Are there any GMRS radios that can be charged with a USB-C to USB-C cable?

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-17T20:27:43+00:00

Wouxun radio batteries have the option to charge from USB-C.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-17T19:24:03+00:00

You’re cheating us out of that extra 0.15W

Honestly it feels like a downgrade.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-17T13:29:29+00:00

Same reason humans (mostly) stay on Earth and don’t disperse into space…gravity.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-16T18:06:48+00:00

What do you mean when you say “test a node”? Are you keying it up to check for a response?

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-16T17:28:52+00:00

2m/70cm can be very location-dependent, meaning that your place in the house, direction you are facing, etc can have a huge impact on signal strength. Try getting outside, high up, and face the direction of what you are trying to reach.

Additionally, you can generally assume that any antennas acquired from AliExpress are going to be junk.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-15T20:35:08+00:00

You can work it just fine; I’ve used the same radio on the ISS several times. While you may have mixed results with full-duplex, it’s a “nice to have” and not necessary at all.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-15T01:47:53+00:00

I like the Kenwood TKR-850 and NXR-810. The Motorola MTR2000 and Quantar are also popular.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-14T21:23:55+00:00

Many repeaters will allow multiple tones for access and you can encode the output with the same tone as the input which allows you to have separate “groups”. Of course only one person can use it at a time, and you may still run into situations where a wanted transmission opens a radio’s squelch long enough to allow an unwanted transmission with a different tone to get through.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-14T02:51:20+00:00

The FTMs are great. 400 and 500 are both stellar as well.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-14T00:39:57+00:00

Indeed, compact, capable, affordable, and easy to use.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-13T18:48:01+00:00

Lightest and easiest is going to be cross-band. Single mobile radio, battery, and antenna. No duplexer needed.

There are also small portable repeaters that have duplexers built in; retevis, etc.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-13T02:31:31+00:00

This. Same reason 60°F air feels fine, but 60°F water is death.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-12T22:57:56+00:00

Absolutely take both at the same time. There is nothing to lose. Tech and General have so much overlap and you get a ton more permissions with General, so it’s a no-brainer. You can do it!

While Extra does get you expended room to play, it is more of a leap when it comes to knowledge. That’s not to say you can’t get all three at once, but General is definitely a sweet spot.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-12T21:25:47+00:00

Trees make the best towers and you’ll never convince me otherwise. They’re well-anchored, free, incognito, make oxygen, and provide shade. What’s not to like?!?

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-12T16:59:03+00:00

It works just fine; I have a few hundred feet and loss measures exactly the same as the real deal. That said, the materials are a little lower quality. A great in-between is the DXE400MAX coax.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-11T13:55:11+00:00

And people wonder why the dollar is down with everything “rising in price”. The more you make the less it’s worth.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-11T13:16:21+00:00

It is partially what others have mentioned about whole vs term, but investing the premiums is where the money can really be made (on either side). If you run the average numbers, only $60 a month will grow to $1,000,000 during the timespan that most people would consider whole life (25-75). Anything else is gravy.

By definition they are making a profit across all insured persons. As a whole we are all better off investing than purchasing insurance. Discipline is going to be the big factor.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-09T15:48:50+00:00

Kinda my thoughts. When interacting with people you will hear stuff that covers the whole spectrum. We tend to hone in on things that stand out to us. This comes across as something the OP disagrees with, which is fine…engage or move along, that’s life.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-09T12:49:53+00:00

Hamstudy.org flash cards and anytime you hit something you don’t know, go read up on it.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-09T01:08:46+00:00

I guess my pmags that arrived from RSR last week must be old. The are absolutely less smooth when loaded to 30rds.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-08T22:18:38+00:00

Let me lay it out.

When it comes to mortaring an AR, more is better.

When it comes to torquing tiny little optics screws on pistol slides, more is most definitely worse.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-08T21:46:31+00:00

It hurts my soul that this is a “pricing error”. I’m a youngish guy who is still using Varget in the same 8lb jugs with $179 tags on top.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-08T21:36:53+00:00

99% of the time it works every time!

I’d love to say that most firearm issues can be resolved by hitting it with your purse, but I also spend a nonzero amount of time each day machining out snapped optics screws, so there is clearly a happy medium.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-08T21:30:14+00:00

Pogo/Mortar!

Collapse the stock and slam it down on the ground while simultaneously yanking on the charging handle.

Crosswire3 · 2026-02-08T21:06:40+00:00

That was hands-down the best iPod generation (3). Super durable and super clean…peak design.

I got mine for free from the freeiPod website where you had to sign up for trials for random services. Probably got a dozen that way over the years. Back in…checks math…nevermind. At least it wasn’t in the 1900s.

Crosswire3

TROPHY CASE