New to GMRS world looking for advise buying first radio

[WSCC962]

hello guys! new here

Reporting in!

I'm in the market to look for my first GMRS radio!! exciting I know haha. I got a two pack radio set from amazon about a year ago I got help from a real radio guru he knows his stuff!! super thankful for the help!  but he couldn't figure it out ( wasn't CHRIP programmable sadly)so I ended up returning them to amazon and life just happened and never got a new radio since. so here I am in market again!

 I'm looking for a mid tier GMRS nothing cheap please all comments and advice is welcomed looking for a radio which is as programmable via CHRIP. I am also located in NC and want to start hiking again so why I'm able and willing to  pay for okay radio.

 

- WSCC962  OUT

[SteveShannon]

9 minutes ago, WSCC962 said:

hello guys! new here

Reporting in!

I'm in the market to look for my first GMRS radio!! exciting I know haha. I got a two pack radio set from amazon about a year ago I got help from a real radio guru he knows his stuff!! super thankful for the help!  but he couldn't figure it out ( wasn't CHRIP programmable sadly)so I ended up returning them to amazon and life just happened and never got a new radio since. so here I am in market again!

 I'm looking for a mid tier GMRS nothing cheap please all comments and advice is welcomed looking for a radio which is as programmable via CHRIP. I am also located in NC and want to start hiking again so why I'm able and willing to  pay for okay radio.

 

- WSCC962  OUT

Welcome!  I haven’t used Chirp lately, but if I were you I would binge watch Notarubicon videos on YouTube.  Starting with a Baofeng isn’t a bad idea.

[73blazer]

Well, all depends on what YOU want in a radio. I take it this is a handheld given your previous '2 pack' purchase, as mobiles/bases are not usually sold in 2-packs.

 

• Waterproof/ruggedness? May be useful for hiking.
• Complex or simple interface? Lots of buttons or just simple channel display? Lots-o-buttons lets you program repeaters on the fly in the field. Simple is well...simple.
• Other listening bands like HAM/MARINE/MURS etc?
• SHTF capability/unlock  (Tx on bands outside GMRS like HAM/MARINE/MURS etc)? 
• GPS capable? 
• Bluetooth/phone pairing capable? 
• FM Radio capable? 
• NOAA alerts
• NOAA weather channels
• USB C Chargable as opposed to cradle only charging
• emergency light? 
• ...etc..etc..etc.... and the list goes on

 But I second @SteveShannon 's mention of watching some reviews, notarubicon on youtube ( @OffRoaderX here ) has reviewed every GMRS among a few other radios out there. 

[WSCC962]

thank you for the advise I was talking to someone who dabbles in radio and is pretty knowledgeable in radios. he told me to look into VR-N76 radio pretty easy to use etc. have you heard or know much about them?

[73blazer]

33 minutes ago, WSCC962 said:

thank you for the advise I was talking to someone who dabbles in radio and is pretty knowledgeable in radios. he told me to look into VR-N76 radio pretty easy to use etc. have you heard or know much about them?

No experience with that radio. That is a HAM radio that appears to be capable of transmitting on GMRS (otherwise may be known as a SHTF radio). It has a boatload of features that cater to HAM's and are not readily understandable on how to use/configure  or even what they are for novice radio users. To transmit on GMRS you would have to manually program all the regular GMRS channels/frequencies. (of course adhering to power limits etc for those channels, if you care about conforming to rules). All the GMRS rules/frequencies are baked in on a true GMRS radio.

It is also not CHIRP capable which was one of your listed requirements. (Vero N76=Radioddity GA-5WB also not CHIRP capable)

 

More is needed to recommend anything, but just throwing out Mabey a Wouxun KG-805G ? It's a good true GMRS radio, very easy to use. And mid-price range..CHIRP capable. I prefer the 905G as it has a bit better IP rating but it is not CHIRP capable.

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, WSCC962 said:

he told me to look into VR-N76 radio pretty easy to use etc

He lied to you. He lied, right to your face.. That is not a GMRS radio and it is the LAST thing anyone with a brain would recommend to someone "new to GMRS" and looking for a GMRS radio.

You should never listen to anything that idiot ever tells you again.

[WRYZ926]

I have to agree that a VR-N76 is not the radio for someone new to GMRS. I will suggest staying with an actual Part 95 certified GMRS only radio. There are plenty of options depending on how many bells and whistles you want.

The Baofeng GMRS radios are cheap and they work. A step up will be one of the Wouxun radios.

Some will state that you should not waste your money on cheap Chinese radios and they will suggest business band radios. Again I will suggest sticking with a Part 95 certified GMRS only radio. You can always get something different once you get comfortable with radios.

[WRDJ205]

I also recommend not passing over some of the Baoefeng options.  The GM-5RH has a lot of the features that you’re looking for.  But the Wouxun HTs might be better if you want more mid-tier.  

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

Again I will suggest sticking with a Part 95 certified GMRS only radio

This is the correct answer.. and for clarification, because you are new, "Part 95 certified" means that it says "GMRS" on the box. .Any radio/box/advertisement that says "GMRS" on it is Part 95 certified, meaning it is a true "GMRS Radio".. if it does not say "GMRS", then it is a business radio, a H.A.M.s radios, or lord knows what else, and will be more complicated to use and may not transmit on GMRS frequencies.

 

[Jaay]

4 hours ago, WSCC962 said:

hello guys! new here

Reporting in!

I'm in the market to look for my first GMRS radio!! exciting I know haha. I got a two pack radio set from amazon about a year ago I got help from a real radio guru he knows his stuff!! super thankful for the help!  but he couldn't figure it out ( wasn't CHRIP programmable sadly)so I ended up returning them to amazon and life just happened and never got a new radio since. so here I am in market again!

 I'm looking for a mid tier GMRS nothing cheap please all comments and advice is welcomed looking for a radio which is as programmable via CHRIP. I am also located in NC and want to start hiking again so why I'm able and willing to  pay for okay radio.

 

- WSCC962  OUT

I can suggest the Wouxun KG-935G Plus 

[WRYZ926]

The Wouxun KG-935G is a nice radio with plenty of bells and whistles. The Wouxun KG-805G and KG-905G are simpler without any buttons to mess with on the radio. And the Wouxun programming software, available from Buy Two Way Radios, is easy to use.