MichaelLAX

Looking at your frequency_list.csv file, ALL 22 of your GMRS/FRS channels have Tone 67.0 for both transmit AND receive! Definitely turn off the Receive Tones.

It's been said before on this Forum, but it bares repeating: If you are looking for "hobbyist" communication with strangers, it is worth the effort to gain a Technician Class Ham Radio license and use similar HTs to chat over their Repeaters, which are generally more prevalent. And with Digital modes available to you there, chat all over the world with your Digital HT. If you are trying to expand your family's range on GMRS, then yes, you need to find a repeater. Having just reread your OP: Maybe a modest contribution among family and friends and you could establish your own repeater. Have you tried hours of scanning your local 8 GMRS Repeater channels and see if there is any activity?

Yes, before I obtained my GMRS base station, connecting my HT to my Comet CX-333 on my roof dramatically increased my range.

Baofeng UV-5X User Manual_20210220.pdf

You cannot make any modifications that violate Part 95(e) rules. What does your "pre-made channel configuration" consist of?

I am a bit confused by your message, but let's move on... CHIRP uploads .IMG files to your UV-5R; not .CSV files. A generic file is never good to start with; it will only lead to problems. Start with an .IMG file that you know works with your UV-5R; such as one you saved earlier, or a fresh download. Then feel free to add additional channels and resave to your radio. .CSV is an "interchange" format that allows you to save data to be manipulated by another program. Most people like to use Excel. If you have more than one of the SAME radio, exporting as CSV is not as helpful. But if you have different radios, using CSV as an intermediary step can help you bring one radio's channels to the other radio. REMEMBER even if you move CSV data over, the new code plug must have the radio's other settings as well, which is why you want to work on the proper .IMG file for that brand of radio. CSV is also helpful to bring over pre-set frequencies from a standardized group of frequencies, like public service frequencies, especially for scanning purposes.

I've measured them both and @rdunajewski's is longer! ? Although not any shown on the Texas GMRS Network for Corpus Christi, shoot them a membership email and see if they have plans for your area.

gmrs-pro_cmk1_may-25.pdf

Which radio do you have? Here’s what I do when I go repeater hunting: Scan the 8 output chnnels until you hear conversations. Make notes which Channels have activity. Then listen on the Input frequency for those active frequencies: for example, 467.675 and if you can hear them, you are close to that operator and maybe the repeater.

This may be a similar issue as when I tried to program my tr-bander Uv-5x3 after using CHIRP for my UV-5Rs. Be sure you are using the default codeplug that you should download from the G while it is still a “virgin” and copying and pasting the entries from a separately open window of the R code plug. Does that make sense?

In my experience with large states such as California and Texas, there is no Tool that limits Repeaters geographically, like the Map does (or am I missing something?). Also I always turn on Show Offline Repeaters and Show Stale Repeater in the circular widget in the upper left corner of the map.

https://mygmrs.com/map

Wide Band for most Repeaters for sure

I would change this sentence to: Save As... this file as a backup, and then Save As... again with another name, something like "UV-5G 202301251630" Then I would continue with: Import your CSV file. The columns and rows of Chirp should populate. etc... And before or after upload be sure to do another Save for this file.

Hey, Jeff: Do you know what this File Convert function does? I think I know, but would rather get an educated answer...

Aren't those just the Input frequencies of Channels 28 and 25 or 20R and 17R? What do you mean by off channel?

Пофунг ?

WELCOME! You followed these manual instructions? Which GMRS frequency did you enter (the example frequency listed below is not GMRS). Transmit Tone is not needed unless you are trying to access a Repeater.

I was told by a member in anther thread here who needs help, that the Vertex CE-59 software he provided me also needs the date rolled back. But since W/N band is not the issue in that thread, I left my date alone and sure enough, when you go save the new file, it gives a warning and kicks everything to N.

Plus no one pays for spectrum when it is shifted from one service; e.g., Ham Radio to another; e.g., GMRS.

I'm with you in that having an Export feature is "usually" side by side with an Import feature. I tried to find a copy of this software to play with for your benefit, but I only see it for sale used on eBay. Do you have a copy to share for fair use - educational/test purposes?

I have just downloaded this document to review, but in the meantime what is its status as far as the FCC is concerned. Has it been submitted to them as part of a Proposed Rulemaking Order, if there even is one? With all due respect to GMRS users discussing Ham Radio on a GRMS Forum, the suggestion of "taking" any of the Ham 440 MHz band away from Hams even for "joint cross-over use to GMRS" is a non-starter. It just won't happen. Now, for context, I once said that no Major League Baseball team would come back from 0-3 in a 7 game series in the playoffs/World Series to win in my lifetime. Then the Boston Red Sox not only proved me wrong to defeat the Yankees, but went on to beat the Cardinals in 4 straight games in the 2004 World Series! So: never say never! Even Sean Connery discovered the virtue of this saying after he said he would never again play the role of James Bond, and when he was lured back, they named the movie: "Never Say Never Again!" ?

For the record Steven: You made the claim that a friend of yours was detained by California authorities because they did not add an "H" to their Vanity plate search of his California Ham Radio license plate and hence he was detained for some additional period of time due to this confusion. I disputed your conclusion about the "H", based upon my personal experience with the California Highway Patrol, when they looked up "W-7-M-L" in their system and came up with the proper information on my Ham Radio Vanity plate. I did not try to sucker you into an argument. I just disputed your claim pure and simple. Your story was 3rd party hearsay (you were not there): explainable for one of many various reasons other than the incorrect conclusion you asserted. As between my personal experience and your friends personal experience, that was then recounted to you; I was and am still confident in my position. If you choose to not dispute this post, then I will assume that silence is assent and we can leave it there... ? Oh, and now one last damn thing: I'll now return to my Radioddity RD-5R for DMR communications on 2 meters and 440 MHz. Probably the "cheapest" non-DIY way to do DMR for Amateur Radio! ?