n4gix

Here is where you can generate "maps" of your expected coverage based on the data you enter. This program will also consider topographic data. The 'green' areas are predicted HT @ 70% reliability, the 'yellow' areas are mobile coverage @ 70% reliability. This was for a proposed repeater to be located near Schaumburg, IL. Unfortunately, after a detailed site survey we determined that there would be to much potential for conflict with all of the other repeaters on the 150' tower. https://www.ve2dbe.com/rmonline_s.asp

That scenario would be rather pointless, n'est pas?

Well then, if a licensed GMRS operator is communicating with an licensed-by-rule FRS operator, s/he is doing so as an FRS operator, if we truly wish to be precisely accurate.

Every year for a few weeks after Christmas there is a LOT of simplex chatter. Unfortunately a lot of those folks are using repeater output frequencies (462.725 for example). Frankly it's very annoying!

Is that located in Lawrenceville, NJ? It's the only "Mercer County" repeater in the entire database. If so, I have no problem seeing the frequency and CTCSS tone codes. But I did have to login mygmrs.com to allow me to see that data.

bluemax49ers only sells genuine FTDI chipped cables. The cheaper knock-offs are using pirated Prolific chips that rarely work.

Many farmers and ranchers use MURS for gate alarms, controllers for irrigation pumps, et cetera.

On the upside though, at least you got a decent call sign! WRKL328,,, I got stuck with a real tongue-twister; WQWU626, which nearly everyone misses the U and thinks my call is WQW 626!

It took me forever to finally figure out what TL;DR means! No 10-4 won't die out, nor will 10-100 for that matter.

You are changing the parameters of the original question, which was limited to GMRS operator to non-licensed operator. GMRS licensed operator can communicate with FRS operator - on FRS 'channels' (frequencies).

I believe he means this:

No, just as a licensed amateur operator cannot legally communicate with an unlicensed person, neither can a licensed GMRS operator legally communicate with an unlicensed person.

What MOS were you? I was 31E20 (Field Radio Repairer) out of Ft. Gordon's Southeastern Signal School back in 1967. Later promoted SPC5 and 31E40 (FRR Supervisor) just before they eliminated SP5 and converted all of us to E5... I didn't even have SP5 long enough to wear the shiny off the rank insignia!

That would have been expensive. Trying to obtain waivers would cost >$200 and would almost certainly be denied in the final decision.

Well, they will if both people are on top of a 6,000'+ mountain top!

That is a very nice antenna. I installed one on the roof of my house about seven years ago on a 20' mast secured by a heavy duty tripod. I went a bit overboard by using 7/8" Andrews heliax. It's been a rock-solid performer and has survived many gusts in excess of 60mph, and a derecho last year with highest steady winds of ~90mph! See: https://twitter.com/i/status/1292938287296974856 showing an apartment building being "de-roofed." Those masts are great, although measuring and marking each section and gluing the toggle clamps was a PITA! I have two of them and use the tall tripods from MFJ along with two levels of guy lines to support my G5RV (106' HF antenna) on field days and other club events such as POTA (Parks on the Air) activations.

Actually, the limit is 20' higher than the support structure. If one lived in the penthouse of a 40 story building, imagine the range one could enjoy even on simplex!

The OP wrote "...what would be a good waterproof gmrs/ham radio?" So he was inquiring about both services.

Here in Northwest Indiana (District 1) we are re-energizing ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) but our plans are to include FRS and GMRS into the organization. We are modeling ourselves very closely to what has been done in California, where one GMRS/ham station will coordinate with FRS users at the lowest level, then if needed can move the traffic upstream to the ARES ham net control. They in turn will route the traffic upstream to the District 1 ICS (Incident Command), Red Cross, Salvation Army, et cetera. See: https://www.aresd1.com/ for further details on our plans.

I use a simple and free logging program for ham radio logging, but works easily for GMRS as well... Net Log 1.0

I know a 9 year old who passed Tech, General and Extra in one sitting! He's a smart lad, that's for sure.

I suggest using ShareX as it is a free utility that will allow for clipping anything on your screen, and saving it locally in it's own folder/sub-folder, plus uploading automatically to the cloud and finally putting a url into your clipboard for instant pasting into a forum post or email... It can also create an animated GIF, and even record a video for you.

My neighbor wished me a Happy New Year -- at a very far social distance (she yelled from her front porch 90' away). I wished her the same and asked that she and her dogs keep the noise down as I'd most likely be asleep already. Sigh, at the stroke of midnight at least a dozen neighbors fired their pistols with what I hope are blanks, rapid fire! Sure scared the crap out of me! Fortunately that only went on for about 15 minutes. Happy New Year everyone and best wishes and prayers for a safer and SANER 2021...

I've known Randy for quite awhile now, having been an active member of the NSEA for the past six years. Randy also put up the very first GMRS repeater in the nation, and was very instrumental in promoting GMRS and helping others across the country to get their repeaters on-line. Yes, Randy has the distinction of having -- of not the oldest -- then one of the oldest licenses: KAA8142. Interesting factoid, this format is identical to the old Class D CB license, such as mine from the early sixties: KQI2403. If anyone is truly interested, here is Randy's letter to the FCC. There is a lot of history revealed within it. https://www.nsea.com/fcc/Comments%20MD%2020-270.pdf http://www.nsea.com is the website for the NSEA.

In such cases they should not even be listed.