WRQC527

Please. Share with us a link to an FCC document that contains this exact wording. I'm not saying there isn't one, but for the edification of all of us here, we'd enjoy seeing it.

A standard mic will work but it will only transmit on one channel. (A, I think.) The dual-PTT mics that I found had poor reviews.

I have 2 UV-82s. They were wide-open when I got them, so no unlocking needed. They have good transmit audio, they feel substantial, they have decent battery life, but there are 3 things I don't like. The dual PTT, the very limited availability of dual-PTT speaker microphones, and the speaker mic jack cover that either breaks off or sticks out too far. I found that I prefer my old-faithful UV-5Rs.

I've had paint damage. Not so much scratches, but a permanent ring-shaped indention in the paint. I mitigated the issue by sticking a cheap plastic (not glass) tablet screen protector on the roof. I've since moved on to lip mounts on my van's liftgate because I don't want the coax draped across the roof.

Yes. Where it says Mode, it will say FMN, (narrow FM), FM, which are both analog, or DMR, P25, NXDN, and posssibly others, which are digital.

If you have literally nothing else to do, you can take a look at RadioReference. I've linked my state below so you can get an idea what it looks like. Clicking on a specific link will show you what frequencies different organizations use. https://www.radioreference.com/db/browse/stid/6

I don't want to hog all your questions so I'll take the first one. GMRS is more suited for talking with people you know who also have GMRS radios, such as for camping, hunting, hiking, off-roading, that kind of thing. However, some repeater organizations have weekly nets, so you can check in and possibly talk with others that way too. You'll find the occasional conversation on repeaters. It's a good idea for your famiy members to have radios too, that way you have other ways of communicating. Going solo with GMRS may be a bit disappointing because there isn't a big user base out there looking to make conversations like there is with amateur radio. Some of us here are licensed in both services so we have more comms options. If you are out by yourself doing some sort of solo outdoor activity, you can definitely increase your safety margin by having a GMRS radio, because a lot of people carry them to communicate within their groups and they would possibly hear you if you needed help, either by simplex or through a repeater.

I would say your SWR readings are pretty good. Getting the entire antenna above the roof might help, but 1.5 or below is nothing to balk at.

What make and model is the antenna, and what kind of radio? I'm thinking you have some kind of mobile radio installed in the car with the mobile antenna? Or are you using the handheld in the car with the mobile antenna connected?

Roger beeps are like opinions about roger beeps. Lots of people have them, but not everyone wants to hear them. You kinda need to read the room. If you're on a repeater and no one wants to hear them, maybe turn it off. If no one cares, don't worry about it.

There is a troubling habit among folks both here and on other radio forums to read into, add, change, or delete words from the FCC part 95 regulations. The following is copied directly from the FCC Part 95 regulations concerning who is covered under an individual license holder's license, not including grandfathered GMRS licenses that no one can get these days. It's best to follow the FCC regulations exactly as written, without encumbering oneself with "what ifs". "Any individual who holds an individual license may allow his or her immediate family members to operate his or her GMRS station or stations. Immediate family members are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws."

We had a GMRS guy on my 2m repeater last week so I diplomatically helped him realize he was on a ham repeater. He apologized and left. It happens, but if it's intentional and repeated, then it's an issue.

I slowed the playback on your recording enough so I could write down the dits and dahs then translated it. Don't be fooled into thinking I know Morse code.

The stuff that drives me nuts is the old men who talk about their health problems. Strokes, gout, oozing wounds, cancers, the whole gamut of issues. Totally depressing. My friends and I are very active hiking, off roading, camping, shooting, fishing, metal detecting, rockhounding, candy making, beer making, meat smoking, you name it, there's someone in our club that does it. And sometimes we even talk about radios.

Sounds like WRHW499, a GMRS call from Michigan.

What would you like us to talk about? Is there an approved topics list? Additionally, it isn't all we talk about. This morning, on the way to work, on my repeater, we talked about yesterday's football game, breadmaking, bathroom remodels, cargo ships, appliance repair, and automotive repair, all within a 40-minute span. Not once did the subject of ham radio equipment come up.

If you want to operate strictly by FCC bandwidth regulations, refer to this link: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E/section-95.1773 Everything you want to know about regulations for personal radio services can be found by following this link: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95

Yep, and it doesn't appear that theft of the tower is even part of the story. In fact, theft or not, it would seem to be a massive undertaking to lower and dismantle the tower and remove it from the site. Call me overly skeptical, but the day I read the original story, my BS detector pegged and the needle broke.

There's an old saying that goes "I would never want to be a member of a club that would have me as a member."

I bet it's unfavorable. It's too bad radio forums degenerate to bashing other services. I mean, I guess all forums have that problem, but my take is that there's so much to share, and some folks would rather pee in the punchbowl.

That's better. Still hating on amateur radio, but at least your edit answered the OP's question.

The question was "Why did you choose GMRS", not "Why do you hate amateur radio". Without hating on amateur radio, why did you choose GMRS?

I chose GMRS as an additional communication mode to augment amateur radio. My friends who I spend time hiking and off-roading with are amateur radio operators, while my wife and I use GMRS.

Those arguments don't include me. If I'm asked, I would direct those folks to the website below, then go have a beer or something. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95?toc=1 Also, I added control station to my post. Thanks for pointing it out.

Here are the definitions of Base, Fixed, Hand-held Portable Unit, Mobile, Repeater and Control stations, copied directly from the FCC Part 95 rules. Using these definitions, you can answer your question as though you are asking it of an FCC representative. Don't overthink it, and don't rewrite the FCC definitions. They are quite concise and leave little or no room for interpretation. BASE STATION: A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. FIXED STATION: A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with other fixed stations only. HAND-HELD PORTABLE UNIT: A physically small mobile station that can be operated while being held in the operator's hand. MOBILE STATION: A station, intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified locations, that communicates directly with base stations and other mobile stations, and with control stations and other mobile stations through repeater stations. REPEATER STATION: A station in a fixed location used to extend the communications range of mobile stations, hand-held portable units and control stations by receiving their signals on one channel (the input channel) and simultaneously retransmitting these signals on another channel (the output channel), typically with higher transmitting power from a favorable antenna location (typically high above the surrounding terrain). CONTROL STATION: A station at a fixed location that communicates with mobile stations and other stations through repeater stations and may also be used to control the operation of repeater stations.