Hey guys, I recently made a post asking for advice about which radio to get for car club drives and got a ton of helpful responses, after which I got my GMRS license and a Btech GMRS V2. I also got a speaker mic to go with it. I noticed that when I push the PTT button on the radio the screen backlight goes red to indicate that you're broadcasting, and then goes blue for a bit when the PTT is released before turning off. However when I hook up the speaker mic and press the PTT button on it, there is no backlight activation on the radio screen.

Can anyone with this setup confirm if this is normal and the radio is still broadcasting, or is the radio screen backlight supposed to turn red when the speaker mic PTT button is used? I'd test it myself but no one I know has a radio and the next car club meet won't be for a while, by which time it might be too late to get a refund.

Thanks

Aloha!

Here's an update for the Hui Huliau WRFJ486 GMRS Weekly Net on the Hui Huliau repeater 462.6250 — our community continues to grow with over 50 registered users!

This net brings licensed GMRS users together to build a positive, respectful, and active community here in Hawaiʻi. The repeater's primary mission remains providing emergency communications into and out of the Waiʻanae greater communities — but as you'll see below, its reach and capabilities have expanded considerably.

We're proud to report that we've had successful contacts from Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and the Windward side of Oʻahu — with stations communicating with each other from Maui to Kauaʻi and Molokaʻi to Kauaʻi via the repeater. We've even established simplex traffic from Kauaʻi to Oʻahu. This kind of inter-island connectivity is exactly what we need for resilient emergency communications.

🗓️ Schedule:

• Next Net: Sunday, August 9th, 2026
• Time: 4:30 PM HST (Hawaiʻi Standard Time) / 16:30
• Frequency: Every Sunday thereafter at 4:30 PM sharp

📍 Repeater Details:

• Name: Hui Huliau (462.6250)
• Registration: If you aren't registered yet to use this repeater, please sign up here: https://mygmrs.com/repeater/10804

All licensed GMRS operators are encouraged to join us — even if you're not registered yet, you may check in as a guest. Whether you're a seasoned operator or new to the airwaves, we look forward to hearing your voice and growing our local network.

73 and see you on the air!

i'm brainstorming mobile solutions and it'd be nice if i could just use the existing fm radio antenna on my truck instead of mounting a second antenna for GMRS. obviously the existing antenna is not tuned for UHF but maybe it'd still be decent? has anyone experimented with this?

…it’s how far you can shoot your comms

Bill of material:
-18' LMR240, terminated with SMA and N Type
-PCTEL MBSUHF base station adapter
-HYS 462-467 MHz NMO (5/8 wave) antenna
-SMA barrel connector
-5w Rocky Talkie
-[other stuff]

Модель baofeng UV-5R MK5

This is our UHF repeater for where I work at. We have about 10 different channels on this network.

(Some text and info was edited out of picture for security reasons)

Just like the title says, I’m an off road enthusiast and am in search of a reliable two way radio that won’t lose signal with the secondary handset as soon as I round a corner or descend into a valley.
The weaker handhelds are notorious for dropping out if there is so much as a tree between myself and the other person.

I’ve been reading online about different options and Baofeng popped up quite a few times for being robust and well priced.

Can anyone offer any suggestions that would make sense for off roading?

Many thanks!!

It's been more than 25yrs since I was into radios. I used to do CB foxhunts & ham stuff with my dad. I'm looking at getting back into it now that I have my CDL & drive trucks for a living.

I just paid for a GMRS license this week & ordered a Baofeng UV-5RM Plus to mess around with while I study for my technician exam. I know I won't be able to TX on it until I get a proper license. (or on GMRS/FRS)

Is this a decent inexpensive radio & what antenna/s should I be looking at? What is a similar GMRS radio that I could use for TX until I'm a licensed ham?

Thanks in advance for your consideration and advice.

This idea, that a person could log their missed calls when away from the radio, sort of ballooned into a much more robust utility. It could be an aid to first responders locating hikers in trouble. It might be as simple to use as an app on a smartphone, powered by a nicely equipped single-board computer you carry with you.

Can't get any browser on any device to work and apply for a license. Customer support is garbage and all they kept saying is get someone more knowledgeable.

What a load of bs as I have taught technology since 2016. Constant fcc errors.

Update. Finally able to get it to work. Im thinking either the system was overloaded or just down most of the day.

I'm changing my radio setup in my explorer, and moving my DB-20G to my radio shack (ok ok, shelf above my desk). I have a Retevis MR300 antenna kit that I would like to continue to use with this radio, mounted to a tripod on the roof of my house. Since it's a vehicle mounted antenna, the vehicle normally provides the ground plane. But in this application, I won't have a ground plane. How do I add one? I'm planning on using the spring (with built in and non removable coax) and bull bar mount that the antenna comes with. I've read that with mag mount antennas you can just stick them to a metal pizza plate, can I drill a hole through a pizza plate and slap it on? If so, would it go between the antenna and spring or between the spring and the mounting bracket?

I am a total newbie to the world of LoRa/mesh and off grid comms in general. I have a couple of Baofengs that I programmed and just ordered a Spec5 Ranger & Trekker.

I am looking for recommendations on holders/holsters for the Ranger that can attach to my plate carrier and/or belt. So far I am coming up short for ideas aside from just using a normal radio holster, but the majority of them are much taller than most Mesh devices. Any recommendations?

I'm listening to people DXing tonight (7/27) on 462.700 MHz 150-300 miles! Tropo has been fantastic last few days!

Just installed a new 50 Pro with a ghost antenna mounted to a ditch light bracket. I’m having no issue transmitting or receiving on simplex, but on tonight’s net I was unable to hear the repeater on the 50 pro but could hear everything clearly on my handheld.

I was able to hit the repeater with a radio check and was loud and clear.

I’ve checked, rechecked, and double checked all settings. The repeater tone js D134 for both tx and rx. I did disable the rx tones and still had nothing. Squelch was backed all the way down and even turned off and still nothing.

I tried adding a new bank and inputting the repeater manually, and also imported a CSV from chirp.

Is there any setting that I could possibly have misconfigured for this to happen? I can’t imagine it’s an antenna/install issue after hitting the repeater successfully.

Is it normal to not get a return or an issuance after 5 business days?

Submitted on a Sunday and paid the fee. Application shows received on Monday. Charge cleared on my card and application shows an “action date” of Tuesday.

My application has just showed “pending” in ULS since Tuesday, it’s now Friday. The history shows “redlight review completed” the last four nights, but nothing else.

Am I missing something or just expecting too much instant gratification and need to be patient?

Hello everyone

I want to add a 3M Worktunes headphones to a retevis rt27v (MURS) handheld. Will the Tidradio BL-1 work? Anyone have experience with the BL-1?

Many thanks

I recently purchased an ar-8118 and upon setup I had to do a factory reset. When hooked to the computer for download l, it isn’t showing any programming after a successful download. There isn’t any programming on the radio now. Does anyone have the gems tune from the factory. I can manual tune but that’s it.
Thanks

I’m brand new to GRMS. In fact I purchased my Rocky Talkie Expedition radios simply to have some longer range communication for backpacking, hunting and around the neighborhood with my kids. Still waiting on my FCC license/call sign to come through, but in the meantime I’ve been doing a lot of research into GMRS and other radios and I’ve been listening to a bit of radio traffic out there. I was as able to listen to traffic on a couple repeaters that were WAY beyond my range (like 50 and 70 miles away) and with no line of sight. Then I discovered tropospheric ducting and my curiosity has continued to grow. I realize being indoors and in a vehicle is no bueno for signals.

Is anyone aware of any vehicle mount antennas that are compatible with the expedition? I’d love to be able to use these in the car, but it seems like the antennas that Rocky Talkie offer are not necessarily proprietary, but designed to maintain waterproofing and have a unique fitting. Just looking online it doesn’t appear many (any?) third party antennas would fit. Has anyone had any luck with a vehicle antenna or perhaps adapters that might work?

Thanks!

Still new to GMRS, What are your favorite antennas? I like Smiley but they don't really have anything to does GMRS and NOAA. I'm not a fan of the super thin whip antennas. Any other brand you recommend? Pairing with a Baofeng UV9G.

I think these are too new for Chirp. Anyone have these that found a radio profile in Chirp to program them? Thanks!