gortex2

I run the Larsen NMO 150/450/700/800 on my work trucks. Additionally the MSI Tri Band antenna sweeps pretty good on both 2M and 440 and GMRS. I'd use a commercial antenna before a HAM antenna most days. Just like the performance and quality better. JMHO

Correct code 25 is 156.7. Be advised that will be both TX and RX in the radio.

If they are included as RX only people would be on here asking why they can't transmit on them. None of the midland MTX mobiles have them either. Its not just this radio.

The i20r controller he had sent CW ID in CSQ mode. Only PL was on when the RX radio received the PL (tones). The Communications Specialist controller does the same thing. Its all how the controller is programed and radios are programmed. Built many of those repeaters when i was at the shop with the i20, zetron, comm spec and other controllers at the time. Most commercial controllers will accomplish what the user is looking for. A ham/hobby controller will not. @mikevman I'd search ebay for a CommSpec TP3200, CSI 32, Zetron CR-310 or any of the Trident controllers. They pop up on and off but finding one the size of the i20 may be challenging. Most are 19" rack mounted.

8-14 dont show up as its a mobile. Rules specifically specify those are portable frequencies only.

Because its a topic that comes up weekly thought I'd share of picture of Midlands Jeep mount from the show last weekend. Jeep runs a MTX575. Per the folks at the show the antenna location is the best they have found on the jeep. While I still hate the Ghost antenna for the use case they explained its fine. (Use case is following others on the trail). Yes your mileage may vary but wanted to share. Lots of folks on some of the FRS/GMRS channels out there last weekend, but mostly CH1-5 on my Midland was busy. The local GMRS repeater was useless as there are 2 old hams who use it non stop most of the day. Not just last weekend, but most weekends I'm there. Is what it is.

I have been saying this for 2 years. Every day its worse and worse. GMRS had a purpose and folks want to change it. I dont see folks screaming to add repeaters and P25 to MURS. Get over it and use GMRS for what it is.

APX 7500/700 series came in 2 bands depending on how it was ordered. Any of the 2 bands could be in the radio, including UHFR1 and UHFR2 (I have a mobile like this). Our SAR team ordered them with VHF/UHFR1 in the past. APX8500/8000 series can be purchased in all bands. All depends on flash code in radio. APX8K series can be upgraded to add bands not ordered originally but the flash is not cheap. The 7K series was a board swap and is not supported any longer in terms of upgrades of band changes. What you buy is what you get in that regard.

OK. First and foremost GMRS is not 70cm. Thats the HAM UHF band. Many commercial repeaters can be found in the UHF 460 Mhz range. They are cheap. LMR400 is not the best cable for duplex operations. Many posts on here about the shielding and issues you will find with duplex operation. Ed Fong antenna is also not a good antenna for a repeater. Again many posts on here but its basically a put together antenna made by a ham. You want a worthwhile repeater buy a antenna made for the use case. Duplexer jumpers should be a well shieled jumper with the proper connectors on each end. Short as possible to the radio. 12" are the standard most of the time. RG142 is a good cable to use. Again manage your expectations. The setup you are proposing may give you 5 miles. I guess if its on a 6000' mountain it may talk further. No idea. Do a search on the site. Many folks have started with cheap setups like this and found it didn't do what they want. Either they disappear or spend the funds to do it correctly.

As I say over and over the ghost antenna is about as good as a dummy load. If your goal is to talk to a guy in front of you on simplex use it. If you need distance a 1/4 wave is a better choice. A quick search on this site will give you hundreds of posts with the differences between the ghost and the gain from Midland. There are also many posts on the JT/JL/JK/TJ antenna mounting solutions.

I know very well what the difference is. My point was we are bickering over stuff that 99% of the GMRS users don't care about nor have a license to care. "Licensed" users will follow the rules but there is a HUGE amount of folks on these channels with no license, no care about a license or about anything we are talking about.

All how you read the rules. But I digress. Years ago we had a GE Master II for our GMRS repeater. It had an RTL (Radio Tie Line) from the tower site to our house and had a "DC" Remote. The Remote allowed my parents to call on the repeater and answer. By the rules at the time it met "remote control" via telephone line, but was not a PTSN network. It was basically a pair of copper wires from one location to another. Now its all done over IP and is the same basic concept. The biggest issue with linking is the ability to shut down the repeater remotely. When everything is working all is good. When its not its and issue. In the past one of the ham groups had a repeater linked with all star. Something on the Pi broke and the repeater was keyed solid for 2 days until someone went and unplugged it. Anyway my repeaters are connected via microwave links and comparators. Even though its not simulcast its all run thru a digitac and votes best audio and sends that over the air. Much cleaner than IP linking in the hobby world.

And lets face it 90% of the folks on those channels are using baofengs from amazon and don't have a license anyway. Don't sweat the small stuff. Worry about the high power channels and repeaters.

There has been a huge shift in the thought process of GMRS over the last few years. Not sure why but some feel its like social media and you get online with a radio and repeaters are all over the US and active. While some areas have great repeaters most of the US does not. Many repeaters are not listed nor open for anyone use (Mine for example). I don't know where folks get the info but it puzzles me at times. Been in GMRS for over 20 years and still use it for the main aspect of my first repeater - to talk to my family and friends on a repeater. That's it. Never since day 1 did I install one so i could talk to folks I don't know.

I personally wish this were the case but sure there is someplace that counters the text you screen captured. To me linking has ruined GMRS but that is only my opinion.

It all depends on your expectation on how well the system will work. A duplexer helps keep desense to a minimum. The antenna is the most important part of the repeater. Spending quality funds on a good antenna and line twice is normally more money than a duplexer and one good antenna. Also if your going at a commercial tower you pay per antenna and line on the tower. I can say you can get a repeater that is designed as a repeater cheaper than you will get 2 KG1000's ...food for though

I have heard a ton of digital on GMRS. Get near any port on the coast and its non stop. As I go thru DC and Baltimore I hear it on and off in the cities. Alot is simplex but I know of locations with repeaters on the air. Sad part is people buy CCR DMR stuff and just program away not knowing anything about rules or caring. When they sell stuff on amazon to anyone who has a CC its going to happen. When I was at a radio shop in the past they put a IDAS/NXDN repeater on GMRS for a school "cause they have no money" for licensing. I wasn't there much longer. All we can do as GMRS users is try to follow the rules and encourage others to do the same.

The ORing is to keep water out of the NMO. Nothing more.

If you go this route just toss a 1/4 wave on it. 6" vs 3" wont be noticed. I had run one of those on my Motorhome before I switched out to the LAIRD fiberglass stick. Worked fine for my application as I had no ground plane on the motorhome.

Thats a question for @rdunajewski

TX and RX is what you use. RX is repeater output. TX is repeater input. PL/CTCSS/DPL tones are the same format.

It was on our license back in the day. I'm not sure I have any old copies around. Never specified a PL tone just 462.675/467/675. Then you only got one frequency when you got a GMRS channel. My first one was 462.625/467.625. Later on a few of the larger GMRS based groups pushed the 141.3 as a traveler code. Our area had a REACT repeater on 131.8 (still active today) but was an old repeater that used reeds. I searched for 2 years and finally gave up. Some history on that is here and is a good read. http://www.nsea.com//index_files/nseainfo.htm Our REACT team was very involved in GMRS and CB at the time. Sadly it fell apart as soon as most of the guys went to HAM radio. Our SAR team took over the GMRS repeater and have upgraded it a few times. Its on the schedule to be replaced this fall and will incorporate the 141.3 in the list of available PL tones.

A repeater at 4 watts will talk no further than a portable at 4 watts. No need to install an amp. You would be best served by purchasing a quality antenna and feedline.

Depending on your location there may be repeaters and other locations quiet as a mouse...

Or just grab a RT97 for half the cost of the KG1000 setup.... KG1000 - $369.00 x 2 Duplexer - $150 (Fumie China Duplexer) Various cable - N-PL259 (Radio to duplexer) - $25-50 Power Supply - $100.... Granted the RT97 is a high power repeater but 99% of the folks that will be putting up a repeater are doing it at home on a garage or house. The RT97 is a all in one box. Just program and turn on. Simplicity for many. And to be honest if you have a great location the repeater will do fine with portables. Just another option.