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There are plenty of threads on the forum about changing GMRS and adding digital, etc, etc. A lot of us do not want GMRS to be made more like amateur radio with all of the digital modes. GMRS already is Wideband and we are allowed to have up to 50 watts on mobiles as it is now. More changes would be nice but at what expense. The available frequencies/channels have to come from somewhere. Do we take away from other bands to increase GMRS? I'll add that I prefer how GMRS is now. If I want to play with digital modes, I will use one of my amateur band radios.

I’ll second that. I run Chirp Next. It seems like about fifty percent of the time when I open it I get a message to update to the latest version. I take that to mean they’re keeping things updated. side note I gotta laugh every time I type “Chirp” on the iPad because it shows this emoji …

For a service that has a very limited number of frequencies and that is intended to be an easy way for friends and families to communicate with each other adding a bunch of crap like that is a non-starter. I disagree that “the people” are asking for either scenario you posted as #1 or #2. Saying “the people” implies there’s consensus but there just isn’t. Very few people who use FRS even know about #1 or #2, much less ask for them and only a few of the more serious GMRS folks who have their toes also in ham radio or commercial radio continue to propose such things.

Not only is it not allowed (as normal practice), the only way to use the repeater in that configuration would be to use non-type approved hardware or otherwise type approved hardware with a configuration that invalidates its certification and legal use. So, it would be a double no.

Control station. A station at a fixed location that communicates with mobile stations and other control stations through repeater stations, and may also be used to control the operation of repeater stations. Fixed station. A station at a fixed location that directly communicates with other fixed stations only.

Not on the repeater: 462 MHz main channels. Only mobile, hand-held portable, repeater, base and fixed stations may transmit on these 8 channels. The channel center frequencies are: 462.5500, 462.5750, 462.6000, 462.6250, 462.6500, 462.6750, 462.7000, and 462.7250 MHz. 467 MHz main channels. Only mobile, hand-held portable, control and fixed stations may transmit on these 8 channels. Mobile, hand-held portable and control stations may transmit on these channels only when communicating through a repeater station or making brief test transmissions in accordance with § 95.319(c). The channel center frequencies are: 467.5500, 467.5750, 467.6000, 467.6250, 467.6500, 467.6750, 467.7000, and 467.7250 MHz.

Yup, that’s a GMRS repeater, but the call sign isn’t. First, make sure you are using a repeater channel on your radio. The repeater channels automatically incorporate the 5 MHz offset. Because the repeater transmits on 462.725 MHz, you must transmit to it on 467.725 MHz. Selecting the repeater channel will do that automatically. Next, just put the tone in for transmitting, not receiving. That way you’ll hear everything on 462.725 MHz. Get closer to the repeater if necessary. Also, don’t count on hearing something after you transmit. That’s optional and not all repeater owners turn it on.

You can see that in the antenna specifications referred to as "Down Tilt" angle. The purpose is to direct a bit more power closer in to the base area of the antenna. Otherwise the signal strength can be a bit poor close in but much better once you get some distance out from the repeater site. Both of the antennas in the attached datasheets have no down tilt. However look at the beam width specification. The higher gain antenna has a VERY narrow one, 14 degrees, compared to the lower gain one at 27 degrees. Something to consider before buying. DB408-B Product specifications.pdf DB404-B Product Specifications.pdf

I think we should put this issue to rest once in for all. NO DIGITAL ON GMRS!!!!

Press the button.. WAIT.. then talk.. See if that helps.. If not, go outside or seek higher ground and try again.

@WRYZ926If your post was a reply to mine, I think you missed the point. I'm not talking about Baofeng/Wouxun/Midland radios. The question is specifically about programming old Part 90 radios for use on GMRS. I'll say it again. I fully acknowledge that an old Motorola or Kenwood LMR mobile is a "better" radio than any of the current off-the-shelf GMRS radios. But IMHO the folks who recommend them are not taking into account the barriers that a brand new user will encounter trying to go that route. Let's pretend for a second that I'm a brand new GMRS user who doesn't know anything about radios. First barrier is getting a good working radio at a decent price. I start looking on eBay (because I am unaware of any other sources). Is that the right model number and band split? What does "band split" even mean? Does it come with a microphone and mounting bracket? Is $xxx a good price? Does the thing even WORK??? The second and even higher barrier is programming my new radio. "Gee I've heard lots about this 'CHIRP' thing. Does that work for my radio?" (And of course the answer is 'no'.) OK then what DO I need, and where do I find it? The answer I see all the time is, "Oh it's available on the Internet". That's less than helpful. Where do I look? What am I looking for? What if I subscribe to the "I don't download random software from sketchy locations on the Internet and install it" philosophy? I'll say it once more. Not arguing that a Part 90 radio isn't a "better" solution. Just trying to highlight that telling a new user "Just get a used commercial radio" isn't helpful for most of them.

Think of the signal as a beam. I'll use two of my antennas as examples. I have a Comet GP9 (9db) and a Comet CA-712EFC (6db). Yes the GP9 has higher dB but it also concentrates the signal in a narrower "beam" when compared to the CA-712. The GP9 works better for longer distances over flatter terrain while the CA-712 works better getting around different terrain.

If you are down in the valley, you want an antenna with a higher angle of radiation to get up to the hills. If you are in the right location, you may be able to take advantage of knife edge defraction. I am able to do that where I live with one hill and am able to get a signal from my place into a valley 20 miles away to a mobile. It is not perfect as far as 100% coverage but it does work. With UHF, whether mobile or base, you have to pay attention to your terrain and the angle of radiation on your antenna. High gain is not the end answer to everything. This isn't HF. I have encountered many Hams applying HF to UHF with many thing and it doesn't work the same way. I have spent quite a bit of money being misled, until I started doing my own investigation and learning how different signals are affected by terrain.

100 feet of rise in 525 feet of run is a 10.78° angle above horizontal.

YMMV. Here? A few kids during school breaks, a daycare center that is using FRS radios, and once in a while a road crew using them for flag people.

What's wrong with leaving FRS/GMRS as is? "Listening to the people" implies that there is a majority of the hundreds of thousands of FRS/GMRS folks out there who have come to the conclusion that FRS/GMRS is flawed because it doesn't include the scenarios you put forth. Does that majority exist?

If I am going to waste my very valuable time dreaming and fantasizing, I prefer to do it over something that matters.. Like Taylor Swift washing my dishes while wearing a Minnie-Mouse costume.

You can do this manually on the GM-15 Pro for that PA repeater. Not sure what repeater Alejandro is working with, so the values will probably differ. WN2XFO should be repeater channel #8 on your radio. It will specifically show as "RPT-8" in memory location 030. Go there, hit the menu button, find the "Rx CTCSS" and "Tx CTCSS" values in locations 10 and 12 respectively. Set them both to 107.2. Get out of the menu and back to channel RPT-8. Hit the PTT button, put out your call sign and ask for a radio check. If you're set up correctly and someone is listening you might get a response. If you're set up correctly but no one is responding, you will hear a hiss from the repeater after you release the PTT button. This means you've connected to the repeater and all is well. The repeater may also also transmit an ID, sometimes in Morse code. This all assumes you are close enough to "hit" the repeater.

I use mine for off-roading.. any time I want to "make contacts" and find anonymous men to talk with, I use the Grindr app.

I believe that FRS/GMRS interoperability is a strong point for both services. I use the same channel for a few groups. Our Jeep group is all GMRS, the deer hunting group has mostly switched to GMRS, but not completely. The group around my cottage (mostly golfcart-golfcart) is mostly FRS. The fact that un-licensed people can legally communicate in each group is a good thing. At my cottage I have the channel NFM on my KG1000, KG905 and KG UV=9GX for the times that I dont use on of my FRS (very old Motorolas), I just have to remember to TX my FCC call sign. If you have a problem with FRS on your channel then use a different channel or different PL filter. If you are scanning all channels with no PL filter so that you will hear everything, then dont be surprised when you DO hear EVERYTHING.

I have been pleased with the performance of the Comet CA-712 and also with the other Comet antennas I have. In addition to the GP9 and CA-712 above my roof, I have a 16" dual band SBB1NMO on my Ford Escape and a 2x4SRNMO on my Honda Pioneer 500 SxS.

If your radio has repeater channels, they will already have the offset. Otherwise, you will have to add the offset. And yes, GMRS repeater offset is always +5MHz.

By some reports it's already happening, unofficially. I guess FCC will have to deal with this sooner or later. One can either get on the bus, get run over by the bus, or just get the heck out of the way.

That’s pretty common. Some repeaters use phased antennas that direct the pattern downward.

I will admit that it has been a while since I messed with Linux. But you shouldn't have any problems if you follow the instructions on the web page that Sshannon linked to above.

@wrci350 ny post was not directed towards you. I was making a general statement for all new GMRS users.

I'd try the Comet 712 EFC over the DB404. I was using the Comet on my repeater setup and thought I could improve coverage/performance with the DB404, so I bought one. The Comet performs MUCH better than my Commscope DB404

This page explains the dependencies for Chirp Next on Linux. https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/ChirpOnLinux

This is true. It also depends on time of year and local activities. FRS is worse around here during deer season.

Thanks for your response, but I wasn't asking you. "Software is free and easily found on the net." So it's pirated? Or on some sketchy website? Can I use Google to find it, or do I have to use some other search engine? I see the recommendation to use a Part 90 radio for GMRS all the time, both in these forums and on other sites. I get it. Some of the old ones actually have Part 95 certification, and they ARE better radios technically (sensitivity/selectivity/etc.). BUT ... the people who make that recommendation either already have the programming software, or they "know a guy" (or "know a site") that has it. The average new GMRS user is not in that category. They want to buy a radio and be able to download the programming software from the vendor's website, or go get CHIRP, and program their radio. They aren't interested in paying $$ for programming software, or "finding it on the net", and then searching for some special programming cable.

There is a version of CHIRP Next for Linux. I would go ahead and upgrade from CHIRP Legacy to CHIRP Next if it was me. https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Download

Your "poll" was OK by me. I am fairly certain my vote was counted correctly this time. Come November, I won't be so certain.

You are correct in that this repeater owner has no right to tell someone they can't access those frequencies. If the users are using the repeater for more than an incidental contact, then the owner does have the right to request they stop, or he can turn the repeater off for a period. The rules are a little murky regarding private repeaters, but the uncommon solution would be for the repeater owner to use some common sense regarding the fact the repeater is on-the-air to begin with.

The Tram 1486 antenna is a good one. You might want to pick up a Tram-Browning BR6140. It will have a higher radiation angle to get over hills.

Welcome Alejandro. I have the same radio and use this cable to program with a computer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V4D6F5F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. The software is the one used for the Radioddity GM-30. You can find it on this page: https://www.radioddity.com/pages/radioddity-download. You can program manually off the screen, but I've found the computer to make life much easier.

I have an amateur general license and GMRS license. If I want to use digital modes I get on one of my amateur radios. I like the simplicity of GMRS and do not want to see it change.

This reminds me of the citizen beginning to pass a Tractor Trailer traveling below the speed limit on the interstate. With his blinker on citizen begins to get out into the left lane and pass the truck at the legal speed limit. Truck driver now speeds up to the speed limit too, preventing the the fellow to pass without speeding. Now all those that like to drive faster than the speed limit are blocked and blowing their horns. Whos at fault; everyone is traveling the speed limit? I say the truck driver, as he needs to slow down and allow the citizen to pass and clear the left lane. There are always people with what looks like good intentions. But they seem to disregard the laws after getting use to never getting caught or, having their actions reviewed by the officials.... Are the Sad Hams getting frustrated because they think GMRS users are in their way?

I read the document. Wow, there is a lot going on there and I'm not talking about the technical aspects. I am not sure I understand why anyone with an amateur license would need or want to make all these changes to GMRS. Everything the document proposes is available in the amateur bands and is not relegated to the small number of frequencies given to GMRS even with going narrow band to add channels. The most disturbing paragraph to me was proposing people holding an amateur radio license could volunteer to be the radio police for both GMRS and the proposed GMRS+ services. I guess having an amateur license makes one superior to the folks on GMRS. I have a "HAM" license and a GMRS license and I am not better than anyone. I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers for that gig.

Sorry to grave dig an old post, but if anyone is still here... I live on the bay in Buckroe, so VERY flat. I hear people traveling on the tunnel occasionally, and a few that seem to use it for work, other than that...nothing. I'll just keep my radio for emergencies. The highest point here is the beach pavillion (maybe 20ft above sea level lol). I can sometimes hear Norfolk chatter. I'd put up a repeater but not seeing the point if there's no place to put it up high. I'd still be interested in a club, but interest around here is quite low.