wayoverthere

I think it comes down to the low bar to entry; since there's no knowledge requirement for a gmrs license, this is the FCC's way of giving a user with zero knowledge a way to know they're using compliant equipment, and (in theory) not throwing spurious emissions all over the spectrum. Ham, on the other hand, has some level of knowledge required, so they allow more freedom on equipment, with the burden on the operator to ensure the quality of their own equipment.

I don't know of a good step by step offhand, this thread translates some of it:https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1978-translating-repeater-info-into-chirp-btech-gmrs-v1-vocab/ That said, it's really just knowing what codes the repeater uses, the menus are fairly straightforward for that part. Once you hit the menu button, scroll through and look for t-ctcs or t-dcs, depending what tones the repeater uses (if there's decimals, it's ctcss, 3 digit number, possibly followed by I or N is DCs). Hit menu to select that item, then scroll through to the correct tone, and hit menu to confirm (this is your "input tone"). You can also set a receive tone as well, but since it functions like a filter, you're fine leaving it off unless you only want to hear the repeater traffic on that channel.

For simplex or repeater use, programming should not be nee the only setting you may need (especially on a repeater) is ctcss/DC's tones, which can be set from the front panel, no computer needed. In many places, gmrs is used (as is its primary intent) within families/groups, so generally stick to their group. also, traffic is pretty low I some areas, so there may be no one there, or they may be running tones (which act as a filter) and not hear you.

I think the face that, by default, Amazon bugs you about questions posted on items youve bought leads to people with little to no clue of the actual answer posting useless answers...I'm not sure why, though, as it doesn't seem to give you points of anything...

I was listening to one of the nets Thursday night via zello, and they were discussing preparedness, and something along those lines is one aspect that came to mind. Since I don't have a good place to stand up my own repeater and would have to depend on others' equipment, I would want to have some idea that they've made efforts to have at least some basic backup plan (or not) to know how much I should plan around it.

Personally, I don't mind the chatter....that may be the seeds of the radio hobby taking root to bloom later on. Its just the endless call tones that get old.

If you're lucky, sometimes NOS stuff comes up on eBay. There is currently a couple of vertex vx handhelds that will cover gmrs frequencies, and not too long ago I snagged a mobile (vx4207) for about the same as I paid for the btech...I paid a premium over the used stuff, but I'm okay with that. Half tempted to grab another of the used ones, honestly.

The incessant use of the call button? I have a couple channels set with a random ctcss code on my mobile, because there's group in my area on those channels regularly, rarely talking, just call button symphony...

If it has speaker type clamps, or screw down binding posts, the bare wires on the post are fine. I chose to add banana plugs to mine, for easier swap, though.

my 2 cents....the specs look good, and leave headroom to power other equipment at the same time. the reviews do give me a little pause, but amazon's return policy is good at least. i believe others on the forum have used some other Tekpower stuff with good results (this one or the version with digital meters).

Good point, Kirk. While repeaters are the big one it comes into play, it really applies to any time you'd want to use 2 different tones on the same frequency, for different recipients.

mbrun covered it well. it's clearly not a strict requirement, as wouxun seems to have no problem offering tx in all memory slots as long as they're in-bounds for gmrs; i suspect Btech just took the easy way out. not so much non adjustable, as it doesn't adjust low enough for FRS. i believe removable antenna is a no-no for frs as well. i ran into the same issue with my 50x1 as well...had a couple local repeaters programmed, but couldn't figure out why i couldn't TX, till i started digging and discovered everything above slot 30 is rx only. i'll still put the btech to use, but it's been bumped from the base spot, and will probably replace the midland in the truck in the near future.

the biggest issue is you can only transmit on the preloaded non-frs channels (1-7, 15-22). Everything else is RECEIVE only...you can program repeaters and everything, but no transmit, even on frequencies in-bounds for gmrs. realistically, unless you want to add some listen only channels, the cable (and using chirp to program) isn't really necessary, since you can change tones pretty easily via the menu.

It's kind of interesting seeing how well the wouxun did, at least in the environment you're working with. Thank you for all the effort you put into this...interesting reading.

Stay on rpt19 (27), it should already be set with the right frequencies and offset (though given the answer in the other thread about theirs coming unprogrammed, it doesn't hurt to check if you haven't already), r-ctc and t-ctc will both be 141.3. your settings should be good from there it pretty much boils down to if you're getting enough signal to the repeater. From there, look at the antenna...if you haven't already, mag mounts generally want to stick to something to have a good ground plane...top of a steel file cabinet or a pizza pan will do. Next, how's line of sight from antenna to repeater? With only 5 watts, obstruction is going to matter more. If your setup checks out there, I'd say stick the antenna on the car, and head closer to the repeater...see if it works closer in and/or less obstructed. If so, your settings are good, and better antenna location (or better antenna) and/or more power are the next steps.

Yeah, when I bout the evx's, it was a difficult debate with myself whether to just get the 2, or buy all 4 the seller had listed. I've been trying to stay off eBay since...

I'll echo RadioGuy, been satisfied with my 805g, it's ready to go out of the box, but still flexible as you dig deeper into things like split tones and more repeaters

Thanks for the food for thought, and the reminder that i need to give the antenna side of the equation a little more thought as well. The part 90 route may end up being the winner (gmrs is mostly pretty dead here too, but nice to have the option), and the RF exposure aspect was something i hadn't thought about, but definitely need to...that aspect also makes the dual band mobile/single bands at base sound better, though getting the antenna OUTSIDE will be a necessity.

It's easy to end up with extras as you upgrade, bit by bit. I started with a pair of bubblepacks. Added 3 better HTs and 3 progressively better mobiles since then.

It's a shame to hear the ghost is that bad. I have the antenna it replaced, (I forget the mxta number), ~12" base loaded whip, and it does pretty well shoved up in my attic as a base antenna, and doesn't need much clearance on the truck, even on the roof.

So...radio to radio, ch 19, you transmit on 462.650, they listen on 462.650 as well. Repeaters listen on a different frequency (input) than they retransmit (output) so it can be done real-time. Realistically, only one person can effectively use a frequency at a time, hence the different frequencies, and the RPT channels take that into account When you're going to use a repeater on 462.650, yes, just leave the radio on rpt 19. Your radio knows to transmit on 467.650, because that's where the repeater is listening, and it retransmits on 462.650, because that's where you're listening. I think the basic key is looking in terms of to hear each other, you have to be transmitting where theyre listening, and vice versa.

I reached out to their support via email, rather than calling, as this was during the "everything is shut down" portion of last year.

Slightly, yeah. Both channel 19, you'll receive on 462.650. on simplex (gmrs19, radio to radio), you also transmit on that frequency. For duplex (rpt19, radio to repeater to radio), the radio is programmed to transmit 5mHz higher (467.650), which is where a repeater would be listening. The repeater transmits back on 462.650 (where you're listening). Surprises me a little to hear, but yeah, that's exactly what it sounds like happened. I hadn't previously heard of any shipping missing the repeater presets. That said, it's fairly easy to program, and allows tx on any of the presets as long as they're inbounds for gmrs. On the Mac issue, wouxun's stock software seems to get along well with wine in Linux, as I've used it with Mint Mate, so it may play well in a virtual machine.

The base simplex channels (1-22) and repeater (23-30) are preloaded. The channel named "rpt19" (it will be preset 27)is the one that equates to a 462.650 output. Tune to that channel using the channel knob or arrows, then hit menu. Scroll to "t-ctc and hit menu again, and use the arrows or channel knob to scroll through the list to the appropriate ctcss code. Hit menu to confirm....you can also go back a couple options in the menu and set "r-ctc" as well using the same method, if you want to filter incoming traffic to the repeater only. Hit exit, and you should be good to go.

Some info I found on the net indicated at least part of what would be there is frequency alignment settings for the radio itself, so be careful messing with the settings if you manage to get in.