Chris

Went with the 213 no foil. Got our newer set of radios cdm 750's and an ID-O-MATIC voice version installed. Now just have to get the new feedline installed and the antenna mast higher. Thanks everyone for your input. She's coming along!

John, thanks. I got it up and she gets a usable max of about a 10 mile radius. It's full quieting in many areas within our city limits. I do have it ID at 20 min intervals. Your comment put me at ease and encouraged me to get it up there. I'm even more encouraged to invest into a better system down the road. This system allows me to get my feet wet.

And that is exactly why I am posting with senior GMRS experts here at MYGMRS.COM for clarification. I was looking at it as "Amateur radio" I am sorry that I used the word ham. To me it's a slice of spectrum the FCC is allowing for communication in the LICENSED civilian sector, which I should fall into. Seems to openly allow for experimentation, or at least the advice I have received here would seem so. Per JohnE "no ID is necessary. my machines ID system name not my call once an hour. just put it up no approval needed unless you exceed certain height limits near an airport" Seems pretty leniant. If it works for JohnE, then it should work for me. Thanks Guys! From a newbie.

What wouold you suggest? I am familiar and have on hand RG 174, RG8 etc. I just mounted an hf antenna and had the extra LMR 400.

I am using 2 Johnsons one receiver and one transmitter cabled together with 20 watts of output . The frequency pairs are 462.675 and 467.675 with a pl of 105.3. I don't see anyone using this pair within at least 100 miles of here. I monitor this from home and hear no simplex traffic here either. So I'd say that pair is a thumbs up. If not, I can easily press a few buttons on the Johnsons and pick another pre-programmed pair. I am using a 5/8 wave antenna I bought from Germany that looks like a comet GP-1. (If you Google comet GP-1, you can get an idea of what I have). The diplexer was purchased off the internet as well for around $75. -Nothing commercial here as I want to experiment. The antenna will be mounted on top of a commercial building that I own at about 50'. It is fed with LMR 400 with an N at the antenna and a pl 259 at the diplexer. I have the antenna setup in one of my workshops on the ground floor maybe 6' on a stand and I am able to work it from my home a few blocks away with no issues. I am hitting it full quieting with 3 watts out of a Baofeng. (I use a ts-2000 Kenwood to monitor my signal). Once I get a nice weekend, I am going to mount the antenna the 50'. Thanks for the input. I didn't know it was this easy to get started. I hated to bite the FCC fee to get my license, but wanted to venture into a new ham band and do it as "cleanly" as possible.

I have a set of radios one set for transmit and the other receive with a PL tone not listed near my area so it is an open pair. The transmit wattage is 20. I have a way for it to ID if necessary both voice (and code if permissible). Can I ID in code and at what interval must or do I not have to ID it? How often does a GMRS repeater need to ID itself if at all? I have a diplexer and a 5/8 wave ground plane. Basically everything in hardware. I am not sure who I need to get with. Do I need to file for a special license? Does my repeater need FCC approval to begin operating? I want to be on the up and up so any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks and sorry if this is the wrong place to ask...I just signed up here... Chris

I'm new at this, but here goes. How often does a GMRS repeater need to ID itself if at all? I have a set of radios one set for transmit and the other receive with a PL tone not listed near my area so it is an open pair. The transmit wattage is 20. I have a way for it to ID if necessary both voice and code if permissible. I have a diplexer and a 5/8 wave ground plane. Basically everything in hardware. I am not sure who I need to get with. Do I need to file for a special license? Does my repeater need FCC approval to begin operating? I want to be on the up and up so any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks and sorry if this is the wrong place to ask...I just signed up here... Chris