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I updated the last modified time for the repeater so that it shows as fresh again. Eventually there will be a better method for reporting dead or working repeaters so we don't rely on when the repeater was last updated to determine if it's stale or not.

https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-record-34-000-fine-for-alleged-interference-and-unauthorized-transmissions-during-idaho Idaho man being fined $34k for transmitting on Rescue and Fire emergency freqs during an actual emergency. Don't be that guy, stick to your approved, licensed frequencies, and definitely don't transmit on unauthorized frequencies during a friggin emergency.

Ahh, yeah, that's worse. I didn't see the separate days part...lacking a context, it seemed like it was the 8 times all together as part of one incident. Sympathy status off.

Yeah, that would make a lot more sense if there's more than is being reported. Given that comment you found, that does also support there's more there than Is being covered. Maybe what we're seeing is all they have him dead to rights on Not exactly sympathetic either...seemed big for what was presented, but makes a lot more sense if it was the tip of the iceberg of his activities and just what they could actually nail him with...ala al Capone.

And I was incorrect with my last statement about parity of $24K then and $35K now. According to BigMac Index, $35K today is much less than $24K back then. Data is from inflationchart.com

Oh, I know all about the FUN aspect of it! lol

Wait, what? That's just not possible. He very clearly pointed at ME in his last video and told me I was his favorite, and he didn't want to waste MY time. We need to get to the bottom of this.....

FWIW, I have two versions of this radio (actually there are a few of these under different labels) the DB20G and the AT779UV, and they are identical in every aspect save for the name on them. Indeed, the default startup on DB20G will display 'Anytone', as I'm told the other labeled units do. Depending on who one purchases the radio from seems to dictate what the factory range is. I purchased the AT779UV from Amazon as a 'GMRS' radio, but it came defaulted to Ham Band (with restrictions). Ironically this same radio has a Part 95 FCC ID. The latter I am less concerned about in any event. Regardless, at $100 (average) the radio is a good value for the money even for 'CCR'. Besides, it has a "FUN" button! LOL! ? That said, there are a lot of used Part 90 radios on the market that can be had for about the same price. ?

I think it's up to the owner to respond and mygmrs.com can't really do much about that. Owners are private citizens for the most part and could be away for many different reasons. If the repeater is listed as open, try it when you get in the area. As I understand it, permission really isn't necessary. BTW, 700 moved to Kingstree, SC and covers about 60 miles. It is open so permission isn't really required while you visit.

Yes, his statement is incorrect; once correctly opened up, it will transmit on GMRS, FRS, MURS, 2 meters and 70 cm.

Excuse me, he clearly states in every video that I am his favorite user, and he doesn't want to waste my time.

It seems like there are new and stronger repeaters going up every week lately. It is hard to keep up with them all. I am trying to put together a document with all the specs available. Attached is what I have compiled so far. Maine GMRS Repeaters - 2022-06-09.pdf

The repeater output frequencies are already the standard GMRS frequencies, so yes, you can do that by definition.

This feature really came inhandy last weekend. Our group split up and were on two separate channels.

That BF-F8HP is a ham radio and as you mentioned using it on GMRS would make the FCC very sad. A 'real' GMRS radio is not only FCC "approved" but is also MUCH more simple/easy to use. Which GMRS radio is best for you depends on your specific wants, needs, and desires. But a few to consider would be a Wouxun KG-805G (very simple/easy to use), or something like a KG-935G, or KG-S88G which is also waterproof. If you want something less expensive, I like the Baofeng UV-9G which is not very expensive and is also waterproof.. If you search the Youtubes you will find many reviews and much infos for all of those radios, and many others. And oh, that Nagoya NA-771 is not made for GMRS and will not perform very well.. If you get a GMRS radio, the stock antennas work great and putting the NA-771 would likely reduce your range. You want the NA-771G which is made for/tuned for GMRS.

This instructional video, while specific to the UV-5R, goes menu item by item and explains what they do: How To Use Baofeng UV-5R Menus & All Menu Settings Explained - For UV5R & Other Ham & GMRS Radios

There are several reasons for side mounting. First is increased gain based on height. A taller antenna will talk farther. But unlike GMRS and HAM commercial radio operators are limited by their license on how far their equipment can be talked on from the tower. It's typically on the license as a radius in KM. Legally you can't operate at a distance further than your license allows. To limit that a properly designed system will only talk that far or only slightly more. Another reason for limiting coverage is system design. If you have a DMR system that has multiple sites, you want to limit how far each site talks so the subscribers will vote the sites and switch to the better site as it approaches it. If the system was installed by the old guard types that believe it needs to talk as far as possible, it will not work right. We have such a system that the 100 watt repeaters are turned down to 20 watts. Why 20, because they will not go any lower and it still talks farther than it can hear. Antenna is 675 feet AGL. Cable length is 780 feet and 7/8. Cable loss is 6 dB. Combiner output is 5 watts, and it's DB-420 antenna's. It can be heard forty miles away in some directions but it will only hear for 30 miles and less in some directions. Now that is as extreme as I have seen. But my crap talks and hears at 30 miles on a bad antenna with 6 watts forward and 3 watts reflected on the current antenna. Antenna height is 110 for transmit and 240 for receive. Vertical Real Estate (commercial tower space rental) is calculated by the foot, and by the load. The higher you are and the more you load the tower the more you pay. A tower also has a limited amount of wind loading that it can take. If you significantly exceed that rating bad stuff happens. So it's also a juggling act with the renter to figure out how high they NEED to be for the coverage they want without needing to pay for unneeded height. While we sit and discuss the cost of antenna and line, we typically don't consider the reoccurring cost of rent. We look at a DB-420 and 300 feet of line costing 3 to 5K installed with a side mount arm and wring our hands at the idea of that expense ONCE. When there is a 600 dollar difference PER MONTH for a higher or lower place on a tower, that 5K number seems mundane compared to the cost savings going lower on the tower if the coverage is adequate for the customers need.

Not to mention there is only one 'top spot' and, not every user requires a full omnidirectional pattern. However, many (commercial) tower sites have one massive antenna at the top spot and feed it through RX multi-couplers and transmitter combiners, for customers who want, need, and can afford the 'top spot'. Side arms, in addition to the previously mentioned reasons, are a way to generate even more income to the site owner (more customers). None of this necessarily has anything to do with range, although height rarely is a bad thing. While coverage/range can be predicted, anything short of that is speculation (it depends). Even coverage prediction tools have their limitations. ?

Side mounting antennas is done for several reasons including those already stated. One of the more common reasons is to restrict the radiation pattern from the antenna. The tower is used to cancel a portion of the radiation pattern often to prevent interference to other stations on the same frequency. This often happens with public safety and commercial installations as another user just a few miles away can be on an adjacent channel and their application was approved for coordination with the non-interference requirement.

My understanding is: It’s easier to mount an antenna to the side of the tower (picture the poor tower climber trying to wrestle the antenna into position while being strapped to the tower), lights can be mounted to the tower (but not many antennas), and the tower provides some measure of lightning protection for the antenna.

My question had to do with GMRS use of MDC. However, at the risk of getting into a debate, I'll answer your comment. First, it has nothing to do with modulation and bandwidth, etc... MDC is prohibited (on ham radio) because it is not an open standard. MDC is proprietary, Motorola created and owned, and so for every radio manufactured that includes it, that manufacturer pays a licensing fee that is (one would assume) included in the cost of each radio. For example, were you to build your own radio and wanted to include MDC signalling, you would need to ask Motorola for the specifications of the protocol and (like their other software licensing) have to pay them for the information and the use of their technology. Also like their software licensing, it is highly unlikely that such a request would be granted to an individual/end user. With the above noted, because an individual cannot legally obtain access to the details of the protocol (MDC), and/or use it in a design, it cannot be used in amateur radio. All that said, I am more than aware that there are hams using MDC signalling and that a lot of details of the protocol have leaked out over the years, to the point where one might be able to build a unit and/or write some code to make use of it. However, to the best of my knowledge, it's remains Motorola proprietary and so would remain a closed standard. So how are these people getting away with it? My opinion is that #1. when it comes to rule violations, it's a minor violation. #2, the FCC rarely goes after serious offenders so it's unlikely something like this would ever be pursued (much like the part 90 vs part 95 radio issue). The fundamental difference is that Ham radio and GMRS are two different radio services each with it's own intended purpose, rules and restrictions. Hams are permitted to construct their own equipment, GMRS operates are not allowed to do this. Ultimately GMRS operators are, in many ways, just users and so as our equipment is manufactured, we are generally free to use whatever technologies come with those radios (rules notwithstanding). Even then, the GMRS rules have a lot of caveats in regard to what kind of things we can put into the microphone jack so to say. Hams have very few technical restrictions beyond ensuring bandwidth use and clean signals. What lead to my original question was that MDC seems to still have a lot of debate going on between proponents of its use in amateur radio and those like myself whose understanding of legal operation (when it comes to Ham radio) leans to the restriction on the use of proprietary technology of any kind. Basically, if Joe ham cannot legally build a radio that includes technology 'X', then technology 'X' cannot be used in amateur radio. MDC is one such technology. Many will point out that there are other protocols in use in amateur radio, some of which include technologies that are proprietary to the manufacturer, D-Star for example (Icom). Nevertheless, those protocols and the licensing of them to end users and equipment manufacturers are available. While an end user likely isn't charged a licensing fee, another manufacturer would be. That again, is the fundamental issue. The protocol must be legally available for the end user in amateur/ham radio. While Mototrbo (DMR) and P25 are Motorola creations, both protocols are openly obtainable, indeed published. P25 via/through APCO and Mototrbo is based on one of the ETSI standards. My understanding of such restrictions is based on a long career I had as an engineer with Motorola. That said, It could be, as @Radioguy7268 mentioned, it is possible that patents have expired on MDC. It is admittedly, a somewhat antiquated (but in its full implementation, extremely powerful) protocol. Indeed, it may be that MDC signalling (not the full protocol) is legal because there is little in that subset of the protocol that could be considered as a way to concealing intent or otherwise be considered as a 'cypher' (encryption), which is not legal on ham or GMRS. I don't fear the FCC, but I do like to operate legally as much as possible, and after years working in the communications field, my experience with FCC rules is that one should adhere to the most restrictive interpretation. I don't feel my understanding is simple opinion, but take it as such if that helps. My original question was specific to GMRS and was answered, so I'm done with the issue and have no interest in debating it. Indeed, for the purpose of this GMRS forum any such debate is irrelevant, because MDC is legal on GMRS! All that said... I do apologize if my explanation seems to carry some tone, but I am admittedly upset because I posed the same simple question on a different GMRS forum and the sysop/admin of that forum threatened another user with removal for disagreeing with him, even resorting to a personal attack before threatening removal. Yeah, an admin, over a technical discussion!!! WTF? I enjoy (some) of the discussions that occur here, but really guys, if anyone feels they are personally, nevermind violently, offended because someone has a different opinion, then perhaps that person should stay out of the frey (IMHO). So by all means continue to discuss this one if you must. Just do it with respect and civility. To each their own.

Preface: This thread isn’t to start a war against 2 different manufactures… you do you! I’m sharing the FACTS of what I’ve done here and the experiences that me and my users have had! You can leave the arguments off this thread! Kayyyyyy, thanks, bye! I have to share this success story because it’s worth everyone reading IMO. I will start by stating that I’m well over 5 figures in on the Rugged 575 repeater in Naperville, IL on a commercial tower which has the receive antenna at the top at 300’ and the transmit 50’ further down at 250’ (Which I paid to install). It’s been quite a learning experience and I don’t care how much money you may have; experience wins here! You can check the repeater listing for the back-story and read from the bottom up: https://mygmrs.com/repeater/3838 I’ve had this repeater on air since 8/17/2020. As a whole, it’s worked VERY well for what I need for my family and for the hobby in the suburbs of Chicago. While it doesn’t have near the traffic as other local repeaters (Joliet 550 which is another local only repeater (Not linked) which is also taller), it’s stayed on the air 24/7/365 with zero down time. The repeater was the VERY CHEAPEST component in this ENTIRE build with the antenna, feed line, and tower climbers costing FARRRRRRRRRR MORE of course. In the words of Corey, a $1,000 radio with a $30 antenna is a $30 radio and a $30 radio with a $1,000 antenna is a $1,000 radio. This is and always will remain true and he is correct 100%. With this theory, off I was with a cheap $365 Kenwood TKR-850 which was also aligned by Corey up in Wisconsin (Thanks again for your help here sir!) with a massive antenna and feed line system. It worked VERY well for the last year and a half and is still a working backup system at this point. I was also lucky to finally tie into the sites master UHF receive antenna at the top through a 1-8 split multi-coupler (so no duplexer as I’m using 2 different antennas) which made ALL the difference in the world VS using 1 antenna with a duplexer. Fast forward a year and a half later we come to the Motorola Quantar which I finally had the time to take on and install and has been installed for about 2 weeks now with ZERO changes since I left the tower site! This Motorola Quantar repeater *IS*, up until now 2/26/2022, the best repeater you can get according to the people I’m surrounded by that know more than I do about it – You all know who you are! They are *ALL* right (again, I never said they were wrong!). I never doubted them or thought they were wrong, but I wasn’t “in tune” with the whole, IMO, “overhyped” Motorola game to say the least. (Can you blame me?!) Here it is in plain text: I WAS WRONG ABOUT MOTOROLA. In particular the receive is INSANE, which always has been the selling point of this particular repeater and it’s one of the main reasons why this repeater excels over Kenwood (and others I’m sure but I cannot comment as I have no personal experience) ... It’s hard to fully explain in writing but the Quantar has *ALL* the things that “normal” repeaters (any brand other than Motorola) simply don’t have and simply put, it runs C-I-R-C-L-E-S around the Kenwood TKR-850. Without getting too complicated, a pre-selector being the most important part is key here combined with a receiver that makes a Kenwood look like a children’s play toy. The experts that know more about it can explain better but it’s more of a “system” than “just a repeater”. This is why it takes up 3 times more rack space and sucks down electricity like Darjeeling even at standby… Anyways, getting on 2 separate antennas with 50’ of vertical separation was the first BIG step basically doubling the usable coverage especially for hand held radios which was done last year. The 2nd step was the Quantar which doubled everything yet again. Many of you see Quantars on Ebay for $800 or $1,000 bucks and its hit or miss… I can assure you that by the time you’re done getting it CORRECTLY tuned and shipping it to and back, you can simply DOUBLE that number. I’ll put the numbers below so you can actually see but it’s NOT cheap. Sunny Communications out of Cali has done me right numerous times and they are the one that provided this Quantar this time too! Now for the tuning: A big shout out to Mark Dannon at Northcomm in Plano, TX. This man deserves a gold medal and is a FORCE to reckon with. His intelligence, experience, and overall willingness to not only help and DO IT RIGHT from beginning to end is just the start in addition to his post-sales support. He has equipment that your normal “radio shop” simply doesn’t have, and he *DOES* do it better. I’d even challenge ANY radio shop to tune a Qunatar, then send it to him and he’d make it even better. I’m LITERALLY not a spokes person for this guy or his company and I am *NOT* being paid to put this review here but what he has *IS BETTER* than any other “radio shop” and he specializes in Motorola Quantars too. I have to iterate this loud and clear that your repeater is only as good as the equipment that tuned it and this guy has it all dialed in and WILL run circles around others even with “$40,000 worth of equipment” (measly) … Trust me here as he has far more than that… In closing, I want to state some insane improvements which the numbers show in plain text proving its worth. I’m redacting names and call signs but if you read this and recognize the scenario then you know who you are!! 1) A gentleman in the SAME TOWN only 6 miles east, in a VERY, VERY hard to service area in low elevation next to several high rises blocking the signal couldn’t even get in on an HT 6 miles away, had to stand on his balcony to BARELY SCRAPE IN now get in now gets in FULL QUIETING on a 5W HT anywhere in his apartment. 2) A gentleman 59 miles away who could barely scrape in 2/10 quality on his 50W mobile and couldn’t even hear the repeater on his HT now gets in 9/10 almost full quieting on his mobile and can hear a conversation loud and clear in his living room on an HT 59 miles away with the same 50W of power going back out. Even better, he can get in 4-5/10 quality on his 5W HT but he has to be OUTSIDE to do so… Literally how is this possible… The curvature of the earth alone is in the way. No this isn’t a band opening; this is EVERY DAY…. 3) Personally, I could scrape in with a 1/10 quality (literally all static) on the first level of my sister’s house in Downers Grove, IL which is only a measly 11.15 miles away from the tower is now 8/10 almost full quieting on the first level on a 5W HT (Tree city, trust me here). Was 6/10 on house level 2 is now 10/10 loud & booming full quieting from the 2nd level of her house on the same 5W HT. 4) Another gentleman hasn’t EVER even been able to even key the repeater from his work on a 5W HT can now get in with a 7/10 in quality. More perfection… 5) And for me personally… I’m only 9.5 miles from the repeater at my house…. Not far, right? Except when I wiggled/moved around just a bit people couldn’t tell I was moving around…. Now I can be crazy with my 5W HT and hold it sideways like you see in the movies (DUMB), walk around while talking and literally no one even notices… Literally no picket – fencing… Like some magical sorcery… Literally I’m not making this up… Upon talking to others, we’ve noted that the Kenwood TKR-850 was a $1200 - $1600 repeater when new VS the Quantar being $20,000 - $25,000 new…. Well, it shows… Damn does it show… I’d encourage ANY wide area repeater owner to upgrade whatever system you have to a Motorola Quantar (With the right tuning!!!) and TRUST me, you and your users will be glad you did. I’m not knocking Kenwood (Well I am for their repeaters) but literally the Quantar has it beat hand over fist! Sorry, this might sting to some but for others it’s a “Duh, I told you so” situation! I still have THOUSANDS of dollars’ worth of GOOD Kenwood radios… (NX300’s, NX800 Mobiles, TK8360’s, etc etc etc) and I’m *NOT* going to go and replace them all…. I’m still going to use them; but I’ll be DAMNED if I don’t think twice…. THREE times before considering another radio purchase and trust me, I have a LOT of radios lol! They say Motorola invented the 2-way radio and now I see how & why. Thanks for your time and feel free to comment and leave questions below. I’ll do my best to answer them between work and life.

[ slams mouse, rushes outside for a fight ]