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In this image from a recent amateur radio licensing class, we can see one of my fellow amateur radio volunteer examiners explaining the function of the PTT button.

So just as reference the GR1225 does not have a self contained duplexer. Yes it can be mounted inside the case but its not always there. Many makes of repeaters have a location to install the duplexer inside but many used ones don't have it. As reference the motorola quantar will program fine with Windows 10 and is a rock solid repeater. I still have a windows XP computer I use for my GR1225 repeaters I still have on the air. You can pick them up for $25 on the used market all day long. As said in the other post look at the midland or Retivas if you want a basic home repeater. The GR1225 on high power wont last. I run all my 45 watt units at 25 watts to make them last.

In this screen grab from an FCC training film, we can see that an unlicensed radio operator is being cited by an FCC agent tasked with hunting down and prosecuting anyone caught pressing a PTT button on a radio without proper licensing.

But it should be mounted higher than the roof of the building with the metal roof.

Yes, just don’t use the digital modes.

Seriously I took an “advanced engineering math” class from a professor who would fill the board like that, then assign us to work through it on our own. On at least one occasion, after furiously scribbling his equations for the entire period, he stared at the board for a long while before saying “never mind, I made a mistake in the beginning.” I like math, but his class was worthless.

Since I have installed privacy codes on all my channels, I can't hear anyone, nor talk to anyone, and my battery life has improved dramatically. I left MURS freqs wide open though so I can listen to the maintenance guys at the middle school tell dirty jokes and make fun of the teachers.

It's very difficult to do and get good results. The reason is the human body is part of the antenna system due to capacitive coupling between the radio's body and the users hand. I've tried it myself and discovered just how hard it is. Even a relative comparison between antennas isn't that easy either. Antenna Testing W9MDB.pdf HT-Antenna-Testing.pdf

if the repeater is listed as Digital/Analog (DMR Radio) yes it will work as a analog repeater. Be careful though, some DMR repeaters/radios, i.e. Hytera and Maxon will come with Wideband Locked unless you specify when ordering the repeater.. No worries if you end up with a wideband locked repeater or radio as you can have them unlocked, only will cost you a little to have done after the fact or you find the unlock lic on-line.. The 8402 Maxon i stated above is an analog only radio, the Maxon MDM 4000 is a DMR/analog radio and both can also be configured to be a repeater but requires two like radios. Maxon provides pinout specs for their Data Port so making your own repeater jumper cable is a snap.. Their CPS program is also very easy to use, pretty much mirroring the Bridgecomm repeater.

I think most of us in engineering have had a professor like that at one point. It's not the wasted time copying down the worthless material I hated. It was suffering with writer's cramp doing it.

Sorry, I was busy typing up a reply to your PM. I just hit send. You must use channel 24 on the UV-5G. That sets the transmit frequency to 467.575 MHz. For repeaters in GMRS, there's always a 5 MHz offset. Second, for testing I usually recommend leaving the receive code empty. That allows all transmissions on that frequency to be heard. Several people have reported that the UV-5G only transmits in memory mode. Good luck! Steve

Most base station antennas do not need a ground plane. They’re designed to be mounted on a mast high above a roof. They don’t need to be moved away from the metal building.

You cannot use digital on GMRS. Analog only per the rules. There are alot of good repeaters out there. The GR1225 while a decent unit will burn up if you run it on high power. No there isn't support but for a $500 unit and a little online you can be on the air pretty quick. With that said also know your environment and what you expect from the repeater. If your installing this at home in a town and not on a mountain you may not get what you want. The midland repeater package is a good unit for a home repeater as long as you can get the antenna up in the air. If all you have is portables its ideal. Vertex, Motorola, Bridgecom, Uniden, Daniels, Maxon, ICOM all make good repeaters. Antenna system is where a repeater shines.

Yes

I doubt that anything would happen. Unless you were aggressively kerchunking an active repeater, nobody would hear you. Chances are that you are using a handyscratchy on simplex frequencies. If by chance someone did hear you, they would give their call sign and ask if someone needed help with their rig. The amateur community is very helpful with new operators for the most part. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yea,, i got 'fat' fingers too....... and using my iPhone docent help..

“Off with his thumb!”

Thanks, I realized I was over thinking the question, and put down antenna just before you replied.

honestly, I've rotated through a few, looking for that elusive combination of good signal and overhead clearance. current is a Comet SBB-5, on a fender mount (Comet, i believe, with a Midland NMO cable); it gives me some extra gain, but being mounted lower means it clears pretty much everywhere, and still has the option to fold if needed. Comet 2x4SR - good signal, but got tired of folding it for the parking garage (ran it on a mag mount on the roof) 1/4 wave Signal Stalk - worked great pretty much everywhere, but a hair too long for the parking garage at work mounted on the roof Comet SBB-1 - only seemed to give up a little signal vs the Signal Stalk, but short enough to clear the parking garage (basically a mobile rubber duck)...i still keep this in the truck for low clearance situations. I also have a 1/2 wave Signal Stalk (the low temp version), but the numbers are ~3:1 on 2m...analyzer shows its sweet spot is around 142mhz currently, so trimming it a little is on my to-do list.

@RayP I'm with you on the problems. And since I'm within range of most of the same ones, I know you aren't even telling them all of it. I don't know if that short range repeater you refer to is in range for me. But the short range one that is close to me is on a frequency that will have another separate repeater about 20 miles away this time next year. I'm letting my membership in the linked system expire and will focus on open ones. I won't bother trying to convince the detractors here and you should probably ignore them as well. This site is dominated by smartelecks (never can figure out the right spelling of that word).

I have the radio and it's pretty good for an entry level unit. I'm not impressed with the menu system on the radio, but the RT system software makes programming it fairly easy. I built mine into a small go-box with a 15 AH lifep04 battery. My primary V/UHF is the ICOM ID-5100. The display is much better.

I have an FTM-300DR, which has the ability to run 2m and 70cm at the exact same time using the same antenna and there is no desense issues. It's mostly going to depend on the frequencies in use and the filters on the radios.

The most useful repeaters are located on hilltops, tall buildings or towers of some sort (water towers, antenna towers etc). A 10 watt transmitter mounted where it overlooks the surounding area is more useful than a 50 watt on a single story building with trees nearby.

Agreed, but without knowing exactly what you’re doing it’s impossible to help.

Post one of the lines so we can debug it.

No, I just know that "some people's" entire hobby revolves around finding strange men talk with, and I think Grindr is a great way for them to do that. I'm just looking out for them.

Thanks it worked Both radios are in channel mode and working

But you can drive your car to a higher location sometimes or one with better line of sight. Really height is "might" as the saying goes. Elevation and line of sight make the most difference. That said extra power on tap is not a bad thing. If you can afford it get the KG-1000Gplus. Great radio.

Or were the parties on simplex simply using their radios, oblivious to the presence of a net taking place.

This is a great question. I think if you are in an area where you have simplex frequencies open to use and you can use the lower power successfully for your contact it makes sense to do so. It reduces your own exposure to interference. Use what you need to get the job done and not more. While some inadvertent interference is inevitable having a separate set of repeater frequencies would certainly help eliminate a lot of it. This is where I think linked repeaters is also an issue. You may be stepping on people you don't hear who are on simplex. I don't know how successful you would be getting this done but separate repeater frequencies is the best reason I have heard for expanding GMRS frequencies

Now that I see how you worded it, I think that's probably what he meant. I'm a ham, and that's why I couldn't quite figure it out. Besides having a ham license, I also have a GMRS license, and I know several hams that also have GMRS licenses. A lot of us use the UV-5R and have them programed for GMRS, FRS, MRS as well as ham repeaters. I do, and when I talk on ham, I'll use my ham call of KM4JZJ, and when on GMRS frequencies, I'll use WRPR990. If we don't use a repeater, we'll go simplex, or even FRS. Or maybe MRS. We don't care, we have several options to choose from.

You know what's weird? I'll tell you what's weird. Thanks for asking. There was a time when CB radio was supposed to be for short range comms. Then DXers got hold of it to see how far they could talk. Like amateur radio. Then along comes GMRS. It was supposed to be for short-range comms. Then DXers got hold of it and and linked their repeaters so they can talk all over the country. Like amateur radio. With all the amateur radio bashing that goes on here, why do so many people want GMRS to be like amateur radio?

Sounds like what amateur radio is for. I have dual citizenship in amateur radio and GMRS. But I've never had the urge to use GMRS for any longer range than what my local GMRS repeater provides, which is (I'm guessing) maybe 100 miles at most.

You can listen to any frequency without a license.

Absolutely. You don’t need any license to listen.

If a Factory-Reset does not help, throw them in the trash and spend $40 on 2 new ones from Amazon - problem solved and lesson learned.. That lesson being that eBay is a den of liars and thieves.

Same as getting your D.R.I.V.E.R.S. license. Memorize the answers for just long enough to pass. Then forget it all and learn how to really do it.

I know you are messing/joking with him. [emoji14] We should just be as informative as politely possible and encouraging as we can be. Especially, when someone is asking for help. Could turn them off, more so if they take it the wrong way. /rant Overall impression, I get from non-amateur radio people is that we can be condescending, know it alls that bitch too much about everything. Some of it true, especially since we do most of the self policing. Can't tell you how much of the public safety/lmr groups think we amateurs are a joke and don't want to invite us out for events. With our relay forms and other politics and attitudes. Then those same guys praise people like Marc, can't tell you how many times I hear " I trust Marc and his small group". Because why? They do everything possible to get the objective done, then cross the tees and dot the I's later, with minimum fuss or bs. We should aspire to be the best spoke person for the hobby /rant Still love your comment [emoji14] but I get it. Not everyone will. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

If you can take the practice 3x and pass each time with about 85%. Your are way over ready to take the test. Remember, you just need to pass. No one will ever know the score. Study for the general and technician at the same time. They crossover informatuon for both the test is like 75%. If you pass the technician, they will let you test for general on the same day. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Every time someone keys up without a license, a puppy dies.