gortex2

When in the Jeeps simplex. When around one of my repeaters we use the repeater for range. Its mostly to talk to family or friends, not a chat line. If I wanted to listen to that I'd turn a ham radio on.

Neither. The set screws should pierce the paint and get ground on the hood.

Are we sure it isn't  a third harmonic problem with the Sheriffs transmitter?
 
Well looky here:
 
FRS Channel 11 : 467.6375 / 3 = 155.879 MHz
 
155.880000  (output)
  158.95500 (Input) KNEP918 Sheriff Dispatch   Custer County   Law Dispatch    
Looks like either the Sheriff is the violation or the BaoFengShui GMRS V1 cannot tolerate all those powerful signals getting into it from the new base antenna. My money is on the BF GMRS V1 crapping itself.

If you really hate FRS then use your CTCSS/DCS and the bubble pack traffic vanishes.
 
It looks like everyone wants to add DMR and NXDN, some even P25, but no one uses the PL codes we already have.
 
We only have a few frequencies (30) but with PL codes we have several thousand "channels".

I'm happy GMRS overlaps with FRS. It opens things up to a lot of people that would otherwise never consider it, myself included. If I want to sit by a radio and anxiously await for somebody to talk to using only correct phraseology and not hear any kids, I'll get in to ham.
 
I think some of you might be trying to think GMRS is something it isn't. It's test free, cheap, and overlaps with FRS for a reason.

HKN9557A -   CABLE W/CONNECTOR

Jim,
 
Even with a decent quality connector, the mini-UHFs can be ornery. If it doesn’t want to stay snug, do this: Hand tighten the knob, being sure the little tabs are properly seated in their detents. You may have to hold it in place. Then GENTLY snug the knob with gas pliers just a bit, maybe a sixteenth to an eighth of a turn, no more.

Depending on what the height of the camper is you may be better off with a small fiberglass antenna on the ladder. Thats what I run at camp (on my repeater) and it works really well. For the most part there is no metal in the camper roof. Even where the AM FM antenna is its just plywood with a ground wire on the cable. 
 
I run the Laird FG4500 and it works great. I have LMR400 run up the ladder and under the RV to the compartment with the repeater. When installed its actually a bit lower than my vent covers but i still remove depending on where I plan to drive.

"OK now I'm getting educated.  So where do I find repeater in my area that are on Zello?  I have Channels for gmrs 24 connected and for mygmrs discounted.  Where do I go from here to find others...."
You need to look at the map and see what repeaters are in the area. If they are networked they will usually say so in the notes, same with Zello connections.
 
"OK to PM if we need to talk about it.  Afterwards I will then tell all what I'm missing in understanding for their good"
 
Theres no need to PM, I rather get this out in the open to avoid "accusations."
 
 
"Thanks, you took the bait to help us folks who only know a fraction of what you know."
 
When I joined, I had to learn quite a bit myself. This includes doing my own research when a question is repeatedly asked, for instance searching "networked repeaters" on the forums. When you give smart-ass comments like this, you end up discouraging those of us who do have information available. The question originally asked was "how to connect to the national network." This has been discussed several times and even I have discussed how to find such repeaters using the MyGMRS page several times. It takes up server space and time to have to repeat myself.

As for helping, I gave the same answer, DO THE RESEARCH. This isn't difficult. You've found your way to this forum and site which is a great resource. We know your not some dumb guy who can't use a simple search function, and honestly if you are that guy, you likely shouldn't be on the radio at all as you likely do not know or care enough to use these resources properly.

Simply put, when I say do the research, the information is readily available to find. Then if there is a technical question, for instance the node is not hearing your command codes, then we can try and help troubleshoot. Its not rocket science to simply read.

I don't now where you heard this but this is not the case at all. Ham will pay a license fee as does GMRS users but they wont get any discount or addition for GMRS. Each service has its own rules and regulations. Amateur Radio is just that. GMRS is another service and should never be the same as Amateur Radio. Amateur's Radio has hundreds of UHF frequencies to use. That's where they should be. I don't understand the fascination hams have to GMRS to be honest and the thought they should get something cheaper or free because they are hams. 

Most likely you have your coax coupling with aluminum mast. J-poles create significant common-mode current on the outside of the coax. If mast is not metal, you may be able to get away with that. To verify, pull the coax away from the mast and check SWR again. If you see it changed, then this is it: coax coupling with the mast. To rectify add RF choke made of ferrites for UHF frequencies, or change antenna.
 
Off tangent: this forum has strange fascination with Ed Fong's antenna. It's cheap, sure. But it's a kit, that is missing important and expensive part: RF choke. There are better options for the GMRS antenna. The Browning BR-6140 was available for below $40 for long time, but sadly not anymore. It now commands the whopping $50 at AntennaFarm. If you are also into Ham, the dual-band Diamond X50 has acceptable SWR on GMRS, at around 1.7.

99% of the NMO mounts are RG58. There are some low loss ones that people have tried over the years but in a 15' cable you wont notice the difference unless you get up in the 2.4 ghz frequencies. If your really looking for a better mount and the bottom is exposed this is what I run on all my vehicles and SAR vehicles.
 
https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=264_266_291&products_id=1125
 
The base is enclosed and helps with moisture. I still drop a piece of good heat shrink over the cable where it hits the base. I have them on vehicles in CNY winters for years. I run this on my JK (front fender mount) and on my JT (Back Rack mounted). 
 
Your antenna will make more difference on the jeep than the cable. 

To be politically correct and technically accurate. I call them Low Parts Count radios.
 
What do you get for buying a $29.95 radio versus a $799.99 radio? Fewer parts.
 
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And Ham license is also now $35. Historical move. Ham license, aside of the testing costs, was always free in US, right?

If you think of it from everyone's (other than Ham) perspective, it is very simple. FRS/GMRS sliver is in the middle of UHF business band. Allowing ham equipment will certainly wreak a havoc. Part 90 radios have much tighter spec than Ham radios from yesteryear (and today) and lower power limit too. Allowing 1500W ham radios will make these bubble-pack FRS unusable in densely populated areas. There is a thread here about how 1W baby monitors bring GMRS repeaters to their knees. Pity. Imagine what 100W (or 1500W) Ham radio would do to the same repeater and to adjacent land-mobile installation. The point of FRS and GMRS is to give cheap communication option to every random Joe, not to facilitate just another eight (fifteen) 25Hz channels for Hams. Hams do not need them, there is nobody ever on 446.000, and let's not even start on 220MHz - not funny.
But you certainly can use your 'carefully selected' Part 90/95 radios on Ham bands, if you have license.

There are no equipment regulations for amateur radios like there are for Part 90 and 95 radios. While the radios may in fact be better in some cases, they are not FCC certified as better. No, the radios are not allowed to interfere with others outside the amateur space, but the amateur bands are miles wider that the GMRS band. If a GMRS radio splatters a little it is more likely to adversely affect commercial licensees or public service (bad). In an amateur radio splatters a little it is most likely only going to affect other amateurs (not as bad)
 
Also two sets of rules for Amateur and GMRS. Just because you have an amateur license does not mean you know the GMRS rules and vice versus.
 
Many out there choose to disregard the rules and do what you are asking about.
 
Also, much amateur equipment on the market is not capable of limiting the power to the GMRS limits, particularly when it comes to the 467 interstitial frequencies.
 
So there are a few reasons for you. There are others too.
 
 
Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

Please understand I speak to this from a perspective of a ham that has had exposure to how to do ARES WRONG and 12 years of being a commercial radio tech with 90 percent of my work being in the public safety arena and being a CERT member.  The 'problem' with ARES is it's turned into a solution looking for a specific problem that has been worked on since 9-11.  30 years ago when every little town and burg had a police force with their own radio system and those systems being all sorts of different technology, on different bands and being supported and maintained at vastly different levels, ARES and the idea of needing to provide EMCOMM to served agencies was a thing.  Now we have these state wide communications systems that everyone is on.  Have overlapping coverage from hundreds of sites throughout the state (I am in OHIO... largest trunked Motorola system in the world) the need for EMCOMM is really not there. Of course, depending on where you are your mileage may vary.  The next thing is ARES is not and never has been considered a first responder.  So they don't fall under the public safety umbrella.  CERT actually does.  This means that CERT can have private commercial repeaters and radio systems / and access to the large trunked radio systems for EMCOMM.  I pushed long ago for CERT to take up use of the now largely abandoned VHF/UHF public safety radio systems that stopped being utilized after everyone went to 800Mhz. The biggest issue with HAM is it's not controlled.  And while it does say in the rule book that emergency traffic on ham takes priority, have a situation and see how many idiots come out of the woodwork on the local repeaters that are still in operation.  My advice, for what it's worth.... research CERT and have a discussion with the local EMA director about CERT.  There is a training component to it, and you learn some valualbe skills.  And you are more that just radio operators at that point.  You are still available to do the things that ARES would be involved in, but you are also trained and recognized to do more than that.

Go to ebay and search on “magnetic mic” without the quotes. I just got 1,000 hits, not all them what you want, but lots of them are.

TJ as well. And you should know better by now owning a Jeep. $45 is nothing compared to everything else you've already spent on it

On my CJ7 I screwed the metal to the roof. Did a 12x12 piece as that's what home depot had. After screwed down and hole for mount drilled I rhino lined the top. Unless you looked hard you could not see it. Sold to a buddy and he still uses it on his CJ with a GMRS antenna. I am looking to do the same on the JK top but need to find a brake to ben the ribs in a piece of metal.

Inside is fine. You could use metal window screen material, an asterisk of aluminum HVAC tape, chicken wire fencing, or any other electrically conductive material. Just make sure the ground side of the antenna mount makes good contact with the ground plane material. Probably have to use a “thick mount” NMO for a fiberglass roof. We do this all the time for ambulances, RVs, etc.

I dont have pictures but there are a ton on RR. Yes radio decks are all bolted to a piece of painted plywood that uses a Steel L bracket to the seat bolts.

Have 6 NMO mounts in my F150. Same concept. Buy a good NMO. I used seat bolt in back with bracket that hold plywood. Simple and easy.

From what I understand, under chirp, the option to switch to wide is greyed out and so is the pl tone selection. Perhaps an owner of said radio could chime in. 
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You get what you pay for, and if you're not careful not even that.