WROY773

Well, I guess I did it backwards!  I got my license, bought a couple of handhelds, and then bought a Midland MXT115 for my Jeep.  For my needs I didn't feel like I needed 40 or 50 watts, as I'll mostly use it when wheeling.  Lots to learn here though!

No channels are reserved for anything except for repeater input frequencies being reserved for repeater inputs. Even that has some exceptions. 
 
§ 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.
(a) Emergency communications. Any GMRS channel may be used for emergency communications or for traveler assistance. Operators of GMRS stations must, at all times and on all channels, give priority to emergency communications
 
§ 95.1763 GMRS channels.
(c) 467 MHz main channels. Only mobile, hand-held portable, control and fixed stations may transmit on these 8 channels. Mobile, hand-held portable and control stations may transmit on these channels only when communicating through a repeater station or making brief test transmissions in accordance with § 95.319(c).

I'm honored to be among Jeeps and radios!  I have an MXT575 - if it weren't for Spaz, I'd be talking to myself more than I already do.....that said, I only use GMRS while I'm driving, which is only a few hours per week;  thing is, i only seem to hear folks sometimes...other times, I don't hear much of anything.
And, all that said - had the Jeep down by the Potomac last weekend...

I'm honored to be among Jeeps and radios!  I have an MXT575 - if it weren't for Spaz, I'd be talking to myself more than I already do.....that said, I only use GMRS while I'm driving, which is only a few hours per week;  thing is, i only seem to hear folks sometimes...other times, I don't hear much of anything.
And, all that said - had the Jeep down by the Potomac last weekend...

So, a couple of problems with your wants/needs.  To the best of my knowledge, there is no GMRS radio with a remote head AND is water and dust resistant.  I spent months researching different radios and didn't find one.  The other is... the power has very little to do with how far your signal can be heard and how distant a signal you can hear.
 
It just so happens that I am a power junkie, so I own a couple of 50 watt radios, but several friends of mine have 15 watt radios and they can't hear me any further than I can hear them.  15w vs 50w, the "usable communications" range ends at the same distance in almost every instance I personally have tested.  So, while the additional power may help a bit with filling in some holes in coverage, I wouldn't necessarily make that a deal breaker for you.
 
With that said, in my own personal opinion, the two best new over the counter 50w mobile radios on the market are the KG-1000 and the Midland MXT500. 
 
The KG-1000 has a remote head and is "feature rich", but it is not dust or water resistant and will take a bit to learn to use compared to a more simple radio.
 
The MXT500 is dust and water resistant, has many advanced features for experienced users but is very easy to use out of the box.  However, this is a solid body radio with no detachable head unit.
 
I am a ham radio operator and I have a tone of experience with advanced feature radios, and I absolutely love the KG-1000, but I wheel my Jeep with no roof and doors, and I fold down the windshield.  I bought the MXT500 and I removed my amateur radio equipment from my Jeep for the season.  If Jeep life is a concern, that really would be the model I recommend, too.
 
I'll get a photo of it in the Jeep later tonight.  I let my son take the Jeep to work, so I don't have access to it right this second... but this is how I wheel my Jeep.
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Primary and Secondary GMRS Antenna (Secondary is in the back for when the windshield is folded down.
 
  
 

Hello,
Glad to be of entertainment, I guess. Anyway, you mentioned that you enabled the repeater feature of the radio. Did you go to the repeater channel? If the same as the 275 (I've not read the manual for that radio, but the interface at a glance looks very similar): After you set rP to oN you will then find 15rp-22rp channel after channel 22. You must be on one of the repeater channels, displays the "RP" next to the channel number, to get the +5Mhz offset to talk into the repeater. You will likely need to also set the proper input squelch control for that repeater in the tC setting.
If you don't know what repeater you are hearing the tones from you can get an app on your phone that can translate the morse code for you, then you can look up the callsign on the map and see if you can determine which of their repeaters, if listed, you hear.

Happy Monday - I'm not much for drama but you all are somewhat entertaining.  ?
I just got an MXT575 and can speak to the easy of setting parameters but there is no software I'm aware of - as an example, the REPEATER function is boolean - it's either on or off.  I'm in Northern Virginia and have been able to set REPEATER to "on" and can hear repeater tones, and an occasional conversation, but have yet to have anyone answer when I toss out my call sign and ask for a comm check.  It would be nice, as someone mentioned, to have the ability to test which I don't think I have at the moment....
All that said, I really didn't want the complication of HAM nor the noise/chatter of CB.  I'll keep at it, but am open to suggestions. 
 

@marcspaz - Cool - validation would be nice - at least I won't wonder if I'm bright enough to follow @OffRoaderX very simple instructions.  Sigh. 
Thank you
 
 

I am just south of you in Woodbridge.  A friend of mine has 5 unlisted repeaters in Seven Corners, Gaithersburg, DC and Haymarket/Gainsville.  They are all pretty quiet.  One is used by a local CERT team and even that one is pretty quiet. 
 
The one my friends and I use is the one in the Haymarket/Gainsville area.  If you PM me, we can put some time aside and test on one we can both reach.  Also, I can give you the details on the Haymarket/Gainsville machine and you can see if you can reach it.  He just doesn't what the info on any websites.

Happy Monday - I'm not much for drama but you all are somewhat entertaining.  ?
I just got an MXT575 and can speak to the easy of setting parameters but there is no software I'm aware of - as an example, the REPEATER function is boolean - it's either on or off.  I'm in Northern Virginia and have been able to set REPEATER to "on" and can hear repeater tones, and an occasional conversation, but have yet to have anyone answer when I toss out my call sign and ask for a comm check.  It would be nice, as someone mentioned, to have the ability to test which I don't think I have at the moment....
All that said, I really didn't want the complication of HAM nor the noise/chatter of CB.  I'll keep at it, but am open to suggestions.