DanW

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Quote frenzy aside, it is easier because GMRS is FAST growing. More radios are on the market than ever, and about 99% of users don't read this forum or get into these HAM-lite discussions. Many, if not most, are gravitating over from CB. (Probably the fastest growing segement of the market is the off-roading community.) They do, however, travel on highways to and from their favorite destinations. They know that on their old CB's, many of which still keep in their vehicles even after aquiring GMRS radios, channel 19 has been the travel channel for decades, approaching 1/2 century. Pop culture taught them that, as well as the days when there was high usage. Even today, while CB 19 is much quieter than it used to be, you can still hear many conversations there and easily get info from truckers who continue to monitor it. So having channel 19 as the travel channel makes for an easy transition and it is likely the first place new GMRS users will check. Say what you want about 20. I NEVER hear travelers using simplex 20 as the travel channel. I can get on I70 right now and start talking away and there's a 99% chance NOBODY will respond. At the same time, I can easily get someone on CB 19 to respond, pretty much every time, on any interstate with even light traffic on it. Interestingly enough, @OffRoaderX awhile back single handedly declared channel 16 to be the off-road channel. (Why? 4x4=16). On my last off-road trip to Turkey Bay ORV area in Kentucky what did I hear? Nothing on channel 20. Also at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab last year, channel 16 was easily the most active. The only place I've heard traffic on channel 20 was Moab, because so many were on 16 that people decided to find other channels. So he's done a great job of introducing off-roaders (again, the fastest growing group of GMRS users) to channel 16. Like the early 21st Century, when the porn industry drove the hoardes to Blue Ray and away from HD DVD, the off-road community may send 'em flying to channel 19, if they so decide. ? And they'll go there because it is already ingrained in their minds. They won't burn a calorie trying to think about it. I just think it would be easier and logical to get 19 up to speed than channel 20. But if everyone gravitates to 20, I'm fine with it and will use it. But good luck with that. If its been around as long as you say, whatever effort was made to promote it has left little to show for it.

Well, we have not spread the word on that yet, have we? That's why it is an idea or proposal. You might have picked up on that if you read the OP. If you read a little further you'd find that the only mobile traffic I heard was from kids on channels 1-7 on bubble pack FRS radios. Apparently they've done a better job than you internet forum PHD's at getting the word out. Lol!

So I'm glad I could get you guys excited about a discussion beyond your normal tech-talk induced state of arousal around here. I must have missed all that chatter on channel 20 when rolling down the interstate. Not sure how that could be, with the level of common knowledge you claim is out there.

Look at context. Nobody knows about channel 20 as a travel channel. I'm sure that repeater didn't roll around the nation's freeways for 51 years.

Word: Nobody.

In other words, you were nit-picking. Nobody uses 8-14.

Welcome to the forum! There are many helpful folks around here, so you'll enjoy it!

Fair point, but technically, I don't use 8-14, so anything I use that isn't high is low.

I won't be violating a rule. I don't go near the line. Never said anyone shouldn't get a license, either. I don't like 1 and 7 because they are low power. But if that became the primary channel used, I'd use it. It'd still probably be better than CB. At least more clear. But my vote is for 19. High power and easy to remember.

They really don't do much. They have bigger things they are up to. I'm going with channel 19.

Because nobody knows about channel 20. How about this? Scratch that line or move it to the border.

Still a small percentage of the population. Small enough not to worry about it. They can make FRS channel 7 their official channel if it is a problem. I like 19.

Lol, yeah, someone with more than the two Youtube followers I have. I know you've got at least double that! ?

Most Americans wouldn't be close enough to worry about that. 19 Simplex make sense.

Nice! I run that same antenna and I've heard others say it has good SWR, too.

Correction! Upon closer inspection, this one is different than mine. Mine is the Rugged Radios mount. This one, from the pictures, looks like it should be stronger. The bend has more length of metal, so it should be more rigid. It also looks like it could possibly be thicker. I'm going to order one and compare them side by side. This one may even be better.... Even wider at the bend

That is the mount I use on both my JK and JL. (Pic below) The one on my JL lasted about 9 months and broke. It weakened at the bend from just moving in the wind. I don't recall hitting it more than a little on branches while off-roading. The antenna is springy enough that this should not have happened. So at some point I'm going to see if I can get someone with a welder to try and strengthen it at the bend. Other than that, I love the mount and it puts the antenna where I can't see it and where cowling lights don't shine on it and bother my night vision.

I said I wasn't going to do it and that I didn't need one but......I just had to go ahead and order. I will pair this with a Midland 6db magnetic antenna setup I've got laying around. I can loan it to friends on off-road trips. I've seen that some claim it doesn't put out the full 20w but I wonder if they were on battery power. I've seen where they put out right at or just under 20w when plugged into a vehicle and the engine is running and the voltage is higher.

Wow, that's an even better deal. I've got that radio in my JK and it's nice!

If you have prime it should be 20% off of that and show $87.99. That's what it is showing me now.

They've got this little, and it is indeed little, powerhouse (20w) on a Black Friday deal for $88. From what I've read it is a good one and has a VERY loud speaker, which plays well with Jeeps or other noisy vehicles. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096533TR6/ref=ewc_pr_img_3?smid=A1IGF4J2EDI4OA&psc=1 I don't need another radio, but I thought I'd share it out here for those who might like it.

I don't have a Windows laptop, so not yet. I may see if I can get my brother to connect his to it and see what it offers. I'll be shocked if there isn't some way to do it. If not, I'd love to see them do a firmware update that adds it to the menu. So many cheaper radios have that feature.

I'm going to look for some smoke or tinted plastic that maybe I can jury rig onto it. I've got mine up in the center stack, staring me in the face at night, lol!

Great! Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about them, particularly the 575!