BTech GMRS-50PRO 50W Mobile

[WRYZ926]

The GMRS license does not come with an attached wallet card like the amateur licenses come with. Or at least the copies I downloaded in October 2023 and the additional copy I downloaded a few weeks ago do not have it.

[Hoppyjr]

I can’t think of any situation that would require the license to be carried on the person.

[Davichko5650]

17 minutes ago, Hoppyjr said:

I can’t think of any situation that would require the license to be carried on the person.

I've never been asked to produce a copy of either my Amateur or GMRS licenses.  I've heard tell of a couple instances of SH's asking to see someone's license before they let them key up their precious Hams radio, but only as hearsay...

[TerriKennedy]

On 4/25/2025 at 5:16 PM, TDM827 said:

Of course they will "improve" this radio. Their business model demands it. Not saying this won't turn out to be a very nice radio at an affordable price, but....

But then how would they get us to repeatedly spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars every year on new radios when we could just get we wanted in the first place and use it for a decade. LOL

I'm not involved with that product (I do the BF-F8HP Pro handheld and the GMRS-RPT50), but BTECH seems to be committed to providing features people request, as upgrades.

The BF-F8HP shipped with firmware V29, went to V33 about a month and a half later, and V44 which just came out. A bunch of the enhancements in that firmware were due to requests from Facebook, here, to me directly or to BTECH. So the radio you bought the week it was released in October 2024 can be upgraded to the same functionality as the units currently shipping. The only difference is that new V44 radios will come with a somewhat updated v44 manual which describes the new features.

The GMRS-RPT50 got a bunch of features people asked for, like being able to used the microphone to use the radio as a base station, to get rid of the annoying (if you're the only person with physical access to the repeater) password prompt, etc.

* Please bear in mind that I'm a contractor working with BTECH, so noothing II say should be construed as the official position of BTECH.

vers-old.pdf

[Raybestos]

Regarding carrying a license copy, Hamcrazy.com has neat "credit card" size plastic license copies you can order.  While unlikely I would ever need it for anything, I do carry one of my ham and my GMRS license in my wallet.  They now have a version with your ham license on one side and your GMRS license on the other.

 

I figure it can't hurt to have it on you.  I mean, if you wind up in a severe earthquake, hurricane, etc, and you are at a shelter that is radio equipped, having such proof on your person might get you sitting at an operator's desk if they need people to man their radios.

 

https://www.hamcrazy.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14_21

[WRTC928]

8 hours ago, Raybestos said:

Regarding carrying a license copy, Hamcrazy.com has neat "credit card" size plastic license copies you can order.  While unlikely I would ever need it for anything, I do carry one of my ham and my GMRS license in my wallet.  They now have a version with your ham license on one side and your GMRS license on the other.

 

I figure it can't hurt to have it on you.  I mean, if you wind up in a severe earthquake, hurricane, etc, and you are at a shelter that is radio equipped, having such proof on your person might get you sitting at an operator's desk if they need people to man their radios.

 

https://www.hamcrazy.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14_21

I very much doubt I'll be in a position where I have to prove I have an amateur or GMRS radio license. I just bought the card because it's cool. 

[LeoG]

2 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I very much doubt I'll be in a position where I have to prove I have an amateur or GMRS radio license. I just bought the card because it's cool. 

I made mine because I was excited to get it and bored at the same time.

[amaff]

I don't even carry my CPR / BLS certification card around with me, and there's an exponentially greater likelihood I'll need to show that one. I've got a digital copy I can pull down if I ever need it. But until then...

[WRXB215]

On 4/29/2025 at 5:12 PM, AdmiralCochrane said:

How many people carry a copy of their ham or GMRS license with them in their car?

Gee Admiral, thanks for making me feel like such a dork. 

[WRXB215]

Weird, it double posted. 

[WRTC928]

On 4/29/2025 at 5:58 PM, Hoppyjr said:

There is no cop who will ask for a copy of your GMRS or Ham license. None. Never gonna happen.

Probably, but you'd be surprised the esoterica some law enforcement officers know. I once stopped an Army recruiter driving a GSA vehicle and he was dickish about it, so I demanded he cough up a Standard Form 46 (government driver license) before I'd give him the ticket and let him leave. This was a long time ago -- the government driver license hasn't been a thing for decades. A deputy sheriff in the county south of me owns the GMRS repeater in that area. If he was of a mind to be petty, he might demand some kind of documentation of your authorization to operate that radio. If you were operating it while driving, he'd be well with his authority to do so. 

I'm not saying we should all carry our license(s) on us -- I don't -- but there is a non-zero chance that someday you may wish you had. 

[nokones]

On 4/27/2025 at 4:32 PM, OffRoaderX said:

It's less expensive than both the KG-1000G Plus and either of the 50W Midland radios, both of which are very good sellers.. So far, based on my sales analytics, this radio is proving to be very popular.

Well, are the Midland MXT500 and 575 straight or gay radios?

[SteveShannon]

Just now, nokones said:

Well, are the Midland MXT500 and 575 straight or gay radios?

Yes

[OffRoaderX]

3 minutes ago, nokones said:

are the Midland MXT500 and 575 straight or gay radios?

I got sidetracked and never got to finish the quiz.

[nokones]

11 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

Probably, but you'd be surprised the esoterica some law enforcement officers know. I once stopped an Army recruiter driving a GSA vehicle and he was dickish about it, so I demanded he cough up a Standard Form 46 (government driver license) before I'd give him the ticket and let him leave. This was a long time ago -- the government driver license hasn't been a thing for decades. A deputy sheriff in the county south of me owns the GMRS repeater in that area. If he was of a mind to be petty, he might demand some kind of documentation of your authorization to operate that radio. If you were operating it while driving, he'd be well with his authority to do so. 

I'm not saying we should all carry our license(s) on us -- I don't -- but there is a non-zero chance that someday you may wish you had. 

Unless, there is a local ordinance or state statute or if he/she is a federal officer, I don't believe he/she can enforce a federal rule/code.

[WRTC928]

3 minutes ago, nokones said:

Unless, there is a local ordinance or state statute or if he/she is a federal officer, I don't believe he/she can enforce a federal rule/code.

No, but he/she could make the argument that you are in violation of the state law regarding use of radios while driving because you have no authority to operate that radio at all. Would it stick? Who knows? Probably depends on which judge you get. But it would be a nuisance to have to defend it. Do I know some officers who would do it if you were showing your ass? Oh, yes.