[You just got your GMRS license, now you want your own repeater?]

GMRS is also for personal/ family use, which includes repeaters. No one is suggesting adding every portable, garage, experimental, etc repeater to any lists for any general use. Someday, because I'm a nice guy and stuff, I will probably have one that's listed and available for general use. Right now, it's just for family, and it works for me. 

I appreciate the folks that have nice repeaters setup and open to us all. That is clearly not what everyone wants to do with every repeater setup though, especially when they haven't had their licence for "4 days" lol. If I lived in the city, I wouldn't have rf space for my own repeater. Not everyone does live in a city though . And while years ago, I did some other radio stuff and kind of have a base of knowledge from that, I haven't had my license for a month yet... So don't be pissing on us "newbies" parades. Maybe be a good "Elmer" and help a brother out? (Sorry for the ham reference)

[ELEKTRA CONTROLLERS]

Has anyone used the ELEKTRA 2500 or 2000 Repeater controllers? I am trying to build a better mobile repeater setup in an ammo can, and this looks like it will work with basically any radio, has no need for a COR/COS signal because you can use CTSS squelch instead (extra option on the 2500), does CW ID, has a voice option (not interested), and lots of decent tone based remote control capabilities. It does cost more than a kit based ID-O-Matic, but saves the hassle of pairing interface types and/or squelch boards, building it, etc. The squelch controller (extra for 2000 model) can also completely eliminate the tail for strong signals and keep week and/or fluttering ones alive better with it's "smart squelch generator" feature. 

ELEKTRA 2500 - CONTROLLER

http://hamtronix.com.br/prestashop/product.php?id_product=97

http://hamtronix.com.br/prestashop/product.php?id_product=62

http://hamtronix.com.br/prestashop/product.php?id_product=86

 

[Looking for business style gmrs 5w ht]

1 hour ago, wrci350 said:

@WRWH734An easier (I won't say better) option might be a Wouxun KG-805G.  I am saying "might" only because I have a KG-805M (MURS version) but not the GMRS version.

In the programming software it is possible to delete all but one channel.  You can also disable the menu and reset as well as enable auto key lock.  Even if you unlock the radio it's fixed to that one frequency.  (Spin the dial and ... nothing.)

I tested this with my KG-805M and it works the way you want.  I was also able to create a codeplug in the KG-805G software with just one repeater channel but of course I cannot test it.  Maybe someone else has one and can give it a try.

I know many would call this a "CCR" but $100 isn't cheap in my book.  You'd also need a programming cable if you don't have one.

That would seem to be a cousin-proof configuration.    I'm sure the several other suggestions are better radios, but if it were *me*, I would just go on the website and order one and have it in a couple days rather than mess with trying to find a used radio on the Internet (that might or might not work).  But that's just me.

Interesting. I have had a few people tell me the default channels on the KG-805G cannot be deleted. Is it possible there are firmware version that do and do no have that limitation? Also, I believe these are field programmable, right? Just not for repeaters or something? I.e. you can manually add a channel that corresponds to gmrs 16 and ctss 1 if you want to using the menu and the diall+buttons?

[Looking for business style gmrs 5w ht]

24 minutes ago, WRFP399 said:

I think by far the simplest "rugged" option would be a Vertex VX-231. While these aren't water/dust proof I have beat the snot out of mine over the last 15 years or so. I started using these radios back in the late 2000s for paintball. Rain, snow, mud, dust, getting hit with paintballs and they all stood up fine. I now use them along with Vertex EVX-531/534 radios for hiking and backcountry communication. They are cheap and work well. The receivers in them are far better than any of my Chinese radios. They are up to 16 channels but any channel slot not programmed will cause the radio to beep at you to let you know that channel is not programmed. Aftermarket batteries are still available for it, including extended run time batteries that will last up to 50 hours in stand-by. The programming cables you can get on eBay for 20 bucks do work for programming but won't for firmware upgrades. If you want the ability to upgrade firmware you need the Vertex FIF cable which is about $150. Upgrading firmware really isn't that important.  I have the programming software I can send to you if you need it. I attached a screen shot showing what a single channel programming might look like.

 

 

WRFP399, would you part with one?

[Looking for business style gmrs 5w ht]

1 hour ago, tweiss3 said:

The Kenwood TK radios above do have Part 95 certification. They aren't terribly large, and in fact, they are what I give the kids for most activities (ski, field day, etc.)

How did they get part 95 if these radios allow tx on non-gmrs frequencies and allow stuff not allowed on GMRS?

[Looking for business style gmrs 5w ht]

How did they get that if they let you transmit on non-gmrs frequencies and support stuff that is not allowed on GMRS?

[Looking for business style gmrs 5w ht]

I would "prefer" it be part 95 type accepted, really only because of "some people", but I'm also not afraid of "some people". If I gave a field programmable ham HT to a kid to use that would be a lot different (to me). I suspected most suggestions would be old business radios, and I guess I was right

As far as I can tell though, the only HTs out there that MIGHT fit my need are either not part 95 type accepted or are crap claiming to be (some probably are). Like Retivis rb87, rb23, rt76, rb17, (all nightmares) Wouxun KG-959 (hard to get and actually costs more than much better radios from Wouxun) - none of which will allow me to delete/disable the standard channels. 

I will look into all those suggestions. I have never programmed a Kenwood or Icon before, so that is a slight hurdle. The Motorola, as far as I remember anyway, was okay. But if I remember correctly all these old business radios are either 3 or 4 watts and previous testing with different radios were right at the fringe hitting my repeater from his place with 5w and a NA-771G so I am worried they may be just out of range with less power.

The rest of the world barely understands what US GMRS actually is still. 

[Looking for business style gmrs 5w ht]

I am looking for a HT I can program to only work on my repeater for my grandson. Grandson is a responsible young man, but I get concerned that the cousins he lives with may someday "toy" with the radio. So basically I am looking for something that is not field programmable in any way, will allow me to delete all but the one custom repeater channel I would program, similar to a business radio but for gmrs. 

The more rugged the better, but ruggedness is not important. 

 

Anyone have any suggestions?