All Activity

I travel to Charleston a few times a year for work; probably my favorite location on the eastern seaboard. It is really surprising there are no repeaters there...most of the guys I know down there are the kind who would use them. Here in the DC area we have a big selection of powerful repeaters. Of the two I frequent the most, one is 30 miles away, the other 52 miles. I can talk on either from a handheld inside my home. I scan everything and we have far more GMRS than HAM traffic.

Thats cool stuff.

Range will be very good in an aircraft. We have a guy that flies a lot and we can talk to him for a long ways on 2m and 70cm. The range of 70cm will be pretty much the same as GMRS. We really get good range on the repeater while he is flying. The repeater antennas are at 900-950 feet on a 1000 foot tower. We are blessed to have access to the local radio station's backup tower.

It is perfectly legal to us GMRS radio in aircraft over the US and it's territories. I have talked to a friend of mine while in a private plane. I was mobile in Woodbridge Virginia and they were flying as far away as 47 miles from my location.

There you go…. I bet these guys get some good range…. …. &n

95.307…Operation of Personal Radio Service stations in any location outside of those described in the following paragraphs is not authorized by this part. (B)Aboard any vessel or aircraft registered in the United States. With the permission of the captain, while the vessel or aircraft is within or over the United States or its territories, U.S. territorial waters, or upon or over international waters. So, it appears it’s allowed.

There is an aerial acrobatic group that practices out here every Thursday and they use GMRS (or FRS) channel 6, and I've wondered the same thing... But haven't wondered enough to bother looking it up either.

So kicking back at the lake tonight and i catch a conversion with two guys on Ch 16, one pointing out where he off roads in the Kern Canyon.. I can tell they are in Helicopters and I'm assuming two different aircraft. Via the conversations they are returning to Bakersfield after doing aerial surveys somewhere in the Kern Valley.. Not that i really care about these two guys yapping but it got my curiosity going. GMRS is a ground-base communications service, does this mean you or not allowed to use GMRS radios on Aircraft. I guess i'm being lazy, i couid read the rules again,, , but last i did, i certaainly don't recall anything in the rules specifying aircract use..

W.A.G. for the win.

Apparently the Ocala repeater is "down for maintenance" these days.

It is. And they call it a "tactical unit number." I have no idea what is "tactical" about it.

The Tac Number is what they give you when you're a paid member. I'm not longer a Member but I had one for Ocala because that was the repeater in Florida nearest my Home. Ocala 818 I think it was. The trouble is I never used it. When I go to my other home in Gatlinburg I use the other Repeaters that are free and not linked

Maybe the tac number is something they give you when you are a paid club member.

So, I've done some research and I can't figure out what a "tac number" is. There's another metro area repeater that is not part of their network that has also asked me for a "tac number." I assumed it was something GMRS related that I was too green to understand. It is unique to them? As to Zello, I don't think so. I heard some guy the other day saying that he missed it. I guess I'm a little late to the game as I didn't even know what Zello was until a few weeks ago. I downloaded it and put it on my phone for about 10 minutes before I deleted it. Couldn't figure out what I would use it for.

Tac Number. Do they still have it broadcasting on Zello?

Indeedily doodily. What gave it away?

Tac Number? I'm guessing it's the North Georgia GMRS Network?

Really, the only thing you'd have to be careful about is that one of the HTs would have "reversed" offset and you'd have to have a "repeater A" set and a "repeater B" set. Depending upon your use case, it might not matter that "A" radios can't talk to other "A" radios and "B" radios can't talk to other "B" radios via the repeater.

Glad I could help. POTA is fun. Even when band conditions are bad, it's still fun just to get outside and enjoy yourself. Another nice thing about POTA is that it is not a contest and you can work at your own pace. Some want to make as many contacts as possible while others take the time to talk to each person that answers their CQ.

Ok, cool. So it is a game. You've been very helpful, Midwest. I appreciate it!

Yes that is correct. The reason for that is you need at least 10 contacts to activate a park. Plus there is a bonus point for each park to park contact. Here is the official POTA website and rules for POTA activations. https://docs.pota.app

Being old and liking to talk face to face I solved the problem. First a bit of background. Neighbor and her kids survived a home invasion while on 911 waiting for police. The police showed up a couple of hours "after" the invaders left. I helped her and he husband with the use and purchase of that which can't be mentioned here and had an idea. What about a neighborhood "network" where we could check in on those who are elderly or infirm and also allow a call for help from neighbors during emergencies. I went out and talked to my neighbors and some were receptive. So I supplied a few radios to older neighbors, and some bought their own. Nothing official, but it works. No fancy interweb lists or maps, just good old talking with neighbors.

As far as I know, there are two possible but time is needed in getting material and testing completed. People seem to be kinda harsh in these parts from with I have seen as of late. Got to remember, these people are forking out their time and money. I agree with UncleYoda, "I suggest you change the title to "Charleston SC repeater?""

SWR is somewhat important, but tells you nothing about gain or pattern. A dummy load will test nearly perfectly for SWR.

I know that none of you will care, but I'm listening to the paid-for repeater tonight and this guy just keyed up, ID'ed himself as new to group, gave his tac number and callsign, and then asked for a radio check and then roger beep. I should mention that the club has a "no roger beep" rule on the repeater. A couple of seconds go by and this other guy keys up and gives him the appropriate feedback and signs off. Original guy keys back up and thanks other dude and then signs off. Roger beep. About ten seconds go by and this third guy comes on, completely unsolicited, and tells the guy to turn of his roger beep, there's no roger beeps allowed. You should know that if you're a member. Turn it off. A few seconds go by and new guy kerchunks the repeater and roger beeps again. I spit water all over my desk laughing. Carry on...