n4gix

I was just fixing to write the same thing. Great minds do think alike, eh?

That is incorrect. The actual fee for a GMRS license is not stated at all. The reader is told to refer to the Wireless Tellecomunications Bureau Fee Filing Guide. As far as I know the fee for GMRS is still $70...

PM sent. I need to completely reprogram my XPR7550 because my local DMR repeater owner (W9CTO) switched from DMR-Marc to the Chicagoland Brandmeister system. TIA for the generous gesture!

Okay, I changed one word: "really" to "fully". I also stated "most GMRS repeaters." Nowhere did I state "ALL GMRS repeaters."

Ironically, when I ordered the cable for the 5550, the vendor sent me a 7550 cable instead. I sent it back and he sent me the 5550 and a billl for the difference in price. Had I known that my 7550 cable was going to go AWOL I'd have kept it. Now I'm considering ordering the 7550 cable, but sure as rain in Seattle, the pesky one I can't find will reappear!

I updated to CPS 16 (build 828). As best as I can recall, /\/\ have removed too many features from CPS 2.x and once installed, there ain't no going back! I used CPS 12 (some build #) for my XPR750, but of course the person I bought if from had last used CPS 16 (build 282), so I had to get that or a newer version. Now I need to re-do the code plug on the 7550, but can't find the durn programming cable anywhere now...

Our local ham club is trying really hard to grow our membership, and are especially encouraging younger people to become licensed and "radio active." I'm currently on my fourth year as Vice-President. We are also working hard to get our district (six counties) ARES up and running again. As for GMRS goes, I also belong to a quite active group from the northside of Chicago, even though I live in NW Indiana. There are three very active repeaters in my area that are all very welcoming. One repeater is fully open for everyone and the other two do require permission, but it is always given. The owners simply want to have a record of the call sign and names of the ones using the system.

I have been advised by several people to not to ever use CPS 2.0 on my 7550...

25kHz is allocated for GMRS 'channels' but modulation is limited to 20kHz to allow 2.5kHz on both sides of the center frequency as a guard band.

There is a repeater near me that requires MDC to use his repeater. It's his way of maintaining controlled access.

While that is certainly true; it's a real pity that none of the "name brands" are offering any new Part 95e equipment for sale.

Just be aware that the RT97 is narrow-band only, so you are pretty much locked into using narrow-band equipment.

Here is a list of currently certified GMRS radios, courtesy of the North Shore Emergency Association: https://nsea.com/index_files/New-Radios.pdf Seven wide-band radios that are Part 95e certified, and 100% GMRS compatible Twenty-two that are narrow-band only, Part 95e certified but not really compatible with most GMRS repeaters.

Those antennas can be ordered with the amount of down tilt you need to offset the squished doughnut enough to regain the coverage needed.

Here is the same basic test with a Yaesu FT-1D. Note that all harmonic spurs are well below the noise floor, at least 62dB down from the fundamental frequency. This is what is meant by "spectrally pure!"

Here is an example:

I use QRZ.com for my HF logging, and send/receive to my LoTW (Logbook of the World) account. I no longer bother logging 2m or 70cm except for the occasional simplex contact.

This is a spectral purity test from a typical Bao Feng HT. Note the existence of 1st., 2nd., and 3rd. harmonic 'spurs'. This is what you want to amplify? A properly designed transmitter would have adequate filtration to suppress those spurs almost completely.

I don't know if this will work, but if you have a setting.ini file in the software's folder, you can try editing the file to make the password=password ... You might try entering six 7's for the password "777777"

The biggest problem with most CCRs is that they transmit on at least three frequencies at the same time: fundamental (desired) first order harmonic second order harmonicIn other words, they splatter crud that often will cause interference to others.

BaoFeng (and other CCRs) typically pre-programmed with frequencies from all over the spectrum: public safety, business band, FRS, GMRS, et cetera. "Baofeng Channel(s)" is a generic term for such a cluster of stupid frequencies...

Er, there is sorta-kinda an equivalent: "WQWU626 listening on the Midwest GMRS Network."

As a current example, I just bought a "new, open stock" XPR5550 (not the 'e' version) for $300. I've had the CPS for several years but did have to buy a programming cable for it. The cable from "BlueMaxers" was ~$30. Now I can't find the programming cable for my darn XPR7550!

Seriously, WFC?

Unless all your employees are at least cousins, then no. Just. No. Not Allowed. The FCC has defined one's "family" very broadly, and includes anyone related to the licensee except for any "outlaws..."