UncleYoda

Not only that but having a radio that can transmit on ham and GMRS is non-compliant. That's why I was referring to switching modes. I wish they would change their stance on that when we have both licenses, but that ain't gonna happen.

I haven't switched my DB20-G out of GMRS mode yet, so I should only need to read from my radio if I get the RT software. But wouldn't the default (factory) channels automatically be restored when resetting back to GMRS mode? I know any extra channels I had added would be gone and having a backup of that would be the reason for using the software, whether it's the RT Systems or Radioddity program.

I'm assuming you didn't try it in GMRS mode. It seems like it would be most useful for people switching back and forth which requires reloading all the channels.

TYT TH-UV88 is a ham version of the same radio hardware-wise. TYT is an actual manufacturer unlike Radioddity.

On GMRS certified radios the channels [1-30] are already programmed. Channels 1-14 should have 4 digits after the decimal like 462.5625. These all end in 5 - they're 12.5KHz above and below the frequencies for channels 15-30. If you do a search you should be able to find a chart to help you visualize the relationship.

The tones with decimal something (xxx.x) are CTCSS. DCS codes are integers (no decimal).

I don't care what you call it. It's whether it's useful to me that matters. I've heard that echo-chamber criticism a lot on forums and social media. And that derogatory, judgemental label is meaningless to me.

What's left? Trip to the doctor? What you had for supper? Playing ham games? A boring check-in net?

I don't think anyone disagrees on that (we don't want CB crap). But should it include censorship? I think FCC regs should be it for open repeaters. Then private repeaters can control content. But with so few frequencies in GMRS, I'm not convinced there should be private use.

I actually tried the off switch or channel button/knob argument with one owner but he doesn't want the content on it, period. I've also used that with regular users and they are stuck with it because I won't back down unless it's the owner's rule. And it's not because I want to or expect to change anyone's political view - they can listen if they want to. It's for those of us who think alike and are concerned to be able to keep each other informed and discuss options.

I have a different version of the 5RM and it does perform well. I wish they had made the screen more visible outdoors and channel names were full size. I left my first one out in a heavy rain and the speaker seemed to be damaged but later came back to normal.

Doesn't matter. Almost everything worth talking about is political. We have reached a point where there is likely no possible reconciliation and no peaceful way to coexist. Why assume if we object to that kind of rule that we are breaking it? I mostly just avoid those. But "fun" is not the only purpose (despite the attitude exhibited by most hams). These are communication tools/services, not necessarily a hobby for fun. Within the regs, what I talk about is what I'm interested in. And if that means I'm limited to simplex then so be it.

Ray summarized it well. That no-new-members repeater is close to me. It was the main reason I put off getting a GMRS license for ~10 years (there weren't any others in range then). That owner/group and others did get upset by the new, linked one. One owner fifty miles away was also against it because one of his repeaters used the same frequency and there was some overlap. The big objection was especially the frequency he chose but the content made it stand out like a sore thumb. I'm thinking about making that objectionable frequency my base station simplex default though because it has the least activity. There is one other one that has a close repeater listed on myGMRS but the status is unclear.

I'm glad someone else said that. I decided to ignore it because he isn't near me. But I avoid any repeaters that make that kind of rule. So far around me, only ham repeater owners have done that. But if GMRS was used more for general conversation I'm sure it would happen to some of them too. If I can't talk about current events (and almost everything is political), then I have no interest in conversation. There is still emergency use, but that isn't everyday.

I think you're wrong. Hopping will potentially cause interference (because you won't be able to listen before transmitting). And it intentionally obscures the conversation.

It's more than this thread; it's a systemic problem on the whole forum. This type of distraction from the topic is happening all the time. I think I have tried to be serious the whole time here. But wisecracking, joking, smarteleck comments ruin nearly every topic. I have most of the regulars that apparently sit on the refresh button to post on every topic on Ignore but it does little good. What you do won't matter much to me because I can get by without this forum (the repeater listings are helpful though). If I do keep coming here, I'd participate more if people could restrain from making unnecessary posts that contribute no useful info. It'd be nice if the forum had a timed expire for posts so I could post some things (like this) and then have it delete before it feeds the trolls. Even if the post just showed as "auto-deleted" rather than missing. Back on topic, I could not tell if the OP meant repeater number in programming software or something on this site's repeater listing. He doesn't mention a radio model or a software type and I don't knowwhat his "channel chart" reference means.

@WRKY933 I can't tell you any more about detecting fakes than what is at those links I posted (the Nagoya page is linked from the kb6nu page also). If yours is junk (we can't tell from your lack of detail), then it's either a fake or a bad one due to the lack of sufficient quality control which the Chinese are famous for. That other stuff you referred to is not allowed in USA under FCC regs regardless of if the radio is capable of it. If you use that, people listening will be able to tell you're breaking the rules. Your signal can still be tracked.

https://www.kb6nu.com/fake-nagoya-antenna/ Authentic Nagoya NA-771G Handheld GMRS Antenna (15.3 Inch)

@LeoG I'm with you on how things should be, but I think Steve is closer to how it will be treated.

@Daedalus0101101 You seem to have it exactly backwards. Using a repeater from home is where the difference of opinion lies. A mobile in the car or a handheld with antenna attached directly to the radio (i.e. portable) are fine for repeater use.

I think it's goofy to say a base station is a control station when using a repeater. I don't know if the goofs are the ones interpreting it this way or the FCC for writing it like this. One thing I can point out with the wording is base station is not mentioned in the control station definition. My opinion is (1) a base station is a base station regardless of who you talk to, and (2) we can't resolve this ourselves to everyone's satisfaction - we need clarification from FCC.

I don't know if the team being assembled is up to the task, but the how is actually simple - stick to the Constitutionally delegated authority. If they did, FCC could only regulate Federal employees and Federal property.

@Hoppyjr that's what I was hoping for and hinting at in my Brendan Carr topic. If he doesn't improve the agency and regs it'll be disappointing. They made a big mistake letting digital take frequencies in the 2m ham band.

I'm not an engineer, never played one on TV. But connecting both wires from the radio to the battery with a fuse on the red wire has worked well for me. The only time I had a noise problem was with CB connected to the auxiliary cigarette-lighter type socket (is there a better name for those?). I have used other radios that way without a problem. (And this is on a Ram, V6, not much extra electronics just A/C and built-in AM/FM.)

It's DMR. Kind of what I expected. The links will be useful when I hear other junk.