WREB270

Will also keep my eye out for some of the 25-40watt m1225's if I can get a hold of some programming software.

Thanks gents I think I'll be scanning eBay after class for some tk-880s tonight after class. I didn't have a Midland when I posted previously but I did pick one up about a week ago. I have a couple project vehicles to outfit yet and would like to set up a base station at the house. Big fan of being able to computer programming in that case just pop and swap press load and move on. I remember seeing some VX-6000's on eBay for under $200 but they were questionable.

De ja vu... This is an excellent point. I first got bit by the radio bug when I was a kid in the 90's. No cell phones radio was the cool thing. 2007 I started getting FCC licenses starting with my GROL. Fell out of the hobby and started up again 10 years later. When I started up I had a friend start up with some cheap Chinese mobiles from Amazon. I bought a couple Baofeng handhelds that I didn't have much issue with. He ended up dropping out due to not getting what he wanted out of the underperforming radio just like you said. We have an excellent HAM community here but I'm not much into talking to complete strangers, I wanted to communicate with friends and family. So I dropped out of radio again until this year when I decided to give GMRS a shot because one station license could be shared by my household.

De ja vu... This is an excellent point. I first got bit by the radio bug when I was a kid in the 90's. No cell phones radio was the cool thing. 2007 I started getting FCC licenses starting with my GROL. Fell out of the hobby and started up again 10 years later. When I started up I had a friend start up with some cheap Chinese mobiles from Amazon. I bought a couple Baofeng handhelds that I didn't have much issue with. He ended up dropping out due to not getting what he wanted out of the underperforming radio just like you said. We have an excellent HAM community here but I'm not much into talking to complete strangers, I wanted to communicate with friends and family. So I dropped out of radio again until this year when I decided to give GMRS a shot because one station license could be shared by my household.

Could be a bad lot number, batch of 60 or so get made with a sub part or other issue and is not caught, Amazon gets that entire lot and Bam that's what happens. There are plenty of reviews on these radios not out puting their ratings. ALSO I have seen one like yours where it is cranking out 70-80 watts. But that's doesn't say much for consistency. 
I have UV-5Rs that run excellently. I still have both the 82HPs, they are in fact rebranded uv6r's it's right in the box from btech and only put out 6watts on high. And again look through reviews you will see this is not uncommon. One actually quit work without using an external mic.

Sent you a PM.

That seems pretty consistent with what I'm seeing. Have mine paired with their 6db nmo antenna and have been happy so far.

Wasn't trying to be argumentative earlier just clearing up any miscommunication on what I was looking for and for what. What program do you use for the TK-880? 
I don't have a problem getting a used radio and taking the time to get it up and running, heck it's the cheaper option for a quality unit. But my plate is loaded down and I was looking for something turn key for now. I have a 1986 F-150 that I am restoring that will get one of these radios most likely. I actually have two vehicle projects, three kids, a house to finish renovating, work 40-50hrs a week, and am in college full time trying to finish my engineering degree. I really don't have time to tear down, clean and repair any radio units lol. This is why currently I'd rather drop $200-300 on a unit ready to go that I don't have to worry about instead of $65 on something I have to spend a few hours on or stress about the risk of being non functional. This is also why I haven't responded... Been too busy to be on here to follow up.
 
My position is another pivot on what Marc said. And to support his point, you may have a bunch of people with no mechanical/electrical ability or general handiness wanting to get into GMRS, and drop the money on a license for one reason or another who need turn key options and if the only thing a community can ever give them is, buy this 25 year old radio tear it down, then buy x y and z and then program it etc it's going to overwhelm and scare people away from the hobby.

I have noticed the same. In my area there is an automotive supplier or two, and a hotel using FRS/GMRS channels and shouldn't be....however.....
 
With the rules change where FRS radios can use the GMRS mains at 2 watts....you don't know who is legal and who is not. I say about 50/50 illegal (seller put them on GMRS), and then business using FRS because it is cheap on equipment...even though it's not right, it is legal. I hope they get tired of replacing junk radios and buy some real ones and a license (part 90). 

1. You don't. But, GMRS licensees should ID without question. Nothing we can do even if we do care, except follow the rules ourselves and encourage others to also. With FRS being able to use the mains now at 2w and the low side splinters at 2w (where they used to be .5w, even though not a lot of radios out there yet to do it...still much Chinese junk people can hap hazardly program with little to no understanding of rules) there will be times that FRS is on a channel and there will be no ID and no way to know. Personally....I share, but if I can tell they are unlicensed, I'll go ahead and use it anyway especially my repeater channel. I am licensed for 25 years, and own a repeater. I share with GMRS users, not FRS people with $18 radios. 
 
2. No license on 462.725 with 40 watts - Illegal. 
 
3. More authority? Not technically sure that exists, but if I follow the rules and I don't *hear* that FRS user on the channel because he is low power anyway....I talk right over them. They seem to change channels after that. 
 
FRS can be used for "Business", but its a poor choice. Toy equipment, essentially, and there is no protection, or exclusivity. An automotive supplier near me learned that, and bought real radios a few years ago. People were interfering with their "operations" by listening for names, etc. and then mimmicking people, causing confusion and chaos. Nothing that they could do about it. Of course it helped that they were so smart that they used FRS Channel 1 and NO squelch code (open squelch). I listened to some of it night after night on the scanner...it got funny, frankly. 
 
Here's a channel guide, it if helps any. http://www.nat-com.org/frs-gmrs.html

I have tested 3 of the UV-50X2's the first put out 32watts, the second just died in about 30 seconds bouncing between 0 and 9 watts and the third only output 21 watts.
 
I was going to get the x1 for GMRS use but if it's the same unit as the X2 just locked out to be FCC compliant... I think I will pass and am looking at the Midland MTX-400 instead. Icom makes the F6021 UHF 400-470 but it's only Part 90 certified, then they also have the 2730A advertised in the same range I was at one point considering for amateur, but it is a bare radio and all brackets etc are add ons, even to mount the face to the radio is extra.

The attic install is less than ideal. Roof line install is a much better situation. Lightning is much less of an issue if your mast is grounded and you have a grounded inline lighting arrestor. I have a 55' tower 6 years and no strike. Go with the chimney mount and ground, you will be much happier.

Good Morning everyone. GROL holder, new GMRS license, looking I to getting my HAM as well.
 
Anyway down to business.
 
Trying to get a decent set up to talk to the house together.
 
Here are the details:
House:
Nagoya NMO-200c antenna with ground plane kit
50' RG8x cable
Baofeng UV-5R connected to a AMP-25 UHF amp(40 watt unit).
Antenna is on second floor currently.
37watts output SWR 1.2:1
 
Mobile:
Baofeng UV-50x2(50watt unit) connected to UT-72 mag mount on center of roof. Outputting 30.4 watts with SWR of 1.08:1. (VHF test only put out 22watts 1:1 swr, may be sending it back too)
 
I have had to cycle a few Btech products back as the wattage was way off from advertised. First AMP-25 only output 20watts in the same set up, all BF-8HPs only put out 6watts not 8 etc(says uv6-r in the box if you pay attention).
 
Anyway...
 
With the above set up between base and mobile stations we can only get transmissions around 1.5 miles, which is rather disappointing.
 
Any tips tricks etc would be welcome. Was thinking of ditching the mag mount for a nmo drill mount but don't think that's going to do much.