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When I got my first pair of HTs they were the TDH3 but the HAM version. Shortly after I discovered they could be switched over to GMRS. I looked into it and discovered the licensing was just $35 and that covered the family. The process was a pain and by the time I had finished up I had 8 windows open that were required to obtain this license. Not really the surprise. After playing with these radios I was surprised to find out my wife didn't hate them. After a short while I ended up getting a mobile tranceiver that I put in the house as a base station. My wife didn't really care for talking on it but she did like to listen to the active repeater. Eventually I put up a good antenna and I got a mobile unit so I could keep in touch with my wife. She enjoyed being able to contact me. I put up a repeater at my shop and even though communication was difficult because of hills and trees she enjoyed contacting me by the radio over texting or phone unless she couldn't get me through the radio. Eventually I found out my antenna and/or coax was faulty and changed that out and now the connection is much better. My repeater is 50w and the mobile is 20w and the repeater can get to the house better than the house can get to the repeater. So I decided to get a 50w for the house. Ordered the power supply and the radio. The PS came today and my wife was excited. She knew nothing of what I had ordered. She thought I got a new radio. I was a bit shocked. The normal expectation when a husband spend money without the wife knowing about it on his hobby is to be frowned up or worse, being yelled at. She was disappointed that it was a power supply and not a radio. She still doesn't know I ordered the radio. I didn't want to take the surprise away from her when it does arrive. Can a guy be more lucky.

I have tried to explain this before, at least the way I understand it... the station type is defined by its use. This is why you never ask cops for advice. You need to consult lawyers and judges. The rule very specifically says that a base station is a station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. Therefore, the act of using a station to communicate through a repeater changes the 'station type' to a Control station. A Control station is 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. So, using a radio at your home to communicate through a repeater is not a rule violation. The only defined hardware type is a Mobile radio, with handheld radios being a sub-type, with the definitions as follows: Mobile station. A station, intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified locations, that communicates directly with base stations and other mobile stations, and with control stations and other mobile stations through repeater stations. Hand-held portable unit. A physically small mobile station that can be operated while being held in the operator's hand. All other references are to station types, which are defined by how they are used... for example: Base station. A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. 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. Personal Radio Services station. Any transmitter, with or without an incorporated antenna or receiver, which is certified by the FCC to be operated in one or more of the Personal Radio Services. Repeater station. A station in a fixed location used to extend the communications range of mobile stations, hand-held portable units and control stations by receiving their signals on one channel (the input channel) and simultaneously retransmitting these signals on another channel (the output channel), typically with higher transmitting power from a favorable antenna location (typically high above the surrounding terrain). You will notice that even a repeater is defined by the job it does, rather than physical characteristics. That is because you can easily build a repeater with 2 mobile radios, as an example.

I sure am. She makes me a sandwich every work day and dinner every night.

I have a wonderful wife and I honestly wouldn’t want to dwell on life without her beside me. When I went back to college at 32, she worked two jobs to take care of me and our kids without ever complaining. Now that she’s in a wheelchair with MS she still never complains. I know that not everyone is so fortunate but I’m delighted for @LeoG. It appears he has a good one.

You had me at “When I got my first pair of radios,” but the ending was great!

If you are a non mobile station that communicates with another non mobile station that is a fixed station. As soon as that fixed station communicates with a mobile unit it becomes a base station in definition. And as soon as that same fixed/base station communicates with a repeater it is by definition a control station. The only one that seems to have limitations is when you operate a fixed to fixed station where you can't exceed 15 watts. Sounds like a specialty unit that has an antenna pointed at another antenna to communicate specifically with that station. Most likely LOS on towers so 15 watts would be more than adequate to maintain good quality communications.

Katie and I share an interest in 2 way radios. She was EMS and came into our relationship carrying a fancy Bendix King. We have cute code names for each other and use our radios every day. It's enough to make normal people sick.

Related: Is there a IGNORE THREAD option?

Stop everything you are doing right now and go buy a lottery ticket!

BINGO

And since repeaters and HTs aren’t listed my mobile mounted in the house isn’t a base station. Rather it is a mobile at rest.

Nothing better in life than a good woman at your side. I had to go through quite a few bad ones to finally find mine. I can't believe I actually thought I knew what love was before her.

@LeoG reading your story gave me a genuine smile. As someone who feels lucky to have my wife I appreciate hearing someone else’s positive experiences. You are a lucky guy.

He’s full of it. The license is in only one person’s name but all immediate family members are allowed to use that call sign.

As has been stated many times on this forum, it's all about how the transmitter is being used. Two stationary units only exchange signals between themselves. They are not used to contact repeaters or mobile stations nor; do they contact other base stations that communicate to either other base or mobile stations. Perhaps the best example of a fixed station communicating to another fixed station are microwave links. they don't contact repeaters or any mobile or other base stations. they only talk to one other station at a fixed location.

DB20-G, GMRS mode, with ch. 39 programmed for simplex, ch 39 can be programmed from the mic for 467 mains with or without tone

Certainly not Michael Jackson....

Where is that michael jackson eating popcorn gif when i need it.... Found something close enough

I was reading through a Operations Manual for the Midland MXT-400 that I saved on my cell phone. I carry it to ensure that IF I have a question out on a trail, I can usually find the answer in the manual on the phone. I don't get to use it much anymore and have been actually thinking of deleting it from my Files on the phone as I have had my radio since 2019 and feel pretty acclimated when I need to change a function on the radio. On the forum here, I had read that one thing the MXT-400 sufferred from is the ability receiving wide band transmissions well. I found that I just needed to turn the speaker volume up a little and that helped so I have been pretty happy with my rig in the Jeep all this time. And everyone I have communicated with, hears me well. Lo & behold, I looking thru that manual today and see "I CAN Change the bandwith afterall!" How could I have missed that little detail all this long? Had that dang thing for six years and just never knew that! So I get to making a comparison of the operational manuals and "DANG," nothing is different except the ole paper manual does not state anywhere in it that I can change the band width. So I called Midland and got ahold of service rep whom at first agreed that it was possible after all so I gave the rep my serial number and hoped that could help me learn the proceedure for future use. Long story short...... My radio was made before the change in 2021 and I had gotten ahold of a newer operations manual to put on the phone... "Happy Aprils Fool on me! " I'll keep the radio as it really works just fine for my needs, and thought ya'll might want to know that if ya have a MXT-400 made in 2021 or later, you do have that ability to swap from narrow or wide band. Don't let the bastards wear ya down about, "Midland is Crappy stuff."

Does this include sporks?

Too late... you're committed now!

A mobile radio that sits on your desktop and has a power supply is NOT necessarily a Base Station. As Marc eloquently stated above, it's the operation that counts, not the configuration. A Base radio operates on the lower 462.xxx frequencies. A Control station may appear very similar to a Base, but a Control Station transmits on the 467.xxx frequencies, and listens on the lower (base side) of the pair.

Zero pressure from me... I just hope its a useful tool for you.

Seems he wants help when he wants it but isn’t interested in giving it. The snarky “40 years using radios” yet ask for help that won’t reveal any info on what he did wrong that might be helpful for others is telling. As much as I hate the term (I feel it’s over used), what we have here is a bonafide Sad Ham. Some people are gatekeepers and just take. Oh well.

Perhaps it was a joke of the day? I’m reminded of the “that’s not how any of this works” meme

No BS. I would spend it anyway whether she approved or not. Life is too short to not have a few pleasantries and hobbies. She has surprised me in the fact that she shows interest in the radio - period. I expected when I got the base station installed it would always be "can you turn that thing off/down". But for the most parts no complaints. She even joins in on the nets on one of the repeaters. I consider this electronics which she has no interest in. I guess it's the gossip part of it. You get to listen to other peoples conversations and then talk about them later on. And after 38 years of marriage it's nice to have another topic to talk about.

So how about telling the rest of us what the problem was so the members of the forum can learn as well?

That's awesome!

I don't have one of those, wife, got rid of that problem years ago, so I get to spend my money anyway on anything I want. No BS to put up with.

*1 on going for Extra, Being Extra is also the gateway to becoming a Volunteer Examiner for new hams and those wanting to upgrade,

Maybe send another message to the repeater owner asking for your request for access be cancelled.

Go for the extra license. Doesn't give you much more other than not having to worry about what portion of the bands you are in and bragging rights, but why not?

As far as I know... no. Question is, why would you want to remove it? If the repeater owner some day decided to check their requests and answer, then you would finally get what you were asking for. If they don't ever answer, well, nothing has changed one way or another. I understand and agree that it would be nice to clear it so you don't even have to look at it again, and I'm not sure why it isn't an option. But I guess it lets you keep track of repeaters you never have to bother asking permission for eveyr again because it seems no one is answering it anyway.

Good evening everyone! My name is Seth and Im located in Murfreesboro. Currently I have a set of UV-5R handhelds and a pair of Radioditty DB20-G GMRS mobile radios for my family vehicles. Usually only on GMRS channel 20 using CTCSS 141.3 to hear everything go on around me. I will monitor RUTHERFORD 600 at CTCSS 114.8 and SMG1 at CTCSS 229.1 when Im trying to really reach out and contact others. I would love to start making contacts and learn more about the GMRS community and how to operate effectively. Please feel free to reach out at any time as I constantly monitor this account. Very Respectfully, WSCE776 (Seth)

No, that wont solve anything. Follow these steps, EXACTLY: Confirm that the repeater is up/active/turned on Confirm that you have the correct channel & TX/Transmit tone Ignore the RX(Transmit) tone and REMOVE it from both radios Confirm that you are correctly saving/writing your changes to the radio by looking/confirming the changes ON the the radio itself Get close enough to the repeater that you can SEE it Get your two test radios at least 50 feet apart and test If after all that, its still not working, then using GMRS radios/repeaters may not be for you.

Third! He was completely wrong. No such notification is needed or even possible.

I still carry around some souvenirs from my time in Iraq, so maybe the shrapnel is helping to act as a counterpoise.

So far mine has been working great! Very happy with it. Been testing it with some of the other ranchers so far in heavy woods we have gotten 14 miles south and 12 miles north of me so far.

So I have a question. Why haven't you put one up?

I wasn't going to try guessing his radio simplicity level, but I thought it would be nice to offer him some food for thought on some options for his future radio.

You're not getting it right, get it right. You're just discrediting yourself and demonstrating that you are a perfect example of a certified genuine "Sad Ham".

More info:

@Sonicgott, thanks for the well written and complete review. Also, if you’re new to the site, @Socalgmrs has a social problem that none of us understand. Apparently the only way he can feel self worth is to denigrate others and his most frequent targets are new members. The best way to deal with it is to simply place him on your ignore list until he bails out of this site like he did before. It should be a sticky somewhere for new members.

That's it! You guys rock.