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In my experience, that's actually pretty rare, but the few a-holes make a lot of noise. Most of the hams I know have the attitude that different services are for different purposes, but radio is radio. I'll bet at least half of them have GMRS licenses. Many (most?) hams are old enough to have grandchildren, and we help them learn the basics on GMRS. Don't listen to the haters. They're wee todd it.

I bought the Wouxun Mobile Magnet Mic Hanger for my KG-XS20G+ radios thinking it was a good alternative to the included mic hangers. The problem, after installing the Magnet Mic Hanger, it's magnet seemed too weak to hold mic securely to a metal surface. In fact, going back to look at the product reviews I found this was the common complaint! However, the problem is not the magnet, but the supplied round head mounting screw. The round head screw doesn't seat deep enough in the magnet's bevelled mounting hole. This prevents the magnet from making full contact with a metal surface. (See first pic) The fix is to either replace the mounting screw with the proper flat head version or bevel the under side of the supplied round head screw so it will seat properly. I chose the latter because its a quick fix using a drill press and jeweler's flat file. (See second pic) Lastly, the before and after vid. PXL_20250429_195511411~3.mp4

GMRS repeaters have the same exact propagation characteristics as 70cm. I'm aware of this as you are. But 70cm doesn't have a prohibition against linking. The point I was making was that it's possible the OP was hearing a 70cm repeater that was legally linked -- a very common practice -- as opposed to hearing a GMRS repeater that is illegitimately linked -- a much less common practice nowadays.

Hello, Retevis just released a relatively inexpensive repeater the RT97L 25 watt if you are interested. Nevin

One advantage of amateur radio is that there are repeater counsels to help prevent that kind of mess. Though that is harder to do with GMRS repeaters since there are only 8 repeater channels available.

Yes, I see that now. Unfortunately, where I live in rural Nor Cal, you can't swing a dead cat around without hitting somebody's "private" repeater. Often on the same frequencies and tones. Might as well shut my radios down and throw them away. A shame that "public" frequencies aren't "public".

WSDA629, I'm one state over, near Saratoga, NY... I'm pretty sure there isn't an east overshoe vt. Wherebouts are you in VT? In my area I have only found one repeater that I can use, out of Troy. My son and I use it sometimes, just for the thrill of being miles from each other and can talk, which just means we're still kids using two tin cans with a string. We also play with fire and laugh when someone says Lake Titicaca.

From what I see (1705-d-2&3) there is no provision against using a random repeater without permission. However there is a provision about not using one if the owner has told you specifically you can not use it. Or they may limit who can use specificly can use it. It seams like to be in any violation a specific person would have to be told by the repeater owner they could not use the repeater.

Well There You Go........ An Opinion By "Some People" About An Opinion Where Their Opinion Doesn't Actually Matter - Except To "Some People." Now I Understand.........

Thanks so much. I should be hear by Friday. Just need to get some one on my tower now. Thanks for your help.

Bickering implies that a counter position is taken because I care about the other persons opinion and how it reflects on me and my initial position.... which definitely is not the case. LoL /wordsalad

Fair enough. I have read the part 95 GMRS regs over and over and I don't see it. Maybe someone else can clarify.

I *think* there is an FCC rule buried somewhere about not using repeaters without permission? But I will yield to anyone that knows/cares more about it than I do.

If no rules or laws have been broken, what would be the basis of the complaint? A serious question.

They can complain to the FCC who, based on their record of enforcement over the last 15 years, statistically speaking, will do nothing.

Sure. But as a licensed GMRS user, I can transmit on any public GMRS frequency, using any public tone, without breaking any rules or laws. Legally, what can you do about it?

Correction: Based on the FCCs "enforcement" record over the last 15 years for H.A.M.s radios, GMRS, and CB radio, they apparently do NOT like to enforce their rules.

Yes, anyone licensed can transmit on any GMRS channel. BUT, you can not use MY radio without MY permission. That repeater is MY radio!

I'd suggest leaving the factory channels as they are. It's pretty much plug and play out of the box. Just change the tone required (in your case 159.8) for what channel (frequency) you want to use. Then go to "edit" on top of the screen and "option features" and change the default channel if you are using something other than .550 (channel 1) if you have a power outage but don't know if this step is actually required. That should be about all you need to get up and running.

He is "that guy" and falls into the category of "some people". It must be nice to have money to just throw away like that.

Yup, I stand corrected. FCC likes to enforce "rule." Or at least they say they do. LOL

CORRECTION: Not "illegal", but a violation of FCC rules..

OffRoaderX is correct and Like others said, charging for repeater access or a club fee is not illegal. Making it a commercial venture and profiting from it is illegal. If a person properly sets up a non-profits and "plows" back any potential profit and keeps the rest for maintenance, administration, upkeep, more repeaters etc... its not hard to do. As mentioned, be a pillar of the GRMS community, spend the thousands of dollars to set up a high quality public use repeater, hundreds to thousands a month on tower fees, set up good back up power, and put up with all the BS that goes with repeater ownership. Do you think you your thoughts on charging for access to a repeater might change a bit? Perhaps.

I know a guy here on this forum that regularly/ALWAYS gets 200+ miles on all of his radios.. He apparently does this by purchasing every radio ever made and if it does not get 200+ miles, he just throws it directly into the trash.. All of his "friends" also do the same thing, so this method obviously works.

Tropospheric ducting is more common in spring and fall when there is bigger change in temperatures between sunrise and a few hours afterwards. I live in Central Missouri and can talk to people in Springfield Illinois on GMRS when there are good openings. The distance is between 115-120 miles. We also occasionally will hear out of state repeaters using the same frequencies and tones come across our repeaters when conditions are just right. This happens on our 2m, 70cm, and GMRS repeaters.