wrci350

Businesses are allowed to use encryption, yes.

No.

You can either turn the receive tone back on, in which case you will only hear transmissions with that tone, or you can leave it off (and then you will hear anything on that channel, either from the repeater or simplex). Many repeaters do not send a CTCSS tone when they identify, so people running with the receive tone on don't [have to] hear the ID.

Yes but Baofeng's are ... special. They all used to ship "unlocked" with a bunch of random test frequencies programmed at the factory, many of which were in US public safety bands. After the FCC finally woke up and complained, they started shipping locked to amateur frequencies, but of course everyone who buys them unlocks them. But here's another suggestion. Buy a $150 Windows laptop and then you can run the Yaesu software, or the RT Systems software. I have nothing against Chirp specifically, and I am a long-term supporter of "free" software, but Chirp is not the be-all and end-all that many think it is. I cringe every time someone buys a "good" radio and wants to program it with Chirp.

Maybe because it's a ham radio, designed to be used by licensed amateurs on amateur frequencies? Out of the box, that radio will only transmit on 2m and 70cm frequencies. You put in the magic code to "unlock" it, and that's exactly what happened. Here's a suggestion: Keep your finger away from the PTT while you're scanning those Arizona Highway Patrol frequencies.

Tell us more. 200 miles simplex on UHF? Are you on top of a mountain, surrounded by desert?

If the OP is only concerned about two locations that might be a solution. But not an option if we are talking about a more general use case (people at multiple locations, driving around, etc.)

Totally depends on terrain and vegetation, buildings, etc, but generally less than 10 miles. Often much less. If someone "sold" you on GMRS being the solution to this problem, they mislead you.

30 miles simplex on UHF is possible given ideal circumstances (mountain top to mountain top, for example, or two locations in the desert with no vegetation or sand dunes in the way) but probably not going to work for you. If there *was* a repeater in a good location then that would be doable. The other question is easier: absolutely. Just get a power supply. This is a good one, but there are lots of less expensive alternatives: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/alo-dm-330mvt

Here are a few suggestions. First, I would take GMRS off the table. As you know, GMRS is a licensed service, and while your license covers you and your family (including any Scouts that are your kids) that doesn't extend to anyone else in the troop, adult or youth. You could, as has already been suggested, use that as an opportunity to have members negotiate the FCC website, but minors aren't even eligible to get a GMRS license so their parents would have to get one. I'm sure some may read this and think, "no one will care if you let kids use your GMRS radios" but A Scout is Obedient, right? FRS and MURS, on the other hand, are great tools. We used to use FRS bubble pack radios but switched to using MURS radios instead since they work better in the thick vegetation at summer camp. If your troop goes the FRS route then you (and anyone else with a GMRS license) can use a GMRS radio to talk to the FRS radios. We primarily used radios in three ways: 1) Inter-vehicle communication while travelling to campouts and summer camp. Using an HT inside a car or truck is not ideal, but as long as you are fairly close they do fine. Simple things like making sure all drivers have their Scouts and are ready to go after a stop are much easier done with radios. 2) Communication between leaders at summer camp. Radios are VERY useful while at camp. "Hey Mr. Scoutmaster, since you are over that direction can you please stop at the office and pick up our mail?" "Mr. Smith, can you please bring a couple blue cards to the lunchtime merit badge class?" Sure, they can be used in an emergency too, but it's SO much easier to ask if someone is in camp and can grab something rather than having to walk back yourself! We also did a hike one day at camp and the radios were useful for keeping track of the hiking group's progress, and for coordinating between the front and back of the hikers. 3) Communication between leaders and patrols during weekend campouts. Useful for things like, "Hey Mr. Scoutmaster, a bunch of us Scouts want to go play gaga ball until it's time to start dinner" so you hand the SPL a radio and tell him you'll let him know when it's time to come back. Sure, you could just have a leader go fetch them when it's time, but why not use the technology at hand? Hope this helps!

Yes, it is. But thanks for helping me win my bet. Three in one day.

I'm not arguing anything. I'm quoting Part 95, which is the applicable section of the FCC regulations for GMRS. Part 90 does not apply to GMRS. Sorry if you think otherwise.

Where do you see "fixed base" or "fixed base 2" in Part 95? FB and FB2 are terms used for Part 90 licensing, no? So not applicable to Part 95? Oh and I tried to go read your post in that other thread but the link didn't work for me ... just took me back to this thread.

OK I'll recap. I challenge your incorrect assertion that all "at home" GMRS stations are considered fixed stations and rather than defend that position you start insulting me. Into the ignore list you go. For those watching from the sidelines ... why are there definitions for "base stations" and "control stations" in Part 95 A?

Again, and your point is? I would also strongly disagree with you. A circular definition with no additional information is not clear.

I'm not sure what point you are trying to make. If you are arguing that a GMRS station using a mobile radio, power supply, and outside antenna is a "fixed station" (as defined in Part 95 A) and must adhere to the restrictions for fixed stations, you are incorrect. The term "fixed base" appears nowhere in Part 95 that I can see. I do agree that the type of radio ("base", "mobile", or "HT") does not determine the classification.

Every time someone asks, "But what's a Fixed Station" my response is, "Not you." There are a number of digital data (not voice) modes allowed on GMRS. It is unfortunate the FCC doesn't provide a better definition of "fixed station", and I know one of my two rules was "don't interpret" but I'm pretty sure "fixed station" refers to telemetry between remote locations and a central site. In any event, normal GMRS usage doesn't fit the definition of "fixed station".

"Station" is not the same as "radio". If you have an HT connected to an outside antenna at your house, that's either a base station or control station, depending on how you are using it. The FCC cares about how your "station" is used, not what equipment makes up the station. Most hams who use 2m or 70cm (either simplex or through repeaters) do so using a mobile radio connected to a power supply and outside antenna. There are only a couple currently-available "base" ham radios that include those bands. Can't disagree with the last paragraph. As I said in my previous post, just accept the definitions the FCC provides and move on ... don't try to make sense of them!

The really good programmers (like RT Systems) default to the last file opened. Some of the vendor-supplied ones don't do that and you have to re-open the file. If you click on "Open" you should see the name of your saved file.

You can save it wherever you want. Just remember where you put it. For example, create a folder on your desktop and call it "Radio" or "GM30" and put the saved file there.

Control station. A station at a fixed location that communicates with mobile stations and other control stations through repeater stations, and may also be used to control the operation of repeater stations. IMHO, the two keys to understanding Part 95 are to just read the regulation as it's written (and not "interpret" it) and to accept the definition of terms as the FCC lays them out, even if they don't agree with common usage. If you have a mobile radio (because AFAIK no one makes a GMRS 'base' radio) connected to a power supply and antenna on your roof, and you are talking through a repeater, the FCC calls that a control station. That's what Part 95 A (which applies to all other subparts of 95, including 95 E) says. Base station. A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. If you have a mobile radio connected to a power supply and antenna on your roof, and you are talking directly to other mobiles or base stations (i.e. simplex) the FCC calls that a base station, even if it's the same setup you use to talk through repeaters. Again, that's what Part 95 A says. Mobile station. A station, intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified locations, that communicates directly with base stations and other mobile stations, and with control stations and other mobile stations through repeater stations. A mobile, on the other hand (and HTs are considered a sub-class of mobiles) can do both ... direct and through repeaters. Again, the key is not to try and make sense of the distinction between base and control stations. Just accept the definitions and go with them. I will also bet that someone is going to come back and argue with me about what a control station is because they want to interpret "may also be used" as MUST BE USED. Uh, that's not what it says. It says, "may". "May" does not mean "MUST".

An SOC radio with good filtering will far outperform a superhet radio with poor filtering. Don't put too much emphasis on "SOC".

As long as you're drooling, don't forget about the new Kenwood TH-D75 ....

It's just a typical "Baofeng" k-type programming cable. This one should work fine: https://www.buytwowayradios.com/xlt-rpc-k1-uf.html Or go to Amazon and search for "Wouxun programming cable" and you'll find lots of alternatives. You just have to be cautious because some of the cheap programming cables use counterfeit chips and won't work on Windows 10 or 11.

https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-905g.html Click on "Downloads". The Wouxun cable is (IMHO) a step above many of the other K-type cables, but looks like it is sold out. You should be able to use a different one.