dugcyn

antenna is king if you have opportunity to put it high and proud (no neighbors complaint etc.) and if you want to be mobile i think your uv5g will hook to large antenna and dual as mobile in car. FYI IMHO more power is not a solution to your problem or needs. 3-6 miles to repeater leads me to believe you have something line of sight in the way, more power will just get junk signal working around this verses line of sight antenna pure signal. take this as advise from a newby but good signal less money wins. less you really want to get in the hobby? some small stuff just works.

I do like my TYT TH 9800 for options and value. cant say that I have tested its reliability on rough roads yet but good radio for the $ so far. many good trusted comments above from those wiser than me but just putting it out there. And for a good basic GMRS I also like my Retives RT 9000. it has spent some time on the road and seams pretty solid, cheaper too.

nice, no disrespect to suggestions but I would not change a thing. that is awsome for gmrs. fun stuff to push the envolope and win.

well my hat is off to all that would run such a thing. Our northwest GMRS net is growing (ebbs and flows) but the people running it are tops in my books. it is a comitment and they deliver.

heck I missed this. we have a local net where i am. can only imagine what a national net on GMRS would be like. just a guess it would be unmanagable??? still sorry i missed that pile up. dont take that wrong, it would be a good thing just HUGE.

no pro here but this radio seams to be a good fit for newby if one is careful. I bought this because the radio I had (retivus 9000) did not even receive weather or Murs. this did not work with purpose of Emergency use. this radio covers receive multi bands as advertised and seems fairly clear. one might want an external speaker if you are wanting quality sound. I have had no complaints on transmit GMRS. be aware mine from Amazon came with wrong software. simple google search is your friend. I will not attest to unlocking but seams to be possible vie internet search. this is the be careful part. It has reviews of heating up and or burning out. as a casual user I have not noticed this and or use a very well tuned antenna. just throwing my contributation to the forum as owe much thanks to this platform. Doug

nice, it is always good to know the fars in case of emergency. hopefully it does not get abused, i see it as a good tool in the tool box.

had many bubble packs in my life but currently lean on my Retevis 5r's. Have reached out 20 miles with them, am not sharing details on how i did that to protect the guilty. trust me these are now used for low power car to car, camping, wheeling family connection. good all around units tho.