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I don’t know why the FCC chose to disallow radios that transmit on multiple services. I agree that it doesn’t seem to make sense. Since they’re asking how to simplify the regulations this is one way.

Our neighborhood (HOA) sent an email announcing the frequency to be used. Simple, if you can compile an email list.

The online map and the repeater listings are just two different ways of looking at the same data. I go to the map first because it’s easy for me to see what is nearby, but I’m sure that other people start by entering search terms and selecting search conditions. I don’t think that means one group is smarter than the other. If it’s entered in the database it can be mapped. It might not be the right place. When I said I don’t think you can have it both ways I meant two things: First, publishing the information in an internet database by definition means you can’t keep the information from getting out. Second, an internet database might not be a reliable means to disseminate information in the event of a “grid down apocalyptic scenario”. But if you’ve contacted Rich and he doesn’t want to extend the database to serve your wants this is really a moot point anyway. I’ll follow along to see what you come up with but I’m all out of ideas for you to reject.

But it's so much easier to tell everyone to log into MyGMRS, Do a city search, than do a I.D. search than scroll into a map than launch another page to find your channel freq than.............

Truly, the only solution that makes sense is to establish a local organization so they can prepare. If you wait for the need to present itself you’re never going to catch up. That’s like trying to teach a drowning person how to swim. As far as the concern that bad people can read, wouldn’t you want them to? Maybe they’ll go somewhere else.

Neighborhood watch discord group. WhatsApp group. Group text message. Teams chat. E-mail list. There's so many ways to skin this cat. What's this even mean? Why wouldn't fliers or signs work when the rest of society is working?

Is there any way this site's repeater section (not forum) can allow listing neighborhood watch simplex frequencies? I don't have any repeaters and never expect to. Us non-repeater owners might be better able to build a community of users if there was a way to be listed where people will be looking. The same function that does repeater access requests could be relabelled Contact (or something similar). [I'm sure I'll get attacked for even suggesting it, but y'all haven't run me off yet.]

I removed the callsign from the other account, so you should be able to register now, Ken.

...Grid down you say wait, what? What are we even talking about? Grid down? MYGMRS WILL ALSO BE DOWN!!! So yeah we're back to putting the info on paper and not giving it to the "bad guys" who are all gonna be at the mall anyway looting beer and sneakers and worthless TVs because... ya the grid is down. Hello? I'll be hold up in a bunker with all the radios off! Off I say! because the aliens are gonna zero in on RF signals with the lasers! Lasers people! Everyone knows this. Everybody run for your lives! I might have gotten a little carried away, maybe.

I don’t think you can have it both ways: 1. To create a listing on a nationwide map that’s useful for build a community of users using simplex GMRS frequencies, and 2. Useful for grid down apocalyptic scenarios where you don’t want any information getting out. But if you can figure out what that would look like, your best bet would be to talk to Rich @rdunajewski and see if he can make the changes you want. There’s no reason he couldn’t add fields to the database to support that.

I mean, fair, but you're here asking questions about how to do a thing, and folks are trying to help, but the "why" matters in coming up with a useful "how." That said: Yeah I'm starting to see why

Right. But for the other 99.9999999% of the time....... I understand planning for that edge of an edge of an edge case. But I don't get letting it limit how we act in all the rest of situations which are exponentially more likely to actually occur. Heck, in a "grid down, apocalyptic scenario," no one's checking MyGMRS.com to see what their local comms strategy needs to be. Which brings us back to the beginning of what are you actually trying to accomplish. Which still isn't clear.

As I recall, @OffRoaderXdeclared Channel 19 as the GMRS National Calling Channel and the Feds backed down!

Go to your account at the FCC and download a current version of your license. When I did that a few months ago the Line A restriction no longer appeared.

Okay... really quick... the short answer is those people on the net are incorrect. You can use all of the GMRS channels anywhere in the US. Details without getting too dorky... what used to limit us was a combination of FCC rules and a US/Canada treaty. The treaty is called "Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada Concerning the Coordination and Use of Radio Frequencies Above Thirty Megacycles per Second, with Annexes" also known as the "Above 30 MHz Agreement". A new agreement that was signed in 2021 supersedes that agreement. The new document is called "General coordination agreement between Canada and the United States of America on the use of the radio frequency spectrum by terrestrial radiocommunication stations and earth stations." This document discontinued the parts first treaty I mentioned, that impacted GMRS. Now, that only relates to the Treaty / Agreement. Under FCC rules, the restriction was also lifted. The older rule was under "§ 95.1761 GMRS transmitter certification" (e). However, § 95.1761(e) now has new text that is completely unrelated. Also, Line A is not referenced anywhere in the Personal Radio Service general rules, nor in the GMRS specific rules. The original text from the FCC (from the wayback machine), again no longer valid, is noted below. § 95.1761 GMRS transmitter certification (e) GMRS transmitters intended for use north of Line A or east of Line C* must not be capable of transmitting on channels 462.650 MHz or 462.700 MHz (GMRS Channels 19 and 21), unless such operation is specifically authorized by the Commission pursuant to an application showing that harmful interference to Canadian stations is unlikely.*

I agree. VOIP is VOIP. QRP to the other side of the earth and impress me.

You don't want to meet my brother. He even makes me pull out the dictionary, but his friends call him "the guy who doesn't talk much"

Got all signed up, thanks!

I actually use my ham knowledge working on HVAC controls. Sometimes a sensor with a particular value needs to be simulated or corrected. I carry a signal generator, a decade box and a box of assorted resistors on my service truck. A megger that can read a gig and a Fluke 87 (which can also read nanosiemens if you know how to do the conversion). Guess who gets sent to the freak jobs.

No, not at all.

Every time I am tempted to buy the $34 Radioddity MURS HT; I ask myself: why?!?

The problem I see with this is suddenly you will have people not in knowledge of the rules for marine use then using it on land and inappropriately. Not a good use as it could cause issues for safety on the water. Marine VHF is a non licensed service to make it easy for everyone on the water to have it and thus make it safer out there.

There's one reason: he doesn't want to! You keep mentioning map - I've never even looked at a map here. I read the listings. I'm not sure I'd want people who can't get the data from a list (those same people who want a map online, can't/won't use a printed map). And I don't know if there is a conflict like you describe. I checked and the location doesn't have to be your house (nearby intersection or convenience store or park or post office, etc. will do as long as it's relatively close). If there's a better way, where people will find it, I'm open to hearing about it. I don't use typical social media, and don't have email or phone #s for neighbors yet. The only early contacts I'd want to make would be people who have radios and are looking for ways to use them. such as searching for repeaters. My feeling on all this GMRS repeater craze is that repeaters, and distance, are getting too much emphasis for this service. It's more useful to me to have nearby contacts. I have HAM for longer range repeater contacts. GMRS, to me, is for people closer who aren't hams, including FRS users (adults). Throw in the rule (for now) that GMRS base stations aren't allowed to use repeaters and most of the repeater craze evaporates. Also, of the ones near me 5 have gone away (no big loss since I can't talk from home). If more people would just try putting up a decent antenna on a pole or roof (15-20ft up), there would be less fuss about repeaters.

There kinda is, just GMRS instead of FRS... The TERA TR-505 GMRS/FRS radio claims to do optional MURS as well. You have to purchase a programming cable and get the free "MURS programming file". It's on their website so it has to be legit, right? https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr505-gmrs-recreational-handheld-radio

Put up a sign -- now, not when the bad guys are out and about. Announce a net for once a week/month. Everyone who participates gets invited to a BBQ. Word will get out.

amaff et al.: My purpose in posting here is not to explain and justify my plans to you. Y'all are outside the need to know loop.

Yup, this.

Maybe you could suggest either tech questions to add to the General and Amateur Extra exams or possibly some hands on stuff that could be tested. Personally I enjoy building, troubleshooting, and fixing things but I know that most people don’t anymore.

An 'In the weeds" explanation of a trunked radio system, at least the MSI P25 version. The way this all works, at least at 700/800 Mhz, is every frequency is assigned by the FCC a channel number. These channel numbers are set in steps of a specific channel spacing and start frequency. With VHF it's not that way, VHF requires the channels to be programmed into the radio with TX and RX frequencies and the channel number is assigned by that programming. So as mentioned there is a 'control channel' that is effectively a data channel. All radios use this to connect to the system. When a radio is turned on it finds the control channel of the closest site and then announces it's presence. The system will acknowledge that radio and do one of three things. It will OK the radio to be on the system, it will deny access or it will if told to by the system admin send a stun / kill command to that radio and disable the radio. If the radio is allowed on the system, that system will process the radios request for access to a specific talkgroup. The radio talkgroup is remembered by the system and the site it's connected to. When that talk group becomse active the control channel will tell the radio to go to the specific assigned channel for the traffic and begin listening. It will pick the channel in b ased on a couple things. First is the standard round robin assignment. The next available channel on the site is used. But certain channels can be set to NOT use that talk group, so it can skip certain channels. It can also use lowest channel TX time to equalize the TX loading on each channel based on total time of transmit for each channel at a site. Now, since you didn't mention that you had to reprogram your scanner, your not hearing different conversations on a specific channel that was only for police previously, or any of the other stuff. I am gonna say that you are probably NOT listening to a trunked radio system. Back to the programming and channel assignment. When you setup your scanner, if it's 700/800, you will only need to put in the control channels and the stepping information. The scanner will know what frequencies are assigned to what channel numbers with that information. If they used VHF or UHF frequencies, you may / will need to program all used frequencies manually. Refer to Radio Reference for programming information on your specific system for more information

The only factual reference for the GMRS rules is the government rules: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95?toc=1

Not at all. I figured we are just having a conversation and sharing information. I don’t want to speak for the OP, but I think he is just trying to demonstrate how bad information is out in the world and how confusing it can be trying to figure it out for many people. I took it as that is really the topic. I could be wrong, though.

People treating AI slop and hallucinations as a source for factual information is....concerning.

Agree, to me. The point being is if you are talking to someone on the other side of the world over VOIP there's absolutely no reason to get yourself excited as you really accomplished nothing radio related. Do it over the air and see how challenging it can be. Then you will have real excitement.

If they did, they wouldn't be cheap.

Thanks. I just tried it. downloaded a reference copy. Nothing is listed under Waivers/Conditions. Looks like I'll have to make a few code plug edit changes for my radios. Oh-well, more busy work.

My first thought it's just an inefficient government system. They are too lazy to go back and notify older licensees of an update.

I really think that the FCC screwed the pooch on this. They should have made some sort of announcement, or better yet sent an email to affected licensees.

That's cool that you had a fun experience on that net. I love that radio can bring people together for fun - people who would otherwise never meet. And just for the record I do not (yet?) have a "HAM" license... before I say this... I understand the meaning of the term "Appliance Operator" - someone who knows how to use their radio but does not know how to build, fix or explain the inner workings of radio... fine but I wonder if you can really say that someone licensed with an Amateur Radio License is either an Appliance Operator or a HAM. it sounds like "yeah you have an Amateur Radio License but ... you are not really a HAM. which also feels very "Sad ham" to me. But that is just me maybe.

In 1970 my mom thought One Toke Over The Line by Brewer & Shipley was a church song (we didn't go to church). While I didn't partake back then, and still don't, I had to explain it to her. I really thought she was joking. She was not.

I had been addressing my three kids as "you jokers, smokers, and midnight tokers", which was fun until my 7 year old asked what a midnight toker was. Didn't think my cunning plan all the way through. I just said "it's from a song" and played Steve Miller Band until he quit asking questions.

I just couldn’t help thinking of this commercial from back in the day…

995 opinions to go…

I talked 2,039 miles om my HT, from DC to Sonora, Mexico. It was through a repeater on a satellite about 250 miles in the air, but hey....still counts. There are no restrictions on putting a GMRS satellite in orbit. We should start a crowd-funded account to make that happen.