Lscott

I also though about it could be simply a published code of conduct that anybody using the repeater must adhere to or they will be banded from using the machine. That would cover both open and closed systems.

As pointed out there won't be much of a difference between 30 watts and 45 watts. If you're a long winded talker the 30 watt radio will generate a lot less heat that has to be radiated by the cooling fins in the radio's chassis. If the radio is going to get mounted in an area with restricted air flow that might be a big deal. Sitting on the dash board it's going to "cook" a bit from sun light exposure. One other thing to look out for is which "band split" you get. These radios come in several ranges, 450-520, for the 30 watt radio, 450-512 for the 45 watt version. The 400-470 range is available for the 30 and 45 watt version. Note only the 450-520, and the 450-512, have FCC type 95 certification if that's a concern for you. Otherwise any of the ranges will work for GMRS. You can double check the FCC grants for which FCC parts the radio is certified for by looking up the FCC ID found in the attached brochure at: https://fccid.io/ You'll need a programming cable. I recommend getting one from this site: https://bluemax49ers.com/ The programming software is attached. Use the "engineering" install serial. That one allows you access to a few more features and the all important read/write password bypass. Some used radios have a read/write password set. Without this feature you'll never reprogram the radio if the write password is set. I've used this software to program some TK-2180's and TK-3180's which are the portable versions of the mobiles. TK-7180_8180.pdf KPG-89D V1.61.zip

If it's an "open repeater" there wouldn't necessary be an explicit "sharing arrangement", much less a written one, between the users and the repeater owner(s). Another case, as an example, a formerly closed repeater, by me, one would request access and receive verbal permission from the owner after supplying a valid call sign, all over the air. Again there would be no written agreement. So, would the above imply that a repeater owner must have have a record of who is using their repeater, open or closed? Maybe this is why the FCC requested a list of repeater users?

I just sat back to let somebody who has one to answer. Most of my experience is with the Kenwood hand held radios. I have a lot of the Kenwood radio programming software. I'm not sure if I have that one on file.

As you’re the owner, and allowing people to use it for free, you don’t really need a reason. It would be different if it was paid access.

I already have an Extra Class license. Business radio went narrow band, in some cases that was digital. TV went from analog to digital. Many people, like me, gave up on analog commercial radio and went with satellite radio etc. Sooner or later GMRS is going to end up partially, or fully, digital. Either that or the FCC will refarm out the spectrum for business radio that will make more efficient use of it. Don’t think that won’t happen? Well the FCC did that with part of the Ham 1.25 meter band when UPS wanted it. They, UPS, never ended up using that spectrum and Hams never got it back either.

No.

My area, Detroit Mi, has several linked repeaters spanning a wide area of the state. When the system is busy there doesn’t seem to be a problem with people jumping in for a quick contact. As far as people trying up a repeater for hours, well that’s not mode specific. If somebody is going to yack on a repeater for several hours they are going to do it even on FM.

I think there is a way to do this without affecting the vast majority of analog GMRS users. I’ve posted this several times before how it could be done. GMRS Digital Voice - 20231127.pdf

I also stumbled across a thread for fire fighters. The concern there was the background noise, sirens - air horns etc. The vocoders used for P25, NXDN and DMR is very highly optimized for human speech only. The above mentioned sources of background noise tends to muck up the vocoder and the resulting sound quality. It was also the reason given for some of the unsatisfactory results trying to run track side tone control through NXDN. If you know anybody with a NX-200 radio I've attached the prototype railroad code plug. Don't need a "groups.io" account. This is a short description of the code plug. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Code plug for Kenwood NX-200 radios with all the standard VHF analog and digital channels included. I understand the NX-210 is almost the same radio. This is a prototype and has not been tested. No passwords are used. To aid rail fans the 5 MURS channels are also programmed in too. MURS is a license free VHF radio service. The default power level is set to 5 watts while the legal max allowed is 2 watts. If you want to stay under the legal power limit then select low power, 1 watt, using the programmed function keys on the front panel. This version a number of Ham 2M simplex frequencies were added in for those licensed for this service. The channel names match the frequency programmed in to that memory location. The seven NOAA VHF weather channels are also programmed too. The transmit function for these are disabled. To program the radio you will need a copy of KPG-111D software. NOTE all the channels have transmit ENABLED! If you don't want this then you have to disable the transmit function yourself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The NX-200 is very similar to the NX-210, which is the railroad version, which seemed to be favored by rail-fans. NX-200 Railroad 20220422.dat NX-210.pdf NX-200_300.pdf

That’s odd. I thought it was settled the railroads would move to NXDN. Then they sort of backed off sticking with analog FM. The reason I read was a lot of track side equipment is tone controlled, which the railroads found out doesn’t work that well with NXDN.

Did you see this? https://groups.io/g/RailScan/files/NX-200 Railroad 20220422.dat I have some NX-200’s and did a prototype code plug for one for railroad scanning. Not enough railroad activity by me to test it out.

I think we’ll get digital in some limited form sooner or later on at least some of the GMRS channels. It might not necessarily be DMR.

Likely happens in the morning and evenings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropospheric_propagation

Some times there is some interesting stuff, even on the Ham repeaters. One night I was out walking after dark while monitoring a distant Ham 70cm repeater. Two guys chatted away for about 45 minutes to an hour about model railroading. It was refreshing to hear something not radio related in any way. I've heard topics from hunting, fishing to firearms at times as more examples. These are topics even non technical people can jump in and take part without feeling they are the outcasts. Maybe we need more of it, talking about every day stuff where the radio is just another means to facilitate the communications.

Guy doesn't want to lower the price. He's selling it "For Parts or Repair" untested, no returns. For what he's asking on a long discontinued model is too much. If the output transistors are shot I might not find any replacements. Then I have an expensive paper weight. The one I have now had to get repaired some years back as it was. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/415-amplifiersjpeg/?context=new The idea was to use them with an 11 element Yagi for sat communications on the UHF up link. The down link was on 2.4GHz, 24 DBi BBQ grill dish antenna, with a down converter to 2M. The mode was SSB on a linear translator. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/469-antenna-collectionjpg/?context=new RF_Concepts_RFC-4-110_RFC-4-310_user.pdf

Congratulations are in order then!

The government claims they don’t have an “off switch” for the cellphone system. Anybody believe that? I don’t.

I was just looking at an "untested for parts or repair" RFC 4-110 UHF amp on eBay. It's 10 watts in and 100 watts out. I have one now and was looking at maybe picking up another one I could use with a UHF power splitter/combiner to get 200 watts. I would need two identical amps to equalize the phase delay on each path for the power splitter/combiner to work effectively.

If you have any local malls within a few miles you might pickup the mall security, assuming they are on FM some are using NXDN or DMR by me, for entertainment. At times you hear some weird stuff. I've monitored reports of food fights in the food court, kicking hookers out of the mall, adult activity in back seats of cars in the lot, running down shoplifters, vehicle repo people with computer controlled license plate scanning cameras driving through the lots etc. They even kicked some local TV news crews off the property because they didn't get prior clearance. It gets much more active near Xmas. A few times some people were "asked" to put certain unnamed items back in their car, at least they didn't call the local PD on them, because it was prohibited to have them in the mall. I'll leave it to others to figure out what those were.

Well until they figure out that much power won't get them much beyond the radio horizon. No "channel 6 super bowl" on GMRS. Also UHF amps that can do 250 watts won't be cheap either, if you can find them.

Just a bit more studying and taking some practice exams you'll get there. It doesn't matter if you pass by one question or get 100%. Once you have it you're done.

Because the license fee was cheap, now good for 10 years, sort of cool to have and goes along with my Ham license. One other factor it’s not much trouble to get friends and family to get the license since no testing is required. Just fill out some forms and pay the fee.

If you don't think you need it then why are you here?