gortex2

Since you're primarily interested in GMRS then one of the Kenwood's analog only UHF radios might be a better fit. Personally I use the TK-3170. There is also a TK-3173, that has built in trunking, but otherwise they are the same radio. It's also Part 95 certified too if that's a big concern for you. Some of the commercial grade radios that will work OK on GMRS don't. That's a decision you have to make.
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/
Keep in mind that radios will cover different parts of the radio spectrum. I only mentioned the NX-200 since it was a VHF radio and I needed a way to handle the huge number of memory channels. Being VHF it won't work for you on GMRS, which is UHF only.
The other radio in that series is the NX-300. It will also do digital NXDN, however NO digital voice modes are currently allowed on GMRS and likely not in the near future either. It is a nice analog only radio. Unless you need the extra digital features for another service I wouldn't recommend it since you're going to pay a lot more money for something you can't use.
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/251-nx-300jpg/
Another one that several members use is the TK-3180, which I recommend you look at.
https://pdfs.kenwoodproducts.com/10/TK-2180&3180Brochure.pdf
The above radios are no longer manufactured so you will have to buy one used. If you shop around you can find some in almost like new condition for a reasonable amount of money.
 
 
 

I know the Kenwood radios I have will let me program up to 128 scan groups. Each group can be enabled/disabled from the front panel keys. Also each memory channel in each group can be enabled/disable too. That gives the me a lot of flexibility in what I want to scan for monitoring.
This feature comes in handy on an NX-200 VHF radio. I have a special code plug written with all of the VHF railroad FM analog and digital channels. There are a bunch.
https://www.radioreference.com/db/aid/7747
Each group the ID that shows up on the display, when changing groups using the group up and down front panel keys, shows something like "AAR 001-025" etc. That way I can quickly locate a channel I want in a group. Of course each memory channel is labeled too. Keeping the number of memory channels in each group limited to 20 to 25 means I'm never more that 10 to 13 channels away from the one I want in a group using the channel selector knob. The channel selector knob function is programmed to "roll-over" at the top or bottom of the programmed memory channels in a group.

Some of the stuff I hear on CB these days makes me wonder how the guys figure out how to put the keys in the ignition switch.  Maybe they have keyless fobs and push button starting on their trucks. 

3 pages of arguing over a control station, fixed station....yet we help guys use non certified radios for use......im baffled...
 

I totally understand the specific language used by the FCC.  I tend to want to zoom-in on the, “…voluntary provision of assistance to the public during…”.  It’s that ‘provision’-ing thing that tells me, …
…“hey dude, don’t make this your primary means for reliance on emergency communications…but, if crap hits the fan and it winds-up being the only method available that isn’t otherwise knocked-out for whatever reason… then, by all means, use it for your/the emergency at hand.”…
Now, as an old retired dude that has had a career in communications-electronics and all of it’s associated complicated electrical do-dad stuff, they HAIN’T NOT NO WAY (??) I’d pick a band or frequency for even back-up emergency comms that would / could possibly be busy with a bunch of young-ens playing on a bunch of walkie-talkies.  Remember, it’s them kids’ pappy that has the GMRS license and he didn’t activate that ‘busy channel lockout’ feature on the dozen or so walkie-talkies he has for them to play with while they are visiting him and playing on the dirt bikes and four-wheelers all over his 100 or so acres…
At least, that’s the way I put it when someone suggest (planning on) using GMRS for anything even remotely associated with an emergency.  It’s the “planning” thing, see…  To make GMRS a component of your “plan” (if / when formulating any kind of emergency response) is the mistake.  But, in the event that ALL OTHER planned methods failed first, then, and only then, should someone in an emergency response role consider GMRS.  
Now, that’s my [(retired) comms professional] interpretation of that language used by the FCC.  Does that get me into any trouble with any of y’all.???

My feeling is that the GMRS band is FIRST AND FOREMOST… for individuals and their families for those kinds of activities.  It is not, again, in my opinion, for “primary emergency use.”  Having said that, (some) groups are formed, or otherwise exist, for the purpose of some sort of an (community or area wide) emergency response.   The problem is… the logistics involved with reliable point-to-point, mobile and/or hand-held communications is simply way too much for [some “rag-tag” bunch of fireman want-a-bees] an organization, both administratively and cost, to acquire, install and manage.  Therefore, rather than do it correctly (by setting up a “local government affiliated emergency response organization” that can access “official emergency comms”, groups form and jump on GMRS and over-run it in the process.  
 
Not trying to bash anyone here… just attempting to point out that… before even getting to the issue of ‘comms requirements’ in those organizations, the purpose and/or point of and/or function, of the organization might outta be looked at first.   Bottom line is… GMRS is not, and was not… set up to be an emergency services band.  Now, how much trouble do you think I got myself into by saying this????

In my area 520 is quiet, but far from dead.   I hear a few calls a month of people passing thru and a couple of regulars in one certain area about once a month.  Not sure why those regular guys use 520 for their ongoing rag chews.  If it were me, I'd bump over to some other simplex frequency.  Maybe they don't know how. 

3 pages of arguing over a control station, fixed station....yet we help guys use non certified radios for use......im baffled...
 

For the most part I see no reason a government entity would put up a GMRS system unless it was a public thing thru a CERT team or something of that nature. Government and Public Safety have many other systems they can use and don't require a person to get a license. Our SAR team still has a GMRS repeater at a county park that was provided with funding from a grant via the county years ago. Other than an occasional user its pretty quiet. All park staff use the TLMR system as well as all public safety. 

As reference the Motorola all band antenna for the APX series actually sweeps really well on 2M ham, 440 and GMRS. It suffers on 7/800 but I was surprised at how well it worked on 2M. I have since went to the Larsen and they work ok in ham bands but not as well as the MSI. 
PCTel is who makes the antenna - Here is the datasheet.

I've also done the commercial looking, and the cost between APX 8500 and a NX-5K dual deck remote head is about 2:1 Moto vs. Kenwood.
@PACNWComms you are probably thinking of the crypto modules which must be sent back for labor + $600 for the board, otherwise, P25 can be added at the programming level for $575 (conv) + $520 (PH1 Trunk) + $400 (Ph2 Trunk), using just the same program that activates D1N.
I will admit, the Kenwood D#N softwares are frustrating at times, but not any more frustrating than Mototrbo 2.0 CPS. 
There are plusses and minuses to both, but I have and use both depending on the situation. I've also started side-eyeing a few other brands that offer multi-band radios, but its harder and harder to look at them since I now have all the M & K legitimate tools/programs already, others are not as easy to track down and obtain. 
The long and the short of an answer to the OP in this thread: for a new or casual GMRS user, there isn't an excellent option that is cost-effective to recommend. If you really deep pockets and didn't care, there are options you could look into. But for most, you are probably best to run either two radios (VHF and UHF) and find a way to make them fit.

Funny enough. Starting, to hear sad gmrs users.

Whining about not having extra frequencies, more digital allocation bandwidth, digital (thx btech pro) on repeaters, among other things. Even encryption..lol..

No, they are not hams. I know some of them personally. Even tried to convince them to get tickets. More whining ensues.

The fact is our beloved service will go the way of cb. Where you can't turn it on around kids because of the behavior and language. Enter the jerk wad who is on local repeaters, broadcasting music, scratching the mic and ptt'ing when someone is talking to stamp/distort the transmission.

God, nowadays I wish I had the money to put up a business repeater.






Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

More like this with a 1/4 wave UHF NMO on it. The midland antenna is not that great. 
 
 

You made my point. A few have done exactly that.
Yes I know about @OffRoaderX and his predilection about FCC enforcement log proof. What he doesn't tell people the FCC doesn't necessarily put everything in those logs. They can show up, knock on the door, and "advise" you, unofficially, if you continue there will be official action taken. They are not complete A-Holes and will give people a break, but don't publicize it. That's usually enough. I personally know of people where that happen, and no there was no official record of the visit either.

True. That however leads to a more "complex" discussion over exactly what is and isn't legal. The confusion is the Part 95E certification, but only is valid when the radio is used in the original locked state to operate on the GMRS allowed frequencies. Some seem to feel that just because it has Part 95E certification doing any kind of mod , hardware - software - mode unlocking, to open up the radio doesn't affect it. That's very likely not true, but some want to pretend it is, and encourage others who have little to no idea to go ahead that it's OK.

Just a note here. We all know it's done. We try to discourage the above sort of thing to put Ham gear on bands they are not certified to use.
It's not just Ham gear either. The topics pops up frequently about using commercial grade radios, with only Part 90 certification, on Part 95 bands. Technical they aren't legal ether, however the FCC seems to ignore it mostly. Some commercial grade radios have both Part 90 and Part 95 certification, so those are fine.

I just talked to Buddy this morning on the phone and as of right now, the DB420 antenna and new feedline are scheduled to be strung up the new tower on Saturday, 12/3/2022.  it's about 12 miles south / southeast of the previous tower but the height will be about 100' taller as well around 400' or so.  Final height is TBD.  Knowing what I know about this project and with my experience putting up big repeaters myself and by being in close communication with Buddy, if I had to guess it'll take 4 - 8 hours to get this done.  Weather permitting, I'd keep your ears tuned to .725 the evening of Saturday the 3rd.  If something changes or it rains, that would get pushed back further.  I'll try to update you guys if I remember but I don't check in here very often.
 
Thanks,
ROB

Unless the repeater is PRIVATE AND FAMILY USE ONLY, it does need to ID.
Note the highlighted "AND". Both (1) and (2) must apply -- this means only those operating under the owner's license [ie: immediate family] are using the repeater AND those (immediate family) properly ID with the owner's call sign.
No third-party users with their own call signs are applicable to this section.

Definitely high end and will cover VHF and UHF,.....I just received 13 of these for work. Christmas came early, along with three APX8000XE handhelds. What did not show up was batteries, single chargers, antennas, belt clips, and the six bank charger for the APX8000XE's as Motorola is making the expensive items first. My employer does not pay on purchase orders until all line items arrive, they may get paid six month's from now at this rate.

As mentioned the answer is no. However there are various commercial radios that have Part 90 and 95 certifications. Some of those can be programmed to operate out of their official band split down into the Amateur band. There are some models where the software will prevent you from entering out of band frequencies, the one notable manufacture is Motorola, others like Kenwood don't strictly enforce this. With Kenwood entering an out of band frequency will generate a warning message, after which when you click to acknowledge it will accept the entry. For GMRS you're looking at UHF only radios.
I have experience with just the Kenwood HT's, and not with any of their mobile radios, but suspect they can be programmed for out of band operation as well.
Some examples, not a complete list, of the Kenwood HT models where you can program both GMRS and Ham band frequencies, and have Part 95 certification are:
TK-370G
http://rsws.zapto.org/radiosoftware/kenwood/tk-270g-370g.pdf
TK-3170
https://pdfs.kenwoodproducts.com/9/TK-2170&3170Brochure.pdf
TK-3173
http://www.swscomm.com/kenwood/TK-3173.pdf
TK-3140
http://rsws.zapto.org/radiosoftware/kenwood/tk-2140-3140.pdf
TK-3180
https://pdfs.kenwoodproducts.com/10/TK-2180&3180Brochure.pdf
NX-300 and NX-300G
https://www.kenwood.eu/files/file/comms/uk/brochures/nx/NX200G_300G_Brochure_V2.1.pdf
TK-5320
https://comms.kenwood.com/common/pdf/download/TK-5220_5320_Specsheet.pdf
Note:
Some of the above radios also include digital voice modes. However you can ONLY use the FM functions on those radios for GMRS. However you're free to use digital voice modes on the Ham band. Most Ham digital voice operations are on UHF anyway.
Also the UHF radios may cover more that one UHF frequency range. Only the models where the lower "official" limit is 450 MHz will have the Part 95 certification. The 400MHz to 470MHz band split versions will also work, but are NOT Part 95 certified. 
The radio I typically carry around is the TK-3170. The other radios are larger and noticeable heavier. 
 
 

There are lots of GMRS transceivers which can receive on the amateur bands, but not transmit on them. Although people have found ways to “open up” transceivers to do what you’re asking, the rules for GMRS include this little nugget which is pretty specific:
No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. 

Unfortunately, every web site I've found has qualified as "undated". https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjOjsOwxdH7AhUdlWoFHR-FClIQFnoECDkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crarc.org.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F02%2FD-StarforDummiesReferenceEdition4.0.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0M5uIYG-Fgs3f-GKcY5l44
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwitlM-iy9H7AhXgkWoFHaeKCYkQFnoECA0QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.icomamerica.com%2Fen%2Fdownloads%2FDownloadDocument.aspx%3FDocument%3D366&usg=AOvVaw10n8VlyX-dp140dx4D8O_3 (emphasis mine)
I would point out the mention of /past two years of testing/. Presuming that testing didn't begin until the standard was published, it would still only bring one to 2003 -- and the next paragraph reiterates that it is an OPEN protocol at that time (since "past two years" implies this document was  /current/ as of the end of the two years.
 
As for CCRs... My belief, mentioned previously, is that they don't find a sufficient MARKET for a D-STAR capable radio. D-STAR is only Amateur (as, I believe is System Fusion, which IS proprietary). The CCR makers produce radios designed for the entire VHF and UHF bands -- and use firmware to limit them to specific service bands. DMR, et al, are used by business and government entities -- a large market. Since they use the firmware to limit frequencies, it is no great effort to lock such a business radio into Amateur Only bands.
 

It’s good enough for me. You’re the one who makes BS statements with no citations and then challenges other to prove you wrong. I’m putting you on the ignore list for a while. 

The difference in your comparison is if I have "4-5 digits" in ham gear then I have something worth 3-4 digits to show for my money.  All ARRL has given me for their annual fee was email spam.  Oh, and a magazine that I can't even give away.  I have 5 LARGE boxes of ARRL QST magazine spanning about 10 years stacked up in the garage that I've taken to every club meeting and still can't unload on anyone.  It's like trying to give away the Flu.  I even offered to tote them to the truck for them if they'll take them for free.

My new plan is to buy a roll of wrapping paper and wrap bundles of 5 QST mags and hand them out as Christmas gifts next month at the club Christmas party. 

I hear such comments all the time about various organizations, such as the NRA.  The gun toters all claimed the NRA has saved the world and we'd all be defenseless loyal slave subjects if the NRA didn't exist.  But it seems to me the other 270-something countries on the planet ham ham radio...with a few exceptions like North Korea...but they don't have ARRL.  So either believe what you hear or have a higher standard and believe what you see.  It's up to you.

Whats the CEO of the ARRL pulling down now?  $285,853 according to their IRS records.  Lucky guy.  Most hams don't earn 200G a year plus perks.  Yet I'm expected to send in a portion of my VA disability check (that keeps me just below the poverty level as it is) so the suit can fly to the conventions and stay at the Carolton Ritz and have an unlimited expense budget.  All for a rag I can't give away.  Oh and that poor ARRL Treasurer....$50,000 per year and the poor guy works an average of 5 hours per week according to IRS form 990.  What was the last month you took home a $4,100 paycheck for working 20 hours?

That is all.  Except for that adage about a fool and his money.

Their advertising is getting a lot of new people into GMRS.  Maybe a good thing?  And that advertising is paid for by charging for their products.
 
Anyhow, they're all over the offroad and outdoors crowd so expect to see more and more people coming in.