HHD1

I'm looking for a device to easily and accurately measure SWR. What recommendations do you all have, and why.

I've recently found a great use for our radios. Once in a while I like to use my phone to do livestreams on our YouTube channel. There have been times when Katie has called me while in the middle of the stream, asking for me to bring her a beer. Well, as soon as my phone rings the livestream instantly ends. Now that we have switched to radio comms, I no longer have to march into the house and throw a beer at her. Instead we now have cute pet names for each other, and less beer-soaked holes in the wall... (I have terrible aim)

I thought I read somewhere in the FCC Rules, "Thow shalt not speak in code"

Baofeng Ar-5RM

Actually, a square has four sides of equal length. I would say this is a rectangle. However, you are right. It is definitely not a circle.

You really are a HERD... The Queen sure knows how to pick em!

That is an excellent point. And one that, as a noob, I never gave thought to. A feature like this in a radio should be a must. I know that mine has the option to cancel transmission until the frequency is clear. But I don't think that there's any indication on screen ahead of time. I will have to look deeper.

Good point. I guess I was thinking they were more concerned about not hearing the chatter. I guess in that case, your party could set up a few channels ahead of time, assign them names, and announce that you're switching to channel a, b, c ect.

I totally agree with you on this SoCal. However, in the event of a break down in society and or government, FCC rules won't mean squat. But until then, it's always best to learn why the rules are there, and how everything works.

I agree 100% CHIRP is a great free program.

If you and your party set your tones, then goodbye unwanted interference.

I like that idea. There doesn't seem to be that many people around me that are into GMRS. Which I find strange considering how much outdoor recreation there is around here. Washburn County, Wisconsin.

I did. But that doesn't mean much. I just posted in a thread about the Baofeng AR-5rm having a hair trigger ptt. I have accidentally tx several times just from normal handling. It's one of the only things I don't like about that radio. Sure, this may not be the most exciting or thought-provoking subject on the forum, for some, but at least its radio related. Now, I'm not trying to put you down by asking this. What are some topics that you do like to talk about here? Maybe I could do a search for threads that you have started. I wouldn't mind getting to know you better. You seem to have very strong opinions about GMRS. So, I assume that it's based on experience. Since I am very new to anything beyond using a "walkie talkie", learning from others is appealing to me. But, if you'd rather tell me to get bent, that's okay too. I'll still try to be nice.

I love my AR-5RM. But I have two tiny gripes about it. 1. The hair trigger PTT. I swear you could blow on it to key up. 2. 999 programable channels, but no banks. Although I group my channels by the hundreds, example: 100 - 199 is one bank. 200-299 another bank. It would be nice to have separate banks that I could choose to scan.