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The “beat shift” function has nothing to do with signal scrambling. All radios generate internal RF frequencies, from the microprocessors etc. , that can get into the radio’s receiver section. The interfering RF signals are integer multiples of the source. These signals appear as phantom signals, frequently called “birdies”, and may generate rather high signal levels on the radio’s S-meter. What the beat shift does is electronically shifts the frequency the microprocessor runs at so the interfering internal signal is moved off your desired frequency enough to make it undetectable.

Welcome! Please edit the typos in your firmware version numbers (006 vs 009) so as to not cause the next reader as much confusion as it caused me. Once corrected my post will seem superfluous! ?

Nice. Yes, you probably could run it once a day as a cron. If the pi is never restarted and if rc.updatenodelist just runs and sleeps then eventually you’ll have the same problem, but it may take nearly two years! The real question I have is if rc.updatenoelist runs to completion and breaks out of its loop or if it continues running. If it exits eventually then it shouldn’t be gobbling up memory and you could run it as a cron more frequently. It was only because you had like 544 instances running and sleeping that you had problems (that’s what I think anyway).

OK. I can run it manually once in the bash shell if I have my computer. I wonder if setting it to run once a day as a cron if it would still be an issue. What I have now done to assit with not always having the computer with me but my phone and supermon, I made a Favorite command up that allows me to go to favorites and click node list update (I named it) and then execute and it updates it. What I did was create like an A1 command in rpt.conf where the 81 time command is so I could do it via supermon or over the air if I wanted. I also went into /etc/rc.local and made that look like this #!/bin/bash # # rc.local file # Starts Allstar echo -1> /proc/sys/kernel/sched_rt_runtime_us /usr/local/etc/rc.allstar /usr/local/bin/AUTOSKY/AutoSky /usr/local/bin/AUTOSKY/AutoSky.ON /usr/local/sbin/supermon/ast_var_update.sh /usr/local/etc/rc.updatenodelist exit 0 So now when the pi reboots, it automatically loads the mygmrs node list. Dont ask me how I figured this out, it just came to me and it works. Thanks again for the help!

i have the KG-1000's set up for a repeater and pretty happy with their performance, I'm making contacts with mobile's 60 miles out.. I'm, setting on a hillside about 500' overlooking the Indian Wells Valley using a Tram 1182 on 30' mast. I also cleaned up my mobile Duplexer with my Nano, the factory tune wasn't very good. i am concerned about the duty cycle on these KG-1000G radios, they get very hot after about 15 mins of continuous use. I plan to use these as mobile's so I actually have two Maxon 8402A radios on order, they create a repeater much like the KG-1000 but better because they are commercial radios and have a 100% duty cycle. They are also a little cheaper then the KG-1000 radios. If you decide to go with the Maxon's be prepared to wait about 60 days, they are on back order. I'm also using EchoStaton with a RIGblasger for my ID Controller. IMO, this is the best way to go for creating an I'D controller on your repeater. I have mine set up for Voice I.D. with a time and temp stamp. EchoStation has a lot of flexibility and the software is very cheap, only $19 bucks. RIGblaster ties it into the radios via the Mic ports. Very easy to set up.

How large is "our community" (distance, not population), and what type of environment (flat, mostly open fields, or lots of concrete/steel multi-story buildings)? (presuming the GR 575 is using similar specs as in 1997, it has a 50W output feeding a 6dBd antenna to produce 200W ERP, on a near 800ft tower belonging to the city -- as is the grandfathered repeater, in 1997 it was available to public for /emergency/ use only. On a good day, the 6" Midland mag-mount on my rust-bucket can receive it from ~20 miles away). If you are within city limits, you will need to study the zoning regulations... Many cities in my area limit antennas (top) to 35ft above ground (unless one is in a rare four story building [there may be one or two in town center, having been built before zoning laws were a common matter] where it may be 10-25 feet above the roof). 35ft is about the equivalent of residential power lines/poles. The only exception in my town is for /AMATEUR/ antennas -- permitted 75 ft above ground if the lot is large enough that broken tower won't damage neighbors' property. GMRS is not Amateur -- so 35 ft max unless you can get a zoning exemption for a taller tower. If you are in a flat, sparsely populated, region -- you can probably get by with just 5W HTs used outdoors (my aluminum siding and metal roof cause strong attenuation). Note that going from 5W HT to 50W mobile (10dB increase) will probably only double the distance you can reach -- a good (gain) antenna might be more economical. Repeaters gain their distance mostly through antenna height and antenna gain. You'll need a repeater controller that can handle making ID announcements (per the regulations, the only situation in which a repeater does not need an IDer is when ALL users are operating under one license [which means the "immediate family" category] AND said users properly ID with that license's call sign -- IE: a private repeater not accessible to the public). Also, a strict reading of the regulations requires that there be a designated control operator monitoring who can shut down the repeater if it goes wonky (stuck on transmit, etc.), or has some abusive user tying it up. Remote operation is permitted, but that likely means using some other means to contact the repeater and issue commands (if an abusive user -- you might not be able to override them from your own radio so DTMF commands over GMRS channels may not be usable).

Reporting Back: Thumbs up on the "Comet GP-6NC GMRS/FRS Commercial Dual-Band VHF/UHF Base Vertical Antennas GP-6NC"!! It bridged the gap on the TX side and better RX. I'm now able to talk with both repeaters 45-58 miles away during daytime hours in which i could not do before. Many thanks for all the information!!

I really appreciate all the help and information you guys gave me! I am just getting into GMRS so I have a lot to learn and helpful people like you make it easier! Thanks drk1970 I will send request!

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