SteveShannon

Are you trying to transmit on GMRS or ham frequencies? If you are certain it’s not user error send it in. If you are not certain enough to send it in then don’t take it personally if they ask you questions meant to determine whether it is user error. Probably the vast majority of problems they see are.

Usually within three days but occasionally as long as a week. It’s not checked in real time but against a bulk download. Also, make sure you are reading your callsign correctly. There was one guy who tried for weeks and kept getting shot down. All GMRS callsigns are 4 letters followed by 3 numbers. He misread an L for a 1.

You have to be a premium member, which means finish getting your license, which must be done to become a member, then pay the fees ($50 annually I think) to become a premium member, and then run reports to generate CSV files from the repeater database.

I found numerous articles about humidity and various forms of precipitation affecting UHF. It definitely happens, plus the effect of varying air density as a result of temperature can cause refraction. My old satellite system used to lose its signal whenever we had heavy wet snowfall (even without snow building up on the dish and horn.)

Does the radio CPS allow you to set a baud rate? One sure way to identify the correct port is to unplug the usb cable at the computer end while watching in Device Manager to see which com port disappears.

HRO has radios set up for hams to try also.

They do slightly, and moisture or particles in the atmosphere can increase attenuation, but the main reason distance matters is because the radio waves become less dense as they occupy more area. Higher gain antennas minimize that.

It’s possible, but usually a bad cable doesn’t work at all. I would make sure you have loaded the most current driver first. Also, look in Device Manager and make sure that the port looks right.

For the first situation it depends on the sensitivity of the receivers and the gain and pattern of the antennas, but with Yagi antennas you might easily get a couple hundred miles. With our earth’s curvature it’s down to about 15% farther away than the optical horizon.

Actually those are all just your feelings. The rules do not prohibit using GMRS to chat about weather or antennas or kids first report card, but if you’ve determined that you must have sole access to radio frequencies for the many emergencies that you purport to swoop in and handle you’ve made a terrible choice in GMRS. One would think that the first emergency might have taught you that.

Make sure the plug is inserted all the way. Some radios you really have to push hard.

Make sure the volume on the radio is set at least midrange.

It also helps if you read what he posted: Stop being a douche, Devin.

So now you’re also an expert on propagation of UHF in Connecticut? What is your need to act like such a complete douche?

So when you’re in memory mode and you get to channel 19 and then start pushing the channel up key what happens?

I used to feel that way but I gradually realized that it’s not up to me. It is a hobby for many. Just like Citizen Band many people use GMRS as a way to chat with people who they might not know.

Exactly my point!

Thinking that perhaps the Times Microwave calculation page just didn’t work for short lengths of LMR 400 I increased the length to 250 feet, on the theory that I could then just divide the attenuation by 10 to get the attenuation for 25 feet. Unfortunately, the calculator shows a number for 250 feet that’s just as obviously outside of commonly quoted loss values. The calculator shows that at 467 MHz 250 feet of LMR400 will only have a loss of 3 db. I also tried 1000 feet: 3.9 db. I filled out their “Ask an Expert” form and told them their calculator appeared to be giving results that were outside of commonly quoted loss values.

You might want to check that number. Here’s a screenshot of the Times Microwave calculator page at 467 MHz frequencies for 25 feet. It almost looks like their calculator doesn’t work correctly for LMR400 for short lengths:

Some people say they only use GMRS radio for communications while pursuing their hobbies. What if their hobby is talking to random strangers?

CW is allowed for Call Signs. A GMRS repeater is identified by nothing other than its owner's call sign. WSFL951's comment about something not being permitted was directed at the use of a P.O. Box for the license address.

It's not prohibited.

They’re easy to build: https://edsantennas.weebly.com/uploads/2/9/3/5/29358461/dbj-2_qst.pdf

SocalGMRS has a long history of scolding newly joined people about reading the rules. Although it is a good idea to become familiar with the rules, I don’t think it’s effective to answer a first (or even 21st) question by scolding. Eventually you may decide there are some people here who should be ignored (me included) and the forum software allows you to place them (me included) onto an ignore list. Not only that but you can ignore specific aspects of another user without ignoring them completely. It was a good first question. I hope you stick around and ask many more.

The characteristics tested for are listed in the regulations, but a lot of it has to do with transmitting at the right power, no more than the correct bandwidth for the channels you’re on, and repression of harmonics (signals that poorly designed radios transmit on frequencies other than where they’re supposed to transmit). Here’s the GMRS specific language: 95.1761 GMRS transmitter certification. (a) Each GMRS transmitter (a transmitter that operates or is intended to operate in the GMRS) must be certified in accordance with this subpart and part 2 of this chapter. (b) A grant of equipment certification for the GMRS will not be issued for any GMRS transmitter type that fails to comply with the applicable rules in this subpart. (c) No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with a frequency capability not listed in § 95.1763, unless such transmitter is also certified for use in another radio service for which the frequency is authorized and for which certification is also required. No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. All frequency determining circuitry (including crystals) and programming controls in each GMRS transmitter must be internal to the transmitter and must not be accessible from the exterior of the transmitter operating panel or from the exterior of the transmitter enclosure. (d) Effective December 27, 2017, the Commission will no longer issue a grant of equipment authorization for hand-held portable unit transmitter types under both this subpart (GMRS) and subpart B of this part (FRS). (e) Effective December 27, 2017, the Commission will no longer issue a grant of equipment authorization under this subpart (GMRS) for hand-held portable units if such units meet the requirements to be certified under subpart B of this part (FRS).