WRHS218

This is purely anecdotal: I have a 20w mobile in my vehicle which gets 13.8v (minimum) when the truck is running and 12-12.8v when the truck is not running. While I have not done any serious tests to determine maximum distances, I see no difference in signal strength or clarity at known distances using the radio with the vehicle running or not. The maths would seem to show there wouldn't be much difference between 12.9v and 13.8v. If I remember correctly my 20w radio draws around 8-9 amps when transmitting. I measured it years ago when I thought I really cared. These days, if it works and the magic smoke doesn't leak out, I don't worry about it.

Like many have already started I have been through many different antennas when I was more active on the HAM side. I spent a lot of money on comet antennas and others. some were good, some maybe not so good. I learned my lesson, some antennas are better than OEM but it depends on the radio and how you are using them. When I started my GMRS journey I forgot the lesson I had learned with all of my HAM HTs. I now have a collection of GMRS antennas. I have determined that it depends on the radio and how you are using them. Amazing, I know. Actually the reason I was looking for different antennas with my GMRS radios was specifically to find a good flexible antenna that was at least as good on TX/RX as the OEM. I have 701s, 771s, Melowave Bandit Gs, a Smiley Slim Line, and even a Signal Stick cut for GMRS. All of them were tested on my KG-935G at specific distances in my mountain area. My big takeaway is nothing new; the longer antennas normally RX better when I'm on the ragged edge RX/TX. Anywhere else they all are about the same. With flexibility being my main desire I have a Smiley Slim line on my HT most of the time. If I am out in the mountains I carry a Melowave Bandit G in my pack in case I need the longer antenna. I haven't really had that need but it is easy to carry. I have found that the OEM antenna that came on my 925G is a very good antenna, but it is very stiff. The stiffer the antenna the more I am likely to catch it on something or poke my eye out again. Your experiences WILL vary.

In 1970 my mom thought One Toke Over The Line by Brewer & Shipley was a church song (we didn't go to church). While I didn't partake back then, and still don't, I had to explain it to her. I really thought she was joking. She was not.

I worked in a rendering plant when I was much, much, younger.

Brown. My socks are brown.

Since the uv9g is a GMRS radio it is pretty hard to mess up. Some things to think about: Are you close enough to the repeater? If you know the general location you could move closer to it until you are sure you are actually opening the repeater. Have you tried simplex with another radio to make sure your radio is transmitting? Is there traffic on the repeater? I'm sure you have double checked your RX/TX tones but you might want to leave the RX tone off if the repeater has one so you can hear all the traffic on that frequency. I'm sure others will chime in with things I didn't mention. Don't give up.

What radio are you using?

No one is coming. Expect to self rescue.

Best wishes for you 521. I'm glad you are here to post.

Happy Independence Day!

You typed that like it is a BAD thing.

I don't know why the quote box attributed that line to you. Probably my bad though.

A couple of years we got snowed in and then the power went out for a week. Cell service was down as well. We used GMRS radios to check on a couple of neighbors and to contact family members who lived at a lower elevation. My well neighbor and I were helping other folks in our area dig out and I used my radios to stay in touch with my wife while I was away from our property. I'm trying to get others in our area to get a radio and learn how to use it so we can check on each other when local crap happens. Sometimes all you need to do is talk to a neighbor.

My granddaughter is at the age where she enjoys talking to me on GMRS using her parents radio or sometimes her grandmother's handheld. Good times.

I thought about that too, but thankfully a reset fixed it. I don't think a reset will help with kill or stun.