Mikeam

Tip: this was somewhat mentioned here in the thread, but you can use at least a 50 foot modified network cable to run this with the head very far from the actual radio.
For example, I'm using this in my home, I have an antenna on the roof that comes down with a 50 foot lmr400 to a polyphaser attached to service ground and then into the basement.  I have the business end of the radio connected to the end of that antenna lead right as soon as it comes into the basement, then the 50' modified network cable running across the basement up into my office where the head unit is.  Power to the radio is running off a 900 watt, 12v server power supply (KG-1000g shows 12.34v upon startup)...that's controlled by a wifi outlet to turn on/off the power supply remotely without having to go down into the basement.

I have had mine for almost a year it replaced a Kenwood 8180 and I never looked back. It is in my Jeep and the primary scan is set on a known repeater in the area I am traveling and the second scan is set for all of my programmed channels. Remember you  cannot transmit on channels 8 through 14 as the radio can not meet the low wattage allowed but you can listen in! The Kenwood has become a sort of base station that will reach a repeater 56 miles away.

Worldwide when the SFI is up and as we move into solar maximum. In a couple of years, you will be able to talk around the globe with a wet noodle and a watt.

I guess you're not going to buy a new Cobra / Uniden FM CB for $500, either? LoL 

I agree with those sentiments. Truly seems odd however in light of the fact that the ability to use repeaters is what truly makes GMRS special.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

If you all don't mind me sharing an opinion...
I didn't discuss this before my break for obvious reasons, but now that the KG-1000G is in production, I wanted to share some details.
I was invited to be a tester of the KG-1000G prototype when there was only the single unit (the prototype) in existence.  I spent a little more than a week running that rig very, very hard.  It was a fantastic radio and I was really happy with it.  If it wasn't the only one in existence I the time, I would have cut them a check instead of sending it back. 
Though I have never touched the final product, based on the prototype, I feel like you can't go wrong with the KG-1000G.
Now that I have an MXT500 inbound, it should be interesting to see how it measures up to the KG-1000G.  While I think the 500 will turn out to be a good radio, I doubt it will be as nice as the KG-1000G.

The technician license primarily allows the use of the VHF and UHF spectrum of the amateur radio band. GMRS operates in the UHF spectrum. Operationally, GMRS and the UHF/VHF spectrum of the amateur band are very similar. The primary differences are the frequency on which they operate, and the way they are commonly used. GMRS is most often, though not always, used within a family or small group (like a 4WD club) where the user is talking to other people nearby that they know for the purpose of communicating within the group. Amateur (ham) radio is often used to talk to others outside of the small group, quite often even to strangers, for the sake of contacting others. With GMRS, the use is usually secondary to other purposes, such as four wheeling, hiking, traveling, etc. With amateur radio, the use is often primary, meaning it is used primarily to make contact with others.
With GMRS, one license covers the licensee and immediate family, and there is no exam. This makes it convenient for family use, which I believe is the most common usage. You and your son can both operate on the same license, which could be convenient for you.
With amateur radio, the license only covers the licensee, so, each user needs their own license, for which a test is required. This means that you'll be talking to another licensed ham.
The equipment is nearly identical between GMRS and the 70 cm. (~440 MHz) UHF amateur band. In many cases, the same equipment will work for both. Many GMRS radios are based on amateur radios, but with modified firmware and Part 95e certification. If you can use one band, you should have no trouble with the other.

To cut to the chase of it... concepts are the same, but every radio is different.  Especially between GMRS and Amateur UHF/VHF compared to most HF radios.  If you know how to use one radio, that absolutely does not mean you can operate any radio without firsthand knowledge or the owner's manual.
 

Here are the sweeps of my GP6 off a freshly calibrated VNA.






GMRS band is tolerable. Not as bad as I recalling.

Good luck.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

Just like any radio I own, it seems like the "go to" ones have the keypad on their face or in the mic. Menu's become a mess after a few levels in, and I get tired of remembering programming trees for so many different devices, to include actual radios. For my entire professional career, dealing with radio equipment, I tend to prefer those that have keypads over those that do not. For front panel re-programming, on the move programming, and quickly changing channels, frequencies or memories a keypad helps a lot. I also tend to prefer actual buttons over touchscreens, as they just show fingerprints, and tend to have more layers of menu's to them. Whichever way you go, enjoy your radios. 

Good Day PartsMan. Welcome to myGMRS.

By GXT1000G I assume you are referring to Midlands GXT1000 handheld radios. Is that correct?

Different feature sets and uses of your radios will ultimately influence whether a keypad is beneficial to you or not. The simplicity of a radio without keyboard is nice. My EDC GMRS radio does not have a keypad.

Of the radios I do own with keypads, they are all field programmable. This is a nice feature if your use of radios necessitates frequent channel additions in the field, on the fly. However programming with a keypad is very laborious (IMO) and it is not something I cherish doing. I consider it nice to have in an emergency, but not something I want to do except in an emergency. Programming with software is much more friendly and flexible.

I personally have worked out a system that I use now, in all my GMRS radios, keyboard or not, that has completely eliminated the need for field programming any new GMRS repeater channel. So I have removed that obstacle for myself.

A keypad is nice if you have a radio with perhaps 100s of channels programmed into it (like I do in my amateur radios). The keypad will usually allow you to directly enter the channel number you want. Of course this is an asset only if you can remember what you frequency(s) you assigned to what channel number.

A keyboard can be an asset for direct entry of CTSSC or DCS codes if you change them frequently or need to enter a custom one in the field. This is so rare and such an edge case situation as to be insignificant. Every radio I own has all the standard codes available and they selected at will and saved on the fly. No keypad needed.

Now, on my mobile radio, it does have a keypad. In my case I want and need the keypad because it provides access to features and settings I want direct access to that are not directly available on the radio. For example, power, squelch and some other settings are only available via the keypad in my configuration. Of course if the radio were bigger and had more buttons on its control panel then perhaps the keypad on the mic would become less of a need.

Food for thought. Hope this helps.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

The KG-1000G I own boots up to VFO mode after having done a factory reset. The user has to switch it to Channel mode after resetting. For a GMRS radio it should boot up into channel mode not VFO mode. Be that as it may, changing to Channel mode is just a press away by using the #6 (VFO/MR) button on the mic. This needs to be done for both the A and B receivers.

You will know you are in Channel Mode (aka Memory Recall mode) when you see three small numbers ranging from 001 and 999 in the upper right corners of the left and right halves of the display. See image below.



Once the radio is reset and in Channel mode, you should have 30 channels available to you for both receivers.

You are not the first on this forum to have been bitten by this issue.

Hope this helps.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

I do not have this particular radio, but until someone with real knowledge of this radio replies to you; I took a look at the manual.
Some radios have a VFO/Channel selector that switches from Channels to a VFO (or "Frequency Mode"), to allow you to program specific frequencies to listen to.  And some radios have a VFO-A and a VFO-B to choose from. Perhaps you are scrolling through two VFO channels.
Also, check out this selection from the manual:


Maybe post a photo or two of your two "channels."

Hook the antenna up to an UHF antenna analyzer or to a VNA and run the correct tests and you should be able to find your answer.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

As MichaelLax has indicated, the repeater tail is a function of the repeater and is set by the repeater owner. If you were building your own repeater out of a pair of KG-1000G then you would setting the tail on one of those two radios that comprises your repeater. The KG1000 does have a setting for adjusting the tail, but it is only relevant when it is repeater mode and being used as part of a repeater system.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

Hello and Welcome, Gil:
The tail, if there is to be one, is a function that is programmed on the particular repeater.
You, as the repeater user, cannot choose to turn it on or off.

I am new to GMRS. My kids gave me a pair of GXT1000g for Christmas and I have started shopping for a mobile for my pickup.
I have not been able to find any repeaters in my area so I will likely be simplex only.
Do I want or need a keypad? 
I keep thinking the ones on the mic will be in the way more than I will use them.

Imo, I wouldn't call it a deal breaker. If you're going to be scanning, or want direct channel access it's nice. If you're generally going to be parked on one channel, it's probably not necessary. 
I've mostly used mine for changing channels, and jumping in and out of scan; also sometimes in vfo for punching in a specific frequency I want to listen to outside gmrs.

Same here, I occasionally use keypad to change channel, volume, likewise vfo direct entry. There are many days I don't touch it

Contacting Midland Service/Tech Support is how some folks on this site have gotten their hands on software. I think you may need to purchase a special cable as well. If you search this site well you may find a link to the software that one of these folks may have shared.

The programming flexibility of Midland radios I believe you will find to be very limited compared to the competition.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

Chirp does not yet support the 905G. RTSystems reportedly plans to release a version of its software that does. So the only option CPS I know of for configuring the 905G is the manufacturer’s software. Running the manufacturer software using windows emulation software on MAC is the only way I believe there is to do it yourself.

BTW, the 905Gs firmware is substantially different from other Wouxun radios supported by Chirp, so attempting to use a driver for a different model may lead to undesirable results.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

That’s ok: I take all your snipes at me as “tongue in cheek!” ✌️ It fits in with my sense of humor. 

I posted elsewhere that I'd like to establish communication between two houses 7 miles apart, separated by lots of hills and forest. The consensus in the comments was that, based on the terrain, two GMRS mobiles 40-50 watts each, with decent external antennas should do the trick.
I'm looking to purchase two Wouxun kg-1000g radios but if I'm reading the channel plan correctly, you can only transmit 50 watts on the Repeater channels. Is this correct? But these use offsets and are not simplex. If this correct?
We want to transmit 50 watts simplex. What GMRS channels can we legally use? 
And can the Wouxun kg-1000g transmit 50 watts simplex on legal channels?
Thanks for helping out a noob!
Jim Barr
wrnq679 / n9onl

BoxCar is exactly correct.   
The 50w 462 frequencies are NOT restricted to repeater use only as Michael fears. 
Michael, that exact situation occurs EVERY DAY and the world does not end.  The frequencies are SHARED between simplex and repeater output, it really is that simple.

"A GMRS travle channel should not be a repeater channel simplex only"
So what do you mean by this. We only have 8 repeater channels. Are you proposing to use channels 1-7 which are 5 watt low power ? 
For me I dont want someone camping on my repeater pair or using it as a  "road" channel. If your set on a designated channel I'd pick a 1-7 channel.