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+5 = 467.700 If you have a GMRS radio the offset is baked in. If you are using anything else you will have to set the offset yourself.

Why does every new license holder want to setup a repeater? I would like to shed a little light on some of the important things to consider if you recently got your GMRS license and now want your own repeater. First thing to consider, are there any open well placed repeaters in your area that you are able to use? I can assure you most repeater owners want people to use there repeater. Owning several repeaters I can assure you all are welcome and encouraged to use my machines. Do you have access to a location to host your repeater? If your answer is your garage roof you should reconsider. Your garage roof will give you about the same coverage as simplex. Unless you’re on top of a mountain and all your users are at the bottom you will never be happy with this setup. GMRS is not as popular as one would like to think, unless your repeater covers 20 miles or more you may find you only have 1 or 2 users in the area. Unless you already have a group of friends together you may want to consider this before spending money on a decent well positioned site to install your repeater. So you found a nice high site and the price is right, all you need to do is get the repeater installed, sounds simple right? Some thigs to consider first and foremost are the costs because they can add up quickly. Are you on a commercial tower that requires a license and bonded climber? If so this could be by far your largest expense depending on your area. I have spent $600 to $1200 on a climber; I have had quotes as high as $2500 depending on the amount of work and heights involved. Keep in mind commercial sites require certified mounts, hard line cable, cable clamps, engineered grounding solutions and commercial grade antennas. No tower owner is going to let you install a comet antenna and 200’ of braided shield coax. This brings me to my next point, the antenna. Because of the costs involved with climbers you will want to expend your budget on the antenna. Remember a $2000 repeater on a $200 antenna is going to work about as good as a $200 repeater. Whereas a $200 repeater on a $2000 antenna is going to work like a $2000 repeater. On my first repeater I was gifted use of a 150’ tower, I installed a DB-420 on the top and 160’ of 7/8 hardline. Total cost of equipment for the antenna install was $2500, with the climbers labor coming in at an additional $800. This left me with enough to purchase an old Motorola R100 repeater running at 25W. To my surprise it had 30 miles of coverage, all due to the cash spent on the antenna and waiting for a decent spot. Things happen, more so if you have an antenna 200’ in the air with a conductive cable connected to sensitive electronics. Antenna issues, feedline issues, repeater issues all cost money and I promise at some point you will have issues that need repair and require your money! It is my opinion that the GMRS community does not need another 2 to 5 miles repeater as it just becomes background noise. What use is a public listed repeater if somebody in a mobile can’t use it 5 miles away while moving or the portable coverage is only a mile? If after reading this you are still going to build a repeater for your garage more power to you, just don’t expect 20 people to show up if it only reaches a mile. As the owner of several GMRS and Commercial repeaters I can attest to the amount of money and effort go into my repeaters. I have only touched on the basics, if you add in any kind of testing services, duplexer tuning, addition of a combiner channel to an existing tower system, RF engineering, rent and insurance your costs can sky rocket. The best advice I can give any new licensee is to try and use the available systems in the area. Take the time to learn a little about what you’re doing and to assess the usability of the service before investing in a repeater for the sole reason of saying you own one.

I saw a YouTube video that was posted the other day. The person in the video demonstrated how you can transmit through your APP which then goes through your radio to transmit to another radio. It looks like he’s using an android in the video but I’m not sure I am on iOS with the iPhone and the button he presses to transmit does not appear to be available in the iPhone app. I was wondering if anybody knows anything more about this? Here’s a link to the video I’m talking about. https://youtu.be/zuoU2Fe8a7s?si=IanLQAxMth6D10QS

The following post got me to thinking about how much current the Wouxun mobile radios might be drawing from the vehicle battery if left connected. Wouxun 805G Battery Drain https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=112680&share_tid=3397&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums%2Emygmrs%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3F%2Ftopic%2F3397-Wouxun-805G-Battery-Drain&share_type=t&link_source=app I decided to put the amp meter on the radio and take two measurements. One with the radio On and scanning using both receivers and one with the radio powered off. - Radio turned on, scanning, but not reproducing audio: 410mA (.41A). - Radio powered off: 31mA (.031A). So, similar to the handheld radio in the reference post, if the radio is left connected to the battery it will draw down the battery. If left connected long enough, it will completely discharge the battery; how long it takes is clearly of function of battery type and capacity. This residual draw is not terribly significant if the vehicle is being used regularly. However, if you have a vehicle that perhaps is sitting idle for an extended period, perhaps as I had during the pandemic, the residual load is going to discharge the battery at a faster rate than if the battery was not connected to anything. The residual loads of one of my vehicles caused a two-year old battery to go completely dead 3 times during the pandemic. Worth noting. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

It means you were talking to a Sad-H.A.M. doing a poor job at disguising himself as a regular GMRS user. Next time ask him to reply using simple, plain, regular english that normal people understand.

203.5

Interesting discussion. Thanks! I recently bought a TYT TH-9800 and I'm enjoying the 10m FM repeaters. I also enjoy listening to a few of the local GMRS repeaters here in the region. I have both a ham and GMRS license. 73 DE GERRY N2GJ/WRJR741 ABQ NM USA

doesn't matter

What ever..... you win, you're the greatest.

That is actually true. I will only buy Motorola and I am pretty much set for some time now. I have numerous mobiles and portables of various models all UHF except one VHF XTS1500.

When I identified the desense problem with the two KG1000 Plus radios I called Buy Twoway Radios regarding this issue. I explained the extensive trouble shooting procedure I used and what were the results and they essentially in a matter of words said my test procedure was flawed and that no one else was having this problem. They did say send back the radios so they can performed their own test and if the radios performed as designed they were not going to refund my purchase. I sold the two radios as single units. I will never do business again with that dealer or buy any CCR in my lifetime. I learned my lesson.

Thanks, I was looking at the 1000G also and decided on the MXT500 for simplicity and the waterproof rating.

All I can say is "Good Luck"

I've done some technical writing for the company I work at, Power Point slide shows for training/sales, test procedures and manuals, but it's not my primary job. People think it's easy. Nope! It's boring mind numbing work and requires a lot of attention to details. People who do it full time professionally really earn their money. Doing design calculations, simulations and circuit design is much more fun, and it keeps the mind sharp too.

Don't be a dick because I know more than you. Quick scanning Grinder, do some research and learn stuff. Then maybe you will know as much as I do.... but I doubt it. You're the one doing GMRS video's. How about you explain it detail what I was talking about in my post? I mean that was a really watered down version of how that all works. You could go into the weeds about how path loss is actually effected by different environments, the amount of expected per city block and how the calculations are done and averaged in a 360 degree plot for a distance specified by the user. You could explain the time it takes depending on the granularity of the mapping. How it's normally only done in 5 or 10 degree increments but can be done in finer increments at the cost of processing time. That a 10 degree map is averaged and can miss certain things that might block a signal that will show as good on a map. How the maps that are used for a reference are really important to be up to date so that they will indicate those area's that will have the signal blocked. You could go into what HAAT (height above average terrain) is and how it effects things. How the same maps are used for those calculations. The 6dB realized gain that you get every time you double your antenna height and how radio stations ERP is actually calculated using that information. There is a LOT that can be discussed with UHF coverage. Could talk about multipath fading and why moving less than a foot in some instances can get a poor signal full quieting. Lot's of things to cover. But I know Grinder is waiting for you. SO you go boy.

Well there goes the neighborhood... Be careful you don't snap your neck putting your nose in the air.

It has become apparent to me that I will be learning for the rest of my life. That's one of the things I really like about two-way-radio.

I'm still learning all the sciency stuff about how weather and such effect radio waves...but last night it was an overcast evening and I was able to hit the repeater just fine. So, some cloud cover helps. Either way, I'm learning, and that's what matters most to me.

Yes it would be the same for all linked repeaters no matter what band they use since linking is done over the internet.

Sorry for you to hear that. I use Android and very much like that feature when using my GMRS Pro. I can set it up on a high shelf and use my phone to talk. It is also handy when in the car with a mag-mount. I can leave the radio in the cup holder and use my phone mounted on the dash. Perhaps they will make an upgrade to the app?

I'm still thinking about the Wouxun KG-905g but it's not in CHIRP Next and WINE isn't playing well with Factory CPS programs. The Yaesu FT-65r is still on my list, especially at $95 bucks from Gigaparts. OR maybe I'll just get another TalkPod A36 Plus and UV-82 and call it a day, LOL. This is worse than all those years ago when I got into firearms. Thank God I've settled down on them and have the 3 or 4 that I actually need/like now. It only took 48 years.

Exactly right!

In theory, and if my math is correct, if you wanted to throw a 36 inch Harbor Freight pipe wrench in the gears, you could run an offset of as much as 5.175 Mhz, as long as the repeater is receiving and transmitting on authorized main channels, and be within the rules. The only restriction I see is that a repeater can't invert the offset (transmitting on the 467 frequencies and receiving on the 462 frequencies.) I'm no expert on how many type-accepted GMRS radios let you alter the repeater offsets, but that would be the wrench.

While GMRS is a bring-your-own-contacts service you can bump into strangers. It's not like amateur radio but it can still be amusing. I'm new to this and when I first connected to a local repeater my radio check was picked up right away by a trucker who uses HAM, GMRS and CB. He was legit in his usage but also ID'd with his handle; “This is XXXX123, a.k.a. 'Roadrunner,'” or something similar. Since my HT was fresh out of the box the roger beep was on and he gave me the Sad Ham treatment about it. “I'm gonna call you Mr. Roger Beep.” I replied, “Yeah, I've heard that some people don't like the roger beep.” He came back, “Hey, I've seen that 'Some People' guy. He's good!” Roadrunner: Hey, Mr. Roger Beep. You out there? Me: WRYP592, a.k.a. Mr. Roger Beep monitoring. Rested and ready to beep. And we're off...

An offset of 5.0001 MHz would indeed be out of compliance, but that’s not what people are doing. The FCC established 30 specific frequencies, but not specific pairs that must be used with each other. As long as a person sets their repeater to receive on one of the established 467 MHz Main frequencies and transmit on one of the established 462 MHz Main frequencies, they’re legal, even if the difference isn’t exactly 5.000 MHz.

1: YES - you also have to add the correct "TX" or Transmit tone .. The RX/Receive tone is optional 2: GMRS is not primarily intended to "get into conversations with others" - but if you insist, just call out and ask if anybody wants to talk to you. There is no protocol other than talking normally and using your GMRS callsign at least once every 15 minutes.

Amen!

As others have already commented, the only frequencies that GMRS operators are licensed to use are the 30 listed in the regulations. All of the in-between frequencies are off limits to us for GMRS. That’s unlike most of ham radio where ranges of frequencies are available. For the authoritative reference, here are the official regulations: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E

Generally speaking, one of the bigger mistakes made here on the MyGMRS forums is roasting newbies. It's demeaning and it discourages them from further participation. Also, in order to be certified for use on GMRS frequencies, GMRS radios cannot have the ability to transmit on any frequencies other than the frequencies and power levels that are designated by the FCC. So if you are using a radio that is specifically an FCC certified GMRS radio, there would be no way you could transmit on any other frequencies.

These are theo nly frequencies your license covers https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

Purely anecdotal, but I and a friend have tried MURS vs GMRS in high desert country (no buildings or big mountains, etc), and MURS wins at 2w vs GMRS at 5w. He lives there year-around and had no idea what MURS was until I loaned him my Wouxun KG-805M (and a Smiley OEM antenna). He said "Thanks, I'm buying two of them."

The node 177 does link up with other area repeaters in the PacNW every other Tuesday. Today, 1-10-23, they will link up in the evening.

Since I am in Douglas County, Washington I will also keep an eye on this thread. I did just find a GMRS repeater in East Wenatchee that is up that I requested to use.

I, also using Chrome with Windows 10, am experiencing the same issue.

Oh, I know all about the FUN aspect of it! lol

On another note, I am quite pleased with the install in the Discovery 2. Mounted the face to an otherwise useless area on the dash and put the main radio under the drivers seat.

It’s is a moto trbo NXDN trunking system operating in dual capacity direct mode, and contrary to what I thought, there is activity today.