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Emphasis mine. I'll second this sentiment.

how can i connect and use a repeater in my area, i have no idea how? Any video somewhere that shows me how to do it?

Over the past few days, I have seen posts popping up with the title card "looking for a repeater near ____" I have answered a couple of them thinking it was just a new user who wasn't sure how the site worked yet, but being there has been an increase in these posts I figured I would make a quick post about it. The Admins and Mods that run the forum have made it clear that they DO NOT WANT REPEATER INFORMATION TO BE RELEASED ON THE FORUMS! This is to cut down on non-licensed transmissions on active repeaters. This means no member will post a repeaters frequencies or tone codes in a post. However, there are tools that MyGMRS provides to you once you prove you have your license so that you can find repeaters near you. First there is the repeater directory which can be found here; https://mygmrs.com/browse This allows you to search by state, frequency, if the repeater is open to the public or not, and will give you most of the information you need to get into a repeater. Likewise it is handy to determine what frequencies are available if you wish to open your own system. Second is the map; https://mygmrs.com/map Which allows you to look at a map of the US and find repeaters that way. Note, you may still need to look up the repeater in the directory to get tone info and request access. If you can hear a repeater on your radio but cant find it on MyGMRS.com, your next bet would be to scan the tones to see if you can find the one they are using, send your callsign over, and inquire about the repeater to find out if its open access or private use. If you remain respectful, the members usually wont give you a hard time and often will explain how to get permission to use a private repeater.

Hey Ya'll, I'm new to it all. Right or wrong I have a couple of radios off ebay coming. I have read alot of information here. Thanks for that. I am interested in gmrs for several reasons including travel back up communications, family communications and possibly data if that becomes a thing. WRDE414

It looks like I am indeed incorrect. Rick W. seems to have found the proper code to reflect the definitions. Corey provided a good example of what a fixed station could be used for. Links to the Part 95 definitions §95.303 - https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1cb28060b7f7df22392a5a49bdfb627c&mc=true&node=se47.5.95_1303&rgn=div8 Base station. A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. Fixed station. A station at a fixed location that directly communicates with other fixed stations only. §95.1767 - https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1cb28060b7f7df22392a5a49bdfb627c&mc=true&node=se47.5.95_11767&rgn=div8 (1) The transmitter output power of mobile, repeater and base stations must not exceed 50 Watts. (2) The transmitter output power of fixed stations must not exceed 15 Watts. Since there is no restriction based on hardware type, but rather only in practical application, you can run a 50 watt radio out of your house/apartment/condo/etc., assuming you are talking to any of the other types of units beyond just a fixed station. The following is just my opinion... Call it what you want, GMRS licensing is intended for families to use to make their life easier and more entertaining. I am making this assumption because my license is valid for everyone in my immediate family. This is too much for a family to use as a tool and "know" they are in compliance. The worst part is, I am sure that many of us are professional geeks in IT or RF... and we are struggling to come to a consensus. The best part is, at least no one is arguing and we are working together to figure out the right answers. That says a lot about the group. You guys are awesome...

I talked to Tracy Simmons at the FCC Gettysburg and he stated there is nothing in the rules about commercial users on FRS while using them for flagging operations. As far as getting a 90.35 license for flagging operations the BILT coordinators are very loathe about doling out nationwide licenses. Why nationwide? Your choices are either a fixed radius site-based, county wide, state wide or national. As flagging operations most often fall into the temporary category of being at a location less than a year they also run into the issue of other users on the same channel with higher powered mobiles or base stations. Low-power FRS just fills the bill for what they are doing.

I actually do precisely this whenever our local ham club and local GMRS club conduct "joint emcom nets". Since I am a licensed GMRS station as well as a licensed amateur operator, I handle the 'test message' traffic from one group to the other... I just have to remember which 'hat' I'm wearing whenever I grab for the mic!