zackandmack

I have heard of GMRS using allstar linked repeaters and or nodes. Don't know the legality of this with the FCC, but it might be a gray area someone is taking advantage of. IIRC it was one gentleman pushing allstar usage with GMRS.

The performance of the Btech has been quite adequate for my uses. To the repeater its about five miles through hills and trees. It is located on the flatland and designed to beam back up here into the hills. Simplex, I can cover everyone from my location within five miles using the Nagoya 701c antenna. Again, hills and trees. Its the Gold Country here in far Northern California just to give you an ideda of the terrain. And I am not using the radio for rag chewing. Others may use GMRS for different purposes and that is fine. Would I recommend the Btech radio to a beginner in GMRS? Sure. Maybe its heresy around here, but it is a radio. I don't think I would recommend any of their mobiles. Would I also recommend moving beyond the Btech into part 90/95 equipment like Kenwood, or Icom, etc? You betcha. But just like in amateur radio, the CCRs provide an entry. (nothwithstanding all the non licensed uses, etc). Used properly, one have find great enjoyment from their Potato radio. They can talk to ISS, Satellites, as well do APRS and a whole host of other things. In fact Digital radio is being lead not from D-Star, or Fusion, but DMR and CCRs. (Think Anytone). I went into my purchase of the Btech knowing full well what they are. But heck, the Yaesu FT-60 new I had to send back as it would not TX...so tell me again?

And I will be picking something up for next year. It probably won't be the Midland. I do have the Kenwood F6a, TMv71a, Alinco 235, Yaesu FT 60, VX 5, VX 2, Anytone 3318E and a couple of Baofengs. Oh...forgot the old Icom 751 for HF. RF Noise is quite limited out here in the foothills of the Sierra. Look, I know the limitations of CCRs. And I know it will fail. But for now it serves my purpose. We use GMRS for a specific purpose, which is Neighborhood Radio Fire Watch. For rag chewing, etc...I have other radios and allstar nodes. If fact, was talking to a guy from Western Australia today as I was walking up our ¼ mile driveway. Kinda nice. GMRS, CCR or not..will not do that. 73

Not wanting to get into the CCR battle here, but it is my understanding that Midland mobiles are re-badged Luitons. If I am wrong, please correct me. Our local area started a GMRS Neighborhood Radio Fire Watch. It has come in handy during the PG and E power shutoffs. I purchased a Btech GMRS V1 hand held with the matching Nagoya 701c antenna. It was a hurried purchase as my wife needed something for when I was to be gone for two weeks working in another city. I did not have time to aquaint her with a mobile system and how to set up for use with alternate power supply, much less getting a base antenna, etc, etc... Maybe I have a good one, but I can reach the new repeater easily from my qth. I will invest in a different system, but at the time the Btech met our needs. My goal was to have her be able to reach at least one other person...and that it does and more so. The Btech was heard easily during nets whereas some others running the Midland products could not be heard. Part of that is of course due to antenna, location and all those variables. We live in hilly, treed terrain, so that factors in too. All I can say is that for the money, the Btech has worked for us. I have another half a dozen various dual and triband hand helds made by the big three, as well as two different mobile/base radios, etc...so, while far from being any expert, I do know enough to get myself in trouble. Anyway, that has been my experience. I even purchased one of those darn Btech hand helds for my neighbor across the road, He, licensed Extra, has part 90 equipment that needs ancient DOS programs to do anything...with the Btech, I was able to put in all the desired fire frequencies and air tac frequencies that he wanted and gave him the radio. It is what it is and will probably fail. But we aren't rag chewing for hours on end so it might last for a while. As for the original question, the UV-82C is not Part 95 compliant and technically not allowed to be used for GMRS. I will leave it at that. If there is a wildfire and PG and E has the power shut off...no one will be questioning which radio I will be using to find out which road is open or closed due to fire. Will it be Luiton or Midland? Btech GMRS, or UV 82x3, or Anytone, or an Icom 4001? 73

Hello Mark, There is older equipment that is both Part 90/95 compliant, or rather, grandfathered in. Programming could be an issue with this equipment, but the software does exit. It sounds like you are developing a very nice plan for the community. Where I live, a very robust communication plan has developed in response to both wildfire danger and the power company taking to actually turning off power for entire regions during fire danger events. Neighbors have turned to GMRS as a method of communication. Local amateurs are holding seminars in guiding people through the license process, etc. There are equipment recommendations and I have to say decent GMRS equipment is rather sparse. There is Midland, of which is a re-badged Luiton, Chinese made radio. There is Baofeng and the jury is still out on that...and there is the older equipment that I mentioned above. Good Luck 73 N6TDG/WRDZ552