OffRoaderX

If you abide by #2 and #3 on my list, you dont need to worry about any of that.

Its very easy: Read manual Identify what Repeater channel your local repeater is on Change radio to the correct repeater channel Enter the correct TX (transmit) CTC or DTC tone for the repeater and save (for questions, refer to item #1) do not concern yourself with the RX/Receive tone until you level-up to "I know what I'm doing now" Hold radio near your noise output hole, & push the talk trigger and talk, then take your finger off the trigger Hold radio near your noise input hole and wait for everyone to congratulate you on a job well-done

The hole is only for electricities, not bits or bytes.

I have never done any such thing against just any/all H.A.M. operators - and if you are not capable of understanding who I actually do that to (basically as @Sshannon specified), then you are exactly who I, and everyone else, makes fun of, and rightfully so.

This... The antenna that comes with the 9R is tuned for GMRS because it is a GMRS radio, and IIRC, it does not receive VHF (NOAA) frequencies very well.

Does not sound common at all to me, based on actually having and using several of these repeaters. Is the duplexer tuned for the frequencies you are using? Is your antenna tuned for those frequencies and have you checked the SWR of the antenna with the cable attached? Are all the radios IN the heavily wooded valley or are you trying to test with no line of sight?

Then you probably should have said that, especially since the OP is a self-confessed n00b and prone to confuckulation and at a very impressionable stage in his radio career.

If the repeater cant hear you then how can you kerchunk it?

Welcome to the exciting and dynamic world of radio! Just always be sure you write out "H.A.M." correctly.. "Some People" get really REALLY angry if you don't do it right: H.A.M. and will rant about it for hours about you typing it out incorrectly as if anyone cares. Never forget: H.A.M.

There is no requirement to use a unit-number or any other kind of identifier, other than your callsign. Using a unit-number is purely personal preference. To the OP: as a n00b, be very wary of "some people" spouting opinions or plain wrong information as fact. In other words, "some people" are idiots and should be ignored.

The equipment will work, but nobody will be able to accurately answer your question about whether or not you will be able to hit the repeater. The only way to know for sure is to try it. However I would look into some of the other repeaters in your area that may have coverage where you are: Crestline, DILA, Santiago, & Mesa Crest.

You lose points, and credibility when you send the OP on a wild goose chase with incorrect information.

Great idea and great advice! ....too bad Chirp is not compatible with the UV-5G Plus..... But other than that, great answer!

I use a Midland MXTA26. I used it when I had the KG-1000G installed in my Jeep and I still use it now with my XTL5000. I also have an MXTA26 installed on a cookie-sheet in the window of my office for my KG-1000G+ "Office base station". The MXTA26 works no better than any other similar 6db antenna, but it comes pre-tuned for GMRS right out of the sack so all you have to do is plug it in and play.

That depends on how you define "best" and what is important to you in an antenna.

A: Put the radio on Repeater channel 3 (it might show as Repeater 17 or channel 25, I dont remember).. Go into the menu and find the TRANSMIT CTCSS setting (you may have to refer to the user manual), select 123.0, and save it. 2: Hold the front of the radio near your noise-hole, press the trigger, and talk. If you saved the tone correctly, if that is the correct tone, if the repeater is online, and if you are within range of the repeater, you will be able to hit the repeater.

The Q10G antenna is not supposed to be removable and it is glued on. Mine had only a tiny drop of glue so it was very easy to remove the antenna, but I have seen reports from dozens of people who could not remove theirs and a couple that even broke the antenna or the housing trying to remove it. I dont know about the Q10H because I don't have a H.A.M. license so I'm not allowed to touch one.

My thought is user-error. Channel mode and VFO mode are independent - one does not reflect the other. The best way to check the frequencies in channel mode is to change your display setting to show the frequencies (instead of name or channel) - when checking this way is the frequency correct?

Yes. Probably more than real radios.

are the radios at least 50 feet away from each other when testing?

I have owned/used pretty much every GMRS radio made since ~2020 and have never seen one that can do this.

You should ask the guy that recommended them to you.

at a minimum, all you need to do is put the radio on the correct corresponding repeater channel, go into the menu and find the CTC or DTC menu (depending on if it is a CTCSS tone or a DPL/DTC tone) for TRANSMIT, select the correct tone from the list, and save the change. I know you said you are not "technically inclined" but I assume you know how to read, so you might have to read the manual for the exact steps. Only worry the transmit tone for now, the receive tone is optional. That is all you need to do.

Lots of things arent permitted and lots of people, including the FCC, based on their record of enforcement, do not care - and what you "believe" doesn't really matter. When the FCC actually begins to be serious about enforcements, then it will matter.

Based on my tests of both radios, they absolutely will talk virtually the same fars.