Guest DENNIS Posted August 28, 2016 Report Share Posted August 28, 2016 Hello everyone and good evening. My name is Dennis and live in Suffolk NY. I started my appclation for my GMRS license. Once I get my License and call sign I would like to join the community. Right now my wife and I are using buble pack radios on channel 8 (FRS), but we scan GMRS channels and hear people talking, mostly on repeaters. I have been searching and found a few repeater owners that will allow access once I get my call sign. I am green at this so I am asking for advise. After I get my License and call sign I would like to buy a set of good quality GMRS radios and possibly use them on a repeater (after permission from the owner of the repeater). I would like to get a programmable radio to use legally on GMRS network. Do I need another license to operate a programmable radio on the GMRS frequency . I want to be 100% legal and comply with all FCC laws and rules of the repeater owner. I would like to get a good set of hand held radios that operate the full 4 watts on high power on UHF. Can someone help me in the correct direction Thank you DENNIS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n4gix Posted August 29, 2016 Report Share Posted August 29, 2016 Welcome to the forums! I highly recommend the Tera TR-505 handheld radios for your use. It is one of the very few new radios that actually have both Part 95A and Part 95J certifications. That is because in addition to UHF GMRS, it also supports VHF MURS frequencies. Granted it has only sixteen channels and no display, but that is more than sufficient for most folks needs. Transmit power is a fully legal 4 watts.https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr505-gmrs-recreational-handheld-radiohttp://puu.sh/qSzUr.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dennis Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Thanks for the info N4GIX. I have been shopping around and the Tera TR-505 seems to be the only Radio that meets part 95A that I could use on a repeater. I wonder why the choices are limited when it comes to a good GMRS part 95A radio, is it because of all the cheap buble pack radios out there ??. Anyway still looking around as I have not yet finished getting my GMRS License ( very busy ).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobyD Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Welcome to the world of GMRS TobyWPVP844 / N5SIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRadio Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Welcome to the forums! I highly recommend the Tera TR-505 handheld radios for your use. It is one of the very few new radios that actually have both Part 95A and Part 95J certifications. That is because in addition to UHF GMRS, it also supports VHF MURS frequencies. Granted it has only sixteen channels and no display, but that is more than sufficient for most folks needs. Transmit power is a fully legal 5 watts. https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr505-gmrs-recreational-handheld-radio Actually they are 4 watts, but I don't mean that they are not good radios, just calrifying. I have them and love them. I have used them as both GMRS and for a while MURS. Great radios, good range and very clear sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dennis Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 n4gix. How is the range on these radios. Can you hit any repeaters with them? How big are they, I was told that they were the same size as the Baofeng 888 series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n4gix Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 @PRadio: thanks for the correction. I've edited my post above with the correct power output on UHF. Yes, provided you have any GMRS repeaters available in your vicinity, and have them programmed in the radio(s) you can hit repeaters. The form-factor for these radios is very comfortable and fits into the average person's hand quite nicely. They even look like a real radio, unlike Motorola's GMRS HTs that look like a Mickey Mouse Disney toy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WQYC236 Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 I have two TR-505 radios and really like them. The measurements I get on high power with my meter are 5.3 watts VHF and 5.7 watts UHF (advertised values for high power are 5 watts and 4 watts). I also purchased the 15" antenna, battery eliminator, microphone, and mag-mount mobile antenna. The only thing I would not purchase again is the mag-mount mobile antenna. You can do a lot better with an aftermarket GMRS/MURS mag-mount. I have one on my car now that is 5.5 db and works well with the TR-505 set up. As far as repeaters go I only have one in the area that I have tried hitting with the short antenna and I can hit that one from 30 miles out, inside a car (no roof antenna) but the repeater is on a 1400 ft mountain. The 15" antennas are really worth the money and will extend your range about 40% (maybe more on MURS). I can talk a good 50% further on MURS (VHF) frequencies and they really seem to move over terrain features that will block GMRS signals (even at a 5 watt to 2 watt power difference).The typical range here in Virginia for the short antennas is about 5-6 miles, with the 15" antennas about 6-7 miles and with two roof mounts on MURS as far as 12 miles. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dennis Posted September 14, 2016 Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 Thanks Sasquatch. I appreciate the information, I ordered a set and I am waiting for them to come in the mail. those wattage outputs are pretty impressive for a inexpensive handheld. I do not understand why the market is limited to quality part 95 FCC certified GMRS radios that can be programmed to hit a repeater... Maybe because of all the bubble pack junk = no one bothers to get a license for ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dennis Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 I finally got around to applying for my GMRS license last night, Got my e mail confirmation of payment received. I spoke to a nice Woman from the FCC today and she told me that it would be e mailed to me in the next 24-48 hours. As soon as I get my callsign I will become a official member of MYGRMS.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dennis Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 Just tried registering for MY GMRS.COM and the system stated my callsign does not exist or has not been updated yet.. I had my licnse for about 24 hours. I guess it takes some time for the system to update Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastorGary Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 Dennis - our main website software is faster than the FCC database most days, so try again in a day or so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dennis Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 Ok. Thank you PastorGary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WQYC236 Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 Thanks Sasquatch. I appreciate the information, I ordered a set and I am waiting for them to come in the mail. those wattage outputs are pretty impressive for a inexpensive handheld. I do not understand why the market is limited to quality part 95 FCC certified GMRS radios that can be programmed to hit a repeater... Maybe because of all the bubble pack junk = no one bothers to get a license for ? Did you get your Teras yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberg Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 Yes. I got the Tera's. They are nice radios for the price.They seem to work very good. I wish they made an extended battery in the 2200 mAh range. The FCC certification for part 95A is a huge plus. GRMR license only took 24 hours before I got my callsign. What type of equipment do I need to measure the output power of these radios Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC7010 Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 Yes. I got the Tera's. They are nice radios for the price.They seem to work very good. I wish they made an extended battery in the 2200 mAh range. The FCC certification for part 95A is a huge plus. GRMR license only took 24 hours before I got my callsign. What type of equipment do I need to measure the output power of these radios I am not familiar with the Tera's, but if they have standard connector (BNC or similar) for the antenna, you should be able connect to any SWR meter that also measures power and reflected power. It won't be precise since most meters are really designed for mobiles of 10 watts rf or greater. But it will give you a good idea. To do it right, you need a quality watt meter like a Bird or similar. Big bucks for the home hobby person! If there's no connector, just a screw-in antenna, there should be a BNC adapter available somewhere online to do this. I know there is one for my Motorola portables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberg Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 Thank you for the information Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WQYC236 Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 I'm using a Rohs VHF/UHF MFJ-842 SWR/Wattmeter. It's a low cost instrument and I have no idea about the quality level, but it seems to give me "reasonable" readings using a 12' whip. I've used it on the Teras and on my 50 watt mobile unit. The scale is 0-15 and 0-150 watts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberg Posted October 2, 2016 Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 ^ Thank you Sas. Do I need a dummy load to use with this meter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WQYC236 Posted October 2, 2016 Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 ^ Thank you Sas. Do I need a dummy load to use with this meterI have one and I didn't spend a lot of money for it so I can't speak to the quality but it does what I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spd641 Posted October 30, 2016 Report Share Posted October 30, 2016 I like they got on board.http://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_GMRS-V1.php Logan5 and jwilkers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.