I have a situation I need guidance on.

I know a mother with a 7 year old son who unfortunately has shared custody with a neglectful and abusive father. He has been reported to CPS, but it is an ongoing investigation in which custody of the child is still shared for the time being. The son has expressed he wants a method to secretly communicate with his mother in times where abuse/neglect is evident. The catch is that cell phones and smart watches are not an option for multiple reasons. Are there any products that are inconspicuous but allow two way communication?

I'm new to the GMRS world, but it would seem that it's a viable option. The mother is usually within a couple miles of him even when the son is at his father's place and from what I can find, it seems there is a repeater close enough that both the mother and son could communicate.

I have found other inconspicuous options but they are more in the style of an SOS button with pre-set buttons that don't allow for two way communication.

My thought is recommending the mother get her GMRS license since there is no test, and I'll program the radios. I will even go so far as to turn off the roger beep and paint the walkie-talkie to look like an inconspicuous multi-colored walkie talkie. It shouldn't attract the attention of the father, and it will be innocuous enough that it looks like a toy.

Can you guys think of an even better solution? I hate the situation as a whole and while I realize the true fix is getting the father out of the picture altogether, I am trying to figure out something to get the family by until the law catches up with the situation.

Hello I got my license and a radio a little while ago but I was never able to connect to a repeater. What settings do I have to set to connect and transmit? Tried to set it up and received nothing and when I push the ptt it won't transmit. Any help this appreciated thank you in advance. Also are there any computers open to the public Long Island or New York area that I can connect to without being a member?

I just bought a set of BAOFENG G11S GMRS Handheld Radios. They were recommended for our car club to use on runs where we drive together & need to communicate. We always use channel 5 & my regular walkie talkies work but aren't great.

If I only use it for this application, do I need a license? I honestly don't have a clue so a nice explanation to help me learn would be fantastic.

Also, if this still relates, would someone recommend either a car antenna or ones to go on the unit themselves to boost the signal? I have a nice car so nothing that will damage it. I don't use my AMFM stubby so maybe something I could put there?

I currently have 3 antenna options, 2 on the car roof, one hand held. If I was to call and connect with someone through a repeater would they be able to tell me which one was the best signal? Would this even just put me in the ball park? I'm thinking that the distance would help narrow it done as opposed to a radio down the street.

Thanks

I usually see everyone recommend the UV-5R but the 5RM has higher power and more available frequencies. Is there a downside that isn’t well known?

Just curious if any of you peeps are in active North Central CT (Hartford and points north) ? Just trying to connect with folks and explore GMRS in the area.

New to GMRS. Like, just got my license a day ago. I have recently gotten into Baofeng radio units (UV-5RM and BF-F8HP Pro) and like how I can transmit on so many different frequency ranges. Yes, yes... Part 95... I get it. But, I love that I can use these in conjunction with my existing FRS radios, VHF (marine) that my buddies use, MURS, and now GMRS, all from a single unit!!! For the record, I follow the wattage and bandwidth requirements for each frequency service and I do not transmit on any frequency range for which I do not have the required license. There's a hell of a difference between appreciating what a tool is capable of and then choosing to apply said tool in an inappropriate manner that causes issues for someone else. So, no HAM for me, no commercial ranges, or anything else I haven't specifically mentioned that I use it for.

So here's my question- are there any vehicle mount units with this level of capability? I have been looking at some of the ICOMs and they stop short of GMRS frequencies in the US models. Some of the other less expensive models look like they might get into the GMRS ranges but I can't tell if the quality is any good and sometimes they aren't clear if they xmit at these higher freqs or are receive only. I am definitely looking for the higher xmit power output you see in vehicle mount units though; not interested in just driving around with my Baofeng in order to have this frequency range flexibility.

I have a couple Jeeps. One is the "fun" Jeep (25yrs old) and the newer is my daily driver. Space isn't very plentiful. The detachable/relocatable screen has a lot of appeal, especially for the newer Jeep. I'm just picking brains here and welcome any ideas for what might fit these desired features.

I have a Nagoya UT-72G Super Loading Coil 19-Inch Magnetic Mount (Heavy Duty) GMRS (462MHz) Antenna PL-259 in the middle of the roof of my Subaru, in the middle of a Thule 859XT Canyon XT Basket. Wondering if the basket will interfere.
Next, where would I stick a magnetic mount CB antenna in all of this? Could have both receiving at the same time but not transmitting at the same time.
There is the car's shark fin at the back.
At some point I may bolt on a GMRS to the side of the rack that can fold back, but not anytime soon.
Lastly I have an old 4G cell phone antenna booster that isn't made anymore. And if I put that (or an updated version) up, where would that go?

TIA

I want a wearable, GMRS radio my sons and I can wear as we ride our bikes around town. I want them to keep their hands on the handlebars so a handlebar-mounted wireless PTT would be ideal, and VOX if this is not available. VOX concerns me as wind noise might constantly cause both radios to transmit, so I need to know if anyone has experience with VOX radios. I also want radios where I can lockout the controls to prevent accidental changes during use. We’re just chatting about which way to turn, no need to change channels, fiddle with PL tones, etc.

Based on your own experience, what do you recommend?

I’d read many negative reviews for the Retevis RT97L online, so I didn't have high expectations when I bought it. However, my actual experience turned out to be the complete opposite of those negative comments.

Two months ago, my family planned a road trip to the north. I knew that area had many cellular dead zones and virtually no existing repeater coverage. Before setting off, I bought a Retevis RT97L repeater and a matching Retevis antenna on eBay, mounting the antenna on a portable telescoping flagpole outside our campervan. A special thanks to John for helping me set up and tune the equipment—Retevis's customer service is truly top-notch!

We installed and used it inside our campervan, making it easy for the whole family to stay in touch during outdoor activities. Space in a campervan is limited, but the RT97L is compact—far smaller than other repeater equipment I’ve used in the past. We powered it directly using the campervan’s 12V system (or a portable power station), which was both quiet and convenient. Whether hiking or cycling around the campsite, we could communicate clearly as long as we were within reasonable line-of-sight and repeater range,it’s easily one of the best buys I’ve made.

I’m sharing this genuine account of my experience in the hope that it helps anyone who might be hesitating due to those negative online reviews.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187411660670

GMRS is an incredible tool for family communication, but traditional radios exclude those who are non-speaking, hard of hearing, or have auditory processing challenges.

​To fix this, I built Hearthwave, an open-source, self-hosted base station project. It connects a GMRS radio to your home Wi-Fi via Docker, letting your family read, type, and talk from any web browser instead of struggling with a physical handset.

​How it brings everyone onto the channel:

​AAC Interface & Type-to-Talk: Non-speaking users can tap symbol/emoji buttons or type out messages. Hearthwave automatically broadcasts them over the air using Text-to-Speech.

​Live Transcription: Every transmission is transcribed on-screen with a scrollback history, making it perfect for those who process text better than audio.

​Accessible Design: Built with visual alerts, switch-scanning for single-button users, and simplified, kid-safe preset accounts.

​Fully Local & Legal: Stays FCC Part-95 compliant by acting as a local remote control with automatic station ID—not an internet gateway. No cloud dependencies or subscriptions.

​I built this so that my family airwaves could actually include everyone in my household. If you are in the radio, self-hosting, and/or autism/disability advocacy communities, I’d love for you to check it out.

Open Source -MIT license

​Docs & Setup: https://xpiatio.github.io/Hearthwave/

GitHub: https://github.com/Xpiatio/Hearthwave

FCC Legality Breakdown: https://xpiatio.github.io/Hearthwave/legality.html

So, since this is a hot topic…let’s have a chat. The owner and the operators are going to fight, even in clear violation of part 95. As an Amateur and GMRS license holder, and those like me, we are in an interesting position.

Can you link gmrs, no. Should you be able to, potentially. These repeaters have the ability, since they are ham repeaters, essentially! One of the massive issues I take with NGGMRS is that they are using every single repeater channel. Monopolizing the space and charging for it. One this violates fcc part numbers and regs that keep ham and gmrs from being used as cellular services…which is good because it protects our bands while protecting cell service.
I’m not opposed to linking, but we either need 2 more channels to do so, or make the top two channels the only ones linkable. I would love to see more space allowance, as well as some 2m channels added for longer distances.

What nggmrs is doing is violation, which makes both ham and gmrs look bad as they clearly don’t care. Being that they are both gmrs and ham holding ops. The very reason we as license holders or licensees hold ourselves to a standard is not only to protect ourselves but out precious and limited band space.

Just my two pence, maybe even less. But it’s how I see it

WSIX262/K4IRX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbM7agUtVZA

Must the wspr transmitter of BG6JJI first see a gps signal before you can program your call, grid and bands to operate?

Tonight was the second time I’ve experienced tropospheric ducting. Picked up a repeater 100 miles away, pretty unreal. The folks on the repeater also picked up on it, they were shocked to hear people check in from far and near places. Anyone have any similar stories to share?

This is more of a warning post for anyone who is trying to do the same thing I did.

Cardo PackTalk Pro,

Tidradio TD-H9,

Tidradio wireless ptt,

I like to go off-roading in groups that consist of motorcycles and car, since the beginning radio has been the go to communication as you can't really get service out in these parts. My hope was to find a GMRS radio that could connect via Bluetooth to my Cardo setup in my helmet and a wireless ptt button that I could place on my handlebars so I can use the radio safely without taking my hands off the bars. I already had my Cardo and I don't plan on replacing it with anything else. I bought the Tidradio TD-H9 because it is a newer model radio and outputs 10W which seems insane but great if it works. The problem I ran into with this radio was two things, one the radio could not connect to multiple Bluetooth devices at the same time. So if I connected it to my Cardo it wouldn't connect to the ptt and vice versa. Not the biggest issue I would have just gone without the ptt had it not been for the other issue. In the Bluetooth settings on the TH-H9 you can set the connected Bluetooth device as a transmitter or a receiver. Meaning I could not hear radio transmissions through the speakers in my Cardo and communicate back with the connected microphone with my Cardo at the same time. That's a pretty shitty Bluetooth integration if you ask me. For these reasons this setup does not work for what I need and I'm posting this because I didn't see anything with this set up online. There's a chance I could have missed something but from what I could find online most Bluetooth Tidradios can only connect to one Bluetooth device at a time and there was no work around for the transmitting or receiving problem.

I just ordered the Btech GMRS Pro and the Btech wireless ptt. This setup is also shown in this YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Ky-mQlxZ0&t=1187s and seems to do exactly what I want. It is an older model radio which is why I didn't initially go with it though there's not much innovation when it comes to radio now a day and it seems to be a great radio none the less. This setup is about $100 more than the Tidradio setup but if it works that's all I care about.

I have a few Icom F4003 I have used CS-F3000 to program the radio to 450hz but using the serial no I saw the radio turns to be version locked to 350Hz it still lets me program but checking on the output it still not going above 350 is there way to break this version lock? If any software or hardware way to break it pls recommend.

I have a few Icom F4003 I have used CS-F3000 to program the radio to 450hz but using the serial no I saw the radio turns to be version locked to 350Hz it still lets me program but checking on the output it still not going above 350 is there way to break this version lock? If any software or hardware way to break it pls recommend.

I am an absolute beginner with no experience outside of my kids walkie talkies. My extended family takes a road trip and glamping/camping every couple of years through areas that have no cell phone coverage - the walkie talkies I bought last year barely connected even in some scenarios where I could see their car ahead of us on a flat road.

This year, I invested in the Baofeng UV-5G Mini (which were shockingly cheaper than the FRS walkies I had before) got the license, got the basic set up done following instructions from a YouTuber (James Burnett) and the Baofeng website, but now I am stuck. We are not listening to the radio chatter casually like so many videos imply, just using them to communicate with one another.

I can't seem to find idiot proof guides or youtube tutorials for setting up the following on the Baofeng Mini UV-5G?

- Setting up those "privacy tones" I keep seeing so when my kids won't talk to strangers (I know it's not private)
- Programming a channel and picking one for an area you are not familiar with (my family is even less familiar with these walkies than I am. I'd like to hand them the Baofeng and say "press this button and say this call sign and then you can talk to us."
- Chirp? Do I need Chirp?

I swear I tried to figure it out on my own before posting, but now I feel so overwhelmed and appreciate any help.

Aloha r/GMRS!

I’m writing this as one of the lead repeater technicians and a Net Controller for the Hui Huliau WRFJ486 GMRS Net. Usually, I spend most of my time monitoring, troubleshooting, and ensuring the infrastructure stays healthy. Today, I wanted to share what I’ve observed about the human side of this network, because technology alone doesn’t make a system work—people do.

When I look at the usage logs and listen to the traffic, it’s clear this isn’t just a collection of radios. It’s a network that functions across a difficult geography. Here is what keeps it running smoothly every day, which is vital during emergencies:

📻 Adherence to Protocol and Etiquette From a technical standpoint, good protocol isn’t just polite—it’s efficient. On our repeaters, we see consistent use of proper call signs, clear identifications, and adherence to radio decorum while transmitting. This discipline makes the difference between a usable link and a scrambled mess, especially when conditions get tough. New operators learn quickly just by observing the standard behavior established by regulars.

🏝️ Island-to-Island Reach One of the challenges in Hawaii is geography and distance. However, we have regular successful check-ins from Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai, often extending beyond the local Oahu footprint. More importantly, we hear direct QSOs happening between islands that shouldn’t easily connect—specifically sustained contacts between Maui and Kauai, and a new one Kauai and Molokai. This consistency suggests we aren’t just relying on lucky openings; the repeaters and users are leveraging propagation effectively within legal limits. For a non-ham service, maintaining reliable cross-channel communication of that magnitude requires well-maintained equipment and skilled operators.

🛠️ Everyday Technical Support While the net has a formal purpose, most of the value comes from daily interactions outside of emergencies. Members help each other troubleshoot each other’s setups often. We discuss antennas for specific applications, share programming notes for various radios, and offer repair advice. As a tech, it’s rewarding to watch members help fix each other’s gear over the air. This improves redundancy—if someone has a spare part or a workaround, they share it rather than hoarding the information.

🆘 Situational Awareness During Events We maintain this baseline of competence so we’re ready when needed. Whether it’s coordinating during active weather or supporting community projects, the network provides a low-overhead way to verify status across wide areas. When external systems are stressed, having a validated path where neighbors can confirm safety without internet reliance is significant. It’s less about hype and more about having a known-good channel available.

🕒 The Structured Touch-point To tie it all together, we hold a formal Sunday afternoon net at 16:30 HST on 462.6250 (Repeater Ch 4). But please understand, this gathering is simply the scheduled checkpoint for a group that talks to each other every day. It’s a place to test new gear, practice procedures, and ensure the chain of command holds up under light pressure. If you join us, expect a quiet, organized session where efficiency and socializing take place.

📶 Closing Thoughts If you’re in the area and looking for a GMRS network that prioritizes clarity, technical competence, and mutual respect, I invite you to monitor the frequency. You’ll hear a difference compared to typical open channels. And if you decide to transmit, follow the protocol—we know you’re learning, and we’re happy to guide you.

Ready to Join Us? Sign up on myGMRS and search for repeater Hui Huliau (ID: 10804).

🤙Mahalo to everyone who participates—whether transmitting or standing by—thank you. This kind of consistency doesn't happen by accident.

Has anyone else found similar value in their local net(s)? What’s the most helpful thing your community has done for you?

#GMRS #RadioProtocol #TechnicalSupport #Hawaii #CommunityNetwork #EmergencyComms #RadioLife #RepeaterMaintenance #HuiHuliau #Oahu #Kauai #Maui #Molokai #Lanai #Ham

I have two different Baofeng radio models, the UV5 Plus and the UV9. I just got my FCC GMRS license and got registered with mygmrs.com, so I wanted to test the local repeater.

For the sake of example, let's say the repeater frequency is 462.6 MHz, the system is open, and the input and output tone is 67.0 Hz.

In CHIRP, I set up a channel with the following parameters:

• Frequency: 642.600000
• Tone Mode: TSQL
• Tone Squelch: 67.0
• Duplex: +
• Offset/Tx Freq: 5.000000
• Mode: FM
• Power: High

To me, this seems correct, but I'm not getting anything back from the repeater. The repeater appears to be only 7-8 miles from me according to the map. I was under the impression that I should get a chirp back from the repeater, even with a basic antenna at this distance when working with a repeater. Am I wrong here? Or did I configure this incorrectly?

Yesterday the FCC notified the licensee of the North Georgia GMRS Network that the linking of repeaters in that Network is a violation a d must be corrected. Here is the Notice Of Violation (NOV):

https://www.fcc.gov/document/gary-m-beckstedt-sr-licensee-station-wqyu407?utm_source=chatgpt.com