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@WRQC527 The way I see it, Sad Hams and Sad GMRS fight with each other while Happy Hams and Happy GMRS get along just fine.

Motorola does have RAC for analog, but it's can be scanned. A better option is to spend the money and get a part 90 license then you have better options. First is you can run DMR (MOTOTRBO) and run a digital RAC and run basic encryption. It would also allow you TWO talk paths on the same frequency. Something that's no possible with analog radio. And the other thing with a part 90 commercial license is if others come in, outside of your family unit, they can use the license under your authority. You can 't grant a non-family member access if they don't have a GMRS license.. so day workers and laborers that are not family can't use the radios. The basic encryption will also keep your radio traffic semi-private. The 6 digit numeric RAC code will keep all but the most determined off the repeater. And it really sounds like it would be a better option for your specific application. The issue is that you are so limited with analog radio. And there is a greater limitation with the lack of encryption due to the regulations of GMRS. I know that someone brought up using a trunking controller that would look at radio ID's to grant or deny access to the system, but there again, I don't know the regulations specifically for GMRS would allow that. Would it work, sort of, until someone with a scanner that could display the LTR data was used to pick apart the information and then it's going to be screwed with if you are really expecting issues with others trying to gain access. I wouldn't typically go to these length's but you seem adamant in you post about it to the point you foresee issues before you even have equipment on the air. And in truth, if you haven't bought any equipment for this yet, now is the time to look at other options that better match your listed requirements. Personally, I am a P25 and AES encryption guy all the way. That will always work and NO ONE gets to listen in. But none of that fits within the rules governing GMRS.

Nobody does that.. There are hams.. and there are asshats that also happen to be hams. Anyone that is unable to understand the difference is an asshat.

I'm going to get my HAM license "IN spite" of the sad hams.

Yup. Many radios have been wrecked by application of the "Golden Screwdriver".

Cuss all you want. I've made and broken my new years resolution to stop cussing more times than I can *#$%ing count. This year included. But... there are many of us here who are both amateur radio and GMRS license holders who are more than willing to help where we can, with no animosity toward either radio service... unless... you throw us under the bus and lump us in to some "all hams are asshats" category. You will find both GMRS and amateur radio asshats here. But not all of us.

A lot of people have issues learning and even with written tests. I have a good friend who went through engineering school with me who would have a hard time taking written tests. He’s a very good engineer. People are willing to help even if you don’t drop the f bomb. If you do decide to get your ham license the test can be given to you orally, if that works better for you. If I can help you understand anything I would be happy to help.

Most of my radio use is while mobile. I get a lot of picket fencing on both tx & rx. Some places are worse than others.

1. Picket fencing while moving is not uncommon. Does it stop when you are stationary? 2. If you don’t know what that screw is there’s absolutely no reason to think that it is related to your picket fencing problem. 3. My radio picket fences while moving too. I pull over to use it. In my case it affects my transmissions, not my reception.

Oh. Sorry. I meant ohm my

Oh, well. Can’t blame me for trying. I’d welcome you!

@offroaderx Affirmative! Get the license so we have more happy hams! 73 de AI7KS <beep>

Just a short video from this past weekend. @hfd376 and a few others local to the area joined me for a nice New Year's Eve trail ride.

..I was going to say the same thing, but when i say it 'some people' get butthurt.

TBIs? One of my good friends is a retired 13F and his recommendation is don't play with bombs between his injuries and burn pit exposure.

Sorry if you don't like the f bomb I don't mean anything by that old habits are hard to break, but yeah after getting out I became a certified structural and pipe Welding was super easy to learn because it's like 99% hands on, also not once when reading about the test did I see anything about it being given orally, was trying to find out if it was timed and if I could do it online instead of in person stuff like that, being around strangers in person while also taking a test really messes me up, but yeah I did find out I can do it online never did find out if it's timed or not. Thanks for the offer of help though, when I said I'd do something in spite of someone you're not one of those people your are nice and helpful, not preachy and condescending.

it will not transmit as in the transmit light does not light up, or, you just cant hit the repeater?

GMRS User from southern Chesapeake, just recently joined and building my own repeater locally and hope to improve it. https://mygmrs.com/repeater/8199

Just saw the post on here, I'm down in southern Chesapeake and working on a repeater build. Hope to meet other GMRS users locally and I try to monitor the Tabb Repeater in Hampton when I can. If your interested, I have just recently listed my Chesapeake-575 Repeater this past month on myGMRS site. https://mygmrs.com/repeater/8199 Van

Perhaps this video will help the OP understand what picket fencing is and why there’s not a simple solution:

Even if they cannot access your repeater, someone on the same frequency will disrupt your communications if their signal is stronger than others.

I'm on another forum where somebody asked about getting the frequencies used on an NXDN trunking system from just the radio handset. They wanted the frequencies used just to scan. One poster said that's impossible without access to the system key file, available only from the trunking system admin. It just so happened one used radio I purchased came programed from a trunking system. The normal radio software won't read it without the key file. Well, I had a hacked version of the software that allows me to read the radio and save the info as a service file. I posted screen shots of the frequency lists etc. just to make a point that nothing is hack proof or secure as you would assume as far as the trunking info goes.

One problem with solar panels at tower sites is that you have to keep them far enough away from the tower so that ice won't fall and break the solar panels. Now if you live in an area that stays above freezing and/or low winter precipitation then solar panels close to a tower is fine. We have a shed at the tower site for all of our repeaters and we had to build a cage above it to keep ice from falling off the tower and caving the roof in.

Another option would be using an LTR controller ,w/that said all of your radios would have to be LTR capable

You need to login to the ULS system and select your FRN then do a modification of your license. Follow the prompts.

Just want to inform people I guess it's a new trend or something. For those of you that have repeaters listed on myGMRS double check that some else hasn't relisted your repeater as their own. Come to find out just now one individual has done just that. Not just mine but a couple other repeaters as well. Images included.

If it's this one, it makes sense that it's giving you high SWR readings. While it says it's compatible with all these different radios and frequencies, the truth is that it would be a Modern Marvel like you would see on The Discovery Channel if an antenna really did cover all those frequencies without being cut or otherwise adjusted. It also specifically says ham radio dual band, which alone makes it sort of incompatible with GMRS. Since ham radio UHF frequencies fall into the 420-450 Mhz range, while GMRS is in the 462-467 Mhz range, it's tough to get an antenna to resonate on both GMRS and ham frequencies. https://www.amazon.com/Bingfu-Antenna-136-174MHz-400-520MHz-Magnetic/dp/B08TGZN9ZG

It depends on the subscribers and the radios. a CCR radio wont do what you want. Motorola supports RAC (Repeater Access Control) but that's a form of MDC. There are not many options for analog options. I also use DCS for input and CTCSS on output. This helps eliminate many users but isn't a fail safe.

Could it be that you have Radio ID on? See page 71 and 79 in your manual.

I have reported it,which is the most reliable and quickest way to reach Rich. The function labeled “My Repeaters” makes it far too easy to accidentally or intentionally allow any person to list a repeater as their own and appears right next to the Favorite Repeaters tab. I suspect at least some people add repeaters to their “My Repeaters” list accidentally while attempting to populate their favorites. To populate your favorites list, just click on the Star next to the repeater name. I suggested to Rich (in my report) that the My Repeaters feature be disabled.

I concur. There is a lot to unpack in that filing, and it will likely go nowhere with the FCC. As a ham, I find this desire to by many of our fellow amateurs to "change" GMRS a bit disturbing. I've run into this "attitude" with several hams local to me. All license classes of amateurs have full privileges from 420MHz - 450MHz (70cm). Most everything outlined in that filing we already have available to us in the 70cm band. And for you non-hams out there, guess what? The 70cm band goes largely unused! The only thing that filing does is further annoy the FCC when it comes to amateur radio operators. My eyes were rolling reading it, and if I were the FCC it would be targeted for the circular file. Allowing digital voice modes (DMR, etc..) is a very bad idea. This would be very confusing and annoying to existing GMRS users. To another point, most hams can't figure out how to program their DMR radios. As for the random joe-ham or the VM (Volunteer Monitors) performing band police duties? Seriously?!?

I found out this is being done to aquire real names, addresses, email accounts, etc. to start the process of targeting people for identity theft.

Not a modeler, but I've found this useful: https://www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/rf-line-of-sight/

Merry Christmas everyone.

Same

Yes was a cool contact to make distance wise. Shock to both of us. My last location was the aquaplex near the Coliseum in Hampton, VA 357 was out in Surry, VA. Little scratchy towards the end but able to understand each other no problem. Exciting to me none the least. I'm starting to dork out over radio. Fun hobby we have gotten ourselves into.

I'm officially retired now. We (wife & I) get out often as life allows but we try to stay away from the crazy stuff as we travel alone anymore. Getting too old for winching and shushing around in the mud. Learned a good lesson on that in a OK bean field while traveling on the Trans American Trail, alone.

Man, Moto is not even close to the same category as any of those radios. You are comparing radios that were $3,000 to $5,000 new, to radios that are $150 to $500 new. That is like comparing a an economy Honda to Bugatti. I am very fond of Wouxun, especially the KG-1000G. The brand stacks up very well when compared to Yaesu, but I think Yeasu makes a better radio with many more available features. I would put Wouxun on par with Icom, Kenwood, Alinco. I don't consider Anytone, Powerwerx or TYT in the same category of any of the aforementioned brands. They are really budget brand radios. I don't look down on them, but they just won't have the same longevity, features, durability, stability or performance as the higher tier brands. Also, I a assuming you are either asking for use an amateur bands or just general speaking. Moto is the only brand mentioned that has models that have the ability to be legally used in GMRS. All the other brands are good for amateur bands, and some will have LMR/business options, too.

I would go with the Wouxun KG-XS20G if you want a compact and durable mobile that is actually IP rated with an IP67 rating. Here is a good simple explanation of IP ratings: https://www.setra.com/blog/what-does-an-ip67-rating-mean Here is a photo of my XS20G mounted in my Honda Pioneer 500 UTV

Ya that was always a long shot. But didn't hurt to try.

Not to many in this area. Tabb repeater over in the Newport News ares works good with a pretty good coverage area too. I’ve hit that repeater a few times when over in that area. Nothing over here on the south side. I noticed a listing for a repeater popped up in the Chesapeake area but it quickly disappeared. I’m in Virginia Beach and have been thinking about messing around with the idea one day. Just haven’t got there yet I guess. LOL.