wayoverthere

I know the first time I keyed up the 50x1 with the mag mount antenna on top of the mini fridge by my desk, my printer (on the desk next to the fridge) woke up and printed a couple pages of gibberish

glad to help! and interesting difference between the two. i was very torn between the 115 and the 275, the tiebreaker ended up coming down to i could get the 115 in the bundle (with a better antenna and mount) and use one of their running discount codes.

Using Repeater 17, the handles the offset automatically, transmitting on 467.xxx when you key up, and receiving on 462.xxx, no channel changes, scanning or monitor mode required. My mxt115 skips the repeater channels in scan mode, by the way.

i have one of those as well, Miklor has a good manual for the BF-F8HP (here) The two frequencies are definitely a&b, and can be dual watch if you want it to; it's only displaying the receive frequency for both, and the up/down arrow will indicate which of the two is active (page 25 in the link). Chapter 6 (page 44) talks more about the dual watch. If you have memory channels saved, it defaults to transmitting on the same frequency (simplex), though you can program a different transmit frequency for repeater usage (page 58). Finally, i'll be the one to say it (if i don't, someone else will)...As the manual mentions (page 68), the BF-F8HP is neither part 95 or part 90 certified (UV82C is the only one i've seen with part 90 certification), so it's not technically legal for GMRS use. Besides the UV82C, there's the GMRS V1 that is part 95 certified, and some options from other manufacturers, though i think the uv82C/gmrs v1 is the least expensive option with a display...the mygmrs shop has a repeater capable 5 watt retevis for $38.99, but no lcd display on that one.

As wrak mentioned, it sounds like a dual watch feature, though it might help to know what model of radio you're using. Most baofeng handhelds will do two frequencies, with an ab button that switches between the two;Dual watch lets it switch automatically, or you can change manually. The gmrs 50x1 lets me watch up to 4 (I generally have a and b sync'd, showing name and freq, with c and d as the vhf calling and the local public safety) Not sure what distance you are from the repeater, between what's on the map for that repeater and the location you gave looks like a bit of a reach, but I don't know how accurate the location is or what range is like on the plains, I'm mostly between valley and foothills over here. I do see a couple in Rockford and Aledo that seem like they'd be closer in

You're at least the second. I just don't have a lot of usage on mine so far to report on, as the only time I needed it, I didn't have the wouxun yet, and my area doesn't have the "ham lite" type of community some areas have. Here it's more seen as "frs plus", and people stick to their group. The other uses I had in mind have kind of been on hold with all the covid shutdowns.

I agree that the family aspect is a good one to showmaybe the family camping, talking back to dad Manning the BBQ at camp, or kids with a flat tired calling back to dad.

To be honest, I just ordered the harnesses pre-made from DXengineering at the same time I ordered the power supply. Only thing I needed to crimp was the male spades on the 12v socket to mate to the female spades on the other end of the power pole harness.

Here's one of the back side and one of the banana plugs. Kind of a pain getting it down to something the forum will accept without a computer. Same one, plus one more in bigger views are here: https://imgur.com/a/pJgBnVO

The Alinco power supply I have had screw on terminals on the back, with 2x powerpole connectors on the front. Since the 50x1 is primarily a base, it got banana plugs (4mm, apparently) to plug inside the screw ons, which keeps the front clutter free. I also got a couple of powerpole harnesses, and spliced one together with a 12v receptacle, which covers the mxt115 (which has a 12v plug already) if I decide to b5eing it in. Also covers a myriad of other uses.

You'd be transmitting on the 467.

The powerpole interchangeability is a good point, especially since it isn't uncommon to find them on base power supplies anyway; my alinco definitely has a couple, and I made one harness for powerpole to 12v socket. The 50x1 got banana plugs and is using the sockets on the back. I've been looking at the idea not so much to interchange radios but more to be able to Move them between base and car. Was pondering slotting the mounting bracket so instead of 4 screws radio to bracket, it'd be 2 wing nuts to loosen and remove the radio and bracket together. I also have a second wiring harness on the way to go into the car.

That and wiring are the biggest rub. It would come down to finding radios that share hardware, so would use the same wiring and mounting bracket. The main possibility that comes to mind is the btech 50x1 / 50x2, which look to be only a firmware change apart. other l possibilities I'm less sure of are whatever the Midland mxt400 shares hardware with, or if the radio sold as the anytone 578 (among other things) has an equivalent on the gmrs side.

Revisiting this, though it's been longer than I meant it to be. First step was where to set up my "shack", initially though garage but ended up in the spare bedroom instead, next to my work-from-home setup. The computer I had chirp on wouldn't update, ended up having to basically reinstall the os twice, as it was a few versions out of date, and no longer supported. That said...chirp set up, and I programmed a few extra channels beyond games...a few public safety, and the vhf and UHF calling frequencies. Antenna wise, it's currently booked up to a midland mxta-10 5/8 wave, on a mag mount stuck up in the top of the closet..it juuust fits with the tip against the ceiling. (Room for improvement, I know). Generally I'll leave it scanning gmrs, or dual watch with the local public safety channels while I work, and poke here and there, as the vast majority of the traffic in my area is bubble pack chatter and the kiddos playing with the "call" button incessantly. A couple private repeater in range, and one open, a hair over 60 miles away. Haven't reached out to the closer one (private, ~40 miles out at 5k ft), so I tried for the open one...was able to get a squelch tail but no responses till today..contact confirmed! Also found a setup menu pin prompt on boot up, but zero luck finding the 6 digit PIN anywhere on the net, and bTech shot my inquiry about what that is down with zero pleasantries. Chirp makes the programming pretty cake if you're okay with chirp, but it's possible through the menu as well. The settings cheat sheet that was provided (posting from mobile, and can't look back at who posted it, sorry...) Was a big help as to what each of the settings was. (Hope this isn't too long winded, and helps provide some useful perspective)

Yep, gmrs is in the 462.xxx, with the FRS low power channels and repeater Inputs in 467. I worded my previous post poorly (and have edited for more clarity, hopefully). I was referring to the the majority of the Nagoya mobiles I've seen being centered for ham frequencies, not gmrs.

What kind of terrain are you working with? The tradeoff for gain is less vertical width to the signal. that said, the Nagoya have mixed reviews, and i don't remember a Nagoya mobile one that's really centered where we need it for gmrs (they tend to be centered closer to 440-450, if i remember right, most gmrs is around 462, with repeater inputs in the 467 range).

I think at least some of the difference related to the codes Midlands don't have, though I've yet to see a good answer as to WHY they left out some of the standard codes. BF and wouxun are at least good about adhering to the standard channels/codes.

i'm not 100% clear it will do it, but maybe worth a try (i may give it a try too, as i'm pretty sure at least one of my baofeng HTs have that capability, but to stay kosher i'll use the wouxun to test transmitting back to the midland i don't think it should make a different whether it's listening to another transmitter talking to a repeater, or just a transmitter talking into the ether, as in either case it's just listening to a signal for the tone. edit to add: poked at it a little right now, ch 31 on the midland, ch 2 on the wouxun, with DCS D023N, is a successful read on the midland. also good on ch 29 on the midland, 19 on the wouxun, CTCSS 131.8, also a success. one thing i see in the numbering differences between charts is that midland skips a few of the ctcss codes (doesn't do 69.3, for example). it's kind of a pain, but so far it's been using midland's chart to see what normal channel their special channel equates to, then taking the code to their code charts to see what that translates to in normal radio speak.

Trying to encourage us to stick with one brand? Midland insisting on doing it their way all the way? It appears the gmrs-v1 has the option for scan for ctcss/DC's codes (on pg 40 of the manual here:https://baofengtech.com/usermanual/gmrs-v1-manual.pdf )...maybe that will catch them once and for all? I may try to poke at the codes a bit at well, I have the gxt1000's and the wouxun up top.

Haven't had a chance to compare the book to this chart (to see if any of it differs) but I stumbled across this while looking for something else. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2008/05/how_midlands_extra_channels_work.html

i agree it's hard to make direct comparisons as there isn't many places you can find comparable equipment on both sides of the gmrs/ham "fence". probably the most direct comparison i can find between the two services is in Btech. The GMRS 50x1 is one of the very few actual gmrs certified mobile options outside Midland. hardware wise, it looks to be identical to their mid range ham offering, the 50x2, and both ring in at the same price. definitely there was some gamble on the part of Btech to make a gmrs radio, but perhaps less for them in some others, because the gamble appears to be limited to locking down the firmware (it receives quite a lot, but is locked down to only transmit on gmrs), and getting it certified, where other manufacturers may have to start a lot further back (and thus invest/gamble a lot more) in the development process. where the "money" line of thinking really comes in is in paying for the certification. the parallel to CARB is that everything is based on certification, not the in-practice operation.... the uncertified equipment could be doing exactly what the certified equipment is doing, but you're not in compliance because you don't have that stamp, and CARB (California Air Resources Board) is similar...even if i could modify the car to blow pure oxygen out the exhaust, i'd still fail smog if the manufacturer of the parts didn't pay the state to go through the certification process to get their stamp of approval.

100%agreed on this, with both you and Cleveland. I haven't found a better resource for gmrs (and general radio) info, hands down. There IS a sub on Reddit (r/gmrs), but it doesn't even come close to this site (though I think there are a few users on both, myself included).

I'm in agreement about doing our best to at least make people aware of the "proper" route. My jaded side says at least a little bit of the certification requirement for gmrs vs ham is money-based, both in the cost of certification and licenses (similar to my thoughts on CARB certification for auto parts...) That said, probably a big part of it is the amount of knowledge required for a ham license, vs gmrs being pay the fee and here's your license. This allows ham stuff to be a lot more open, as you're more expected to know where you can and can't operate, where gmrs stuff is locked down almost to the level of the lowest common denominator, so the bubble pack buyers can just grab something and go without much research or background, without the possibility of running over their local public safety frequencies (this way, their oversight can be complaint-driven, rather than having to devote staff to actively policing)

Yeah, I was eyeing the remote option, and I think I will have to go that route..., I got my hopes up on the semi local ones still having sessions listed.

You have my empathy Doc...I've had somewhat similar experiences in more than one interest area, not sure if elitism or apathy. Trying to get ham licensed currently. Local amateur radio club has cancelled all test sessions til late in the year, so I was looking at another group further out. There's still a session on calendar, and I've tried reaching out to see if it's still on before I make a 3 hour round trip drive, but I've gotten zero response either on their forum or by emailing the VE contact. Similarly, I was looking into joining a classic car club some years ago, but many of their activities, maybe 5% of the club showed. One run was only 3 cars including mine, and the club president just popped in to see who showed, then ducked out to go troll the junkyard instead. Kind of felt like what's the point. Kind of discouraging, I know.