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Remember people put up repeaters and the cost comes out of their own pockets. A few are more civic minded and operate open repeaters. However even if the repeater is listed as "closed" many times the owner will allow you to use if once they have your info and confirmation that you will adhere to whatever rules and restrictions they place on it's operation. All you need to do is try and contact the repeater owner and ask polity for permission to use it.

are you sure you are using the correct tones for the repeater? are you really certain it is working properly? ie; is the duplexer tuned correctly for the channel its using?

@BradleyRN Paying for a premium membership on my GMRS.com doesn't automatically send a request to a specific repeater owner for tones to the repeater. You need to make a specific request to the repeater owner.

Recently licensed newb here - in So Cal. Like most newbers, just starting out with a couple of budget HT's, but looking to set up a base and mobile in the near future. Am able to connect to repeaters within range of my HT. Lots to learn but getting there. Cheers! - Jim

The “sub-channels” are achieved by using CTCSS tones or DCS codes. Those are fairly standardized so you should be able to use them with any other FRS or GMRS radio. Just bear in mind that anyone listening without tones or codes set will be able to hear your conversations. It’s not secure. Nor will the 2 watts instead of 5 watts make a huge difference. The thing you can’t do is communicate through a repeater.

I agree the purpose of this forum is to assist new user and give him/her advice on how to operate their radio the proper way not to shoot down their request for help

Yes, it definitely will. I had lost the link to the site I use to create these maps and finally found it. Unfortunately, it doesn't show its true path as we all know it reaches far beyond what is shown on the map. But that's why we call them estimated coverages.

Can you bring the repeater up? If so, you can 'duplex' by using two radios -- one to key it up and another to listen to the output. If you can hear your transmission that means you are hitting it (you can tell by the signal if you are strong enough by the level of quieting your signal has.)

Just to clarify a couple of things and recap some that have been mentioned. If you are using a GMRS radio you wont have to set the offset, it's automatically set when using repeater channels. Also be sure you are on a repeater channel (23-30, 31-38...) when programming for a repeater and not on simplex (it happens). As mentioned the Premium Membership gives you certain privileges on the MYGMRS sites but has nothing to do with access to repeaters. Sign in on the map/repeater site the same you do here, although they are both MYGMRS it requires a separate log in from the forum site. Then find the repeater you want to access and request permission if it isn't already open to use with the tones posted. I may have added some things you know already but not knowing your level of knowledge here these are some common things that people sometimes miss that people who have been here take for granted that new people will know. Oh yeah, and welcome @BradleyRN to mygmrs.

The repeater channels on your radio are just channels on your radio set up to transmit on one frequency (+5 mhz) and listen on another frequency. This is how they contact and listen to repeaters. (They send to a frequency that the repeater receives and then it will re-transmit on the frequency you and others are listening to) Repeaters can be owned / operated by local individual owners or by clubs. The input (tx) tone and output (rx) tone can be any of the CTCSS or DTS (digital) codes that the repeater owner chooses. You have to know the proper TX tone to activate the repeater. The RX tone can isolate only transmissions from the repeater, or you can leave the RX tone off so you hear anything on the frequency. And repeaters are local. Usually with a range of a few miles up to 100 miles if they are powerful and/or up on a high location.

I thought this post was about Chris, as indicated by the title.. I am very disappointed.

I can connect to the Ranchino repeater as it's near my home. I can also hit the ELAC repeater on my work commute. I haven't signed up for the Mesa repeaters yet, but likely will. Mesa West is further from me than Mesa Crest, but I can hear convos on Mesa West much more clearly. Is that weird? Seems to be more activity on that repeater as well.

Got my new license so now I'm ready! For what I'm not quite sure. I'm finding I have to read a lot and that's not a problem. My current conundrum is that I have a certain frequency, 462.6. I feel like the info I get for this will help in general. Anyway, I can hear people talking, friends just chatting kind of stuff. When I try to ask for a radio check and perhaps join in. I have 3-4 handhelds so I did a reset on one after CHIRP backup. I entered 462.6 and tried, nothing. I set the offset at +5 as that is what I've gathered is most popular, nothing. I'm just curious what it is I'm overlooking. I can hear this frequency fine and the meter is pegged when just about everyone talks. MyGMRS shows this frequency but shows tones as "unlisted" so I paid the membership. Now my name has a really cool star by it and everybody knows I once had $50. Oh yeah, the tone? "unlisted" I'm a retired nurse and I think this may be a great hobby. As my mobility declines this could extend my range of friends. Any help appreciated and most of all I truly appreciate you reading my post!

IF it ever comes to be that would be the most likely result. Also the one the FCC would be more inclined to consider. If you look back through the prior posts to this thread you'll find a file attached to one of mine that goes into a bit more detail on the subject.

Glad to hear it. For a moment there I thought it was just me.

How are you determining you can't hit it? Need steps to reproduce the issue, including how your radio is programmed. If he sets his own radio to listen to the repeater's input frequency can he hear you?

That's interesting. I suppose if you combined that with the proximity feature in RepeaterBook, you could get exactly what @WRXR374 is looking for. You could give it a radius from your location and it would show all repeaters that (theoretically) cover your location.

I love the way you put it.

I use an 8watt HT sometimes (UV-5R8W) but never notice it getting hot on full power. It does run the battery down faster but I don't have any quantitative data for you.

@WRYS709 I use Windows 10 and haven't had any driver issues. I had to use the CPS to set the frequency range but after that it has all been CHIRP.

I received a Quansheng UV-K5 (8) recently that worked on 2m, 70cm, MURS, and GMRS right out of the box. I tested it on MURS and it works. And the Baofeng GT-5R that I modified for the 1.25m band that also works on MURS. I really have no use for MURS since no one else uses that band except Walmart. I could have some fun sending Walmart workers on goose chases around the store.

Definitely sounds as if it is a configuration issue. Does the repeater use tones? If so, remove the tone on the transmit frequency (462 MHz) and on the handsets receive (also the 462 MHz frequency). Be certain the HH transmit frequency has the same tone as the repeater's receive frequency (467 MHz). Does a HH open the repeater's receiver on the 467 frequency? What antenna is the repeater using? Is the antenna tilted away from your location? That may cause the radiation pattern to be more elevated when using higher power. Try a different antenna with the repeater. Just some thoughts on trying to diagnose the issue.

Thanks so much Raybestos! Believe it or not last week was spent learning some about PL/CTSS/DPL. I learned that if you enter a receive "tone" you will not hear anything that does not use that code. I think I will be good when it comes to entering. I guess the real problem is finding the tones, and if there are even any. Way back to basics, I can hear several folks talking together no problem. I have 3 or 2 portables. The seemingly obligatory Baofeng UV 5R and a Tidradio TD-H3 aka "the good one" according to the all knowing U-Toob. I also have a Anytone 778 UV (25watt) cleverly disguised as a base and that's attached to one of those thick 3-4 tall inch magnet based mobile antennas. I'm in an apartment so I definitely have limitations. I wait for dead air, key up give my call sign asking for a radio check but never get a response. Again, my thanks!

Here is another example of line of sight being most important. I live on a hilltop on an island in NW Washington. I can hit a large area repeater East of Seattle that is high on a mountain 92 miles from my location with a 5 watt Wouxun KG-935G plus hand held connected to a rooftop Yagi directional antenna. But I have almost perfect line of sight to that repeater save a few trees in my neighborhood. I have no doubt it would reach even further.

which chirp cable are you using for the ar-5rm? can't find much info it.

Thank you. I didn't realize I had to save my change. I don't remember making the change or using the save feature so I must have done it by accident. Anyhow, that was the step I was missing.

You will need that "tone", whether PL or DPL. Check your e-mails if you sent in your money to them on-line. They likely sent you one with the PL or DPL they use in it. You will need to transmit that tone to access the repeater. Being that you are new to GMRS, I have a feeling that you will need additional help getting the tone into your radio. If so, no shame in that. Let us know once you have the tone, what type radio you have. Somebody else or myself will be glad to get you where you need to be with this process.

The KG-935G plus, the KG-S88G and the KG-Q10G all have talk around just to name a few. All are Part 95(E) approved... so yeah no, you are incorrect on this matter.

The list is longer. There are more digital voice modes than the above if you count several more like NXDN, P25 and dPMR. Then there is the new one M17 too. Your waist line is going to look like Batman's utility belt with all the radios hanging on it for the various digital modes in use. The problem is finding a place to hang all the speaker mics.

@WRYS709 Yes, USB to RJ-45 just like what @amaff shows in the picture of the 779. Plugs right into the mic socket.

Some radios also have what is known as “talk around”, this basically lets you transmit on the same channel in simplex (around the repeater) to see if you can reach the other party without going through the repeater. This can be helpful because it maintains the tones you have set for the repeater but uses simplex. Also you don’t need to be monitoring simplex separately on the B channel while using A or lets say you are using a radio that isn’t dual receive like the KG-S88G for instance, you can hit a side button to activate the “talk around” feature and see if you can reach the other party on simplex even though they are still set to receive from the repeater. It’s a pretty common feature these days and perfect for the scenario you described.

All the radios have to be on the same channel to reach each other. To monitor and use both a repeater and simplex channels the radio must be capable of dual channel operations. In other words, both an A and B channel.

Well Id start with the map on this website and see if any are listed. Next I'd listen to every pair via a HT or mobile. Next I'd listen to each pair at the location and antenna you want oput the repeater on. From there I'd pick a channel/.

Well, You really need someone that is familiar with communications to work with you to figure all this out. With GMRS, every member not related to another member needs to have a license. So if a father son / sons are involved, they could all operate under one license. But no one else can. With ham it's specific to the individual to have a license with the correct allocations for the frequencies in use. This is typically not an issue any more. But a Novice license holder would not be able to operate in the VHF / UHF spectrum until they upgraded to a technician license. But your best bet is a statewide part 90 itinerant license with a repeater pair and a simplex frequency. You would be using part 90 radios that could be used for ham OR GMRS with the correct programming. The other possibility is getting an MOU from the agencies you will be service and having their assigned frequencies for SAR deployments programmed into the radios so you would have direct communications with Incident Command. Of course, you NEED to have an MOU, don't just start putting public safety frequencies in your radio thinking it will be ok. If your group is established and recognized by public safety agencies and you get calls from them requiring assistance on a search, then they may well want you to have their frequencies programmed so that they are getting real time information AND so when a search is called for weather, or the individual is located, they would want to pull everyone back in without needing to track a group leader down for each group to call back searchers. SAR during an activation is considered first responders in many states. For that length of time you are technically recognized as public safety. That's what I would be looking for, not what cheap radio service can I throw together some radios and use cheaply as humanly possible. Look at it like this. IF you are doing high angle (rope) rescue. You can get proper harnesses and ropes that are specifically designed to be used in that capacity. Or you can go to the hardware store and get whatever they have available that has a minimum break strength above what your heaviest guy is. It will work after all right? Same thing with radios. You send people out into the wilderness to search for someone, that radio is their lifeline back to the world. If they fall and get injured then that radio will bring them help. What would you want to be out in the boonies with? A good quality commercial radio, or a 15 dollar import that you bought because it was the cheapest thing you could find?

@WSFA358 for liking a comment, just hover over the circle with a heart in it and it will display the different "reactions" to choose from. For repeaters, do a search, there is already a lot of info. After that, if you still have trouble, then ask a specific question and you will get plenty of help.

Some think it tilts the steering wheel up and down.

That looks like the tilt base from DX Engineering. They are nice but pricey for what they are. I say that as a retired machinist knowing what goes into producing them. DX Engineering OMNI-TILT™ Vertical Antenna Tilt Bases DXE-OMNITILT-2P Yes I have one and they are well built out of 1/8" stainless steel.

Here’s a pic of the painters pole and the base mount I use for it.

Uncle Charlie definitely frowns on people trying to own entire bands. Again, the actions of a few spoiling something that could benefit many.

I just received my AR-5RM yesterday. I can confirm it works on HAM and GMRS frequencies. It also received air / police bands and works with Chirp. What I can't believe is that this a 10W radio. The reason I say that is because all I did was add a Nagoya 771 antenna to it and I was hitting a repeater some 25-ish miles away (I was told my transmissions were crystal clear) but with a couple other 10W radios with the same antenna I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. I was sitting on my front porch in a neighborhood surrounded by oak trees.

With a few exceptions, ham does not have assigned channels.

Possibly the wisest thing ever said on any radio forum.

Don’t overthink it. Buy one and use it. Your hands-on use will tell you more than our analysis ever could.

I guess you don't know that every GMRS radio (including made by American owned companies) is made in China or Chinese territory?

I won't be a member of any club that would accept me as a member...

Im a constitutional scholar with a gifted IQ, but my wife said I can't comment on this because it's mean to make strangers on the internet cry.

I like it when regulations are written to give users leeway to make the service work the way they need it to work. There are large pay-to-play GMRS repeater networks near me. Some standalone, some linked. I don't personally want to pay a monthly fee but I do not mind at all sharing in the expenses if it is a shared resource. Not everyone has a hill in their backyard and a tall tree to toss a wire over. Some want to pay big $$$ for premium locations or whatever. Leasing stuff is expensive, whether it is a spot on a tower or a spot in a transmitter shack or whatever. So while I do not want to pay monthly/recurring for access to a repeater, I will pay as I go for a week or a month or a flat $50 here-ya-go-thanks for the weekend or whatever. If I have to; I'd rather everything be free lol. But I'm just saying what I'd be willing to pay. However... What I do not like, and will not comply with, is the additional callsign junk. I already have a government issued callsign, a unique identifier for using on the air. I do not want this separate group ID like "CHAT 99" or whatever. There is a pay-to-play group down near Chattanooga TN and they make their users identify with "Chat XX" with a unique number assigned. No thanks. No, really. No thank you. I'll use my already unique identifier, and that will be all I use. Or I'll not use the system I have the choice to make.

I had the same issue. I ended up downloading the software from radioddity and it works. Baofeng website was uv5x and gave a “failure”. Radioddity was uv5g plus software and worked no issues. here’s a link to page https://www.radioddity.com/pages/baofeng-download