WRUU653

Here’s a video review from HRCC on the TYT (I like Josh’s videos). My first ham radio was a Baofeng GT-3WP. Cheap, waterproof, good for hiking and it works. I have the bug and my purchases continue to grow but I don’t regret my first cheap radio.

I’m a proponent of starting with an inexpensive HT and get acquainted with the hobby. Lots of radios with different purposes to spend your money on out there. Take your time getting to know what interest you. Congratulations @GMRSJohn and @RevEric on passing your exams and getting your amateur radio license. 73’s

I suspect they said Chirp but this was a reference to the radios program software in general. It certainly seems Chirp isn’t moving forward for this radio for whatever reasons, though I’m sure it would be welcomed as the radio is so popular in its various forms.

It certainly does sound like the antenna may be your problem. Of course it could be the cable to the antenna as well. Do you have a meter to check SWR. I was under the impression Chirp was not available for the DB20.?

Process of elimination, are you able to test just the HT with another to verify at least it’s working properly? You said programmed and manual… Can you show us a screen shot of what’s programmed? What antenna are you using?

What channel are you using in your test? Can you receive in simplex with no tones?

How close is your HT? If to close they can desence each other. Try putting some distance between the two radios, 50’ or so.

I’m fairly certain @OffRoaderX was having a go at “some people” and their constant negativity. I found the Nagoya 771G to be a good improvement. I keep it handy if I need that little bit more but the length is a bit much for every day use. I’ve recently been using the Nagoya NA-320A tri band HT antenna (similar to the 771 in size) which has made it possible to reach a local 220 amateur radio repeater with the Wouxun KG-Q10H. Beware of the fakes out there.

That frequency will be on channel Rp21 with a tone number 22. I’m not much more help than that as I don’t have this radio.

This appears to be a fake. I went searching because yours looked nothing like mine.

I’m using the Comet SBB-5NMO and while not the shortest, at 38” it’s not far from your Midlands 32” height. I can’t tell if you have an extra 6” of room by your photo or not so this may or may not be a good fit for you. It’s pretty good across the bands you want it for too. I posted my results here.

It's a second Gen Toyota Tacoma A-Pillar Antenna Mount from Rugged Radios. They do have them for 3rd Gen as well as some other vehicles, just go to the top of their page and shop by vehicle.

I’m not familiar with the software. Are the lines in the TX tone column indicating it’s set the same as RX?

I found this too but it didn’t really fit the inexpensive requirements for OP but I thought this might be a great for a rental car situation or temporary mount to an off roading friend. They say no ground plane needed. https://www.seasucker.com/products/gmrs-antenna-mount?currency=USD&variant=40080004481086&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&stkn=4ae61d1a5c31&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAC7X2zOxfIBWxHhe06B0vbfRtVzyu&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiZH4p73UiQMVWSNECB1tVR1iEAQYAyABEgLMP_D_BwE