GreggInFL

Sorry, but I have to disagree. There will always be some knuckleheads sure, but when I wandered in here a couple years ago as a clueless wonder my first reaction was that this was one of the most professional, knowledgeable and helpful forums I'd ever run into. That's still true, IMHO. People don't always agree on everything, but that's life. "Hostile" is the last adjective that leaps to mind.

Fine, so bring those ideas here.

That's fine where it is 100% underground, but go any distance and it will be above ground somewhere. Just ask the dump truck driver who wiped out the pole in the next county and had us down for several hours.

GMRS is local, not national. There are no operating synergies.

Thanks, Steve. Always a great resource!

This landed on my porch today. Now I only need two things: An understanding of DMR, whatever that is, and A license Other than that I'm good to go. (I know, I know, don't push that button.)

I'll use the Roger Beep on simplex with new users. Me: Don't forget that you can't talk at the same time, you have to wait for them to stop talking. New User: How do I know when they've stopped talking? Me: When you hear the beep. New User: Oh, okay. I keep it off on my repeater units. I don't know why some people get so torqued-up over it, but I don't want a sad HAM to have an aneurism.

Nope, you're the Steve I was yacking to.

Ditto!

Probably more channels, but I'm not a HAM.

From an AI engine: No members of the U.S. Congress from Georgia directly oversee the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the sense of having sole authority or direct control, as the FCC is an independent federal agency overseen broadly by Congress through its committees. However, several Georgia lawmakers participate in committees that exercise oversight over the FCC and its policies, particularly those related to communications and technology. Key Congressional Committees with FCC Oversight The FCC is primarily overseen by: House Committee on Energy and Commerce, specifically its Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. These committees hold hearings, review FCC policies, and influence legislation affecting the agency’s operations, such as broadband deployment, spectrum allocation, and telecommunications regulations. Georgia Members in Relevant Committees Based on available information, here are Georgia members of Congress involved in committees with FCC oversight as of August 2025: House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Representative Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12): Serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including its Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Led a bipartisan letter in 2021 with other Georgia lawmakers to the FCC, requesting updates on the implementation of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act, indicating active engagement with FCC-related issues like broadband mapping. Representative Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA-01): Also a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, giving him a role in FCC oversight. Signed the 2021 bipartisan letter to the FCC alongside Rep. Allen, focusing on broadband access for rural communities. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA): Serves on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which oversees the FCC. Co-signed the 2021 letter to the FCC, emphasizing the integration of Georgia’s broadband map data into federal mapping efforts. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA): Also a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Engaged with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in 2023 to discuss expanding the Affordable Connectivity Program, showing involvement in FCC-related policy. Co-signed the 2021 letter to the FCC with other Georgia lawmakers. Other Georgia Lawmakers with FCC Engagement While not members of the primary oversight committees, other Georgia representatives have engaged with the FCC on specific issues, as evidenced by the 2021 bipartisan letter: Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02) Representative Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03) Representative Austin Scott (R-GA-08) Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09) Representative Jody Hice (R-GA-10) (Note: Hice is no longer in Congress as of 2025, having left office after the 117th Congress) Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11) These lawmakers signed the letter to the FCC requesting updates on broadband mapping, indicating interest in FCC activities, particularly those impacting rural broadband access in Georgia. Context of FCC Oversight The FCC is an independent agency created by the Communications Act of 1934, with five commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It regulates communications across radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. Congressional oversight occurs through hearings, budget reviews, and legislative directives. The House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee regularly hold FCC oversight hearings, as seen in events like the June 21, 2023, House hearing and the June 24, 2020, Senate hearing. Georgia lawmakers, particularly those on these committees, influence FCC policies through legislation, letters, and public statements, focusing on issues like broadband access, which is critical for their state’s rural and underserved areas. Summary Georgia members of Congress actively involved in FCC oversight through committee roles include: House: Rep. Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12) and Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA-01) on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Senate: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Other Georgia lawmakers, like Bishop, Ferguson, Scott, Clyde, and Loudermilk, have shown engagement with FCC issues, particularly broadband, but do not serve on the primary oversight committees. For the most current committee assignments or specific actions, checking the official House and Senate committee websites or recent congressional records would provide further clarity.

LOL. The HAM guy who said "Good for you" will probably be the one who turns them in.

Jax 675 is a strong repeater and one of a handful in the area. I'm out of range so don't use it unless I'm passing through. St. Augustine is a desert. Never heard any traffic there and can't find a listed repeater.

Understood. I have the same interest for our neighborhood here in Hurricane Central.

So Steve, do you have a repeater?

Protecting the equipment is my primary concern, but it looks like "close enough" is not a problem. Thanks.

Okay. So that's the magic number. I was thinking 2.0 might be the limit for protecting the equipment, but this is not my area of expertise. Thanks.

I live in the Orlando area, so I can't help with the Naples nets. Sorry. I grew up in western Michigan and lived in Milwaukee for a few years. What kind of setup were you using to get across the lake? That's about 85 miles due east to Grand Haven.

This appears to be a fiberglass tube. So, I should be able to tune it to 462 by shortening it roughly 7", right? A little less to split 462 and 467? (<PE but not an EE)

Aha, learn something new every day. Interesting.

Yeah, I noticed the cabling was not working in my favor for GMRS -- and, as you point out, there's a lot of it. I'll need to disassemble everything to be certain, but it appears the cable has a simple threaded connector, so it can probably be easily replaced.

^That's where I'm probably going to go with it. Thanks.

How close to 462/467 must an antenna be to function? I have access to the antenna shown nearby. A friend ran into it and says, "Worthless label. 154/430Mhz. Made in China. About 6 feet tall. 58 cable with a BNC connector. Free to a good home." I'd use it (if it can work with GMRS) on a 15-20' mast with a DB25-G (25W) in a flat, wooded area. I'm not talking 5 x 9 perfection, just adequate to be heard and understood over a short distance, say < three miles. I know, I know, "Try it and find out." I hesitate to try it because 1) it might not work for GMRS and 2) as an apparent dual-band it might lure me into becoming a ham. What say the crowd?

You can throw Marine VHF in there as well. Others here know much more about this, but my guess is that it's a holdover from an apparent philosophy that the only way to ensure proper usage is by controlling the hardware, and they are not fine tuning that for unlicensed services which, as you point out, makes little sense. The other approach (my personal favorite) is to trust the operator to ensure that what come out the antenna conforms to the subject service's specs. If you can get your nuclear-powered toaster to transmit narrow band at 0.5W on FRS, go for it. But I see the appeal of a hardware-based approach from a regulatory perspective. Too bad that all the unlicensed services can't be found on a single 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.