WRAX891

Radioditty sent me a GM-30 to review. I’m going to review ur thoroughly, but here are some of the quick highlights. It’s a cheap CCR GMRS, designed to complete against the BTech GMRS-V1 and, must say, it does that quite wells. While not a superheterodyne receiver, it still receives quite well and I was able yo receive my GMRS node on a linked network a few miles away from home. Audio sounds fine Abe it received good audio reports both on my node and through a regular repeater. Doing a parrot so I could here the simplex audio for myself sounded decent. Of course, it also receive VHF (2m amateur, NWS, etc). One of the big pluses is that it has USB-C recharging built right into the batteries, which recharge quickly turn last a good amount of time. I’m very happy with this GM-30, which should be granted Part 95 soon as it was just submitted recently. FCCID : 2AJGM-GM30 As my main GMRS HT is a Motorola XTS5000, I’m looking forward to using this much lighter age smaller GMRS HT often.

Do you have a balcony? I’m in an apartment, but have a balcony. I just ran LMR400 (several) and put my antennas out there, lol. I figured it was better to ask for forgiveness than pernission. Landlord did ask what they were and I explained amateur radio and GMRS. (I used angle telling her it’d still work if power and all else lost, which would as I have backup power.) She thought it was neat and even asked if I could setup some wireless bridges on rooftop (two buildings here) for their IP cameras. Easy peasy! Hoping to get brownie points and maybe sweet talk her into letting me set my antennas up there, lol. I’d put them in center roof, where can’t be seen from ground, so nobody could see, else might be seen as “tenant favoritism”. Even though, my landlord loves me, anyway. Mainly because I’m a veteran and she loves all veterans. I’m not complaining. :-)

IIRC, there is a checkbox in chirp to enable scanning. Then, as you wrote, just turn to CH16. Works here...

I’ve heard different acendotes on this, but looking for what actually FCC regulations: are GMRS repeaters required to identify every 15 minutes even if there is no traffic? I know amateur repeaters are, every 10, regardless of traffic or not. Have elected tower site for GMRS and eventually (no rush) may enact a a GMRS repeater. (40W). Read acecotes saying yes and no, but interested more in actual GMRS FCC regs. Planing quality equipment, duplexers. Feedline. If ID is needed. No problems will add ID controller. System looking at is a Bridgecom and duplexers. Antenna will be masted at 50’, highest I can possibly go. It won’t be at my residence, but relatives on hilltop overlooking city skyline. I’ll be monitoring it from my home and ?can remotely “kill” it. Most uses would be family, but will be completely open for public general use. Thsvks!

Forgot about this thread, lol. I’ve been just using the amp for amateur (have a 220 one also), while looking at picking up a Kenwood Mobile GMRS unit soon. Have a 1/4 wave 450-470 MHz antenna outside that works fine (low SWR, ok receive). Might get a Kenwood GMRS HT also and just give the GMRS-V1 to brother. Family members were wanting to use it too since they are covered under my license...

Ok

These amps are Part 90 Type Accepted. I know, Part 95 is actually required, but how many repeaters are Part 95? I asked this question to Bridgecom and they replied that Part 90 requirements are tighter than Part 95, anyway. I’ve used my amp a few times on channels that allow to to 50W. Not that I was able to make a contact anyway as GMRS is crickets around here. As such, I have a node on a GMRS linked network. If it weren’t for the GMRS network, I would’ve paid $70 to talk to crickets.

Hello, That’s the one I was mentioning in my other post. Thanks!

There is a new GMRS HT now taking advantage of this feature. I was just released. I believe it is a Motorola (?). I think it allows you to use your iPhone to enter text, sendts ur to radio, then goes out as RF. Sends GPS data to. Kinda interesting. Believe it is $100. Can’t remember if it’s for one unit or two, but interesting it’s starting to developer. Like said, it could be useful for S&R. I have no plans on picking one up myself, but maybe later as better ones elvolve they could get interesting. It doesn’t use APRS, but a protocol similar to it, but for GMRS. I want to say it’s a Motorola Talkabout...

Nice.. I'll keep that in mind as well..

Hello, Oh, no problem. No "downer" here as I'm aware height is might. I suppose I should've started by stating my intentions of use and what I'm hoping to get out of it -- simply coverage to family members that are all within five miles. There isn't much obstruction around between I and them and I'm on the highest ground. If anyone else, under the small footprint, wants to use it, thats ok too...

Thank you for the detailed reply.

Thinking about setting up a GMRS repeater. Seems to be many paths, but any opinions on the following: Seems one relatively simple “off the shelf” parts could be: RT-FDR1 Controller RT-CWID1 Identifier (Or ID-O-Matic? Or Even a Raspberry Pi approach?) I’ll be getting a six cavity Duplexer and tuning it for 462.725/467.725. Radios: Likeky will get a TK-8180 for TX, but for RX, have a couple TH-9800’s that could be used. Antenna: Already have a GMRS 1/4 wave antenna masted at 45’. Cables: Seen that connection cables are available for the RT-FDR1 for both the TH-9800 and TK-8180. Thought about this for a little while and even consider getting a Bridgecom repeater system and Duplexer, but of course looking at less cost. TH-9800/TK-8180 obviously isn’t as nice as a Bridgecom repeater System, but also at least isn’t just a couple of cheap HT’s thrown up in a tree either. TH-9800 isn’t the best RX radios, but figured since have a spare could try it out. Opinions on the RT-FDR1+RT-CWID1 combo? Also, may be linking this with Asterisk_rpt (HamVoIP) to a GMRS network, so a RPi will be in play. Perhaps just use that for ID’ing? Total cost for this project, I’m thinking will be just around $500 to $600, I’m thinking. That’s do-able... Thanks