Leaderboard

I lost my license while talking an unlicensed user, Seriously.... I have no idea where I put it. I ended up having to print another copy. Ah.... I'm just joking. I didn't lose my license, but i did get a strongly worded scolding from the club president. He said "Don't feed the monkeys."

It would nice if they did. This topic should be split off into a separate thread. However some of the benefits might be lost along the way, increased channel capacity and lower battery drain. People are confused enough trying to figure out repeaters, offsets and tones. Now you want them to understand talk-groups, color codes and time slots? I suspect if it ever does get approved it will look more like the DMR446 license free service you see in Europe as a DMR tier 1 service. There the radios transmit on both time slots I believe from a few websites I've been too looking for info. The later might be country specific. So much for added channel capacity and lower average TX power savings. What they do for talk-groups I'm not sure. https://kenwoodcommunications.co.uk/files/file/comms/uk/pmr446/PMR446-White-Paper-V6_18AUG2016_JT_KB.pdf They also have dPMR446 which uses FDMA, which is very similar to NXDN. Note they have several different codecs that can be used. You can find the Chinese dPMR radios, most are really DMR (TDMA) based, while a few are FDMA but use some Chinese specific version of a codec that is not compatible with the AMBE+2 you typically see in NXDN, P25 and DMR radios from the major manufactures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_private_mobile_radio Confused? Yes they have three different modes used on their license free service, the equivalent to our FRS radios. It seems to work for them so I don't see why it won't here.

One reason why many people run their repeaters for their own use and others they trust only. This is a lot easier in the amateur bands as there are so many more options and variables. GMRS radio use, well, people can figure it out easily if they know what they are doing.....and more reason to not even acknowledge the trolls, jammers, or other people that mis-use the radio system in play. Sort of like school yard bullies, unless you are ready to draw blood to prove a point, you only feed them what they want, acknowledgement and the thought that they have power over you. I see this on here at times, people that bully others, to make themselves look more important, or reply with flippant answers, attempting to belittle others, this does impact the usefulness and utility of this site (and is most likely why it has not grown as quickly as other radio related sites). Great advice has been given, do not "feed" these people or it gets worse. Some ways around this, use radios that have voice inversion (yes, some had/have this), do not acknowledge that you even hear these users, change channels, tones, or get off the air for a while. They do go away if they think they are unsuccessful. There will always be those that engage, and then rant about being jammed, trolled, or doxxed because of it, but it does not have to be you, if you keep it quiet. For clubs, business users, and individual families; bad news stays internal, good news goes public.

I agree with that club president and the OP, that talking to jammers/dickheads just lets them know they're doing a good job and gives them the attention that their mother never gave them as a child, but I really want to hear more facts from @WRQC527 about the FCC pulling licenses for talking to unlicensed operators.

This sounds very serious! Can you tell us how many have lost their license (ham or gmrs) for talking to an unlicensed operator in the last 10 years?

You bet.... hopefully it has what you need.

I will dig into it. At first glance, it looks like a great starting place. Thank you greatly!

Have you run across this post? https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/295-repeater-linking-discussion/?do=findComment&comment=36613&_rid=2738 I realize it's far into a topic that started a while ago, but that one includes a link to a quick start guide and links for images to use with the rPi.

It's interesting that your compadres in the HAM world chastise you for using the airwaves as a form of communication rather than just a medium to run their cools gadgets on. I look at my radios like any other appliance. I'm not a HAM guy, but since you are, 73's.

That can vary from region to region. I've had my GMRS for almost 5 years, got it back when it was a 5 year for $70, and I just bought my first radio, Midland MXT275, in March while camping in Florida when I finally heard GMRS users on a local repeater through my part 90 radio I use at races that I was using as a scanner. Prior to that I was borrowing a radio while on trips to the mountains of NC (US-129) with a group of car enthusiast. I had some decent conversations with them while camping between races down there. After getting back to my home area I connected to the local repeater (Newport 575) and most I seem to get around here is a radio check confirmation.

Same here. If I figure out they have no license, whether it's GMRS or ham, I ignore them. And like you, I got the GMRS license so my wife and I can keep in contact on repeaters when I'm off exploring outside of cell coverage, since she's not really interested in the ham license.

Yeah, programming DMR radios is definitely not for the inexperienced (or the impatient). LOL!

No! Don’t do it!!! Elon Musk is going to buy myGMRS and reactivate Trump’s account!?!?

OK, but a closed-fist bro hug. I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea. This would be sort of unprecedented, too. A Ham/GMRS hug. Like a Begin/Arafat handshake. As you probably guessed, I have zero tolerance for anyone who interacts with or discusses jammers on the air. If scaring them with toothless FCC threats gets their attention, it's worth the ridicule I get here. I didn't pay my $35 plus a $12 annual repeater access fee to listen to a bunch of morons argue with a bunch of dickheads, jammers, and malicious operators.

You can get the optional spring and swap out the lower section in case you forget for that antenna. I recommended that for a buddy at work and he installed it.

I believe Motorola’s patent on MDC has expired. That would mean it’s no longer even a “proprietary” signaling system. The patents are listed at the end of the below article on Wikipedia. The technical details are known how it functions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDC-1200 Several of my Kenwood commercial radios have it. For example the TK-3360. https://pdfs.kenwoodproducts.com/16/TK-2360&3360Brochure.pdf The radio can be easily programmed to work on GMRS, however it’s only certified for Part 90 so it’s not strictly legal to use except on Part 90 and the Ham 70cm band. Personally I’m more interested in seeing the FCC to allow some form of digital voice to be used. I think people favor DMR. If they allow NXDN my NX-300’s are already certified for Part 95A. I can use them on GMRS FM currently. https://comms.kenwood.com/common/pdf/download/301_NX200-300.pdf NX-300 FCC Grant - 1.pdf

I think a good lawyer would argue that proprietary encoding is not encryption. Encryption is intentionally done for the singular purpose of concealing the meaning of messages. A proprietary encoding scheme makes it very easy to decode the messages; you just have to buy the interface.

And you base this on... A guess? Anyway, you would be guessing wrong as I have tested the MXT400, MXT500, MXT275 and MXT575 on narrow/wideband. I dont have a fancy deviant meter - the difference can easily be heard with a regular human ear.

I used XTS5000's while in the military, which were great radios for P25, as for GMRS use, I want something smaller, lighter, and more recent. Mobile it is a combination of Motorola XPR5550e and CDM1550 LS+, and handheld it is XPR6550/7550e radios. That XTS5000 is just too big to be lugging around unless I am using it for something else as well. Still, the XTS5000/3000/2500/1500 proliferate my own collection, as that is what I have supported in a long career, both military and civilian, and they continue to be used as long as parts and batteries are available. As another posted before, it is nice to have the XTVA option, switching radios as needed and having a Hand Held Control Head and multiband antenna installed on the roof. +1 on buying Model 3's as well, you will want Front Panel Programming, and a display....I do this with XTS2500's and pretty much any radio I expect to use a lot. That display comes in handy for troubleshooting when you need to do so.

It's not "largely" an empty threat, it is 100% an empty threat, based on the FCC's track record.. And for clarification for anyone following along at home, the ONLY penalties the FCC has levied in the last 10 years has been for doing things far and beyond anything that most rational people would even consider doing - and even then, they've only issued a handful.... and least I forget, paying the FCC for a license does not, in any way make anyone accountable for anything. It only makes one accountable if/when they choose to announce their callsign. But as mentioned, I DO agree, that feeding the radio-monkeys (aka dickheads, jammers, malicious operators) is a bad idea, so we can still hug. ?

That’s my thought as well. If you’ve never put up a repeater, don’t list it prematurely; you don’t know what you don’t know. If you have done a half dozen successfully, go ahead and list it.

The only problem with listing them is really getting a repeater on the air. There are tons of repeaters on the list that have never went on the air. I'm all for adding if your seriously adding one, but if you dont have equipment or plans I'd wait. Too many people look at the repeater map and program a radio to use a repeater that's not there. With that said there are guys who spend alot on getting a repeater online and they do follow thru with the work. Dont want folks to think everyone lists and doesn't do the work.

Thanks for taking time to read and respond, I'm just looking for a solution to increase my overall connectivity in my semi truck as I travel randomly all over the lower 48. I do think the proper term is Radio to VOIP, or Roip, not completely sure. I do believe I inadvertently misused the term "Simplex Repeater" and probably confused the issue in so doing. There are some rasberry Pi based solutions to accomplish what I'm trying to do. But apparently the are some political issues with those solutions here on this network so this may well be a lost cause for the time being. I believe there are other solutions that would accomplish the goal also, it will be a learning curve for me and there are still the political problems that are completely beyond my control. I won't say its impossible, but probably unfeasible for now.

You can do it now. I would just add a note in the description with it's current "test" status. You can update the listing as often and as much as you'd like.

Old racks and the new ones. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

I can't even begin to describe how ignorant and arrogant you sound. You clearly have zero practical experience in amateur radio, how the operators are integrated within local, state and federal emergency response plans, nor the overwhelming success the amateur radio community has had serving in actual national emergencies. The assumption that every operator is a decrepit, overweight, old man whom needs rescuing is laughable at best. Sorry @OffRoaderX I know that has Sad Ham written all over it... but I have to draw the line somewhere. LOL

I don't have issue with a national net once a month to give guys a chance to chat with others outside their normal operating area or system. But there are some concerns I would have with control operators and backup control operators being on the same node or even the same repeater if the links bounced. A net is of course run by the CO. If all of a sudden there was no CO, the net work fall apart, and if that happened a couple of times the net would just fall apart. I would advise that there be a CO for each major node at minimum when the nodes are tied and the net starts so someone can keep things going while the links reset or to run the net on their node so things don't spiral out of control. Of course those CO's would need enhanced control ability to drop individual repeaters off ANY node that became an issue during net operations. Beyond that, there should be a preplanned set of topics to discuss and all the normal net stuff, again so that there is a reason to join the net to begin with. That of course is a problem with HAM nets. Lack of compelling topics to keep people engaged. Once people stop showing up, there is little use of having a net.

The correct answer is "It depends" .. anything else is only a guess.

I live near the Kempner VFW, just off Boys Ranch Road in a RV/mobile home park just off 2657 and behind Kempner Oaks Baptist Church. It's in a bit of a hole, but not too bad. I was able to reach the Troy repeater from that hole; that's nice coverage. I may look into a base setup with at least a J-pole as the antenna, but that's down the road a little bit.

My favorite GMRS handheld.

HAM ...

What exactly is a "BIG" repeater? I am curious. Why would Oil and Gas be using GMRS when they are obviously a business, and would benefit from more exclusive system/frequency assignments and technology modes? You can use that CB whip... have fun. If you have never used a "wimpy" 6 inch whip (1/4 wave) UHF antenna and seen that the results are very good, not to mention they solve alot of installation problems I suggest a try. Everyone wants to run to bigger-better theory which is a bit off for radio. Gain antennae are a crutch. The standard 1/4 wave is a good antenna. That 102 is a 1/4 for CB....that's why it worked so well for it.

Nets are not a 'Ham Radio' thing, but are admittedly common in that hobby. Many (non ham radio) disaster agencies operate nets on a regular schedule. That said, national nets, especially those that depend on links (i.e. internet) tend to get unruly when participation is large, not to mention multiple time zone issues. The links can (and frequently do) drop, however long or short in duration, leaving many participants in the affected area out of the conversation. Occasionally the net control falls into that issue as well. As @gortex2 suggested, and this is quite true for GMRS being analog FM, national nets tie up a lot of repeaters. At least with digital technologies such as, for example, DMR, nets can be national in nature (above negatives not withstanding) and not tie up communications for others. There are check-in nets and there are 'rag-chew' nets (which can be fun with or without a discussion topic), and many others types. Having said all that, some nets do serve a very good purpose. However, I have to agree with @mbrun regarding a national net and opt for more 'localized' nets with a clear purpose. Personally, I'm not a fan of (most) nets, but neither am I against them ('to each their own'). Just my personal opinions...

I am in Tampa area. One year with GMRS license. There were no working repeaters in our area a year ago. Now we got like 6 of different range. I can reach one repeater from inside of my house with 935g. About 18 miles away from me. Very pleased that people actually expanding GMRS network. Not a lot of chatter but most of the time I do repeater check, someone is responding.