Andrei

Actually, I tried to use a repeater in Deland, Florida. It was my very first try and as soon as I made a reception test I got a reply from a person who very nicely told me that he could hear me. I made the mistake of using my GMRS callsign at the beginning of my transmission. I then heard the same voice asking my very nicely "who do we have here" and I repeated my callsign. I did not transmit anymore (I did not want to clog the airwaves with my newbie ignorance!) and I did not hear anything. Only later did I realize that I had not received any authorization to use that repeater. I don't recall where/how I found the frequency and access codes but I think it was on GMRS.com. So my question is: would it be rude for me to access a repeater and ask for the right to use it even though to make this request I need to use the repeater once without any authorization? I am a total newbie, but I really do not want to be rude or break any rule. I get it, repeaters are private and I have no "right" to use them. But if I don't get any replies to my requests, shall I try another way to ask or shall I assume that if the frequency and the codes are available I can at least ask for the use over the air? I think that the steps suggested by MichaelLax make sense except that I would not interrupt a conversation already taking place. But if there is silence, why not ask? Again, my apologies for being such a clueless noob! PS: being in super-flat Florida, repeaters probably only make most sense in cities (the biggest "mountains" in FL are landfills!). Since I live in a small town and rarely go to big cities (I am more of a wilderness hiker) in most cases there are no repeaters I could use anyway (like in the Ocala National Forest or the Juniper Wilderness), so not using repeaters is okay by me. I just want to learn the proper way to do things.

okay, I will wait for a formal reply and if I don't get any, I guess I won't try to use these repeaters ?

But once I see the codes on myGMRS.com, does that not imply that I can use them? (Sorry if that is a silly question)

Hi I am totally new to GMRS (and radios in general) and I just making my first steps. I used the myGMRS app to make a number of requests to access GMRS repeaters. Only one replied, they other have been 'pending' for quite a while (see attached screenshot) Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong? As always, thanks for any pointers!

First, thank you all for all your inputs and advice! I did get the correct Nagoya antenna and it works superbly, thank you!

Yes, that did the trick! Under GNU/Linux CHIRP could not locate my radio on any port, but on Windows it worked fine. thank you for this tip!!

I got a Nagoya 771G antenna for my UV-9G and I like it a lot. I will get the SMA-male for the UV-5G thanks for the reply!!

Hi I have a Baofeng UV-5G and I want to try out a longer, hopefully better, antenna. I found this one Amazon: Retevis Two Way Radio Antenna SMA-M Antenna 144/430MHz (https://smile.amazon.com/Retevis-Two-way-Antenna-Whip-Antenna-UV8000D/dp/B01AD2RZXO/) Would that be a decent choice for a GMRS radio, or is that only for 2m? thank you!

Thank you both Sshannon and WRUU653 for your replies. I will try out Chirp next week (already downloaded the GNU/Linux version) I am a big fan of Notarubicon, and his videos helped me pick my begnner GRMS radios: a UV-5G and one UV-9G. I have also ordered a Wouyxun KG-UV9GX which, I hope, will allow me to try the next level up. Thanks for all your pointers!!!

thank you both very much for your quick and useful replies!

Hi I am a newcomer to the world of GMRS (and radios) and I have a Baofeng UV-9G (the newest version with the known issues fixed) I would like to scan *only* the 22 GMRS channels (and not NOAA, repeater channels or DIY channels)? How do I do that from the keyboard (I cannot use the Baofeng software since I run only GNU/Linux)? (I will try out CHIRP in the future, but right now I rather not mess with it yet) Also, is it true that on highways the best channel is 19 while when off-roading or on water channel 16 is considered the go to? Thank you for any pointers