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.

[SteveShannon]

26 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

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.

I have the 805 and like it. 

[WRUU653]

 

6 hours ago, WSCC962 said:

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

Any of the Wouxun radios I feel are good. I like the Wouxun KG 935G plus.
It ticks your boxes of nothing cheap, chirp programmable, mid tier.
Since you want to use hiking it’s worth noting the 805, 905 and S88G plus are going to be easier to see the screen outdoors.
As previously mentioned definitely stick with type certified for ease and simplicity. 

@73blazer listed a few things worth looking over in making your decision. Do you want waterproof? Bluetooth? …

I know you said nothing cheap however something like a Baofeng UV9G isn’t going to break the bank, is waterproof and chirp compatible and a good radio to use while you determine what some needs or wants may be. 
In the end it’s your decision and I wish you luck in making it. If you are like some of us here it won’t be your last radio purchase

[WSCC962]

so I ended up getting a Baofeng uv-5r just for something to practice on while I do more research on a decent one. so I got one without a program cable sadly. I am trying to manually set up my radio so I can transmit on it. but no idea how to do so I  went on map and found a repeater I am close to. went and put in the frequency but that all I really know how unless I'm doing something wrong. please any help

[OffRoaderX]

9 minutes ago, WSCC962 said:

so I ended up getting a Baofeng uv-5r

You bought the wrong radio. Because it is a H.A.M.s radio, it likely will not be able to transmit on GMRS frequencies.  

IF it does transmit on GMRS, or IF you can get it unlocked, it is going to take multiple semi-complicated steps to program a repeater.. Good luck.

..you really did buy the wrong radio... UNLESS you bought the GMRS version, in which case if you did, you dont need to enter any frequenices - just pick the repeater channel, enter the TX tone, and talk..

[WSCC962]

I noticed that I am going to return it. I am looking at what few people have said though to look into the Wouxun KG-935G heard it is GMRS and a okay radio to start with.

[WSCC962]

I'm looking into the  Wouxun KG-805G   but if I wanted to look into the 905G model what do you mean by it  has a bit better IP rating? and if I was to lean more on the KG-805G what program cable would I get I cant seem to find one for just that model on amazon.

[WRDJ205]

You may want to do spend a little time watching some videos and researching on this site before making another purchase.  
 

Learn how to program repeaters and what limits you might be on the radios.  

[OffRoaderX]

56 minutes ago, WSCC962 said:

what do you mean by it  has a bit better IP rating?

More waterproof.

[Jaay]

I think the KG-935G plus was claimed to be IP 66 or 67, and I'm not sure what  the IP ratings were for the 805 & 905 models. 

[Mrsig]

I use the UV-9R PRO on our ranch & range and they work great. They work with chirp also.

Features：

IP67 waterproof and dustproof 

High & Mid &Low Power Switchover

Battery Saving

VOX Function

Auto-Back Light

Time-out Timer (TOT)

50 CTCSS and 104 DCS Codes

Voice Prompt

ANI Code

PC or Manual Program

DTMF Code

PTT-ID

ATUO Keypad Lock

Busy Channel Lock Function

Dual Display and Dual Standby

Emergency Alarm

Priory Scanning Function

Relay Forwarding Confirmed (1750 HZ)

Low Battery Warning

U/V Cross Band Dual Watch

[73blazer]

11 hours ago, WSCC962 said:

I'm looking into the  Wouxun KG-805G   but if I wanted to look into the 905G model what do you mean by it  has a bit better IP rating? and if I was to lean more on the KG-805G what program cable would I get I cant seem to find one for just that model on amazon.

The 905G is not CHIRP capable although the wouxun software works fine, but if you plan on getting more radios and wish to copy paste between, the CHIRP is your friend there.  The 805 is CHIRP capable. .The cable you want is readily available almost anywhere, Amazon or buytwowayradios.com those will work with the 935,905,805 or almost any other radio or radio brand  with a std k1 connector. I would suggest buying not from Amazon as Amazon is rife with crappy knockoffs of this type of equipment that uses perhaps questionable driver or just plain won't work. 

7 hours ago, Jaay said:

I think the KG-935G plus was claimed to be IP 66 or 67, and I'm not sure what  the IP ratings were for the 805 & 905 models. 

805 is IP55, 905 is IP66, 935's are IP66.  55 means dust protected and can resist water jets. 66 means dust tite and can resist powerful water jets. I have a yeseau that is IP55 and I've dropped it in a stream, it was not affected. I've also had a 935 fall off my sxs in my back 40 and lay in a puddle for a month, been run over a few times before I found it, it was not affected at all. So anything IP55 or above would be just fine for heavy outdoor use in snow, rain.

[WRUE951]

I started playing with a Baufang UV5R  (before they locked them)  in the HAM bands.  Got bored with the HAM world and programed it to the GMRS side and thats when i began having fun with radio...  My first GMRS radio (and favorite) was a Wouxun KG935 HT.   I still dabble with HAM but for the most part i enjoy the GMRS side.  I never did try a UV5G but did program one of my UV5R to GMRS only.   Since these radios are all locked now i would recomend a UV5G or a Wouxun GMRS only radio, they have a few versions now.. 

[WRYZ926]

Here is a simple to understand description of IP ratings: https://www.iec.ch/ip-ratings

 

The first numeral refers to the protection against solid objects and is rated on a scale from 0 (no protection) to 6 (no ingress of dust).

The second numeral rates the enclosure’s protection against liquids and uses a scale from 0 (no protection) to 9 (high-pressure hot water from different angles).