SteveShannon

Pull out your pen and say "Open Channel D."

Hello @JHENRY, as mentioned already it’s permitted. Repeaters are privately owned so there’s that.
As for our resident idiot petulant child SoCalgmrs that feels the need to chastise people, tell them their radios are junk and profess to getting 250 miles on his very fine radios in the desert. Feel free to ignore him. This info really should be part of the welcome packet. 😀
One last thing, some people view all caps as a form of yelling. Thought I’d mention it in case you were not aware. ☕️ 

Here are the rules for the 10 meter DX contest. https://contests.arrl.org/ContestRules/10M-Rules.pdf
Yes, a serial number is required and apparently serial numbers are required for some DX contests, but unfortunately I couldn’t find where the term is defined.  It might be as simple as the serial number corresponding to your logbook or to a log of contacts for that particular contest, in which case, since he was your first contact it would have been simply ‘1’. But I don’t really know.
There are FAQs, glossaries, and “Getting Started” articles and none of them (that I could find) define “Serial Numbers” even though they use the term.  I think that’s a stupid oversight.
I have written to the contest director at the ARRL asking for such terms that they take for granted to be added to a glossary that the rules reference.

This picture, which I believe originated from Laird, shows how much or how little placing an antenna base off center, or even at the corner of the roof actually makes: 0.02 dB less when moved to a corner of the roof.  I don’t believe any of us would even notice that. Moving it from the roof makes more difference of course.

This picture, which I believe originated from Laird, shows how much or how little placing an antenna base off center, or even at the corner of the roof actually makes: 0.02 dB less when moved to a corner of the roof.  I don’t believe any of us would even notice that. Moving it from the roof makes more difference of course.

Here are the rules for the 10 meter DX contest. https://contests.arrl.org/ContestRules/10M-Rules.pdf
Yes, a serial number is required and apparently serial numbers are required for some DX contests, but unfortunately I couldn’t find where the term is defined.  It might be as simple as the serial number corresponding to your logbook or to a log of contacts for that particular contest, in which case, since he was your first contact it would have been simply ‘1’. But I don’t really know.
There are FAQs, glossaries, and “Getting Started” articles and none of them (that I could find) define “Serial Numbers” even though they use the term.  I think that’s a stupid oversight.
I have written to the contest director at the ARRL asking for such terms that they take for granted to be added to a glossary that the rules reference.

For GMRS, the FCC allows plain language voice communications:
95.1731 Permissible GMRS uses.
The operator of a GMRS station may use that station for two-way plain language voice communications with other GMRS stations and with FRS units concerning personal or business activities.

Earlier, in the overarching Personal Radio Services definitions (which apply to all of the personal radio services) the FCC tells us what is meant by plain language voice communications:
95.303 
Plain language voice communications. Voice communications without codes or coded messages intended to provide a hidden meaning. Foreign languages and commonly known radio operating words and phrases, such as “ten four” and “roger,” not intended to provide a hidden meaning, are not considered codes or coded messages.
Even with an executive order to establish English as our official language changes to the above rules would need to be made if the government determined that radio communication must be done in English.  Of course legislation could do it, assuming it withstood a constitutional challenge.

Your contact was looking for a serial number that YOU assign to your contacts during a contest. In your case above, you could have given him any number, but 001 would suffice. 
If I am responding to CQ calls on any given day, I number my contacts starting with 001 and if anyone should ask, I tell them what number I have assigned their QSO.
Typical QSO verification involves:
Call signs
Band/Frequency
Time
Signal reports
Serial numbers

if after 360 some odd days, i think it would be easier and faster to apply for a new license.  

Awhile back, when renewing my license I ran into a issue where somehow my old Gmrs license had a different FRN number, resulting in 3 FRN numbers. The new one I applied for, plus the FRN for my ham license. I Called CORES, and they removed the third FRN and got me all set again. Easy Peasy!
Here's the number directly to CORES: 1-877-480-3201

Call customer support at the FCC 

for 70cm i think all you need for a perfect ground plane is something in neighborhood of 6-8 inches and yes ground plane does  help in radiation  pattern for long distances .   https://m0ukd.com/calculators/quarter-wave-ground-plane-antenna-calculator/

Chinese refers to people, not all things from China.  Citizens of Taiwan consider themselves Chinese.  Millions of Americans are also Chinese. “Made in China” is different from “Chinese”. Using the term “Chinese” contributes to racial stereotypes. 
I agree with the fact that much of what is exported to the United States from China is poor quality.  But it’s also possible to import quality goods from China if an importer is will to exert quality control on the goods, either in China or upon receiving them here. Making the mistake of assuming that all things made in China have little or no quality has already cost US manufacturing greatly. The truth is that they have as much or as little quality as we are willing to pay to own. Communist China is one of our two greatest adversaries, economically and militarily.  To underestimate their abilities by subscribing to stereotypes is very risky. 
I may be more sensitive to this than others having worked in Taiwan in my past, but I believe it’s an important subject.

I absolutely agree. 

I got a chuckle out of the rating of the Diamond SRH805S. You might have noticed that they rate the antenna gain as -2dB.  That means a loss of RF radiation. Diamond says:
So, basically, Diamond says the SRH805S will perform 2dB worse than the OEM antenna 

I would be very surprised if the final output transistor in your radio would let its smoke out even if full power were reflected.  
 

Yeah, I had a GMRS callsign 12 years back which i let expire... and in the past year decided to give it another try. I looked into trying to resurrect my old callsign (although I was not really attached to it) but found it easier to just register for a new one on my existing FRN. 

not sure how you go about getting your $35 refunded though... hope you can. 

Call FCC on the phone, they are pretty good to work with.  Best to just apply for a new license, you will not be able to get the old call sign issued to you. (been there done that when I forgot to renew mine a few years back!)

I absolutely agree. 

I was answering his question, not baiting you. 

This (A-Pillar Antenna Mount) is another option to try that won’t break the bank. I have a version of this on my Tacoma and despite what some might think it works for me. I used to have a Midland MXTA 26 which worked great, now I’m using a Comet SBB5 (ham) also good results.  Sure it might work better in the center of the roof… until it gets snapped off with a kayak. Sometimes there are compromises and good enough is just that.  
 

A little update on my station: I switched back and forth between my 40 watt and my 20 watt (actually 15 watts) with nearly zero differences in capability. There's a huge difference between the 5w handheld and the 20w, but very little between the 20w and the 40w. 

There are molle panels that can be attached to the center console side. These allow installation of a radio there. There one for the Tacoma, and likely others, that has a panel on each side of the console with a bridge between. This give a lot of mounting options. 
 
 

A cup holder mount is not the only option. A seat bolt mount usually works too. And there are plenty of other options available. A radio with everything built into the mic or a radio with a removable head unit will definitely make install easier.

No.