The219

Thats Gary on the left https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_the_Snail

Grommet and some silicone on my forester. Survived the great California storms of 2025 with zero water intrusion. Easy to plug if i ever need to remove the antenna. Wire then runs under the factory roof rails.

My wife and I use our local repeaters pretty regularly for chit chat. Just remember everyone is listening...

I have the UV-5G and when we replaced the rubber ducks with the abree 18 inch we saw an increased range more than double on simplex channels in the suburban area and when using repeaters we are a lot more clear. Happy with $25 HT and the $18 antenna. Maybe one day i will buy one of those big boy radios but for now, dont need it.

Do you even understand the purpose of GMRS? Like you said its a "Community repeater for users in that community" NYC is not in the Calif community. Why would I be in NY and want to be talking to people back in Ca on GMRS via LTE, satellite, cellular or any other means of transmission? By having anytime access reguardless of distance from that repeater you defeat the principle of "community" and thats exactly what you are trying to open the door to. Whats to stop the guy in NY whos not part of the California community from comming on here looking up a repeater in California and jumping on it on your system? There are only 8 repeater frequencies in the GMRS band and there is already a problem with users creating interference and jamming frequencies on purpose locally, i dont want to imaging the $hit storm that could be if GMRS repeaters were available nationwide to that. What you are proposing is already available on other bands and not GMRS. GMRS was designated for local use and not nationwide like other bands for a reason and your proposal completely misses that.

ground planes are over rated, I'm able to reach Beverly hills Ca from Encinitas with my aluminum L bracket NMO mount bolted to my roof rack.

Sounds like something a closet sad ham with no sense of humor would say, and who said anything about drinking off road, soda is sold in 12 packs too you know. If you'd rather dig or push a stuck jeep out over a lowly subaru pulling it thats up to you, to each their own.

Its crazy how "some people" think a "12 pack" is only beer. Is that the euhomy fridge, looks just like mine! Not drinking beer is no fault, especially out on the trails. Sugar free diet pepsi noted.

That part right there has been the majority of my encounters with the jeep community, at least here in Ca. Guys who brag that jeeps are the greatest Off Road vehicle but drop 100k on upgrades and still need to be pulled out by me and my lowly mostly stock subaru that they were screaming at me 30 mins before that i shouldn't be on the trail, and before you ask, yes im a lesbian but im trapped in a mans body. I know there are some good jeepers out there and hang with a few frim time to time but again few and far in between. You seem like a pretty chill guy so If i ever head out to AZ i will let you know, 1st 12 pack is on me.

Exactly my point but "IF" by some miracle of DOGE and the FCC is reduced and deregulation becomes the new trend and cogent starts a nationwide GMRS thingy, it would suck. And you lost me at "Jeepers" those guys are one step above sad hams.

Dang nab it, i used up all my reactions on this post.

This is exactly why i got into GMRS and not ham. We offroad, hike and camp. I dont want to be in the California desert and hear someone in Nevada calling out trails, talking to their point man or tail. Its a local system for local use.

I was just about to post that i watch a Notarubicon video about using the Secret and Private GMRS channels in some different my giggle hurts, but i like the "Ignore" "some people" button better. And besides following gooberment rules really isnt my thing either.

I also have permission to this repeater and based on my settings you are missing a few things. Send me a message and we can trouble shoot.

Are you using chirp or putting in the values from the face of the radio? I found the RA87 to have the most unclear instructions and off the wall menu. That being said mine works fine but i used chirp to program it. Definitely ask for a check when your on the air, thats the only way to know for sure your getting out.