WRFS771

I will end on This final note, using the FCC ID search to see if a commercial radio was part 95 approved is very helpful. The quality (usually to military specs) is far superior to the GMRS specific radio market. Commercial handheld radios are built for harsh conditions where as the radios made just for GMRS are made with low quality components and exterior casings. Commercial approved radios have the ability to program at least 250 repeaters or simplex compared to Most GMRS that have a small number of repeaters you can program. However, btech radios are inexpensive and have broadcast radio and NOAA available for GMRS users..NOAA is 2m VHF and there are few weather broadcasts in the 450-470 range if any for most areas. Depends of the tradeoff you want or need. A 4-5 watt handheld on our repeater network, I get 40 Miles in solid to our main repeaters, making it possible to hold a good conversation from metro Atlanta to Chattanooga TN without issue on most good days.

Price point Made them reasonable..typo. A lot has been learned..typo In post just made..didn't see post edit feature

It has been a while, so what's new with GMRS. Well Beofeng has come out with a GMRS/FRS radio different than the Btech V-1 It is marginal at best to comply, it has a fixed antenna which is more for FRS compliance. However under new FCC rules, FRS/GMRS radios cant be combined any longer meaning the BTECH v-1 no longer complies but still have the part 95 endorsement. There are a few DMR radios that got under the radar and were also part95 approved. The commerical radios seemed to be the best option the Kenwood 373G handheld radios price point mad them reasonable. I have heard some good feedback on the Wouxon (spelling?) Pronounced Ocean gmrs radios. Fir a base unit I got a great 30 watt former commercial radio believe it or not its a midland UHF radio 450-470 frequency range that was used for a smaller fire department post Former old stock or lightly used commercial UHF radios that were part 95 approved seems to meet the need perfectly. Opening them up and inspecting components through members in our group was a great learning experience. In fact our GMRS repeater network here in Georgia is the largest connected repeater network in the USA We also have the most GMRS users that also hold their Amateur radio licences as well. Overall, a kit has been learned over the past year. SWR readings can be optimized with magnetic mounts by checking corner roof readings..also a good idea to check SWR before permanent antenna installation for mobile radios. Rhe ghost antenna for 450-470 are great antennas for mobile. Or the 400-480 if you also have HAM radio equipment and licence. Zello has been good for VOIP over repeaters, we are making a change and will update everyone soon on the new VOIP service to our network the move that will open many more abilities and be in compliance for GMRS use. Thanks all. William WRFS771

They do have cellphones with RF radio capabilities 2m and 70cm VHF/UHF , redundant backup if cell service goes down. Amateur radio users can use them. GMRS users should be able s well. To use VOIP on repeaters or not The same ability to transmit On 400-470 And program offsets Maybe cell companies can require Amateur , gmrs , business users and FRS to have access codes in a sim card where a users license is registered on the equipment in use. An override for emergency RF transmission. In scan mode when an active frequency is found, the user should be able to transmit on that frequency after entering a pin number that identifies them and their account. Why does the FCC have to complicate things? The truth is , it's about money ALCATEL OFFERS GROUP CHAT on their phones like a radio. It's no different Our nation has the ability to keep people connected if Cell service or internet goes down. REPEATERS help as long as backup power is available and people would still have simplex after repeaters ran out of power.

My point is, we have 50 states and a few extra US territories. Every GMRS radio should be repeater programmable ahead of time with 5k + or - With a memory of at least 180 memory slots And all 155 CTCSS/DCS Tones Sone advanced radios scan and identify CTCSS tones But if you and your family travel, you want the ability to have repeater access as a traveler and why I feel cell providers should assist in providing repeaters on their towers since we pay cell FCC fees and GMRS fcc fees. Most private repeater network allow travelers to use. A radio with internet wifi tethering to use with voip would be a good addition to a radio. A single app like Zello on a GMRS radio Let's family talk all at once over zello if tethered to their cell service or a data sim card added. Just pick up and talk, no dialing, group or individual conversations. And the ability to add a GMRS zello channel that also transmits like DMR over RF. Food for thought. We are the only users that pay for public use. Businesses pay for a private lease and Amateur only pay a testing fee to radio groups, they dont pay the FCC. Only GMRS pay for public use and we should get more not less. CB is free and has 40 channels MURS is free FRS is free Amateur Radio is free Amateur and GMRS are the only public frequencies allowed to use repeaters. Other than cellphones that use repeaters and Frequencies to transmit phone calls over RF and VOIP. Government has the ability to ask cell companies to put GMRS repeaters on th wir towers because citizens are paying a GMRS tax fee. Taxation without representation.

Stats on the radio Wouxun KG-805G Features 22 GMRS Channels 8 GMRS Repeater Channels Repeater Capable 5 Watts Transmit Power Li-Ion Battery Pack Rechargeable Battery Included Battery Charger PC Programming Support Add/Remove Channels (via software) Supports 128 Channles (via software) FM Radio Alarm Feature Channel Scan Busy Channel Lockout 155 CTCSS/DCS Tones Backlit LCD Display Backlit Keys Battery Meter Low Battery Alert Power Saver Timeout Timer VOX Key Lock Audible Button Beeps Drop-In Charge Capable Audio Accessory Connector IP55 Water Resistant One Year Manufacturer Warranty

I read the stats It says 8 repeater channels Can you add more than the 8 with the 5k offset? I know it says 128 memory But the memory channels with most GMRS radios are for Recieve only. Plus this is only a 70cm radio Gmrs 1-8 is shared with FRS , FRS o. Those are allowed 2 watts.. 9-14 half watt. Can this radio transmit at half watt on those or just recieve? Again, we are paying a tax. The reason for families having radios is for fun and emergency use. The law is clear, any channel can be used to transmit in a real world emergency, so why limit GMRS users equipment? We are the only ones paying the government for public use. Our equipment should have the same capabilities as Amateur radios. Your licence should be what decides frequencies you have access to to use openly In an emergency, you dont want to be limited to only GMRS or FRS Especially is remote areas. Just my 2 cents worth. I hold both Amateur and GMRS licences GMRS allows VOIP use to be linked. Our GMRS repeater network has that option. Again, its another peice of equipment. For Amateur that's fine, it's a hobby For families is preparedness and cost is a factor A cellphone, RF radio if cell service goes down. DMR should not be limited to Amateur radio. DMR should have its place in GMRS as well. Again. Amateur can listen but must have a GMRS licence to transmit and vice versa . Dont limit people. In an emergency you are trying to make a contact

Very cool thanks for sharing At the time BTech USA and commercial radios seemed to be the only choice. I'm glad to hear this radio will allow programming of more than 8 repeater frequencies. Still, the price is price is a factor when you might need a radio for all family members. $400 for a family of 5 plus any that might be in the hands of younger users makes it a hefty investment. Have you seen any mobile or base stations with the added repeater abilities?

Btech GMRS V1 4 watt on 70cm GMRS, you need a tactical antenna I belong the nations largest GMRS repeater network. The radio and most legal GMRS radios can't hold 14 or more repeaters in memory Btech GMRS 50x1 50watts but also limited In GMRS memory. Btech makes this same radio for Amateur They can save and program 200+ repeaters The GMRS version restricts you to about 8 transmit repeaters but has the memory to listen to over 200+ That is the example GMRS pays $70 tax and get less and higher radio prices that do less in an emergency. Amateur pay $0 in tax to th FCC Any frequency I legal in an emergency The same for a GMRS user or a radio owner that just listens. Why pay a fee to be less prepared with less capabilities on GMRS radios

I posted the topic when I was new to GMRS Commercial radios can be used on GMRS The prices are not cheap,making I harder for families. An Amateur radio licence is free , the $15 fee goes to the radio clubs not to te FCC. We pay $70 to the FCC and get less and we have more restrictions. Amateur radio can make their own radios CB has 40 channels and no licence. NO licence required. Morse code can be restricted by privately owned repeaters on gmrs. $70 is a taxation, gmrs radios with repeater use should be less. A UV5R is legal for Amateur radio use, well GMRS users paid a tax for use. Staying in your allowed frequencies is all that should matter for transmitting. I'm both an Amateur licence holder and GMRS licence holder. Meaning I have to carry 2 radios when 1 can do the job

There are no legal GMRS radios on the market if they have 22 channels. Why? Channel 8-14 are dedicated FRS channels and transmit power on those channels is .5 watts. Only blister packs meet the power with fixed antenna. But the blister packs are illegal if they transmit on channels above 14 Baofeng radios like the UV5R And 888s are also illegal to transmit on GMRS if a GMRS users transmission 8-14 they are breaking the stupid rules because those radios transmit on low at 1 watt and dont have fixed antennas. The same with all Amateur radio equipment. The FCC has made mess by keeping FRS. Too many illegal users GMRS has the potential to be a great secondary communication network for people that dont have reliable Cell coverage. The FCC when they approve a cell tower and a cell provider a license, require them to install and maintain a GMRS repeater. That makes it possible for nation wide radio communications with even a 5 watt radio. The .5 fixed antenna users can pay a $5 GMRS annual fee. No repeater use End the FRS frequencies.

The FRS network and blister packs are causing the problems for GMRS use. If people want free and cheap, then get your Amateur Radio testing and license. For people that dont want to study, they have 40 Citizen Band channels and MURS. If radios are illegal because they can transmit on FRS and GMRS. That makes all Amateur Radios illegal because they all transmit over the .5 watt dedicated FRS channels. The solution is to end the FRS network, all 22 channels and dedicated GMRS repeater channels should be for paid $70 fCC licence holders. We are paying for the use to the FCC for more power and distance. Even Amateur radio is free but you need to study and learn so you understand. AMATEUR RADIO operators are vital to our national security. GMRS is a way to get in and start using, later family members may want to get an Amateur Radio license and enter the hobby. People think shared FRS/GMRS means that they can buy equipment that cost less and program to shared channels but they dont qualify because they transmit on The dedicated FRS channels above the allowed .5 watt power A HAM operator can monitor and listen to GMRS and FRS They dont have the clearance to transmit on those networks. Think about the wording of the FCC rules. Removable antenna? MOST Amateur radios have removable antennas. For families that want the blister packs, make them pay a $5 annual FCC GMRS license. That makes it cheap for quick use. .5 watts and fixed antennas. Or pay the $70 ten year licence if you want to transmit at higher power and use repeaters. Thanks WRFS771 A programmable radio makes people more prepared in emergencies. An Amateur radio operator can transmit on GMRS in an emergency. Anyone can. Dont limit equipment, hold the users accountable.