OffRoaderX

Sounds like a good setup -  try it and see how it works!  I'm using an old/used VXR-7000 repeater with LMR400 coax, PL259 connectors, and a Tram 1486 antenna - I have a good/high location and I get a range of about 55 miles - it would be further but I'm surrounded my mountains..  Location more than anything else will determine your range but that tower should help.
Be wary of "some people" that will leave comments and try to drastically over-complicate everything trying to impress us.

I keep my Roger Beep on - when someone complains about it, I remind them that its my radio and nobody is forcing them to listen to me.

Randy all is good in the universe. The code was wrong as suspected. I got that fixed and can now talks with others many, many fars away.

Try removing the RX/DEcode tone.. both DCS and CTC (if any) and lower the squelch level a few clicks and see if that makes a difference.

Yes for sure I must be experiencing this and getting confu!@ed lol. I love your videos Randy. I also discovered the problem this morning on my mobile Radioddity DB20-G without the presence of my HT’s. I went to the forum as you predicted at the precise time at which I was about to become frustrated because all my radios are having the same problem. Unfortunately I am now to far from the repeater to do a radio check. Earlier today with much excitement because I finally had the proper codes I was calling for radio checks on my mobile but probably did not hear any responses because I had the RX/DEcode enabled on that radio also. I am getting into the car now to drive closer to the repeater in an attempt see what else I must be doing wrong or to confirm you with your infinite wisdom have set me straight. Wish me luck!

Try removing the RX/DEcode tone.. both DCS and CTC (if any) and lower the squelch level a few clicks and see if that makes a difference.

I always use the -d switch, and it does nothing for the narrowband mandate, the only way around it on the version I am using is to change the clock.  

BTech Support reached back out to me and let me know that they were mistaken. They retested my radio and were able to get a fix on a GPS signal.  I'm not sure how long they waited for the unit to connect to GPS but I will be testing it again once they send it back to me.  
 
I'll update the OP with this information.

Hallelujah!
Obviously though "some people" get their GMRS/HAM license JUST so they can play radio police..

I got my GMRS license to be able to talk to friends and family with GMRS. I didn’t sign up to become the radio police.


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Cool story!  So we should be able to find that in the FCC enforcement database and read up on the details - got a link? 
Also curious how he "found out" ... 

The English on that webpage is suspect, but that aside, it says this is for making a cross-band repeater (RX on UHF, TX on VHF or visa-versa) - that means that the two radios sitting next to each other would not be much of an issue. But if you set your radios to work as a GMRS repeater (RX on 467.xxx and TX on 462.xxx) there would be much desense (the radios making each other deaf because they are too close) unless you set them at least 10-15 feet apart... But I've never used something like this so I would like to see what anyone with experience has to say. 
Something like the Retevis RT97 would do exactly what you want, but it costs a bit more.

The English on that webpage is suspect, but that aside, it says this is for making a cross-band repeater (RX on UHF, TX on VHF or visa-versa) - that means that the two radios sitting next to each other would not be much of an issue. But if you set your radios to work as a GMRS repeater (RX on 467.xxx and TX on 462.xxx) there would be much desense (the radios making each other deaf because they are too close) unless you set them at least 10-15 feet apart... But I've never used something like this so I would like to see what anyone with experience has to say. 
Something like the Retevis RT97 would do exactly what you want, but it costs a bit more.

Confirmed (again): mine gets a GPS fix (altitude & speed) with the phone UNpaired from the radio AND turned off.. Took almost 10 minutes in the house but almost immediate outside.

Confirmed (again): mine gets a GPS fix (altitude & speed) with the phone UNpaired from the radio AND turned off.. Took almost 10 minutes in the house but almost immediate outside.

If you're programing the repeater on a repeater channel, it will transmit the offset automatically. You shouldn't have to do anything except program in the CTCSS or DCS tones for that particular repeater.

My radio, my choice.

I don't usually like to post videos, but this video was inspired by many comments that I have read here and in a few ham-radio forums.
 

The GMRS V2 is a fine radio.

I don't usually like to post videos, but this video was inspired by many comments that I have read here and in a few ham-radio forums.
 

According to the FCC, if you are using a GMRS radio, thou must use your callsign on all channels, regardless of the power-output you have set.
The question is, will they care if you dont.. and according to the FCC's enforcement database, they don't.

Tail setting won’t help.  Deleting the Rx tone opens up your receiver so it will pass anything it receives regardless of the tone.  

That cant work, for the reasons you stated, and to back that up, I tried it.
You either need two antennas or the amp has to be before the duplexer, which in this particular case would kill the duplexer.

Hard to tell for sure what is going on...   Have you confirmed if the radio works properly on simplex/direct radio to radio?
and.. maybe try removing the RX/DEcode tone to see if that makes any difference?
 

yes works works fine in simplex mode radio to radio....will try removing the RX code
BTW ....it was your YouTube GMRS channel that got me into this mess in the first place LOL