WRQC527

That wasn't the question. The questions were: "Any tips on getting my radio setup? Also, I’m seeing all this stuff about nets and meshes. I understand GMRS isn’t ham where everyone just hangs out talks to each other, but are those set times I see on the website here, times that everyone meets up on these radios?"

They haven't gone by the wayside. But they're probably circling the drain. Personally, with all the information on YouTube University and about a million other free internet sources, I think an in-person class seems silly, especially if you have to pay for it. I studied on my own and passed my tests with no in-person classes. The only in-person stuff was the tests.

I tried it once because I had an extra ten cents, and I found that it had absolutely no effect. Except right now I could really use that dime back.

But wait... There's expert(s) like this guy who produce videos that say it will double my HT's range! Double, I tell ya! That's like twice the range! Two times the farz! It's a modern-day miracle! https://codegreenprep.com/2013/07/the-ten-cent-modification-you-can-do-to-double-your-radios-range/

On a related note, don't forget my favorite, using an HT inside a car and expecting your signal to reach more than ten feet.

I would put this claim in the same category as "always get gas in the morning while the gas is denser" and "always keep a crayon in your wallet".

Nothing serious. Probably the only person who would say anything is the actual repeater owner, and only if they happen to be listening at the time or if someone rats you out to them. At which point you could ask permission. But it's not like jail time or fines are in your future.

The Surecom SW-102 UV is well-liked here. Make sure you get the one with the connectors you want. They come with either SO-239 or N connectors.

I've had good luck with a lip mount and a Rugged Radios Point 5 antenna on the liftgate of my Sienna. Since the Point 5 antenna is a half-wave design, it doesn't rely on a ground plane, so getting it in the center of the roof isn't a big concern. Although some say it will do better with a ground plane, one of its reasons for existing at all is that it can work on a vehicle where there is no practical way to mount it on a metal surface. You may want to search for "No Ground-Plane" antennas if you want more options.

I like Andersons because they're easy to use, they're secure, and idiot-resistant. However, there is a school of thought that even though they are "self-cleaning", meaning every time you disconnect and connect them, the contacts are scraped, if you will, and kept clean, the contacts can corrode ever-so-slightly over time and present resistance in the circuit if they are not periodically disconnected and reconnected. While I've never had this issue, it's something to think about if you're planning to use them as permanent connections, especially in a mobile environment. You really can't beat wiring straight to the battery with the proper fuses and the factory T-connector. I've also had problems with the cigarette lighter plug popping out. I only use that as a last resort. Like powering an HT with a battery eliminator.

Wait. What?

Yes, quarter-wave ground plane antennas work really well. I've built and bought several of them for 2-meter amateur radio use. The ones like yours that I've seen on Ebay have stiff straight radials bent down 45°. Are the ones you have drooping because they're flexible, or are they bent in a curve like that?

The only time you would need to test is for amateur radio. The GMRS license is pay-and-play. $35 for ten years. No test, and pinky swear that you'll go by the rules. Also, amateur radio can't be used for business.

Can you tell us what kind of range you need? Your choices for non-licensed radios are limited to just a couple of watts, so you may have issues with range due to terrain and foliage. GMRS may give you more range because you would be allowed higher power, but each user would need a license. FRS is the Family Radio Service, limited to 2 watts, mostly handheld radios. No license required. MURS is the Multi Use Radio Service, limited also to 2 watts, mostly handheld radios. No license required. GMRS is the General Mobile Radio Service, which allows up to 50 watts, and uses both handhelds (5 watts) and mobile radios. Individual license is required.

Unfortunately there is no "What to expect from GMRS" introductory section on MyGMRS. It would outline the basic uses for GMRS, what it's for, what it's really not for, and how to make it work for you. Its been said here many times. It's more of a tool for short-range communications among friends, family, groups of like-minded folks out on the trail, camping, hunting, that kind of thing. Repeaters extend the range, but they're not social clubs like they are in amateur radio.

Every repeater has a cast of characters. They're like bad sitcoms. Some asshat put in a repeater in the last few days that's on the same frequency pair as an established high-level repeater here in southern California. Last night two guys went on for at least an hour with nothing but F-bombs about their phenomenal MMA skills and how Tyson will get his butt kicked against McGregor. All this chit-chat drowned out the net taking place on the other repeater. You never know what kind of mayhem will occur on a repeater.

Base: MARS/CAP-modded Yaesu FTM-7250, RG-8X coax into a Jetstream JTM3B dual-band antenna on a 24-foot window washing extension pole. Can't leave it up because of the condo HOA so it's only set up when I operate. Handheld: MARS/CAP-modded Yaesu FT-70. Mobile: Handheld mentioned above with a Rugged Radios Point 5 antenna on the roof and a few feet of RG-58.

Two can be as bad as one. It's the loneliest number since the number one.

I can't believe I'm defending this guy, but his questions are fair questions, and certainly not dumb. Why no UHF NOAA channels? For a variety of reasons, such as the reduced range of UHF over VHF, meaning more transmitters might be needed, costly infrastructure for new UHF transmitting equipment, no demand, and a variety of other reasons already put forth in this thread. Can we get the FCC and NOAA to add UHF weather channels? Probably not, because of the cost, complexity, bandwidth, and equipment required, among probably many other reasons, but if you feel strongly enough about it, contact them. What can they say? Yes, no, or maybe. Or maybe they won't respond at all. Like a boss of mine once said, if you don't ask, it's an automatic no.

Fun fact. At least two commercial AM radio stations here in southern California, KNX 1070 and KFI 640, simulcast on UHF FM narrowband, 450.700 and 450.725 respectively. I'm listening to KNX right now and it sounds so much better on UHF FM than it does on AM. Mayhaps there is a similar setup in Phoenix. It's not NOAA, but they do have news and weather. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the FCC to allocate eight UHF frequencies for NOAA.

I hate to sound like a broken record, because this is common advice on every site, but the first thing you need to do is read the manual. There will be instructions on how to set up your radio to access (not connect to) repeaters. Take the information about the repeater that you gleaned from the MyGMRS database, such as the CTCSS tones and repeater frequencies, and go step-by-step through the instructions. Also, there are pantloads of videos that show how to do this. Trying to follow anyone's instructions here may only frustrate you, because they may be rewriting and overcomplicating the instruction manual you already have. Specifically which Rugged Radios handheld do you have? Some of them are (or at least used to be) relabeled Baofengs at three times the price.

Funny you should mention that. Amateur radio contests are hotbeds of signal report lies. Some guy 5,000 miles away will give everyone a 5-9 signal report even though he can barely hear them because it's easier and faster and all he's trying to do is accumulate points. I would rather have an honest signal report so I can adjust my setup accordingly. And for what it's worth, signal reports in the RST system (readability, signal strength, tone) are not only discouraged on GMRS, they are also discouraged on amateur radio repeaters.

By the way, there is no "GMRS vernacular".

Mercy sakes there good buddy, you're wall-to-wall and treetop tall.

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