OffRoaderX

We all just wish we could be as smart as you.

Not worth risking the heavy-fines or possible jail time ! SOURCE: "some people" right here on this very forum.

My guess is you would never notice the difference.

if you mean as a way to get help if you become stuck or injured then NO.. GMRS is NOT a good choice .. GMRS is great for talking to other guys in your group while off-roading, but in the event of a real emergency where you need assistance or rescue, then something like a Sat-phone, a Garmin InReach or Starlink is advisable.

Beer is a helluva drug.

Forgot to add: on all three of the 50X2 units, none of them would output more than 28Watts or so. when i contacted BTech i was told it was because I was not using a dummy-load to measure... Later, when using a dummy load to test, the output was the same. Every KG-1000G i've used (plus friends units that I have tested) all output ~46-51 Watts...

I have not used the 50x3, but I have had three 50x2's (basically the same thing).. all three failed within a year or so... Over the last 5 or 6 years I have had 5 (one for each jeep, one for the house, 2 to make into a repeater) KG-1000G's and they all still work today.

The GM-21 is not on the CHIRP compatibility list: https://chirpmyradio.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Supported_Radios You could try using GM-5RH, but no way I would try doing a firmware update that way.

I know.. Everybody does.

My prediction: Your brother is confused.

You are correct.. But just because a government agency says so, it does not necessarily make it "the right thing"..

No, you do not, if you are using one of the pre-programmed, out of the box repeater channels. if you are creating a new, DIY custom repeater channel, many radios will require you to know what you are doing and enter the transmit frequency and the off-set/receive frequency.

No, it is not. You are very, very confused.

Try turning the volume up more on the radio - if you are doing it with the volume up all the way, try turning it down.. and be extra-double-dog-sure that the plug is pushed all the way into the radio - when you think it's pushed in all the way, use both hands and push it in more. If it still does not work, stand by for more suggestions from others.

This is almost certainly a Windows "driver issue", and if it is, good luck.. But maybe if you gave us a little more info/details like, what steps are you taking, what is happening/what error messages are you seeing, what operating system you are using, which, exact version of CHIRP you are using - really, any actual details at all, maybe someone can help.

He got tired of being publicly called-out for saying absolutely rhee-tart-ed things all the time.

This is, in no way, related to, or even similar to an "emergency channel" as asked about by the OP. This advice should be ignored as it relates to a GMRS "Emergency Channel", unless your plan in a serious emergency is to die alone.

no, because it does not exist.. Contrary to "some people's", wishes, hopes and dreams, there is no generally accepted or FCC-designated emergency channel for GMRS. There may have been one, long, long ago, but not anymore. "Some people" claiming otherwise should be ignored, laughed at, and called names.

Are you suggesting that the police have something to do with enforcement of FCC regulations? Or, did I miss something?

I live in Southern California so I cannot speak to the cold, but I often go off-roading in the low desert/leave my jeep parked in direct summer sun where the outside temps reach 120°F and the inside temps much higher. With all the mobile radios i've had installed (Btech, Wouxun, Motorola), i have never even given it a thought.. I get in, start the Jeep, and turn on the radio. That is how you should use your radio.. USE it, don't worry/overthink it. Just use it.

After having used a few radios I have settled on: Motorola XTL5000 in both my Jeeps Motorola XTS5000 for couch-based comms Rocky Talkie 5W for foot-based adventure

I found this totally random video on Youtube that explains when/why to use (or not use) a repeater - it explains it way better than i ever could:

Yes - i got a used VXR7000 which is a very capable UHF repeater capable of also working on GMRS. But because of its age programming it is a bit of a challenge. There are other good used options but whatever you end up with remember that you will need a duplexer - One is built-in on most (not all) VXR7000's, but you will have it tuned to whatever specific frequency you end up using. "some people" will try to tell you that you can "tune it yourself with the right tools" - they should be ignored because they dont realize that if you are asking this question, you do not have the tools, nor are you likely able to learn how to correctly use them anytime soon. You may also consider the new BTech 50W repeater - even though the one I bought failed within 10 minutes, I hear they work better now and no longer stop working right out of the box. It is a much more simple, but also very limited .. and expensive option. You will also need a GMRS capable antenna - I went with the Tram1486 because it does not look like a space-station antenna.. and do not skimp on the coax. "some people" will tell you that you must use "hardline" or other very VERY expensive coax, but they should be ignored. as long as your coax run will be less than 100feet or so, LMR400 (or similar) will work just fine... also be aware that 'some people' will proclaim that "LMR will not work on a repeater" - They should be ignored. and dont forget that "some people" will also declare that LMR400 coax will not work because after 10 years water will get inside and degrade it. They should be ignored, mostly because where you and I live, the constant rain and/or snow/freeze/thaws are not an issue. Basically, be wary of "some people" that love spending other people's money when they no skin in the game and suffer zero consequences when a poor choice is made.

If you don't have your callsign set as your username and on your car's personalized license plate, and if you do not also have ALL of your call signs listed in all your online-forum signatures, in your Facebook/X header image, and hanging on the walls of your house, then you are just an appliance operator and should stick to Chicken Band. SOURCE: "Some people", right here in this forum

Your UV-5R does do it, but to be honest, it is a pain in the Bit** to do... Most mobile radios do not, but i am pretty sure that 100% of all the handheld GMRS and H.A.M.s radios that I have owned/tested/reviewed (over 100) do.