OffRoaderX

With all the details you've provided it's difficult to troubleshoot - but these are the basic steps to use a repeater from a GMRS radio: Confirm the repeater is actually up/online Confirm you are within range of the repeater with nothing (like a mountain) between you and it Tune your GMRS radio to the correct GMRS channel for the repeater Enter the Encode/TX tone for the repeater into your radio & save Press the Push To Talk button and enjoy the repeater

Your channel 1 may have a different/wrong CT tone set on it. Easy to check. More power in will not = more power out - you're lucky to be getting almost 6W out of it!

Start by removing the RX tone while troubleshooting - that way you will hear everything on that channel, then get close(er) to the repeater - it is entirely possible that the HT is not able to hit the repeater from your current location.

I had a XLT Communications Mobile Duplexer (50 Watt) go bad just sitting there after using it for about 3 days.. Confirmed and replaced by the vendor.

You dont - they dont exist.. You are reading the wrong manual or the manual is wrong/incorrect/old.

I would focus the duplexer first - i've had those inexpensive ones fail on me.. Try removing the duplexer, and if possible put the repeater in base-station/simplex mode and see how well it transmits and receives.

The manual for my KG905G lists 35 menu items.

I have a taillight mounted Midland MXTA26 on my JKU and it has many fars. also have a taillight mounted Tram UHF antenna (trimmed for GMRS) on the wife's '06 TJ, and it also works great with many fars. No doubt both would work better with a better groundplane, but for me, "good enough" is good enough.. I'm not trying to bounce my signal off the moon.

That guy on youtube lives on a hill and has perfect line of site to the repeater 69 miles away - meaning there is nothing between him and it. I'm pretty sure he's explained that in pretty much every video. And as The Spaz ^ says, if you programmed it wrong, it doesnt matter if you're standing right next to it.

1) Better coax with less loss 2) Shorter run of coax C) Another amp, contrary to what the rules say

If it was being transmitted from a repeater, and you heard it, then you have a repeater in range of your HT. "Published range" is an estimate, not a fixed distance. Your FARS may vary.

My guess is they are linked via the internet. My repeater is connected to the internet via the Zello app, so people from anywhere in the world can use it, but there are other ways to do it.

Some manufacturers use the term "DIY" for "Do It Yourself" channels - meaning you can use those channels to program and store whatever you want like repeaters.

This is normal. Carry on..

Thank you for not HiJakkin me.. Easy answer: By making decent (not the best) radios and selling them for low-dollars.. And they can do this because of no unions, less/no environmental restrictions, government subsidies ENCOURAGING manufacturing, no/few child labor regulations, etc.. Basically the opposite of what you find in the U.S.

I dont usually like to post videos here, but I have been so inspired by several of the "experts" in this forum complaining that we should not be using radios made in China that I put together a list of all the American Made radios AND I vow to purchase each one of these American made radios and do a full review of them in the next 30 days.. Thank you to "some people" that opened my eyes about not purchasing radios that are not made in America.

No.. Although many hams do slum on GMRS in many areas, the main use for GMRS is utilitarian communication - ie; when off-roading and in a group, hiking, traveling with multiple vehicles, etc. Sadly, it sounds like in your area many of the rag-chewers have taken over.. But once you get out of reach of their basements, like out adventuring in the desert or mountains, all their noise goes away. I run a repeater, partially run another repeater which is one of the largest/most used in Southern California, and run a group - not only am i not a ham, most in the group are not hams either.

They ^ are correct - and upon reflection I can see that I was not clear: You may speak in any language that you choose on GMRS, however the FCC says thou must sayeth your callsign in English or morse-code. My point was speak "normal language" as in, if someone comes in spouting alpha codes or other jargon, they will likely be laughed at. and you dont want people laughing at you your first day on GMRS.

Much of the programing is for stuff nationwide so there should be some good stuff for everyone to enjoy.

§ 95.1751 GMRS station identification. Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification. (a) The GMRS station call sign must be transmitted: (1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and, (2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes. The only etiquette on GMRS is to speak English like a normal person and dont be a dickhead. You can usually find local clubs through the use of your Googles machine or by monitoring your local GMRS channels to see who's out there. It is important to understand that GMRS is not ham, and most/many people use it only for specific communication needs, like talking to their group while off-roading, talking to partners when hiking, etc. Because of this you may not hear much when monitoring unless you are in a large population center.

It's a great radio with many pre-programmed frequencies to play with/listen to and it has many fars. Sometimes I just stare at mine and caress it softly.

Is there something specific about the radio or GMRS that you are lost about? Maybe if you give us some details someone can help.

What you are describing is not normal. My idea would be to try a full-reset. If that doesn't fix it, contact BetterSafeRadio and tell them to send you one that works.

Its been a while since I've had either of my 50X1s, but IIRC t's pretty simple.. First - read the manual and familiarize yourself with how the menu system works - failure to do this part will result in much confuckulation and rage. Optionally you could watch some youtube videos about how to use the menu system for the 50X1 or a UV-5R, since the menus are virtually the same. Then, select the channel that you want to put the PL code on, go to the menu option for CTCSS tones, select the code from the list, save it, and enjoy. Another option would be use use your computer and the CHIRP software which in many ways is easier since it's almost self-explanatory on the screen after learning how to use CHIRP.

I just got an idea for a new video.