AdmiralCochrane

Actually, the limit is 20' higher than the support structure. If one lived in the penthouse of a 40 story building, imagine the range one could enjoy even on simplex!

I see that charge fairly often in the local (southwest Florida) news. In Florida it carries up to 5 years prison and $5000 fine, and is itself a third degree felony.

It's more of a CYA post by the FCC than anything else. If (that's IF) they arrest someone and they have a radio that is turned on they can make the charge even though they couldn't necessarily prove it unless they have a picture of the person using the radio while committing the offense.

In a nutshell if you plan to use repeaters near you (after asking for permission) then you would use wideband as the majority or repeaters are wideband. If you only plan to talk radio to radio and never use a repeater FRS and narrowband is fine. 
 
I could type a entire document on pro and con of each but if you search you will find a ton of info.

CTCSS/DCS Codes are used with and without repeaters. They are the same “privacy codes” used by the bubble pack FRS radios you buy at Walmart. Two radios operating on the same frequency and that share the same CTCSS/DCS codes will typically operate together.
 
Non-HT radios are not legally permitted to transmit on GRMS/FRS channels 8-14, so even the 50X1 should not allow communication on those channels. Non-HT radios are only permitted to listen on those channels.
 
UV5R is not legally permitted for use on GMRS or FRS.
 
 
Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

Likely do not have the correct frequency's in, or have them in the wrong order. There are also privacy codes (CTCSS/DCS) which could be in play. Without having the code plugs for the radios I couldnt tell you where the issue is.

Also, just a side note, the UV5R is NOT GMRS compliant and some users have said they had issues with those radios in the past when used outside the ham frequencies.

For the TK-8180 I think you need to download and install the programming software for the radio. It should be the KPG-89D located here. There are other locations to find the software. The latest version is V1.61 I believe. Older ones will likely work too. Just make sure you have the serial install key. Normally most of the packages include one in a text file.
 
http://rsws.zapto.org/RadioSoftware/Kenwood/
 
You will also need a programming cable for it too.
 
Commercial radios are great to use on GMRS but are impossible to setup, or nearly so, without the programming software.
 
Any used commercial radio you are thinking about buying make sure you can get the correct programming software and cable for it FIRST. If you can't the radio will end up being an expensive paper weight.

Note the term Type Accepted is no longer used in GMRS. Rather, radios must be Certified for GMRS.

I'll bite.
 
So, if you are going to use repeaters to chat with other GMRS licensed operators, then any UHF radio will work. If you want something just to get started then go with a Baofeng BF-888s. It doesn't get any cheaper than 9 dollars, which is, if IIRC, what I paid for one of those last time. Don't expect to break any simplex long range contexts with it... but it will communicate with GMRS repeaters just fine.
 
After playing around with GMRS for a while, then evaluate what you really want, and what the typical usage scenario would be. Is simplex range what you want? or you prefer chatting with other GMRS owners in repeaters? Maybe what you want is Ham radio, and not GMRS, which is a very different license than GMRS. In GMRS there are just 22 channels, so things like VFO, etc... are not needed, you only need to scan 22 channels. Most hams, used to VFO on their radios like to have one, which was probably the thing to have 20 years ago, when everything was FM..., nowadays, however, most, if not all radio communications in UHF are digital modulation (P25, DMR, NDXN, D-Star), which most of these FM radios won't do... so having the ability to scan the entire UHF band won't be of much use when all you'll hear is bleep bleep, thunk thunk thunk thunk (DMR) or a hissing noise like a good old modem (P25, D-star) etc.. So, again, for ham operation a VFO comes in handy since most of the ham stuff is all FM analog. but the rest of the world is moving away from analogue communications.
 
Keep in mind, though, that if its long simplex GMRS range what you seek, you'll need to pay to play.
 
G.

Depending on how tall the hills are and how close you are to them. It's likely be fine, if they are hills and not El Capitan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Capitan) and you are not at the bottom of it.

Effective June 29, 2021. See the attached link to access the Report & Order.
 
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-electronic-licensing-report-and-order
 
To add or update your email and/or other information log into the FCC ULS Manager with your FCC Registration Number (FRN). See the link below.
 
https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp

The FCC does not explicitly limit the power of the handheld to 5w across the board. The 5w limits in the GMRS rules apply to all radios permitted to use some of the itinerant frequencies. But while the rules do not expressly limit it, the power is implicitly limited because handheld radios must comply with RF radiation exposure limits called “Specific Absorption Rate” limits. If it were somehow possible to manufacturer a higher power unit and achieve SARs compliance I suspect you would see higher power units available. Don’t hold your breath.
 
https://www.fcc.gov/general/radio-frequency-safety-0
 
 
Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

What is your repeater ? While they are close a distant radio should not open up both repeaters on the PL. I would look at both repeaters and do a full check with a monitor on them.

I wouldn't say repeater owners are trying to keep people out, rather, trying to control abuse of their systems. Repeater owners easily put out nearly $1000 just to get a system running. That doesn't include time spent maintaining the system, cost for repeater sites, cost of internet use (for linked systems,) or cost of power use. Because of this, and because there are people who simply wish to be destructive for whatever reason, repeater owners don't always disclose their access codes to the general public. This prevents unlicensed access and also reduces intentional disruption of the system.
 
I use to publish my input codes for the public, however after an unknown user jammed the repeater forcing me to take it off the air so it didn't suffer damage, I changed my input code and did not publish it. When a licensed GMRS operator contacts me requesting the info, and I can see that user is local to the repeater, I give them the access code. Simple as that. Ask and I think most operators will grant you access.

Sorry. But that is simply incorrect on 2 grounds. 1. Many ham repeaters are effectively private and do not publish their access requirements; and 2. Repeaters are not and have never been part of what you get rights to use with a GMRS license.  

There is a good chance that GMRS may not work for this application, regradless of how much power unless both are on the highest rooftops without taller buildings in between. 

Rooftop to rooftop would work like a dream, ground to ground with tall buildings between reduces the chances of success.

From experience the best way to tune your antenna is when it is installed in its final location. Near by metal objects, height above ground etc. tend to affect the antenna. It might not be that convenient but you’ll know the match won’t change because you move the antenna location.

The perception that narrow band are not compatible with ALL GMRS repeaters is false. I know of many, including my own repeaters that run narrowband. I know the normal is wideband but they are out there and more than folks think. 

I use an MXT-400 and the radio does use wideband on the repeater frequencies, out of the box. I have no problem using it on local repeaters.
 
I do use narrow band handheld units in simplex with the MXT-400. The only thing you need to do is turn up the volume to hear the handhelds. If a wideband radio keys up the volume will be loud. To reduce the number of times that this happens I usually use a PL tone on simplex.
 
Midland does sell a programming cable that allows you to set up split tones or change the bandwidth. I don't have the cable and have never had a need to change the stock configuration of the radio. There are several good YouTube videos if you want to learn more.

Radio waves in GMRS band are public domain, but hardware is not. There is nothing more to it, repeaters are personally owned hardware. I do not expect to use someone else's radio just because I know where it is and how it works.

Radio waves in GMRS band are public domain, but hardware is not. There is nothing more to it, repeaters are personally owned hardware. I do not expect to use someone else's radio just because I know where it is and how it works.

Radio waves in GMRS band are public domain, but hardware is not. There is nothing more to it, repeaters are personally owned hardware. I do not expect to use someone else's radio just because I know where it is and how it works.

Radio waves in GMRS band are public domain, but hardware is not. There is nothing more to it, repeaters are personally owned hardware. I do not expect to use someone else's radio just because I know where it is and how it works.

Radio waves in GMRS band are public domain, but hardware is not. There is nothing more to it, repeaters are personally owned hardware. I do not expect to use someone else's radio just because I know where it is and how it works.

Amen!