What radios do people use for MURS?

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, SteveShannon said:

Well, there are these:

https://a.co/d/cMKWCeq
 

I hadn't seen them that cheap before, but even so, they can only communicate with other Retevis R27V radios, which is a non-starter as far as I'm concerned. So somebody shows with another brand of MURS radio and they're out of the loop? Nope. The Arcshell and similar Baofeng 888s are fully software-programmable. If the R27V was CHIRP compatible, I'd be all over it.

[WRTC928]

2 hours ago, WRYS709 said:

Are there any similar VHF 2 watt HTs that you could just program the MURS channels into?

I haven't seen any. 

[WRTC928]

For essentially the same price as the RT27Vs, you could buy 10 Baofeng UV-5Rs and program them for MURS, but part of the appeal of the Arcshell or 888s is its simplicity. There's really nothing for the user to futz with or mess up. Just program them and hand them out.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

they can only communicate with other Retevis R27V radios, which is a non-starter as far as I'm concerned.

Unless you get their free firmware. 

[WRTC928]

44 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Unless you get their free firmware. 

Okay. Still a PITA. What are the limitations of their firmware? I'm not buying 10 radios unless I have more information. It might be workable. At least they're getting close.

[SteveShannon]

21 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

Okay. Still a PITA. What are the limitations of their firmware? I'm not buying 10 radios unless I have more information. It might be workable. At least they're getting close.

There were other bundles of the RT27, perhaps even single radios if you want to try. 

[WRQI663]

I have some RT27V's and the right programming software....not much there but you can shut off the startup

voice and kill the beeps, also add pl tones -- It is just the 5 MURS channels so no extra programmable channels

The same cable for baofeng programming works with them. (so do speaker-mics)

Small, very easy to use. (they work with any other radio on those frequencies, why wouldn't they?).

I learned the hard way not to use the RT27 FRS software, it bricks the radio.

I like them. This is an old thread, and the OP has probably already made his mind up

 

[SteveShannon]

8 minutes ago, WRQI663 said:

I have some RT27V's and the right programming software....not much there but you can shut off the startup

voice and kill the beeps, also add pl tones -- It is just the 5 MURS channels so no extra programmable channels

The same cable for baofeng programming works with them. (so do speaker-mics)

Small, very easy to use. (they work with any other radio on those frequencies, why wouldn't they?).

I learned the hard way not to use the RT27 FRS software, it bricks the radio.

I like them. This is an old thread, and the OP has probably already made his mind up

 

True, but just yesterday @WRTC928 was asking about MURS alternatives to some radios so I let him know about the RT27 MURS radios.

[Lscott]

One of the first commercial radios I purchased was a Kenwood TK-270G. It works fine on MURS. It's not Part 95 certified for it since the radio was certified in 1999, before the MURS service was created. My understating is it should be fine to use, grandfathered in, so long as the power, frequency and bandwidth are set correctly for the 5 channels. 

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-J/section-95.2705

https://fccid.io/ALH29463110

https://www.manasrekha.com/pdf/TK-270G-370G.pdf

[WRUU653]

 

13 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

Okay. Still a PITA. What are the limitations of their firmware? I'm not buying 10 radios unless I have more information. It might be workable. At least they're getting close.

I think this might fit your criteria.
Retevis RT47V MURS Radios, IP67 waterproof, chirp programming, cheap.

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, WRQI663 said:

I have some RT27V's and the right programming software....not much there but you can shut off the startup

voice and kill the beeps, also add pl tones -- It is just the 5 MURS channels so no extra programmable channels

The same cable for baofeng programming works with them. (so do speaker-mics)

Small, very easy to use. (they work with any other radio on those frequencies, why wouldn't they?).

I learned the hard way not to use the RT27 FRS software, it bricks the radio.

I like them. This is an old thread, and the OP has probably already made his mind up

 

Thank you. The reason I was hesitant is because the ad copy that accompanies the radio on Amazon specifically states that they can only be used with other Retivis radios. I messaged the company, and their rep responded that the radios are programmed by default with the 5 MURS frequencies without codes but can be customized using the provided software, which I took to mean the software comes with the radio. If it's programmed by default with the MURS channels without codes, it logically seems that it should communicate with other brands of radios. I've ordered one to play with. If it interfaces seamlessly with other MURS radios, I may want to have a couple of them around. They're still more expensive than the 888s or Arcshell, but at $16 each, they're cheap enough for a group.

[WRXB215]

2 hours ago, WRUU653 said:

I think this might fit your criteria.
Retevis RT47V MURS Radios, IP67 waterproof, chirp programming, cheap.

Looks exactly like the Baofeng MP31. Apparently the same thing just different service. I have enjoyed my MP31s. They have better sound quality that my UV-5Rs. Not as much power but enough for what I use them for.

[Davichko5650]

38 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

 I have enjoyed my MP31s. They have better sound quality that my UV-5Rs. Not as much power but enough for what I use them for.

My wife actually enjoys using the MP31 vs any of the other GMRS HT's I've given her to use about the spread. No screens or buttons to worry about, just grab and go. The Queen's recommendation was what got me to buy them. 22 bucks delivered and  for sure gives us enough Fars to reach anywhere on our larger city lot.  Haven't tried them up north as yet, but as the cabin is on a hill overlooking the lake, should have good LOS anywhere the pontoon can get to!.

[WRUU653]

1 hour ago, WRXB215 said:

Looks exactly like the Baofeng MP31. Apparently the same thing just different service. I have enjoyed my MP31s. They have better sound quality that my UV-5Rs. Not as much power but enough for what I use them for.

One differance other than being MURS that I see is IP67 VS IP54.

 

1 hour ago, Davichko5650 said:

My wife actually enjoys using the MP31 vs any of the other GMRS HT's I've given her to use

That's reason enough to get them.

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, Davichko5650 said:

No screens or buttons to worry about, just grab and go. 

That's why I prefer something like this over a UV-5r (which right now is cheaper than the 27V) for events or groups. Pick it up, turn the knob, and you're up and running. You can't accidentally lock/unlock the keypad, enter the menu, enter VFO mode, etc. Most people don't care about all the whiz-bang features of the radio, and if you give them something complicated, it'll just confuse them.

[WRYS709]

My Baofeng UV-13Pro (the Amateur Radio version of their UV-15Pro) works on MURS as well. 

I purchased it from AliExpress for about $20.

[WRXB215]

My UV-5R8W works on MURS.

Who said that?! 

[WRTC928]

18 hours ago, WRXB215 said:

My UV-5R8W works on MURS.

Who said that?! 

My AR-5RM will work on MURS, but that's a little too expensive to just pass them out to all the volunteers at an event.  FRS-compatible radios like the 888s are about $10 each.

[nokones]

On 12/1/2024 at 5:19 PM, WRTC928 said:

I hadn't seen them that cheap before, but even so, they can only communicate with other Retevis R27V radios, which is a non-starter as far as I'm concerned. So somebody shows with another brand of MURS radio and they're out of the loop? Nope. The Arcshell and similar Baofeng 888s are fully software-programmable. If the R27V was CHIRP compatible, I'd be all over it.

Why would it need to be Chirp compatible when the radio is pre-programmed with the five FCC allocated MURS channels that are compatible with other radios with the MURS channels?

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, nokones said:

Why would it need to be Chirp compatible when the radio is pre-programmed with the five FCC allocated MURS channels that are compatible with other radios with the MURS channels?

Because many people will want to enable codes to ignore chatter from other people. Apparently, the provided software does that though. My concern was that they may come from the factory with some codes already programmed in which would make them pretty much incompatible other brands of radios. Some "bubble pack" FRS radios do that. Bear in mind that my initial concern about this radio was that the ad copy accompanying them on Amazon says they are only able to communicate with other Retevis radios. That appears to be incorrect regarding the 27V.

[BoxCar]

Retevis radios DO have a CTCSS code installed from the factory. That's why they state they only talk to each other but offer a CPS to change or remove the code.

[WRTC928]

2 hours ago, BoxCar said:

Retevis radios DO have a CTCSS code installed from the factory. That's why they state they only talk to each other but offer a CPS to change or remove the code.

Per my conversation with the seller's rep, the 27V does not have codes enabled at shipping, but they can be enabled with the included software. As long as I get the software to change the codes, I'm okay with it either way.

[BoxCar]

8 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

Per my conversation with the seller's rep, the 27V does not have codes enabled at shipping, but they can be enabled with the included software. As long as I get the software to change the codes, I'm okay with it either way.

My playing with some Retevis handhelds show they do have a CTCSS code enabled. It's been a couple months since I went into them but if I remember it was 127 or 185 as the primary digits.

[WRTC928]

13 minutes ago, BoxCar said:

My playing with some Retevis handhelds show they do have a CTCSS code enabled. It's been a couple months since I went into them but if I remember it was 127 or 185 as the primary digits.

I haven't personally used them. The response I got from the rep was, "You have a choice of 50 CTCSS and DCS (privacy code), and by default, these tones are turned off."

However, if they provide software to turn them off or change them, it doesn't really matter what configuration they're in from the seller.