WRUU653

Midland could launch a new MURS radio, I can see the add campaign... Midland MURS for Merus?

Only issue with that is the majority of off roaders going there likely already have GMRS so then they would have to monitor both.

The fact that they are sponsored by Midland and the need for simplicity for non radio people I'm going with Midland FRS. Though why not just sell them?

I would further add that I think having GMRS communication is a good idea for them. Off-roading and the need for assistance out there is likely to involve protecting life and/or property. So Yeah it's a good thing.

Okay I'm game. You do not need a license to communicate over GMRS at MERUS- Is it in the United States? Then yes you do. This is just used as emergency communications while in the park. You can wheel on any radio you would like. But you must carry or rent a GMRS to be able to contact the office while at MERUS.- Fair enough but it needs to be an emergency to use it to "contact the office" if you care about following the FCC rules and you don't have a license. I'm interested in what radio they will rent you. I also would not be surprised if they are a Midland FRS radio.

I like that battery voltage booster. For the price I’ll just turn the ignition key for more power but I would get it in a second for an over landing rig if cost were no issue.

Welcome to GMRS Talljeffd ?

I'll second that "excellent document" ?

I know, I had no idea I was pushing a virtual domino of peaches responses. ?? Can’t get it out of my head now ?

I knew what you were referring to. I can tell you understand this stuff. I was just trying to clarify it a bit.

I did notice that you mentioned you had an 8 watt radio while out with others that had 5 so I thought that might be the case ?

Negligible - adjective, so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant. 5 watts over 2??? After much consideration and all science aside “negligible” by definition it is not for me. Not quite insignificant enough as to not be worth considering. Can I tell the difference? I don’t know. Given the option… after consideration hand me the 5 watt radio. I mean that’s why they sell them right? “Sir would you like the double burger with extra cheese? Yes please.” This is just my opinion, not based on any real world science or testing and may not be the views of others expressed in this ever growing thread. Your mileage may vary. Void were prohibited. Ask your doctor if five watts is right for you.

@diddlyv You could have multiple ground rods but they would absolutely need to be bonded together and the wire running from one to the next needs to be uninterrupted (no splice). First because you need to be bonded at the main service and two because of what @Sshannon described. So either way you are running wire back to the main ground rod.

I'm not sure what you mean exactly by "over the ground" and maybe I'm misunderstanding what you are saying but I wouldn't obstruct the ground rod or it's connections. Run a wire to it.

Yes. Your home should be all bonded at the main panel so the main ground rod is ideal. Don’t cut or interrupt the grounding wire from the panel though. For instance if it comes from the panel and continues to say a water bond as that wire should be a continuous run with no splices at the ground rod or two separate runs to the main panel. You may need a separate clamp for your antenna ground. As a point of caution I always recommend a licensed electrician.

I thought it was move to the country eat a lot of peaches, or something like that.?

Well that is something I was unaware of. Add to the list of all the things I don’t know about RF. Interesting information. Thanks @Lscott. This info along with @OffRoaderX mention of spurious RF emissions I remembered something else that happened awhile back on my KG935G Plus that involves the same local medical dispatch frequency. When the “simultaneous receive” option is turned on (this enables the radio to receive both upper and lower areas of the radio simultaneously) the same transmission comes in on GMRS 21 (462.700). I noticed this when I was scanning the upper area and had a local repeater frequency set in the lower. I just turned off the simultaneous receive and forgot about it. So at least now I have a common frequency of 463.000 that is being received in two different areas on two different radios all be it different circumstances. Thanks for the responses. I get fascinated by this stuff.

I tried investigating a bit further and turned squelch off completely on the SOC radio and still nothing at all at 410.000. I still hear the medical dispatch on the Super Het on 410.000 very clear even though it’s not listed to be there. I’m baffled by this. It is not like a faint reception or at a location I’d expect bleed over. I guess it’s just an RF mystery.

Well I had some luck but not what I expected…

So I decided to see if any of the UHF weather frequencies that @Lscott posted came in near me and a funny thing happened. First I had no success with UHF weather frequencies in my area. No big deal there, I do receive them on VHF. I put in 410.000 on my KG-S88G and immediately received the local medical dispatch in my area, loud and clear. Here’s the thing they are on 463.000 and have no listing in the area on 410… So I grabbed my KG-935G Plus and put in 410.000 and nothing, not even a crackle. So I’m hearing it loud and clear on super het but nothing on SOC. I hear it just as good on both radios on the listed 463.000. So question, what is going on here? I mean it’s not a problem but I’m curious. My own theory is this, not far from our home is a location where one of the ambulances stages for response and I was wondering if the mobile radio to HT relay might be at play and I’m close enough to hear it. I don’t really know. Any thoughts?

I’ll second getting to understand repeater programming. Go to the Mygmrs map and look for repeaters in your area. I would download Chirp for programming. That radio comes with a lot of preprogrammed scanner frequencies. Me personally, I would investigate which ones are really relevant to my area and note ones I might get rid of. When you get it, down load a back up untouched. I tend to do that every time I make changes in case I mess something up. Here are some tools that may help along the way. Looks like you chose a good radio enjoy. Chirp Radio Reference Line of Site Tool

A repeater that is linked on the network of other repeaters is a node on the network. As to should you link your repeater to the network? It depends if you want your repeater traffic on a large network or local. I personally would not but some do. I can’t speak to the process, I’m sure someone here can if that’s something you want to do.

It seems likely to me that many if not most of these grandfathered licenses have not been kept up and fallen by the wayside. That’s not to say that there aren’t businesses forging ahead without licenses. I just think that is the exception. Certainly FRS gets used out there like in construction or roadwork but as for GMRS I think it is not that prevalent. This is just my unsubstantiated opinion based on what I see and hear or rather don’t hear around me.

No need to be sorry, you didn’t know what you didn’t know. How else are you going to find out. The wheel may have been a little wobbly but others hit the accelerator and at the end of the day it’s just radios not brain surgery… wait what? You have a ham license? You b*#@*d!!! ? Just kidding of course 73’s

As mentioned by @Sshannon you are programming repeaters in the wrong location. So you won’t have the offset that is already on the repeater channels/frequencies in those locations.