Woodsman

https://transition.fcc.gov/oet/spectrum/table/fcctable.pdf Page 29-30 (on the PDF) and the two columns on the right side are the US frequency allocations. 450-454 MHz Remote Pickup Low Power Auxiliary Private Land Mobile MedRadio 455-456 Remote Pickup Low Power Auxiliary MedRadio 456-460 Public Mobile Maritime Private Land Mobile MedRadio 460-462.5375 Private Land Mobile 462.5375-462.7375 Personal Radio 462.7375-467.5375 Maritime Private Land Mobile 467.5375-467.7375 Maritime Personal Radio 467.7375-470 Maritime Private Land Mobile 470-512 Public Mobile Broadcast Radio (TV) LPTV, TV Translator/Booster Low Power Auxiliary Private Land Mobile

I played with CB in the Spruce Knob/Seneca Rocks area. Reception was spotty anyways due to the mountain. I had no idea it was considered a quiet zone, granted where I stayed at was far enough away that I was able to use CB. I guess the major restrictions are in/around the city. I didn't have cell signal or GPS until I got out of the forest and on a semi main road, again assuming it was due to the terrain.

Having my ham ticket for about a month. I use both (and CB) because I enjoy different types of radio communication. I like CB because it's like the "internet of the radio". It's more relaxed and I the bands are frequently busy. Skip is such a hoot to play with too! I play with GMRS/FRS to talk to the locals. I find it's less "intimidating" to hand someone a FRS or a GMRS HT than something else. Finally, I have been playing with APRS and 2 meter on ham. In my area, 2 meter is pretty quiet, even the local repeater is "dead"

Have you tried it without the amp? My CB buzzes the speakers a bit because I'm using an external battery on the floor. I have to "balance" the volume on the car stereo and the mobile. Wait are you wiring your radio with other radios or directly to the battery?

Normally a repeater has a small squelch or beep on the end. Like WRAK968 said, you might be out of range for the repeater.

Ham and CB. Ham has more organizations for disasters and everyone has a CB radio laying around. I don't really know anyone that has a GMRS radio or MURS, FRS, yes

I don't mind hearing kids on the air. Maybe a few years down the road, they too will pick up the hobby.

Walmart has trailcam batteries (the rectangle ones) that could work for you

I'm assuming the compander is another name for the NB/ANL (noise blanker/automatic noise limiter)? I think the reason is if you have a station that has very little to no noise (not sure if that's even possible) you can attempt to hear further stations with it off. Think of it like squelch. On my CB I always have my ANL on when I am driving or the engine is on. If I have it off, I can hear interference from the alternator. When the engine is off, I turn the switch off because I have less interference (unless power cords are near). Play around with it, see what works and what doesn't work.

Thanks for the tips guys! I know I can take the easy way and just use VMware or my Win7 machine, but I like learning on linux. I'll try to sit down here in a few days and tinker with it again. I'm kinda betting I need to figure out the USB connection and somehow show it as a com port on the WINE end. I wonder if instead of running WINE on top of DOSBOX, if I just use DOSBOX by itself? (shrugs) gives me something to play with until I order antenna mounts

Any Linux users have luck with programming Kenwoods? Chirps works great for me on other radios, but every time I try to program my 880-1 on KPG-49D it gives me a com port error. I have the software running through WINE, which is using DOS BOX, which it runs perfectly without issues. I am also using a USB programming cable (don't have serial ports on the laptop). I do have a windows 7 machine laying around, I just want to see if I can actually get it running on linux (and help someone else out who may not have windows) Thanks

Long time lurker. Got my GMRS license last year. I use a B-Tech GMRS V-1. I also have some other cheaper Radioditty "give away" handhelds for non-radio friends. I just bought a Kenwood 880 v1, just need good antenna and vehicle mount for it. I actually got into GMRS from CB, which these two services are motivating me to get a ham ticket. Thanks for the forums (I kinda miss forums instead of reddit)