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The name has changed and as of four months ago appears to be moving to a new home. If you scroll down in the comments you’ll see that it’s the same repeater formerly known as Joaquin Ridge but the name has changed to Hepsedam Peak. It’s listed as offline at the moment. Here is a quote from the site (I suspect they meant PAPA 32). “Repeater has been removed Ham took over With PAPA31 Repeater So new Site Listed and should be up soon 2025“

Give us two or so examples of the repeater frequencies

you'll probably start listening, tune to some repeater and then get the urge to chat with someone.. Although you won't go to jail havine a friendly conversion with someone i think you would be more comfortable throwing back a call sign to end your conversation.. I started on GMRS yacking with friends witout a license, then decided i wanted to join some repeaters but did'nt feel comfortable doing so without my $30 Lic... Lic really not needed, but i recomend it

If you use the belt clip and walk around all day with the radio on your hip, it will help you get chicks!

If you have to ask it's not for you. Have a nice day.

575 and 600 have a decent footprint. If you are a member of AZGMRS 550 has a good footprint also. Better than 725. There is a tone of repeaters across the valley, they just are not as high up as the others.

Honestly, I haven't kept an ear on things, so I haven't heard in a bit if it was up or down. Was searching the repeater listings today, and wasn't even able to find it listed. last I remember, there was some wording on the listing about attempting to track down someone with knowledge of/access to the repeater, but can't see the listing now to see if that updated.

Then it is, by definition, NOT a "GMRS" repeater!

I have now gotten the program downloaded, but getting an Out Of Band error when I input my repeater frequencies

Except for at least one GMRS repeater in Florida that changes the offset in order to avoid a conflict with maritime communications. That’s the only reason I didn’t say ALWAYS.

Just for clarification: Not almost always, for GMRS its just plain ALWAYS .

Maybe you're too young to remember the old phone system when AT&T (and then regional Bells) owned everything. But back then every town of any size had a local phone office. And there were more copper wire lines coming in from customers than there were between offices. The lines between offices were the "trunk". And it's one reason why we got the message all circuits are busy. Public service and 911 dispatch have more officers in the field than they have frequencies for. So trunking systems choose an available frequency for the officers/firemen/EMS to communicate without them having to switch around to find an open channel. But, trunking isn't something we need or would even benefit from. We are better off with our independent stations and the frequencies we have. I knew firemen in my hometown who were buying UV5Rs to get around some of the limitations of their official radios.

Good points

The idea of trunking is confusing to me. Control frequencies, talk frequencies, DEC's... not sure how it all works.

It sounds like you’re consistently making a similar mistake, maybe even exactly the same mistake. Transmitting through a normal repeater requires that the following be correctly configured: 1A. Transmission on the correct frequency in the 467 MHz main channel list. 1B. Inclusion of the correct tone (CTCSS) or code (DTCSS) which is called the Input tone relative to the repeater. Receiving from a repeater requires only that you are tuned to the correct frequency as listed below: 2A. Reception on the correct frequency in the 462 MHz main channel list. Note that these frequencies are almost always exactly 5.000 MHz lower than the frequencies you transmit on to the repeater. That difference is referred to as the Offset. 2B. You don’t need to have a receive tone or code in your radio in order to hear the repeater, but if you do include a tone or code it must match what the repeater outputs. If you don’t use a tone or code on the receive side you will receive everything transmitted on that same frequency.

Think about it... a lot of people have FRS radios and GMRS uses those frequencies too but with more power. Your communication options with hams will be much more limited. It seems that way, but the reality is people won't stay interested. Some won't use or even keep their radios charged. They will pay more attention when they need it. My approach is coordinate with people already interested in radio for now and wait to go knock on doors (or do flyers/signs) until the dark times when people will see the benefit.

Sure looks like it to me

I guess what do you want to know about them? Does trunking radio make sense to you, or are you stuck on how that is done?

I know it's one of the few repeaters on GMRS that covers the entire valley and that I can hit with my HT. To say it's important is an understatement.

Just bought my Katie a Uniden sds100 for her B-Day. She literally cried she was soooo happy. I got it pretty well programmed with some help from YouTube. But I've been trying to research p25 and trunked systems just to try to learn about it, and DUUUUUDE!!!! Most of the info I find, I'll just say, I need to do research on the research. I'm not sure why it's so hard for me to find info that's not designed to make things more confusing. Maybe something with illustrations and not some monotone nerd staring at the camera whilst droning on like he reads a dictionary for fun. Anyhow, I'm super intrigued by p25 and trunked systems. And I have a feeling it's easier to understand than what I'm finding so far. Does anyone here have any links to good sources of info to learn about these systems?

I am happy to try to help; but I need more facts from you. I purchased a DM-1701 from AliExpress a few months ago specifically to see how easy it was to install OpenGD77. It was very easy and I gave it away to a new Ham who made a donation to our local Repeater Club. Did it come with its own USB programming cable or did you separately provide one? What type computer and OS are you using? Did you download the OpenGD77 files before the recent attack on their website?

It's always fun to see how these threads evolve. From setting up a neighborhood watch listing on this sight, to what exactly a base station is. You guys are great!! By the way, it it's grid down, SHTF... GMRS won't be my choice. Most likely a number of pre programmed random frequencies and a good set of AR-5RM's. If you want to set something up for your neighborhood, I think it's best to do it in person. But, then again, I've never tried it. But now that I've read this whole thread, Me thinks me will. Thanks for the inspiration @UncleYoda

Yeah, that's an important clarification to my post. THANK YOU for pointing that out!

Been working on this with Midland support. So far nothing has worked. They asked that I send the unit back. They want to do a firmware update. It's on its way back to them now. Turns out that I am not hitting the repeater with the Baofengs either. I assumed I was because I could talk from one Baofeng to the other. But once I got beyond 6 miles there was nothing. The repeater has a est. 50 mile range. I sent a picture of my CHIRP settings on the Baofengs to the repeater operators asking for help. Have not heard from them. So all in all, not going well, except for non-repeater traffic.

For a while, before it was deactivated "?" it was linked to the Auberry repeater on the east side of the valley. As far as I know, it hasn't been on the air for many months. I check for it every time I come down into the valley. I was over in Coalinga a while back and scanned all of the repeater frequencies and didn't hear anything. The repeater was located on Joaquin Ridge to the east of Coalinga. I have not heard anything regarding the demise of the repeater.