OffRoaderX

This is almost certainly a "Windows Driver issue". You might try deleting the cable driver and letting Windows install its own.. If that doesnt work you're in for a bag of hurt - some people end up buying different cables just so they can get it to work.. Some people never get Windows to work with their cable.

Watch this video to see how much damage will occur when transmitting at high-power with a high SWR:

Recently promoted from Youtube hobo to Youtube vagabond.

Your u tube must be broken... But basically, find the "repeater channel" for the repeater, tune to that channel on the radio, hit the menu button, go to the CTCS or DCS setting to add whatever the TX/Transmit code is for the repeater (dont worry about the RX/receive code for now), save it, and you're done. I highly recommend investing a few minutes in the manual that came with the radio (and is available online if you already put the manual in the trash) and get familiar with how to use the radio and menu options.

You're missing the offset - there has to be an offset.. On a "real" GMRS radio, the offset is automatic when you select the correct "Repeater Channel".. if you're using a UHF/ham radio, then you will have to put in a +5Mhz offset for the TX frequency. What kind of radio are you using?

Assuming that is actual outside radio-interference, its likely that any SOC radio would get that same interference.. This is where a superheterodyne radio starts to be worth the extra money.

This guy should make YouTube videos - he'd be a hit!

^ THIS... I picked up a used Vertex 7000 for around $500 - it came with a duplexer that I had to pay to have tuned, but you can find them (or something similar) cheaper without a duplexer (then you'll need to buy a duplexer).. It works great and is designed to operate 24/7, in a wide variety of conditions/temperatures.. The thing is a workhorse.

I have learned that anyone that calls something "junk", or worse, "cheap Chinese junk!!" without ever even using the device is an idiot, and should be ignored. I have several Wouxun radios, including multiple KG1000Gs, and I have many friends that also have them. The radios aren't perfect, and there is always a chance of getting a dud, but assuming you purchase it from BuyTwoWayRadio, they have great support and will always take care of you. The KG1000G is my favorite high-power Part 95 mobile radio, I dont care what the "expert" radio-bigots say.

Hard to tell what you are doing wrong based on the information you've provided. If you are hitting the repeater, you should hear a "kickback/Kerchunk/Squelch-tail right after you unkey, to let you know that you're hitting it. If you can hit it (you get the kickback/kerchunk/squelch tail) then its just a case of nobody else listening to respond. If you can't hit it (no kickback/kerchunk/squelch tail) then, it could be a million things - I would start by checking that you have the correct channel # and repeater TX CTC/DCS tone entered in your radio for that repeater. The repeater's "RX" or Input tone will be what you enter on your radio's TX tone setting.

The UV9G is waterproof, if that matters for how you will be using the radio. What anyone recommends for you should be 100% dependent on what you plan to use the radio for, how you plan to use it, and what your preferences are - none of which you have shared - so anyone making a recommendation at this point would just be someone guessing what is right for you based on what is right for them..

If you're using a repeater on a GMRS Radio, the radios can't/arent talking to each other directly - so just call out on one radio via the repeater and if you've got it setup right you'll hear each other. Just be sure to be at least a few yards away from each other because the radios can interfere with each other enough that you may not hear the repeater if the radios are close.

I own/have used all of these.. The short answer is - all of them can transmit the same number of fars, but: The Midlands are 'simple' and great if you just want a radio in your vehicle (or as a base) to talk to other GMRS radios - Both the 400 and 500 can do wideband - but to enable wideband on the 400 you need a computer, cable, and the software. On the 500 you can do it very easily on the radio - (FYI- you DO want wideband on a GMRS radio).. They are also (very) limited in how many repeaters you can program them for, and (iirc) they cannot monitor/listen to any non-GMRS frequencies except maybe NOAA channels.. All these limitations make for VERY simple, VERY easy to use radios. The Midlands also come with everything you need to get up and running, right in the box (antenna & "coax"). The antenna and coax arent the best, but, they do work surprisingly well, and work plenty good enough for someone that needs a simple "just want to talk in the car" type radio - so be wary of those telling you "it's junk" or "costs way to much" -Obviously this type of radio is not intended for them and they can't comprehend the value of "simple". The KG-1000G is wide-band out of the box, and is a much more complicated radio. its great if you want to use a lot of repeaters, scan non-GMRS frequencies, etc - the KG-1000G 'does more', but, its more complicated to learn/use.. Not "difficult", but, more. The KG1000G is also a "superheterodyne" radio, which means the guts are a bit better quality than the Midlands - they may receive a bit better and may ignore off-frequency noise a bit better. With the KG1000G You will also need to purchase an antenna and coax. Be wary of those telling you "its just cheap chinese junk!!" - When they tell you that, ask them for the data that supports their opinion, and then ask them which "not made in China, non-junk FCC Part 95e GMRS radio" they recommend instead.

Thats not a callsign, at least not a "real"/legal GMRS/FCC callsign. To learn more whatever made-up codes their using, ask the guy thats using it. It's probably a club-membership number or something.

I have a tailgate mount at fender level (about 3 inches from the fender) on my Jeep using a MXTA26 antenna- the tip reaches about 1 inch above the roof line. Using this setup with both my KG-1000G and Motorola XTL5000 has worked great - hitting repeaters 30, 50, 70 miles away and talking with other vehicles up to 20 miles away. Be wary of "some people" that will try to grossly overcomplicate it: Yes, it would work better on the roof, but with my fender/tailgate mount I am able to have many fars.

Be wary of those that confuse a simple home setup with a commercial/heavy-duty application and try to drastically over-complicate things or spend all of your money for you.. Shorter is better for coax, but on my home/garage repeater I have ~75 feet of LMR400 going through a couple of N-type to PL259 adaptors, up to my Tram 1486 about 50 feet above the ground. With this setup HTs 15-20 miles away can hit/use the repeater and mobile radios can use the repeater 55 miles away.. It would probably be further, but there are mountains at 55 miles. Is it a perfect setup? NO.. is it "the best"? NO .. Is it "good enough" - YUP

That, of course, is the correct answer.. But sadly, many, perhaps even a majority of people grabbing an HT from Amazon or Walmart for their big cross-country road trip will have no idea how to do that. For this reason, we must have the simple alternative..

I have it on good authority that TWO new GMRS radios will be released in the next few months that have a quick-road-channel/Home button, pre-programmed to Ch19, which many use as the official road channel for GMRS.. "Some people" will disagree/whine/complain about Ch19, so they dont have to use it - they can talk to themselves on some other channel that nobody knows about.

No.. Unless you (or the factory) have added a RX (Receive) CTCSS or DCS/DPL tone/code.then you dont need to do anything. Not having a RX code/tone will not prevent you from hearing anything. HAVING an RX tone/code will prevent you from hearing everything unless the transmission also has that same code/tone.. Remove all RX tones and you will hear everything. I bet there are some good videos on the Youtubes that explain at all for beginners.

If what that person said is "the FCC does not allow new GMRS repeaters", then that person lied to you or is an idiot - likely both.

I would have to consult the manual for that one.

Those tones sound familiar... My guess is that you have the tones backwards, OR it's actually working the way it is supposed to.. Be sure to enter the 271 on your radio's TX and 073 on your radio's RX.. Note that these are DCS/DPL tones, not CTCSS tones so make sure you are putting them in the right place (consult the manual). Leave the RX (73) out for troubleshooting.. If you enter the TX (271) and can hit the repeater, then you should be good. When you enter the RX (73) then you should then ONLY hear transmissions from that repeater and nothing else - this is optional.

Sounds like the door-chime at my local Kwikee Mart.

Look up your local repeaters and get them programmed in!

How do you plan on setting up your MXT500 as a repeater?