SteveC7010

This isn't ham radio so some of the firm and fast ham rules are not necessarily required. Some times it seems that hams tend to self impose a few too many strict operating rules when they're not really needed. But remember that amateur radio licenses are issued to individuals and usually cover only that individual with some infrequent exceptions.
 
GMRS licenses are also issued to individuals, but the license covers an entire family as defined in 95E.So there's no rule about individual call signs. You all have to use the same FCC issued call sign and ID every so often, but it's up to you what you call each other on the radio. First names are ok, and so are unit numbers or car/truck numbers. Typically, a base station would be called "Base", and if you have more than one, "Base 1" or "Base 2" or "Smallville Base to Bigtown Base."
 
It's just me and the wife on a channel when we convoy with two vehicles and I always pick a quiet channel. We just use first names to initially call each other. After that, we just talk and ID when required.

Software is free and easily found on the net. Version 4.0 runs fine on a WinXP  computer. Cables are cheap; serial is more reliable if the pc has a serial port. 

Who sits around and thinks up this kind of stupidity?  No!  Not just no, but hell no!  This is another hairbrained attempt to make GMRS into "ham radio lite".  I am an Extra class ham, and I am 100% against this.  GMRS (Class A CB) was originally another means of personal (and at one time, business) communication.  It should remain that way.  It should remain 100% analog.  GMRS allows for reliable communication with a short wavelength (think being able to use an ht in a car without an outside or excessively long antenna).  It is great for families, friends, and even properly licensed hams, to keep in touch, especially with family and friends who just do not want to be bothered with testing, radio theory, etc.  If someone wants to enjoy the hobby aspects of ham, play with digital, etc; then let them get off of their dead behind and study and take the tests or shut up! Those who are already hams and who want to turn GMRS into ham lite or other extension of ham radio, please use the privileges you have on ham or upgrade if that is not enough.
People are continuously trying to wreck a great thing that GMRS is with these bright ideas.

Motorola does have RAC for analog, but it's can be scanned.
A better option is to spend the money and get a part 90 license then you have better options.  First is you can run DMR (MOTOTRBO) and run a digital RAC and run basic encryption.  It would also allow you TWO talk paths on the same frequency.  Something that's no possible with analog radio. 
And the other thing with a part 90 commercial license is if others come in, outside of your family unit, they can use the license under your authority.  You can 't grant a non-family member access if they don't have a GMRS license.. so day workers and laborers that are not family can't use the radios. 
The basic encryption will also keep your radio traffic semi-private.  The 6 digit numeric RAC code will keep all but the most determined off the repeater.  And it really sounds like it would be a better option for your specific application. 
The issue is that you are so limited with analog radio.  And there is a greater limitation with the lack of encryption due to the regulations of GMRS.
I know that someone brought up using a trunking controller that would look at radio ID's to grant or deny access to the system, but there again, I don't know the regulations specifically for GMRS would allow that.  Would it work, sort of, until someone with a scanner that could display the LTR data was used to pick apart the information and then it's going to be screwed with if you are really expecting issues with others trying to gain access. 
I wouldn't typically go to these length's but you seem adamant in you post about it to the point you foresee issues before you even have equipment on the air.  And in truth, if you haven't bought any equipment for this yet, now is the time to look at other options that better match your listed requirements.
Personally, I am a P25 and AES encryption guy all the way.  That will always work and NO ONE gets to listen in.  But none of that fits within the rules governing GMRS.
 

You need to login to the ULS system and select your FRN then do a modification of your license. Follow the prompts. 

It still is.  
In an actual widespread emergency people will be desperate for information. My generation was alway reminded to keep an AM radio with extra batteries available.  Of course AM radio worked well because it can receive signals across literally thousands of miles at night, so even if only a few stations survived a person might hear something. The only “grid” was our public utilities (electricity, gas, sewer, and water).
Now, people are more likely to listen to FM, satellite radio, or internet radio.  Cell phone service is nearly ubiquitous and getting better. The “grid” has expanded to encompass all of the above. People have been conditioned to expect two way voice, video, and data communications wherever they go, but most wouldn’t have a clue what to do if the grid now goes down.
So don’t give up on the idea of coordinating last mile communications and don’t get discouraged when people ask pointed questions or make critical comments.  Get involved with local emcomm groups.  This is what they do and they almost always need people who are motivated.

You are looking for 1225LS_RSS_V3.0.zip. I have a copy of it which is about 5 meg in size. It's designed to run on WinXP or Win95. For best results, it should be run on an older machine which has a true serial port (COM1).
If you open the radio and it has an LTR Passport accessory board made by Scholar-Johnson, you can simply remove the board and the radio will revert to a standard M1225 which can be programmed with the version 4.0 1225 HVN9054 software. The Scholar-Johnson board is desirable by some hobby folks. I sold one on Ebay in less than a week.

I completely agree with you regarding the "radio police". I also think that the guy who proposed this just wants to turn gmrs into ham on different frequencies. He suggests raising the limit on certain channels to 100w. I could totally foresee the overly obsessed ham guys scolding a gmrs user because they're trying to see how far apart they can talk. IMO. Ham is great and so is gmrs, but they are separate and should stay separate.

I'd run a 1/4 wave basic antenna on a air stream personally. My CTC ran one and it worked perfect. 
 

You need to check with Industry Canada (their FCC) for the regulations regarding use of your radios while in Canada. Amateurs are allowed to operate within the Canadian frequency allocations but many other users cannot.

Depends on what the measurement is for. If you are modeling the RF horizon, you go from the bottom of the antenna. If you are dealing with zoning, then top of the antenna.

GMRS is not really intended to find anonymous men to chat with for "action". For that kind of "action" you might want to look into H.A.M. radio or the Grindr app for your phone.   GMRS is primarily intended for things like communicating with your group while off-roading, hiking, caravanning, etc. so in many/most places it is very quiet.
 

Hi everyone. I have had some things come up in my life that have been taking up a lot of my time. I have not had the time nor energy that NOVA GMRS deserves.   I am going to take a step back from a leadership role for awhile. I'll still be around the group to chat and will be on the air.  However, I have asked Jack Ramberg to take the lead in my absence. He's graciously agreed.   Thanks for being a wonderful group and for all the new friends. Talk to you soon.   Marc

Schools can't be licensed for Part 95 or 97. They can license under both 90.20 and 90.37.

One other point no one broached is to talk to the local PD. They will help your school with interoperability issues and may even have some units they can provide your administration for use in a situation requiring police presence. You won't use their radios for bus duty and the like as they would be for emergencies only.
I would steer away from FRS radios because of the issues with possible interference. Talk to a local radio supplier and get some business band units. Yes the brand name ones like Motorola, Kenwood and ICOM are expensive but others like RCA, Hytera and a few others are reasonable. 

Layering communication technology on top of a WiFi network is a really poor choice for an emergency communication channel.
When things go bad, you want to count on LESS technology, not more. The more you can adhere to the KISS principle, the better off things will work once things go wrong. Keep it simple, keep it working.
What happens if the school gets hit by high winds that rip the roof off? Well - at least with conventional portable radios, there's the option of simplex. What's the option with Network radios when there is no functioning Network?
There's already money available for schools for communication equipment through Federal/State grants & funding. No need for Amazon.

If I were looking for a good GMRS mobile, I would look at the used or new old stock commercial radios, such as Motorola CDM 1250 or Kenwood TK-series. These radios may not be typed accepted for GMRS, but they can easily be modified for GMRS. Don't get me wrong, BTECH WOUXUN and MIDLAND have good radios, but ICOM KENWOOD MOTOROLA and VERTEX also make excellent uhf mobile radios for GMRS and other bands. 
Who really cares if the Radio is Part 90 or Part 95 E? As long the radio properly tuned for the GMRS, the FCC wouldn't object individuals using old Part 90 Radios. 

Pin this please!

I’ve known GMRS users who have no interest in ham radio and (unfortunately) I’ve known ham radio operators who have a derisive attitude towards GMRS users who reject ham radio and then attempt to make GMRS into a no-test substitute for ham radio. But here in Montana I have not personally encountered any hams that look down on the licensed use of GMRS for group communications. 

Sorry, I certainly didn’t mean to imply they were having a problem with communications. My title was intended to include radio communications as one of the interesting aspects to the job these folks do, but really I just wanted to share the video my friend took about this large truck. I just thought it was interesting. 

The problem with people asking for opinions is where they get good advise then go out and buy the cheapest P.O.S. on the market. Makes one wonder why they bothered to ask.

Lately it seems like a few people are asking loosely worded questions and then snapping at people who give a knowledgeable answer. 
My ignore list has gained another. 

...or maybe @Sshannon was just trying to help someone out solely for the satisfaction of helping them. Unfortunately "some people" have no gratitude. 

Congrats. You've placed yourself in the pile of users that no one wants to help.

Yeah, see, that's the opposite of what I envision.  That's the rabbit hole I fell into when I started out, and like I said, it seems far more likely to drive normal people away than to get them functional...

A new person getting started, like the kind targeted by the presentation I'm trying to prepare, and the one marcspaz admirably presented, doesn't need to read 150 pages on antenna theory.  With ham, you're building a car.  With GMRS, you just want to drive it.  You need to understand a bit of technical theory to understand *why* you are doing what you are doing, but you don't need to be able to calculate ideal compression ratios to push the accelerator...