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Poppycock! I for one think that more threads with links to those videos are what society and the world needs! Think of the children!

What the world really needs right now is more threads about this

Ultimately only you can answer that question.

You don't really need a cell phone. Or a spare tire...

I don’t think the term “wireline” is at issue. It’s the term “network” that they use. “You cannot directly interconnect a GMRS station with the telephone network or any other network for the purpose of carrying GMRS communications, but these networks can be used for remote control of repeater stations.” § 95.1749 GMRS network connection. Operation of a GMRS station with a telephone connection is prohibited, as in § 95.349. GMRS repeater, base and fixed stations, however, may be connected to the public switched network or other networks for the sole purpose of operation by remote control pursuant to § 95.1745.

Yes

This is a great interview that our friend @OffRoaderX has done with someone whom has been directly involved with a linked repeater network being turned off after FCC interaction. This is a big deal. The FCC is asking for call signs of people who used the network, not just to turn down the network. Repeater owners and users, pay attention. I don't want to see my friends getting in trouble. Thanks for the great work Randy!

It's a set up. Run!

Agreed. Reminds me of my first day in drafting class when the professor said, "Any drawing that can be interpreted in more than one way is wrong." Change "drawing" to "regulation" and here we are.

Collapsed? If one of my friends who worked for an enforcement group called me and gave me a heads up that might keep me out of an enforcement action, I would not argue. I would simply say “Thanks!” And take their advice. An early warning system is nice to have. Why argue with them?

I watched Randy's video last night. What strikes me as odd is that the FCC "agent" gave the repeater "custodian" a heads-up, and then asked for the call signs. I mean, is this an official action, or isn't it? If it's not, then I'm afraid I don't know who has used the repeater. If it is, then we're having an entirely different conversation, and likely through attorneys.

My thinking is more along the lines that something is coming down and they don't want alternate means of communication to be in place. Single repeaters are just that, somewhat localized. The string repeaters cover large areas that are normally covered by more elaborate systems that when down effectively quash communication. Ya, I'm one of those.

I don’t think there is a requirement to get Gmrs. If you don’t want it then don’t get it. It does prove useful in those areas without cell coverage and is fairly easy and cheap insurance.

This! If a person only goes where there’s guaranteed cell service (that’s not overlanding!), and only wants to talk to one person at a time (possibly two) and doesn’t want the convenience of pushing one button, and doesn’t need to monitor others in the party, then cell phones are fine.

Use The Force Kenny.

Thanks Randy

I disagree. Author said he had cell coverage… that’s not ham speak not even sad ham speak. I think they’re a shill for T-Mobile.

The club president was hesitant to reveal the repeater and simulcast system's owner's occupation and employer, but somehow this is related to the owner's relationship to the FCC employee. I will also point out that in his responses, the pres never calls the FCC guy an "agent" There is more to this that is not being told. Thank you Randy

The question has a Sad Ham vibe. Tell me I'm wrong.

Don't get many hurricanes in Indiana, eh? Try that with a week without power and 1/4 the cell towers down.

Because…..love wins.

While I don’t dispute this happened, the issue of asking for call signs is a bridge too far. The owner should not need to produce any such info, but even if they do I doubt anything would come of it. The government always tends to overreach and it’s up to the citizens to push back and keep them in check.

If you don't think you need it then why are you here?

Kinda the feeling I had from the start.

You're stirring the pot is what you're doing. This is a website devoted to those of us who use and find value in GMRS. If you have a specific question about the use of GMRS, GMRS equipment, how-tos, etiquette, that kind of thing, fire away. I think most of us here would recommend GMRS for what you're doing, but since you've already decided it's useless to you, I think we'd be talking to a wall.

Since you plan on over landing I would add that if you wish to communicate with someone outside of the vehicle while they spot your tire placement or backing up, navigating obstacles, if you travel with other people in other vehicles or even a group. Sometimes a radio is better. It depends on your needs.

Okay, and what program are you using to write to the radio? Did you first read the radio, save the original configuration, and then make changes?

I agree.

However, just dropping a link with zero context is not great forum etiquette.

Very nice! One club I'm in will be at their usual spot, a private airport and they run the full 24 hours, beams and dipoles and EFHW's galore, all modes. The other club I'm in does a City Park and they have to set up and tear down both days as the park is closed overnight!. Both pretty good groups, But if I get any time away to visit, it'll be at the airport - better food, and cold adult beverages allowed...

That still doesn't totally add up. If it was just a friendly head's up, what do they need a list of callsigns for? Or the hard "TODAY" deadline? That's less friendly and more potentially scare tactics. It's not like e-mail headers can't be spoofed. I'm still leaning towards 'ol boy wanted a convenient excuse to get the club off of his gear' but who knows. I mean, he knows, but he's not talking much, apparently.

Glad to be registered.

In case anyone missed it, Not A Rubicon has an excellent interview up on YouTube now, with the President of the impacted club in New York State. Things are different than what most of us guessed but it is NOT a hoax. Thanks Randy!

I can understand that, but it really is easy to get a technician license. Then the eight channel limit is a thing of the past.

But I understand, emergency use, etc, may not be an issue with licensing.

How are linked GMRS repeaters less cumbersome than ham radio? With eight repeater channels in total, and untrained users operating in panic mode on both the repeaters and on the eight simplex channels that share frequencies with those repeaters, linking GMRS repeaters, except on a prearranged published schedule like an amateur radio sked or net, could be useless. You're better off using personal services for proximate communications and get your news from battery powered receivers capable of tuning HF and the broadcast bands.

OOOOoooooooo K I've been operating on RPT8 and CTCSS 100.0Hz on the repeater. I noticed some morse code on that channel a few times indicating another repeater in the area. It's very weak and likely out of range. But I can still hear it. So I dropped down to RPT7, same CTCSS and now I can hit the repeater inside my house. On RPT8 I had to walk up the hill to hit it. Now I can do it inside the house. Ummmm.... why? I did try to do voice but it couldn't pass it through. But it really is significant that I could ping the repeater in the house on 7 vs having to go up on the hill to ping on 8. And then we had some storms come through and wet everything. I figured that might kill it off. But I can still ping it in the house.

Why was this link not posted in the thread about this same product? Licensed for 10 days, registered user at MyGMRS for a week, 11 comments, 10 of them in the same post about this same concept. I understand wanting to get the word out about this new product/concept/whatever, but I kinda feel like creating a Wikipedia page about it and vomiting it here isn't the best tactic.

In normal people language CPS is the computer software for programming the radio.

The default program to open .KG files was somehow set to Notebook. That’s an easy thing to fix but it doesn’t mean that your radio will be damaged. Right click on a kg file, click on open with, choose the name of the Wouxun CPS, and click on “Always use this program “.

Short answer: yes, you're wrong. Longer, more nuanced answer: It depends on where you are and how comfortable you are being solely reliant on cell service if something goes wrong. I spent most of last week in areas with at best spotty (but usually no) cell coverage running GMRS radios for car-to-car and hiker-to-hiker comms. Worked great. FRS radios would work for most of that, but there are places without cell coverage where I can talk through some of our mountain-top repeaters that, were I or someone I was with to get hurt, we could call for help even without cell service. That's an edge case of an edge case, mind, but it's nice to have as a backup.

I still think it's a weak attempt at bullying even if it is legit, since the FCC has made no effort to un-muddy the waters up until now. And asking radio narcs for call signs is a new low even for them.

Okay, a couple of follow-up questions... 1. What radio are you using? 2. What program are you using to program said radio? 3. What's a "frec"?

I plan on being at Bayland Park. Hope the mosquitos aren't as bad as they were last time I was there.

I'm not going to straight-up say the letter to that club is fake because I have not seen the letter, and whoever supplied the letter failed to identify either who sent it or the email address from where it was sent. All we have seen are portions the "offending" radio club's communication describing the letter. But there more red flags than a Cuban May Day parade. A "verbal warning" is when one person speaks using a human voice to another human. An email is not a verbal warning. The FCC would probably not suggest that anything be done "by the end of the day". I cannot imagine the FCC expecting a repeater operator to rat out all the users by supplying call signs. As a repeater trustee myself, if there was anything amiss with our repeaters, such as spurious emissions, or any of a litany of problems emitting from our equipment, they would contact me, not the members of my club or users of our repeaters. By snail mail, not email. That's why the FCC requires your physical address (or PO box). If a licensed operator is violating rules, the FCC would go directly to them without the need for a radio narc. Apparently, according to the letter, the FCC has the roster of all the offending club's members, including email addresses. Another red flag. To me, the letter sounds like an angry GMRS user who is trying to bully a club by generating a letter that sounds just legitimate enough to scare them out of linking repeaters.

1.0 on 146.520, 1.25 on 446.000, 1.83 on 151.940, 1.86 on 462.562, 462.550 and 462.725, and 2.38 on 467.625 Here is what I am using for a mount. It bolts on with the hood hinge bolts. It isn’t mounted as high as you have but it works and I have no complaints.

Yeah, I am in agreement. I am guessing that they are using this to link repeaters and radios together. But that is already handled with the MYGMRS system. And, if you are knowledgeable enough, there are ways of connecting 'headphones' to that system as well. And a Microphone. For that matter, you COULD connect an IP phone to your node and use that as well due to every node being a full PBX. But I really am not going down that rabbit hole.

A lot of people on limited budgets or just dipping their toes into amateur radio and/or GMRS will use a hand held radio connected to a magnet mounted antenna in their vehicles. While a 5 or 8 watt hand held won't reach out as far as a 20 - 50 watt mobile, radio, it still works well with an external antenna. I ran a magnet mount antenna with my Baofeng GT-5R hooked to an external antenna in my car for a while and had no issues getting into the local repeaters. That allowed me to save up for and research what mobile radio I wanted.

Based on all your multiple previous comments about how EVERY person you know dumps EVERY radio (Midland, Retevis, TidRadio, Wouxun) unless that radio happens to be the same brand of radios that you use, it is becoming clear that you don't actually know anyone. ... Or, you are just F.O.S. But either way, your mythomaniac comments are great for pointing at and laughing so keep up the good work!

I was around back in the days when 462.675 was designated for emergency use only and for point-to-point communications for REACTS. My GMRS license back in that day stated that 462.675 MHz was for emergency use only. Orange County REACT was one of the licensees that had authorization to use a repeater on 462.675 MHz in the 70s and they had a repeater on Santiago Peak for all the REACT monitors to relay information. This repeater is still in existence today and still owned by Crest Communications and used by their Club members. In later years, the FCC deregulated the use of 462.675 MHz as an emergency only and the North Shore Emergency Association was instrumental in getting the acceptance of the 462.675 MHz GMRS as a highway calling channel with the 141.3 Hz as the national travel tone. Here is some info from the North Shore Emergency Association on the history of the National Travel Channel: This briefly discusses how the "travel tone" of 141.3 Hz and the national calling/emergency frequency of 462.675 MHz came to be. NSEA was one of the very first adopters of GMRS in the early 1970s, then the Class "A" Citizens Band. Here's a quick snippet from the link: NSEA members were instrumental in bringing UHF technology to other public service groups in CB, especially R.E.A.C.T. (Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams). Beginning in 1976 key NSEA members spent extensive time meeting with REACT teams in more than a dozen-and-a-half different states, bringing a portable repeater, together with a number of mobile and portable units for field demonstrations...As a result, over 200 personal use repeater systems (all on the same frequency [462.675 MHz]) were set up throughout the United States. In recognition of this trend of explosive growth the Federal Communications Commission formally recognized our frequency [462.675 MHz] as the national emergency and traveler's assistance channel in the Part 95A Rules and Regulations. Below is some info from Wikipedia on the National calling and highway channel; GMRS: 462.675 MHz is a UHF mobile distress and road information calling frequency allocated to the General Mobile Radio Service and used throughout Alaska and Canada for emergency communications; sometimes referred to as "Orange Dot" by some transceiver manufacturers who associated a frequency with a color-code for ease of channel coordination, until the creation of the Family Radio Service, in 1996, "GMRS 675" or Channel 6/20 on mobile radios today. It can have a repeater input frequency of 467.675 MHz, and a tone squelch of 141.3 Hz. The national calling channel is still recognized by some GMRS users and Clubs that are still alive and well but the channel may not be widely recognized by the newer GMRS users today.