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I don't know if you can still download GMRS Live or not. I know the website is still up but for information only. It is basically a GMRS version of Allstar Link. GMRS :I've pretty much shut everything down on their website when the FCC stated that linking GMRS repeaters was verboten.

Does anyone know a website where you can see if you are hitting a receiver? In Michigan, W8CMN Network doesn’t do that anymore.

How were frequencies taken from 2m/70 cm by the digital modes?

We see temperature inversions more in the spring and fall here in Missouri. Though we have seen a few openings lately since the daily high temperatures have been in the upper 70s and low 80s. There have been a few openings on the 2m band lately and guys have been chasing long distance contacts on side band. And checking the NOAA channels is a good idea to see what propagation is doing.

OK, I guess I could have tried it w/o registering an ID and see what trouble it caused. But even then, I'm a staunch analog defender and I hate the way digital modes were allowed to take frequencies from 2m/440. And I hear some of it on GMRS too even though not allowed. I don't oppose what you're proposing for ch. 8-14 as they are worthless to me now. But I wouldn't buy a $150 HT for that. If they can include it on the $30 radios, then probably so, as long as the radio still supports analog on the other channels as you said it should.

Thanks.

Yes I did. Yeah, it's not the best written paper I've ever done. Just tried to get my ideas down in some coherent fashion. I'm not an English major. It's easier to just attach it to a post rather than try to convey my ideas a few lines at a time over dozens of separate posts. No. The only reason for any kind of registration on Ham is for the user ID's. That's to prevent duplication. However you can use whatever ID you want, but for those that depend on the radio's builtin database it will, of course, show the wrong info. I had accidentally did that programming one of my DMR based NX-1300's. When I used it one of the Hams on the repeater noticed and asked about it. Didn't impede the QSO any however.

Which repeater are you requesting permission for?

Congrats on getting your Technician Class Amateur license. I've never used 1,25m in the over 30 years I've held a license, so can't speak to that, but in addition to 146.520 for Simplex on 2m, one we use around here and especially when up north beyond cell phones (in addition to extensive use of GMRS on simplex) is the so-called "Adventure Frequency" - 146.580. Used a lot locally (TC area of MN) by hikers and bikers, etc. that are amateur operators. on 70cm, 446.000 is the National Calling Freq., beyond that I don't use simplex on 440 much, only a couple repeaters hereabouts. Definitely look into Repeater Book, a handy app for both iOS and Android, great resource for repeater info for you area, as well for travelling.

Agreed. There is a LOT of overlap in material between the General exam and the Technician exam and General is relatively easy if you've just wrapped up Tech. I'm a VE (we actually have a monthly exam session tonight) and I very often see the same Tech candidate pass then come in the following month for their General and pass that too.

Hi Greg, long time no hear! When I first setup my base station a few years ago there was a really decent band opening here in the Tampa Bay area. Me and another somewhat local on the other side of the bay (that would have been YOU!) were hopping all around the state on GMRS. I was feeling pretty pumped about how the new base was doing until I found out you were using a HT outside your car port. It deflated my ego just a bit. I learned a lesson, when the band is open it doesn't matter your equipment you can get may miles. My personal best is Tampa to both the Valdosta Ga repeaters - around 210 miles, but its only happened one night in three years.

I Suggest You Do Some Further Research On The Communications Act Of 1934, Signed Into Law By FDR. It Empowers The FCC To Create Rules As Needed For The Regulation Of Radio, Television, Wire & Later Satellite Communications In The US. Chevron Limits Federal Agencies To Interpret Laws - FCC Creates Rules As Needed For Telecommunications.

Based on my understanding of the Chevron decision, your perception is wrong. Everything did not change. Specific regulations will probably have to be challenged in court or through some other official channels if any exist. (I didn't read your linked document because it requires scripts from 3rd party sites.) And the post above yours is wrong; talking through a repeater is not controlling it.

If the repeater is listed as "open" you do not need to request access. It really depends on how often a repeater owner checks their email and logs in to approve requests. There is little a repeater owner can do to prevent people from using a repeater with published tones. There are also radios capable of scanning the tone to gain access, GMRS repeaters really are not secure.

Can any one tell me how to link them?

Great info on this review - thank you!

How does any of this comply with the chevron decision. There has to be a actual Law passed by congress outlawing it before they can make such a rule. What in the law outlaws it not the code? After the chevron decision everything changed. Most of these rules are backed up by no law whatso ever. I have submited this to the FCC. https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/status/detail/confirmation/2025080209512443

Here in FL there've been band openings in the winter & spring when the mornings & evenings have been cool I'm in the Tampa Bay area close to the Gulf & several times I've connected to repeaters up towards the FL Panhandle I know of ops that live on the East side of Tampa Bay that have hit repeaters on the East Coast when the conditions allow it A Tip: on those cool mornings & evenings, check the 162 MHz NOAA weather channels, if you start copying NOAA stations from out of town that's a good indicator of a band opening

Yes.

What about 65 miles on my HT at 5 watts to a SSB station doesn’t work for you?!? It works for me!! OMG: I have an 80-6 meter vertical: all these years communicating with Hams with beams - my whole amateur radio career is trash!!! Geesh!! Let the OP live a little on 2 meters talking to SSB stations. He told you he can’t afford the Icom…

I am new to GMRS. So, I added a request to access a local repeater. The request has gone unanswered (been 5 days, maybe I'm being over anxious?). And, the request is not showing on my home page as PENDING (I would think that requests that have been sent, but not answered, would be PENDING). Query 1: Do most repeater owners answer fairly quickly, am I being too anxious? Obviously, I would like to program my radio for the repeater but I am not going to do so until I receive an acceptance. Query 2: How does the repeater owner control who has access to the radio when frequency, codes, etc. are published for all to see? Thanks, Ron (WSJH953)

No I do not get a commission from Icom or anyone else. The Icom IC-9700 IS the only new VHF/UHF radio available on the market that works on all modes. The only other options are to buy a shack in the box all band/all mode radio or search for a used all band/all mode radio. The issues with using a hand held for side band is the fact that most people using 2m SSSB will be using horizontally polarized antennas while HT antennas are vertically polarized. And this does make a big difference. You can get anywhere between a 15 to 40 dB loss when one person is using a vertical antenna and the other person is using a horizontal antenna. The signal loss will affect how well you hear the other person and also how far you can reach. Another issue is with using double side band. Most people using side band on 2m are going to be using upper side band only. You are splitting your single on both upper and lower side band with the Quansheng. This does have an effect on signal strength. Again I do have a Quansheng and have used it on DSB. But the difference in antenna polarization definitely hinders things.

No sweat, right? I do have some issues with Win 11 sometimes. So I still have Win 10 and XP when needed.

Yes, I'm on a Mac. It's been maybe a decade since I've had to run any Windows app but I just got Windows 11 set up using UTM quite easily. Got the CPS installed.