 3rd model h-t,
and then I will probably buy the DR-438 and a ¼ wave NMO
 
GMRS activity here around Clearwater, FL is starting to get off the ground,
so I haven't gotten much use out of my radios yet,
but I did use one of the h-t's on vacation in East TN in June,
and I was told that it sounded really good, I'm going to stay with Alinco
 
Just my two cents
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Good Morning;
 
Have you considered Alinco?
 
They offer a Part 90 200 channel UHF mobile with 45 watt - 25 watt - 10 watt transmit,
the DR-438 is UHF, the DR-138 is VHF
 
http://www.alinco.com/Products/ham/mbl/DR-138HT/
 
http://www.alinco.com/Products/ham/mbl/DR-138HT/DR-138_438brochure.pdf
 
Remtronix is the USA distributor for Alinco,
I did need set-up support for my first h-t and they were great,
both over the phone and via e-mail
 
https://remtronix.com/land-mobile-radio/analog-radios/dr-438t/
 
The list price is $249.99, but shop around on the pricing
 
Remtronix is selling it through Newegg:
 
https://www.newegg.com/alinco-dr-438t-two-way-radio/p/16Y-0031-00004?Description=dr-438&cm_re=dr-438-_-9SIA5RC1W26967-_-Product
 
Programming software and cable package:
https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/DR-138-programming-software-and-USB-cable-s/2266.htm
 
I almost purchased a new-in-package Midland mobile for $50.00 at a pawn shop last year (I don't remember which model)
 
I passed on it and after reading all the posts here, I'm glad that I did
 
I have not read any negatives about Alinco radios
 
I have two different Alinco Part 90 h-t's, I intend to get a 3rd model h-t,
and then I will probably buy the DR-438 and a ¼ wave NMO
 
GMRS activity here around Clearwater, FL is starting to get off the ground,
so I haven't gotten much use out of my radios yet,
but I did use one of the h-t's on vacation in East TN in June,
and I was told that it sounded really good, I'm going to stay with Alinco
 
Just my two cents
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year