BTech GMRS-50PRO 50W Mobile

[nokones]

4 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

 It seems like you may be out of touch with what normal people want.

That is extremely possible for me at my age.

[WRYZ926]

2 hours ago, nokones said:

That is extremely possible for me at my age.

So you are admitting to being an old curmudgeon?  

Just kidding with you.

[Raybestos]

3 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Here is an excerpt from the Missouri law. While they do not specifically mention GMRS, they do state that amateur radio and CB is exempt. One could argue that if CB and amateur radios are exempt then so is GMRS. Now I sure would not trie to program a radio while driving.

Here is the link for the actual state statute: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.822

These laws are getting ridiculous.  I get the "no texting" laws but requiring no touching of a cell phone are silly.  Not everyone can afford a brand new vehicle with blue tooth sound connection and built-in GPS. GMRS, before they called it GMRS was Class A Citizens Band.

One of the Federal Highway agencies is currently blackmailing states into passing these laws, or lose Federal Funding.  This is likely un-Constitutional, but has been happening for decades to force states to knuckle under to their will.  Years ago, I was listening to Coast To Coast AM one night.  I forget who the guest was, but he was talking about this trick they have used to force states to pass seatbelt laws, DUI enhancements, and other unpopular laws in the name of "safety".  The guy noted that in his home state (not sure, but possibly Missouri), they were threatened with loss of funds if they did not pass a seat belt law.  In an unusual nod to personal choice and freedom, legislators in his state did the math.  They figured that if they failed to pass a seat belt law, it would amount to a $5 penalty for every man, woman, and child, who were then residents of that state.  They decided that personal choice and freedom were worth more than five dollars and told the Feds to go kick rocks.  As it should be!

Stuff like this reminds me of a saying my maternal grandfather used to quote a lot.  Truer words were never spoken.

"More laws, less justice."

Marcus Tullius Cicero

[WRYZ926]

These types of laws are passed due to the lack of common sense among the general public. I have seen too many people staring at their phones, tablets, or laptops while driving down the road. The worst was a guy on his tablet and reading a newspaper while driving in St Louis morning rush hour traffic. And it is ID10T's like those people that came laws like this o be passed.

The federal government threatening to take away funding goes back a long time. They did the same thing to get states to reduce the speed limit to 55 MPH.

[nokones]

3 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

So you are admitting to being an old curmudgeon?  

Oh hell no, just an old people

[PRadio]

7 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Here is an excerpt from the Missouri law. While they do not specifically mention GMRS, they do state that amateur radio and CB is exempt. One could argue that if CB and amateur radios are exempt then so is GMRS. Now I sure would not trie to program a radio while driving.

Here is the link for the actual state statute: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.822

Quote

 

I looked at Pennsylvania's bill, and see that the exemption for Amateur radio was removed, so it applies, as written, to all mobile radios. 

However, this part may actually be interpreted such that a mobile radio is allowable, provided you aren't switching channels and are simply talking using a hand held mic, pushing only one button. So it may be okay. I will take it as such. This wasn't in the earlier iteration of the bill. It has passed and has been signed by the governor. 

"

• Defines the use of an interactive mobile device as using at least one hand to hold, or supporting with another part of the body, an interactive mobile device, dialing or answering an interactive mobile device by pressing more than a single button, or reaching for an interactive mobile device that requires a driver to maneuver so that the driver is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt."

 

[AdmiralCochrane]

Maryland's cell phone law says "cell phone".   Someone got a ticket using his ham radio, took it to court and won.  Precedent set, in MD, using a 2 way radio while driving is OK.

[gortex2]

Starting to creep into the not so cheap price...with most folks wanting to spend $25 on a GMRS handheld it will be internesting to see how many sell. I paid not much more for my Midland 575 on sale last fall. 

[OffRoaderX]

2 hours ago, gortex2 said:

Starting to creep into the not so cheap price...

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.

[LeoG]

On 4/26/2025 at 2:16 PM, WRYZ926 said:

Here is an excerpt from the Missouri law. While they do not specifically mention GMRS, they do state that amateur radio and CB is exempt. One could argue that if CB and amateur radios are exempt then so is GMRS. Now I sure would not trie to program a radio while driving.

Here is the link for the actual state statute: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.822

So when you get pulled over tell them it's a CB and show them you are on ch22 or something.

[WRYZ926]

2 minutes ago, LeoG said:

So when you get pulled over tell them it's a CB and show them you are on ch22 or something.

Either that or just tell them it's amateur radio, most won't know the difference anyway.

[LeoG]

8 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

Either that or just tell them it's amateur radio, most won't know the difference anyway.

CB doesn't require a license.  Ham and GMRS do.  A savvy cop might ask for your license.  Probably not legal for them to ask, but who's going to stop them.

[WRYZ926]

9 minutes ago, LeoG said:

CB doesn't require a license.  Ham and GMRS do.  A savvy cop might ask for your license.  Probably not legal for them to ask, but who's going to stop them.

That's oaky too since I have my amateur and GMRS licenses.

[Hoppyjr]

Looks like an alternative to the Midland MXT575 but the same limitations with a better screen.  

I liked the Midland 575 just fine, but wanted the ability to enter frequencies & codes more directly. Another wish was user configurable channels, so I could store all my frequently used repeaters. A louder speaker, preferably on the mic, was my last want.

If I followed Randy’s video, it sounds like this new BTech is loud, so that’s good. The ability to enter frequencies & tones from an app, then do a back up of the date, is also a plus. It appears to have the channel capacity.

I don’t need another radio, but will likely try this new one.

[LeoG]

In this day in age I can't imagine a radio that can only be programmed by an outside source.  Being able to input tones and such through the radio directly is a must in my book.

[H8SPVMT]

6 hours ago, LeoG said:

In this day in age I can't imagine a radio that can only be programmed by an outside source.  Being able to input tones and such through the radio directly is a must in my book.

It can be programmed EITHER WAY, using the app or thru the mic didplay is what I remember "The Queen" said....

[LeoG]

I'm talking about any radio.  I still hear lots of guys tell me they need to hook up to their computer to put in new tones.  Lots of older Motorola radios still out there.

[gortex2]

1 minute ago, LeoG said:

I'm talking about any radio.  I still hear lots of guys tell me they need to hook up to their computer to put in new tones.  Lots of older Motorola radios still out there.

Thats due to the fact to part 90 FCC certification the radio can't have the ability to do that. Many of us that use LMR gear utilize a MPL configuration (PL/DPL List) that is selectable. My work radios have FPP for conventional stuff but thats ordered with appropriate documentaiton. On the hobby side all my midlands allow me to pick what tone I may need when I want from the head or panel. 99% of the GMRS users dont ever change stuff so once you set it you dont change it again. I dont think ive touched my parents radios since they were installed. All depends on use case. 

 

[AdmiralCochrane]

18 hours ago, LeoG said:

CB doesn't require a license.  Ham and GMRS do.  A savvy cop might ask for your license.  Probably not legal for them to ask, but who's going to stop them.

How many people carry a copy of their ham or GMRS license with them in their car?  You may be the ONLY one.

[WRYZ926]

I sure don't carry a copy of my amateur or GMRS licenses. I'll happily give them my call signs and they can look them up if they really want to.

[BoxCar]

2 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

How many people carry a copy of their ham or GMRS license with them in their car?  You may be the ONLY one.

There is a wallet card on all recent license documents from the FCC. It's below the "mini" license they provide nowadays.

[Hoppyjr]

CB doesn't require a license.  Ham and GMRS do.  A savvy cop might ask for your license.  Probably not legal for them to ask, but who's going to stop them.

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

[LeoG]

2 hours ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

How many people carry a copy of their ham or GMRS license with them in their car?  You may be the ONLY one.

I made one up and put it in my wallet.

[WRNU354]

11 minutes ago, LeoG said:

I made one up and put it in my wallet.

I keep an e-copy in cloud storage.

[gortex2]

Carry all my FCC certs in my wallet. As said the license has the wallet card on it.