WRHS218

BTW, I know you have to 18 to apply for a GMRS license. Not sure I understand why...

It would be helpful to monitor the repeater frequency/frequencies you are planning to use (with no RX tones set) for a couple of weeks to see if anyone else close to you is already using them. Just because a repeater isn't listed in a database doesn't mean someone isn't using one near you. Some people have repeaters they use for family only. Even though there is no repeater coordination you are still required to not cause interference.

10-15 years ago I talked to a scout troop who were high up in the Sierras (above 9000') from across the valley (7000'). They were on a 5W VHS 2m handheld as was I. Our approximate distance was 92 miles. I was a scout in the late 60s and part of the 70s. I would think FRS/GMRS would be great for scouting activities. They could learn basics about radios and about dealing with government websites when getting a GMRS license. Hopefully someone involved in scouting will jump in here at some point.

The KG-Q10G sports a "non-removable" antenna. I have read where some have a drop of glue that can be removed easily and then others have broken the radio because it wasn't so easily removed. I'm guessing since the radio had to have a non removable antenna to be GMRS certified they didn't bother using a standard SMA fitting. I too would be interested in seeing a picture of the connection.

You just have to know what the definition of "Is" is...

I have had the KG-935G and now have the Plus. On both, I compared the factory antennas to a Nagoya 771G by talking to the same person in the same place 3.7 miles from my house. Both times the 935G (and Plus) oem antennas were a little better than the 771G. I did the same comparison with a 905G and the 771G and the 701G were slightly better. I have not tried the Smiley but have stopped looking for antennas as the oem 935g antenna does what I need it to do. I do understand about wanting a shorter antenna, but oh well. If you try the Smiley let us know what you think.

No matter what radio service you have you would be best served to have a plan. Search for 333 Radio plan for an example. Modify the plan as needed. If the channel/frequency on which you are trying to communicate is overwhelmed have an established plan to move to a predetermined second channel. If that channel/frequency is to busy go to another channel/frequency. You can program your radios with the channels/frequency in the order you want to move if needed. Have a time set up for non emergency communications. Like the plan I referenced, try to make contact for 3 or 4 or 5 minutes, what ever you decide. Write your plan down and have it in several different places that offer easy access. If you don't have a plan when SHTF you will most likely achieve chaos. If GMRS is all you have you can make it work, it just takes planning and forethought if you are serious.

Good luck with that! I are one (a ham, not a normal person). There are a few 2m repeaters in Southern CA that used to be a real mess. I don't get down there very often so I don't know what it is like now.

Nice!

What radio are you using? Do you hear the beep while pressing the PTT or after you release it. Some radios will beep if you are trying to TX out of band.

Whether it is clear or not the FCC did not answer 527's questions. Typical bureaucratic non answer.

The link 709 posted on his reply is to that repeater and has the tone information.

If the radio is not Part 95 certified it is not certified for use on the GMRS frequencies. As folks will point out, it is not a law, it is a regulation. Will the FCC come looking for you if you use a non Part 95 certified radio on GMRS? Probably not as there is no way to tell by hearing the transmissions. If you are a douche canoe and are using your radio to cause serious and prolonged interference to other users and get caught, the FCC folks may very well add that to your list of regulation violations. If someone is interested in GMRS I will explain licensing and a need for a certified GMRS radio is. What they do after that is up to them.

No. You can set up PTT-ID which is a 3-6 number ID you can choose and then choose when it sends. But that is not what you are asking about.

I would not bother with the repeater. Anyone that can hit your repeater, even if there were no tones or they knew the tones, would also be able to hit your mobile radio. I would turn on the vehicle's AM/FM radio to hopefully get information and use the mobile or handheld to scan the frequencies it can receive.

I have pretty much the same situation between my house and my daughter's house. We have a ridge between us that obscures line of sight by 80 feet. I am 800 feet higher in elevation. Using 5W handhelds we can TX/RX if we are outside of our houses. My son-in-law put a mag mount mobile antenna on top of his house stuck to a metal vent cover. With that we can TX/RX from inside our houses with a little static. When I put up an antenna (j-pole tuned for GMRS) we have full quite comms in the house. An outside antenna would be the best thing. If your brother and dad could try putting an antenna it will probably make a lot of positive difference. If you could find a way to get an antenna outside, or maybe even in your attic, that would probably solve the issues. More power would help a little, maybe, but not as much as a batter antenna.

I should have asked this last week. I emailed Surecom asking if they ever had firmware updates. I didn't even consider the function of the USB hole.

I got it. It was a poor attempt at humor.

Looks like a nice radio Alinco has seemed to make quality radios. I have a friend who swears by them. Websites can be interesting when you read them: MTC states "GMRS is a PAID land-mobile service and a license is required" Are they referring to the purchasing of the license or am I missing something? RW AntennaStore says "This is a professional tpe radio and should not be compared to cheap chines built GMRS radios. " I don't know who the CHINES are but I won't be comparing their radios to TPE radios, whatever that is.

Perhaps the offensive term should be changed to P.O.R.C.I.N.E.?

While not exactly emergency situations we have used our GMRS radios during a forced evacuation from a very large fast moving wildfire with a forced power outage. We used them again last year when our area had a 30 year record snow fall where our area lost power and snowed in for 5-14 days. We used them instead of phones, due to the weather, while were out digging cars out and checking on neighbors. On a trip last fall with a couple of friends, two if us had radios. The other two didn't want to mess with carrying a radio. One of the four person group decided to return to the car but didn't let anyone know as we had spread out in the valley we were in. We looked for the person and for a while and finally found them near the car. The next day we were in a different area and I gave the other two in our group a radio because I had brought extras. They didn't not object to carrying a radio that time. We have now used them enough that I bought my wife a pink radio for Valentine's day. She was actually happy to get it.

I have both permission slips. If S.H.T.F. I would use GMRS to stay in touch with local family (non-hams) and I would use amateur radio to find out what's going on. If your S.H.T.F. scenario includes power outages a lot of repeaters on both services will be inoperable. For extended power outages even the battery backed up repeaters my be down after a few days.

Since this topic has been semi-resurrected I have a question. If two radios are at the fringe of receiving signals to the point that voice is breaking up or coming in and out while receiving will the Ribbit signal be more receivable than voice? I know that a digital signal will often be stronger on fringes than analog voice. I don't know if I am articulating my question clearly but hopefully someone will get it.

Welcome. There is a lot of knowledge and good information around this forum.

I've had a amateur license for decades. Got it for the communications aspect during desert adventures. Unfortunately most of the folks I went with decided not to get a license. Moved to GMRS because most of the family and friends I am around now will use it. A couple of friends and some other family members have GMRS licenses now. I'm talking to a few neighbors about getting GMRS licenses and using the radios to check up each other during winter weather events and during wildfire season. I have a couple of older neighbors that don't have cell phones. I will keep my amateur license as well. As others have said, having more tools is good.