gortex2

https://mygmrs.com/map/#/ Click on outdated or offline. Only ones that have been added in last year, or updated will show up with both off.

I drilled 7 holes in the roof and installed NMO mounts. That's the proper way to install an antenna. A single UHF quarter wave in the center of the roof on an NMO almost disappears to 99% of the community.

When I talked to them at the last vendor show they indicated Q4 but guessing it will be Q1 of next year before the 500 is out.

IF it is a listed repeater you should be able to request access from this site under the particular repeater. If its not listed and you can find the call sign you can contact them via FCC info. Last resort would be to get on the repeater and ask. Not all repeaters are open. I have one of 6 that are open for use.

I had a set for a while. Good little murs radio. Works better than FRS...

There is no issues mounting on a aluminum truck such as the f150. I have 6 NMO mounts in my current F150 and 4 in my last one. Radios have been installed in fire trucks and ambulances for years in aluminum. I prefer a quality NMO mount but any NMO will work fine. I run 1/4 wave on both my UHF radios and they work fine for 99% of the stuff I do.

Search for "5-in-1 NET 51TNC APRS WX/iGate/digipeater/Tracker/TNC/Bluetooth device ham radio" on ebay. Its basically a plug and play TNC. Used for for a bit but my digi doens't have trouble getting to another Igate so sent to to a buddy.

I would check for desence. If low power eliminates the issue that's most likely your issue.

As an FYI not sure why people think they need to scan 100 channels. If your scanning more that 10-16 channels you most likely are missing a ton. The CCR market scan but its so slow you can miss complete conversations. I run all MSI equipment as Ive stated before and never ran into "oh poop i can't scan that too" . When home there is only about 2 VHF 2MTR repeaters in my area and with PS channels I still dont fill 16 channels. I guess if your live in a major metropolitan area and have 50 repeaters to choose from it may be critical but I just don't get it. Even when i lived in NY I never listened to more than a couple of repeaters. Now the only common channel in my scan list is 146.520 and if on UHF the UHF call channel. When using a ham repeater I just tune to that repeater.

What are you talking about ?

No you need to purchase a GMRS ticket. I would also suggest you researching what ham frequencies you are authorized on.

The 7550 uses a specific antenna adapter sold by motorola. Its not cheap. 99% of the market uses the rubber duck. People forget B&I doesn't use external antenna's on a portable. They use a mobile radio. Radio isn't marketed to ham and GMRS users so real no need to have it. I agree a SMA would have been nice, but engineers have reasons.

Not sure why this is even being discussed. Its been in the rules for years. Ran into this for SAR work 25 years ago. each operator needs a license. Simple.

I hate to laugh but with that list your talking a $500 radio....A reputable manufacturer does most of above if you look at part 90 stuff. Radios dont come programmed, software is tried and true and firmware releases are tested.

I drive to Charlotte a lot from VA and rarely do I hear chatter on the 8 Standard GMRS channels. As said if your CSQ you may have a chance to hear something. Every once in a while the other "LP" channels in the midland will pick up a driver following another or something. Normally have a half mile then its gone again. There was a repeater in Greensboro and Wilmington although I've never heard either.

I would almost bet 99% of midlands mobiles get used simplex only mode. I know I have heard stories about the split tone issue but I've never encountered a repeater that I needed to use that had split tones. Todays marketing email from Midland was to Farmers. They have many markets. I asked the REP at Jeep Invasion about wideband and repeaters and he said they hear from very few about those issues. I am guessing he is indeed correct as many of the folks I talked to and asked about radios last week knew nothing more than we were on channel 4 or 16. On top of that most had no license....entirely another topic...Is what it is.

Well I guess I'm not sure about other radios but Midland comes pre programmed with no PLDPL tones on any channel. It also comes with a decent users manual. As said Ive never looked at other options as Midland is the leader in GMRS from a user base standpoint. I just returned from a Jeep Expo last week. No one in the facility other than Midland. I've been to a few other events this year and Midland is the only players. Personally I don't see the other vendors doing stuff like that. It all goes back to the mighty dollar.

I think your forgetting for decades GMRS radios were simple radios and most if not all were 8 channel with repeater and TA. Many did not eve allow programming. My Unidens have a dip switch for CTCSS and it can only use that CTCSS in all channels. Later on I got the programmable Uniden. I couldn't program it and had to take it to a 2 way shop to have PL set via computer. I can assure you it wasn't cheap to do GMRS then either. There was no $25.00 radios around, nor cheap mobiles. Over the years many serious GMRS users switched to Part 90 radios. Those still cost a lot of money, but with the narrowband changes it has put alot of that gear reasonable on the secondary markets. Lets fast forward 20 years to now. GMRS is the new craze, not because of new products or quality systems but because the rules got changed and now some folks that are promoting GMRS doesn't even know what GMRS was for in the past. In the 4x4 world they are pushing GMRS with mobiles as its better than CB. 99% of that is simplex. Midland doesn't care as many others about wide vs narrow. As long as it talks to there other offerings they are happy. While I agree GMRS market could use some good quality radios, your never going to see it as everyone wants cheap. The CCR mentality ruined it for manufacturers trying to stay in the market. As you said $400 is too rich for you. Many are in same boat, however many spend way more than that on gear and use it daily. I have said over and over if you want quality communications spend money. We tend to loose folks from the service because they think this is something that will do miracles, but they cheap out and find out it doesn't do what they want. For some its not an issue. I can attest some folks also dont know any better. I'll use my parents. I installed the midland radios in there Class C, and both vehicles. I have the Midland MTX275 in both my Jeeps. Why. Simple Easy to use radios. All my parents know is when going down the road behind me they talk on the channel. When at home they go to another channel to use my repeater. My jeeps have it because Jeep Jamboree has switched from CB to GMRS. We use simplex and that's it. No one knows the frequency or PL, they just say a channel number.

Was at the Jeep Invasion show this weekend in TN and talked to the Midland Rep on site. they had the MTX575 on site. It is much bigger box than the 275. I would say its at least 3-4 times bigger. That's a disappointment. It does have a mini usb on the front next to the mic jack so it may have some programming flexibility but he didn't know. . The rep I talked to said late fall is target to sell them. Of course he knew nothing about W/N band. I tried to explain the repeater issue but he seemed to either not care or not understand. YMMV

The issue is as said before the guys that run P25 want good comms and is a good way to keep a limited user set on the air for the reasons you stated. Many that are running CCR wont spend 500-600 on a P25 radio so we keep the users to good quality radio gear. For me I've been in public safety for years. Why have yet another radio in my truck when al my radios are P25 already. You will find alot of the good high end P25 sites are run by a guy who is in public safety or around it enough to see the benefits of the money invested. Nothing against DMR but with the CCR world adding DMR its puts more junk on the air that I dont want to deal with. As said i know some out there are linked and some guys like that. you will also find some linked to other P25 repeaters but no real network talk groups. Basically are linked to give better range on the system.

The majority of the P25 repeaters dont offer parrot mode or talkgroups. there are some on the east coast using P25NX and do have a couple talkgroups, defined by NAC code but those are limited. Im sure there are some out ther using alot of stuff on P25 but I've not come across any in my travels. My P25 repeaters are local and no internet connections. My goal was quality radio comms and not talking across the US...

Never said it shouldn't. Said why spend time when there is tons of aftermarket stuff for cheap. Again this is a service but appears people think its ham radio....build away..I'll order the proper stuff.

I have not used the kenwood option boards but use the built in secure on all my motorola radios on services that allow it. I did use alot of those boards in the ICOM series when i was at the shop. We had an LTR system and used inversion on some channels. Being HAM and GMRS prohibit secure probably not worth your money...

Also just because a repeater is there and on does not mean someone is sitting waiting to answer. Many of these repeaters are put in for the owners use to talk to there family or close friends. They are not a "chat" channel most of the time. I can say for sure you could call on one of mine all week and my wife would not answer it while I'm out of town for work. Even if I was home I doubt I'd reply either. Its a tool for my family.

Most P25 folks use the CCS7 ID scheme and it is recommended not to use your standard DMR ID.