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oh ok. my apologies.

Although I don’t know him personally, Marc isn’t the type to act that way. I think his question was because cable loss is usually described in dB, not percent and hearing it referred to as a percentage was slightly confusing.

No - it really couldn’t. A repeater works by transmitting while it receives. If you disconnect the receiver while it’s transmitting you prevent the repeater from repeating; it has nothing to transmit. Repeaters are only able to work because transmitters transmit on a completely different frequency from the receiver AND duplexers (or antenna locations) filter out the high power RF that is being transmitted to prevent it from entering the receiver and causing feedback or actual damage. The input stage of a receivers must be very sensitive to “hear” a signal at any distance. Being connected to the same feedline as a transmitter is like having a gun go off right next to your ear. Turning off a receiver after the transmitter has completed transmitting does nothing but prevent future use of the repeater.

Figured starting a topic to start an area of discussion on getting connected to one another around Anchorage. The current listed repeater in Anchorage (WRCA670) on mygmrs hasn't been updated in over 4 years and doing some research that I could find on another Alaska GMRS FB group that the repeater hasn't been heard in a long while. So my conclusion is that it no longer exists unless someone can give a different answer. I'm going to ask if anyone here has a definitive GMRS Channel that Anchorage uses as an open contact usage or have one agreed upon our group to be made public for others to make contact or for emergency (thinking from what happened in December 2022 with 50% of our annual snow in a week and everyone getting stuck) I suggest maybe using CB Channel guides (Channel 9 for during city wide emergencies; Channel 19/17 for driving) but maybe using Channel 1 as an open bridge for contact?

All be it a nice CCR, IMO ?

Sure ! I will try your suggestion again. Further information ... moved to Windows 7 laptop, it finds the Com Port but unable to do the read. It talks about a bad format. So, for fun I put the power supply on the 97. Display lights ... but the controls don't act like the manual that came with the unit. LONG press up / down is channel UP / DOWN. Short press UP/DOWN is VOLUME UP/DOWN (a surprise but maybe good because I have an old URIx and PI waiting). LONG PRESS UP AND DOWN to see the PL tones. Are we having fun yet ??? I must have firmware that doesn't match the PC app (ignoring the comm port issue). Dimensions (including things sticking out): 11.5 W X 8.25 H X 3.25 D let me know if you need additional info. Thanks for your suggestion! [Enjoy your vids !] ...STeve WRVM211 / KF5VH

No problem. Some of us here are the “well, actually“ types, including me, but I’ve noticed that Marc isn’t. He seems pretty friendly and humble. From a loss standpoint I’d say you’ve made your case for going with KMR400 over LMR400. I would also look at how well the cable will withstand weather, how the connectors are attached, and do be sure to seal them so they don’t admit moisture over time. That’s something I’ve noticed, that people install cable and everything works great but then it gradually starts worsening. These cables are sensitive to moisture and the pl259 connector is not sealed so you’ll need to do something to seal it. Good luck!

First thing I would check is the incoming voltage; see if it sags when you power up.

I had this issue with my RT97 and had to change the comport assignment to 1 or 2 using Device Manager - sounds like you tried that, but just in case you meant something else give that a try. Also - would you mind measuring the size of your 97S? I would like to see if its larger than my RT97 ..

These are great little radios. I've used them in the wild and they work well. I have six of them, I guess just to have six of them lol

I am cool with that, not sure if there are other arrangements with other users, anybody is welcomed to chime in on their thoughts or ideas on this.

Good info! So, I have heard rumors of one being out on Flat Top, but I have not been able to confirm that personally. Getting something out on JBER would be great, but umm yeah good luck with that I guess lol. We have one the has recently popped up in Palmer and another member here is going to get one up out in the KGB area more towards Wasilla, so hopefully we can get something going to connect the Valley together. I am trying to work on getting one up and running for out here in the Big Lake/Houston area, but the only I problem I see trying to connect Anchorage to the Valley is that Baldy is kinda in the way lol. That is unless getting one up on top of Baldy, but again good luck with that lol. Maybe getting something out on the hay flats are connecting something down KGB towards Point Mac and we can jump Knik Arm, but I'm not sure how powerful it would need to be, but if we could get something like that then we can bypass Eagle River and connect Anchorage and the Valley.

I'm in the Turnagain area just north from Lake Hood/ANC Airport. And unfortunately no mention of any other repeaters in the Anchorage area that I could find besides the outdated one. I've been occasionally getting weak transmissions from my area where I am but it's hit or miss on signal strength (running a UV-9G handheld at the moment until I put in a mobile in my vehicle). I think the main problem with Anchorage is that coverage is very difficult even with one repeater unless in a high enough location by Rabbit Creek, Flat Top, JBER which HAM operators have done already but nothing with GMRS from what is publically listed. I'll keep an eye out if something pops up but having a repeater service Anchorage would help bridge the gap between here and Eagle River and out to the Valley.

Hmmm, good catch. Thank you for the info. I do not have Facebook so that is helpful information. Did anyone make mention of any repeaters that are up in Anchorage that are active that IS NOT on my list of repeaters? There should be one up in Eagle River, but not sure what you are using for radio or how far south you are in Anchorage. I live in the Valley and do not go to Anchorage all that often so I do not know for sure. I am planning on driving around here soon and trying out all the repeaters that I do know of to double check their statues. If you can give some updates on Anchorage that would be great.

This is on a GMRS repeater. Let me try and wrap my head around this... If we're using repeater channel 18 (transmit frequency of 467.6250), then another user would have to be tuned into that same frequency on another radio (with same tones as repeater) and listening to see if the repeater user traffic is coming through on that frequency as well? Which also is not one of the normal 22 GMRS frequencies.

It’s also very useful in diagnosing tone problems. Once, after resetting my radio, I forgot to put in the repeater input tone. I could hear everyone else on the repeater but none of them could hear me. Another person got on the repeater and said that he could hear me fine on the reverse so I should check the tone. Bingo!

It means they need to turn off their radio for a few minutes and go outside and get some sunshine.

Hey Steve, someone who has grandkids has a valid excuse, haha! I will not hold it against you. Enjoy what you enjoy and let me despise what I can't stand. It's a free country.

gortex: I was hoping that was not the case. I will just use the phone. Thanks to everyone for all of your replies. edspilot

I bet it did. Some discussions are just lightning rods for uncivil behavior. It’s really a shame, too, because our civilization needs civil discussions of politics.

Our repeater group strongly discourages politics on the repeater, but we have our own people who can't help themselves. Personally I don't like discussing politics with anyone anywhere because it's divisive and depressing. But yes, the jammers are in the wrong. Catching and prosecuting them is a whole different story.

I hear garbage all the time, amazing how one or two clicks on the channel and the problems are gone.

I’m using an iPad and yes, emojis are not appearing in posts. More evidence to suggest that something ist kaput.

Exactly- you don’t (and shouldn’t) need a bunch of radio theory to use GMRS, but you have agreed to follow the rules (cryptically written though they may be) so a licensee needs to know and understand them.

Because they were written by bureaucrat lawyers, not 'normal' people. LOL

Here’s a link to a long list of 10 meter repeaters: https://www.qsl.net/kc4qlp/10meterrepeater.html ? But I didn’t find any mention of 20 meter repeaters and Repeaterbook doesn’t have anything in its database for longer wavelengths than 10 meter. Also, various ham forums have had lively discussions with people decrying 10 meter repeaters, especially when linked to vhf and uhf networks.

I just got an idea for a new video.