gortex2

I understand that. My comment was based on my installing of public safety systems its a habit to use the same stuff on my GMRS. Plus most of my repeaters are public safety part 90 re-use.... This was for my repeater only. I still encourage users to ID as stated in the rules.

Most of my repeaters ID at 30 minutes. Regardless if it is or is not in the rules that's how i do my Public Safety stuff so that's how i did mine.

MURS does not allow DMR. Nor does GMRS.

Lightening protection should go at the point of ingress to your house/garage prior to the radio. If you have an antenna on a mast run cable down mast and as soon as you enter building you would put protection there.

You get what you pay for. If you have cheap radios then using a cheap meter isn't going to help much. Spend a bit more on the equipment you need to test and you will be pleased. Most likely youll also find all this cheap stuff is not going to perform well enough.

A repeater will not get you into the net either although many that do tie in via repeater. Also as reference Warrenton did have a repeater (I used it in the past). If you look at the map and click outdated listings the info should come up. I doubt it is connected to any nets but may be wrong. I can say none of mine are connected to any network's.

Make sure the other radios dont use PL/DPL.

I think the issue with Part 90 vs Part 95 stuff for items like a repeater is you will most likely spend alot of money on stuff that wont perform to your expectations. I have said over and over you get what you pay for. To spend $320 each radio, then at bare minimum $300 for a decent flatpack mobile duplexer (not what Id use but alot do) your at $ 1000 and you dont have an antenna or hardline. For $1000 I can order a decent used GR1225 repeater, tuned and programmed and still have $500 in my pocket for antenna and hardline. There are Part 95 repeaters out there if folks are insistent on them from cheap to expensive and I'd go that route before 2 mobiles velcroid together....

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.

As said many of times its all what you expect to get for your hard earned dollars. If you want a quality well performing radio you buy a LMR/Part 90 radio that was designed for the band in the first place. If this is new to you and you just want to dabble as a user and want something a bit better than FRS then you get the CCR such as above. Yes some CCR are better than other but some are worse. Over the last 3 months I have noticed the increase of membership and new members wanting to know why folks aren't hearing them on repeaters and why there UV5R doesn't talk 30 miles to the repeater. If you want to play with the good stuff you need to spend money. GMRS isn't about chatting with folks on the repeater you don't know. The radio in the original post appears to be a decent GMRS radio but everyone will give there opinion on them. I personally use only part 90 radios in all my vehicles and house, and repeaters. However my parents have the MTX in all there vehicles as do I in my off road Jeep. Why because it serves the purpose needed only. I looked at a few GMRs mobiles for my parents and none were simple, turn on and talk on the channel I tell them. The Midland was. So for their purpose this fit the bill perfectly. back to normal programming.....

The ICOM is a solid performer. We still use many in VHF band for SAR work. As long as you don't need more than 16 channels its a great little radio. Most get crazy and think you need 100 channels in your GMRS radio. If you have a few specific repeaters you use and some simplex they are great. Simple is always my method. As or Motorola comment, agree no clue where that came from. I can assure you my APX8000 is about the best radio I have ever owned. There are many quality MSI products used and new.

I plan to order the same repeater for my motorhome this spring. I run a GR1225 now but the power draw when im dry camping is more than this one so my plan is to swap. I already have my GR1225 turned down to 10 watts so think it will be a nice plug/play swap. It should be an ideal little repeater for small coverage locations in a campground or from your vehicle.

Maybe reach out to commscope who makes the antenna now ? https://www.commscope.com/product-type/antennas/base-station-antennas-equipment/base-station-antennas/itemdb404-b/ In the past I tried to replace one on a VHF version and the cost of the harness was close to a new antenna. If the antenna has been up long enough for the cables to deteriorate it may be worth the new antenna. The antenna is less than $400 online. I guess if one was really in a bind you could try to rebuild the harness but normally need decent test equipment to do this.

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.

They have had gmrs stuff there in the past. None of it was ever accurate. The list on this site is hit or miss. As with any database its up to volunteers to maintain.

Correct. I have actually a few for my friends as they were not sure where or what to do. I just got there CC info and submitted for them.

They still make tone remotes for your application. You could in theory get a ethernet to 4W converter to use something like that. There are also expensive units that are completely controlled over ethernet but not sure your budget. Your talking a few thousand for an MCD, RGU and intercace cables

Midland actually has a good link to step by step info. https://midlandusa.com/why-do-i-need-a-gmrs-license-how-do-i-get-it/

There are no type accepted radios that can talk on GMRS, FRS and HAM. You could pick up a Part 90 radio and program what is needed.

Is anyone doing NXDN on Ham ?

Professional Series CPS runs fine with W10. Yes subscriptions cost money, but the CDM is a real radio and not a CCR in a box. You want good results you pay to play.

Software is still available from MSI. Any quick google search can get you the latest PN and valid subscribtion price. I use the standard MSI part number RKN4081C. It is a serial cable woth built in RIB. I also use the IOGear USB adapter. This is what MSI recommended back in the shop days. I tried some cheap usb cables and never was able to get reliable communications.

You really need to pursue a part 90 FCC license in the LMR band if this is your plan. There are itinerant based frequencies that can be licensed nationwide. There is a chance someone else may be using a channel but there is also a chance a GMRS user is also using a channel. Unless yours going to get licenses for all users on GMRS thats your only route.

Just went thru this.... https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/2267-good-swr-needle-meter/?do=findComment&comment=21105

There are no certified part 95 radio that have murs also. As stated above there are some part 90 radios that will allow programming of both.