Could You Communicate During A Disaster? Retevis RA86 GMRS MicroMobile Radio

[@jackpinesavage1628]

My best friend was a radioman in the U.S. Air Force. He and I set up Am / SSB citizen band radio stations several years ago. We live six miles away from each other. We both have President McKinley radios. We used old metal towers that he found that local people wanted to get rid of on the Facebook trade and sell website. His tower is 45 ft. tall, mine is 54 feet in height. We used to talk every night on AM channel 38. We used our radios so often, we wore out the springs in the microphones, forcing us to buy new ones. We've both had health issues recently and we don't talk on our radios every night, yet, when we do talk, the signals are strong and our modulations are clear as a bell.

[@halledwardb]

Yes ham operators have given my daughters several towers. Give GMRS a try as well.

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

@@halledwardb there is no test to take.

[@halledwardb]

@@donalderickson-si8ww What are you talking about?

[@TSGEnt]

I've recently gotten a GMRS license. It's for my wife and I in the event the world catches fire. I've been a HAM but wife didn't want to get into the hobby, but GMRS permits the whole family to use the callsign and radio. I've done a video on my first experience. It'll be ready soon.

[@WolfQuantum]

Same here. My wife isn't in a hurry to get her Tech. I appreciate that she can operate under my GMRS license. I'm strong on being both HAM and GMRS licensed.

[@TSGEnt]

​@@WolfQuantum👍

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

Your Coms vids are great reminders to get off my butt, and work on my systems. 👍👍

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

I have all my com's police county and county com's and a radio on state wide so yes I got it

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

I have a full com center and back up power all the food I need so yes bring it on

[@RealitySurvival]

Ive got some basics, but I have some work to do for sure!

[@WolfQuantum]

I picked up two of these little radios. I have others, but I stuffed this in my Jeep Gladiator and will be putting one in the wife's little Renegade. Unfortunately, we don't have any GMRS repeaters in the area. I did try the little antenna on an ammo can at the full length of the skinny coax. I was really surprised that it was getting a 1/1.03 SWR. I still ran it to a better antenna for installation.

[@kuzinit2374]

I don’t really think I would need to communicate , but I do have a windup emergency am/fm weather radio with a light , probably all I need

[@ssh0111]

I didn't get a programming cable with my RA86. Bummer! I had to order one.

[@HarshmanHills]

comms, independent at that, are vital

[@johneckert1690]

Are you attempting to turn your Jeep and property into an antenna farm? If you are thumbs up (I LOVE ANTENNA FARMS) This radio looks to be a great alternative for people who want and /or need communications that they can take on the go. If it is within our budget, I going to get one. well actually two. My wonderful wife says she wants one as well. When I retire i really want to get back into Amateur radio. AS ALWAYS, MY BEST TO YOU AND YOURS. 73's

[@ntvtexan5015]

Yes and no...I have 2 Baofeng UV-8 types with large battery AAA and AA adapters, but still haven't really done much of a dang thing with programming them. Not sure what the Freq's are here in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. I would like to get a repeater type system setup Coast to Coast though !

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

there are more repeaters on the east coast then the west coast

[@BruceForster-k9n]

For $100.00, you can buy a Yeasu FT-65, and do the TX Mod.

[@Radar1328]

Hi George, i live here in Pahrump and wondering if you could give me the freguency and the ctcs codes for the other ĝmrs repeaters here in town. I have the 462.650 repeater but not the other two. Thanks, Bill WRXP 557

[@Iridium242]

ok 462.625 MHz + | 141.3 PL | Top of Mt. Potosi and 462.700 MHz + | 100.0 Low Potosi

[@Radar1328]

Thank you.

[@Spyder-ManAdventures]

Can you clarify Channels? 1-7 should be Low Power but 8-14 on a "non-handheld" should not be allowed to transmit. I'm assuming you can "monitor"/receive - but not transmit. Is this unit transmitting out on 8-14?

[@glenh2159]

I have one and it can monitor but NOT transmit on ch 8-14

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

family service has 22 channels but eight of them 15 through 22 are shared with The G M R S side on family side there the off repeater channels and 15 through 22 which makes 8 are the repeater channels you need a licensee fore and a pL tone to get your radio to talk to a tower YES I SAID TOWER no mountains there on a 150 ft tower with a repeater on it I GO IN at 45 watts come out a 60 watts and do 20 miles and cover three county's out of seven I AM W R X N 824 Minnesota

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

SPIDER channels 1 through 22 are low power channels 15 through 22 are both HIGH and LOW power meaning these are shared with the G M R S group as thay are off repeater channels. this is as of the year 2024 been on the air since 2023I have nine years before I need to re up my licensee.

[@teridacktaljones4553]

👍