tweiss3

Correct, being that the exact allowed frequencies/bandwidths and power levels are directly outlined, it's must simpler than amateur radio. The point of the Part 95 rules for type acceptance is so that the average joe can buy the license and purchase an off the shelf radio and be within the rules. While the concepts are identical between ham 70cm and GMRS, there is more responsibility on the operator in amateur radio. This includes coordination of repeaters/operating frequencies as well as RF exposure evaluations. The idea of GMRS is that frequencies are not overlapping/spaced too closely, and the FCC has already done the RF exposure evaluation in a general sense. Not saying there won't be someone trying to use a 45w mobile with antenna attached directly to the radio placed 4' from the user, but they did a good job simplifying it.

I was referring to the "Typical 1 mile range" in the specs. Much better than the typical "up to 25 mile range" I'm used to seeing.

On another board, i saw someone mention that 1.13 FW completely blocks SFR with a "not supported in MISC mode" message.

That is the first time I've seen a manufacturer not largely embellish the specs (range).

I use GMRS out with the family unit all the time. Be it car to car, or handhelds out and about at events. I have had a few "rag-chew" conversations with a friend (ham and GMRS) who's neighborhood was using GMRS as a way to check on each other, and we were having a conversation to get his neighbor more comfortable being on the air. I do know what @marcspazmeans though, I've run into a few grumpys on the air that were just not pleasant to deal with. One was while I was driving a part of the state I was not usually in, but had repeaters programmed. I was trying to find any repeater to talk on. One I could key, and clearly hear the other goober yelling at me because he couldn't hear me. I tried at 5 mile intervals for a while, and he was just needed to turn up his hearing aids (presumed) because there is no way I could have heard him as clear as I did for as long as I did without making into the repeater clearly at some point. I have also run into some people that were just not a pleasure to talk to on GMRS, but I've learned quickly, not worth the time and I just move on.

Wow, I ended up with one. I didn't pay for it, it was just an extra in a box of a radio I bought. Same serial, last 4 of above the barcode is ATNT. Makes sense why I won't charge.

Rotate the antenna 90 degrees and see if it reaches. J-Poles are a bit directional.

Now that I think about it, I have one that I haven't used, but I put on the charger and it keeps going into a conditioning cycle immediately after it completes charging. I'll look at it tonight if I remember.

Also, remind them that anything said or done on the radio isn't private, anyone can hear it. That usually brings some perspective.

I remember the "change" about 6 months ago. The site now refuses to run ads (other than the scannermaster banner) and there might have been a few changes that came along with that. To be honest, most of the stuff doesn't have input frequencies. Unless the submitter also includes the input frequency from the license, most of the time they can't hear the users on the input. As for the rest of the stuff, I only listen to the Calls platform when I am trying to follow a single incident, or listening to all the snow removal crews from my commute route.

What is paywalled now? I provide a feed, so I don't notice. I thought you could always get to the database, but "downloading" the information required the subscription.

Does the 935g do weather alerts? If so, when on it stops scanning every 10-15 seconds to check the weather channel for the alert tone, and it isn't actually stopping on the channel it shows.

@marcspaz Is this the one you used: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/part-107-remote-pilot/ I thought about it 4 years ago, but at that time, the rules changed about once a month, and I never followed through. We've thought about it for the office, maybe I just need to do it.

Also unplug the microphone from the repeater and see if that changes anything.

Proper use of scan lists and you can watch way more than 2 frequencies. The XPR7550e is a wonderful radio. I've been jumping between it and a Kenwood NX-5300.

The internal oscillator on the VXR7000 never turns off, it is always on when in repeat mode. This helps reduce keyup/warm up time. Get a few hundred feet away and see if you are still experiencing the same "issue". Your HT will always pickup the internal oscillator if you are in close proximity to the unit.

You can use this to get a good estimate https://extapps.commscope.com/calculators/qvisolation.aspx Keep in mind, even a cheaper mobile duplexer can achieve 70db isolation, better on decent mobile duplexers, and you will likely need greater than 60 feet vertical, one directly above the other, to get it working anywhere close to the performance of a duplexer.

Well, the state system is on 700/800 MHz P25 system which may cover some of the dam/lock operations. It also appears that there is a bunch of VHF FM stuff for the dam and lock operations, but there is also UHF stuff for on ship and ship/ship. Other ships may use unknown UHF frequencies and/or 900MHz DTR radios, that no scanner/radio will pick up. You might be better off with a Scanner that can do close call and sit close to the river and log what it finds.

Look at adding a scanner instead of another radio. Uniden BCT15X can be found for about $100 and can scan better than any radio. It has a coverage of VHF low down to 25MHz, as well as up in the GHz ranges, and will scan much quicker than a radio can. Also to be completely transparent, note that in all technicality, programming of marine radio frequencies (eCFR Part 80) in a radio requires a GROL license. I'll just leave it at that. Many of the radios don't require Mars/Cap to listen out of band, only for transmission. The Motorola softwares are now free as long as you sign up for a Motorola MyView account. It's not terribly hard, just time consuming and requires following up with Motorola via phone. The Kenwood software can be found. The most current stuff you need to find the correct dealer that will talk to a ham/GMRS radio guy. Some will, some won't. Before I found the right dealer, I called a local shop that I know, and they wouldn't sell me the software. And I know one of their head techs, I have lunch with him an a handful of other professionals in the RF industry every few months.

Yep, I corral my kids with GMRS. They sling carry the radio with an RSM clipped on their coat so they can hear me. I use a chest rig and over the ear piece under my helmet.

I've also done the commercial looking, and the cost between APX 8500 and a NX-5K dual deck remote head is about 2:1 Moto vs. Kenwood. @PACNWComms you are probably thinking of the crypto modules which must be sent back for labor + $600 for the board, otherwise, P25 can be added at the programming level for $575 (conv) + $520 (PH1 Trunk) + $400 (Ph2 Trunk), using just the same program that activates D1N. I will admit, the Kenwood D#N softwares are frustrating at times, but not any more frustrating than Mototrbo 2.0 CPS. There are plusses and minuses to both, but I have and use both depending on the situation. I've also started side-eyeing a few other brands that offer multi-band radios, but its harder and harder to look at them since I now have all the M & K legitimate tools/programs already, others are not as easy to track down and obtain. The long and the short of an answer to the OP in this thread: for a new or casual GMRS user, there isn't an excellent option that is cost-effective to recommend. If you really deep pockets and didn't care, there are options you could look into. But for most, you are probably best to run either two radios (VHF and UHF) and find a way to make them fit.

Do you have information on that antenna? Have you tried adjusting the length to see if you can "tune" it into a good SWR? Your problem likely is no ground plane. Oddly enough, if your faceplate of the go-box was aluminum not plastic it might be enough.

That is what I did to mine, extended it just log enough to hear.

I find them helpful at times, but my repeater doesn't have it available in the controller, and its not the end of the world.

Thats a thought. Not to derail the the conversation, but DMR would make sense in more than 1 way.