OffRoaderX

That's not "interference" per-se, that is someone transmitting digital data.. Some of the higher-end radio dorks can probably identify it based on the sound, but its probably NXDN.. or DMR.. Or possibly (although I don't think so based on the sound) P25.

OMG.. THAT is a great idea!

Yes.. that's how it works.. I found this random video on youtube that explains it very well. The guy is kind of a jerk, and I heard he only says what his sponsors tell him to say, but the info you want is in there:

You need the specific tone required for the specific repeater you are trying to use, and you have to enter that in the correct channel (presumably CH20). Without that you will not be able to use the repeater - you can hear them, they will not hear you.

I just got a brand-new one shipped to me on Saturday and it is sitting on my desk next to me as I type this.. Right out of the box i am getting 37-40Watts but BTech says I can increase that by adjusting the power supply, which I have not yet done.

You're going to get a lot of opinions basically re-affirming what everyone purchased themselves as "the best".. As mentioned previously I have tested pretty much every GMRS antenna on the market and literally, with the exception of the UT-72G, they all work pretty much the same (ie; your human ear will not notice any difference, nor will the human ear of the guy listening to you)... MY favorite, that i use on both of my Jeeps as well as on a cookie-sheet in the window of my office is the Midland MXTA26 - it performs the same as any other but because it has the twist/coil in the center its a couple of inches shorter than most. If you want REALLY short, and ONLY IF you are able to mount it top-center of your vehicle, then the Midland (and other brand) Ghost type antennas work very well .. not quite as well as their larger brethren, but noticeably better than the UT-72G based on my testing. WARNING: "Some people" will proclaim that the ghost antennas "do not work" and are "just a dummy load". These proclamations, based on my data from actual testing, rather than based on opinions, low self-esteem and biases, are 100% stupidity-based fallacies and anyone making these proclamations should to pointed-to, laughed at, and ignored.

Very good point that I missed - and the cable on the UT72G is, as many "experts" here like to say "junk".. very cheap/low quality.. not to mention the adaptor in use could be junk/bad.

Incorrect - I am a vehement adversary of people trying to jam amateur radio down peoples throats any time they ask how to use their GMRS equipment. Further, I do not, nor have i never classified "all amateurs as sad hams" - anyone that is not a sad-ham themself is usually able to grasp and understand the distinction between normal, helpful, socially-adjusted H.A.M.s radios operators and a "sad ham". A difference that you seem to be struggling with. I am sorry if any of this makes you insecure about yourself.

Double check that the antenna is screwed-in/connected correctly and fully - assuming you mean no shorts or high SWR when checking on your meter I'm not sure what else to recommend. I would point out that of all the mobile antennas I have tested (probably about 20), the UT72G was the worst performing of all of them - performing worse than even the little ghost-antenna's I have tested.. So if you have to replace it, dont feel bad and be secure in knowing that whatever you replace it with will perform better (unless you replace it with another UT72G).

Just as a single data-point. I have tested 50.. maybe 100? hand-held radios with my ~30watt repeater with the antenna on the roof, about 18 feet above me.. Never, not once, ever, has the repeater overloaded any radio I have ever tested.. Not even the worst $9 radios I have tested. I am not saying it could never happen, but the 5W RT97 is not going to overload anything. Do you get a referral bonus if he signs up to your cult? Because it kinda seems like it..

This is incorrect/impossible to predict/guess/assume without knowing the topography of where it will be used.. With my RT97 people with 5W handheld radios are able use it from 50+ miles away. TL;DR: Ignore anyone's guess of how many farz it will work unless they know/are famailar with your exact/specific location and topographical shituation.

The UV-5R ham-radios now sold in the United States are locked - meaning they will not transmit on GMRS and the new ones cannot be unlocked. Also, because they are H.A.M.s radios, they are more difficult/complicated to set up for repeater use. You might get lucky and get one/some/all that are not locked, but it is a literal krapshoot as to whether or not you will get an unlocked one. So for GMRS use you may want to consider the GMRS version of the UV-5R (Info here: https://amzn.to/43dSVDk ) . Or for almost the same price, the much better UV-5G Plus: https://amzn.to/4hlLmhr ...or, any of the dozens of low-cost GMRS radios available: https://amzn.to/4h4vMq4 TL;dr: most H.A.M.s radios will not work on GMRS and all of them are more complicated to configure/not as simple to use as GMRS radios

Pinching the cable with the sunroof or window will eventually damage the cable.. The cable will work fine until then, but once the cable gets to the point where its broken or shorted inside it will either work very poorly or not at all - and at that point there is also the potential it could damage your radio. On some cars the weatherstrip is so thick you can close the door on the cable without damaging it at all so you may want to check to see if your door is one of the lucky ones.

The range of either radios will likely be limited by whatever is between you and your friends and family whilst hiking and traveling. For car-to-car talking on the highway, the 5W radios might be slightly better. Either way, when comparing features and options, you can likely find better options at much lower prices - and for hiking or driving use, the reality is nobody will care if they have a license or not. Also: Be wary of anyone here proclaiming that any brand is "junk", without any information to back up their opinion - there are "some people" on this forum with severe mental disabilities that just cannot help themselves from saying the same things over and over and over without any actual information or data to back it up - and no matter how much everyone laughs at them, they just never "get it". These people should be ignored .. and, laughed at.

"some people" are born without the natural and normal ability to relate-to, or understand other people's wants and priorities, as if they think they are the center of the universe or that everyone thinks exactly the same way they think. "some people" born without this very basic ability that also post proof of their defect on social-media or websites, over and over, time and time again, endlessly, again and again, non-stop and obsessively, are commonly referred to as retards.

Akshully - In most (all?) states you cannot simply "look up" info from a license plate. Whereas anyone can look up someone's full legal name and address in about 3 seconds on the FCC's freely available and widely-known website. Not saying criminals are going to be searching out people on vacation as the OP suggests (that's stupid), but comparing looking up a vehicle tag to a callsign is not a valid comparison. ..and if i've learned anything from people on this website, it is that minor little pedantic details like this are apparently very... VERY important and worth arguing over for days or even months to prove who thinks they are smarter...

The scale is in inches.

Its easier to use the Grindr app.

I have used dozens of 'special' connectors like that with zero ill effects.. If you have an SWR meter just check it after you hook it up to make sure it's making contact/not shorted.

I have seen quite a few "how to get started" and "GMRS for beginners" videos on Youtube.

He does not speak for the rest of us.. He is socially (and possibly mentally) retarded and still cant figure out why he cant make any friends -here or in real life.

My guess is the battery needs to be charged. Did you charge the battery back up?

It is a good thing that literally nobody on this forum cares what you think at this point, probably just like at home. And, point of order: Nobody asked you what you think or for your totally useless opinion