KevinJ

That has been my philosophy my entire life and look where it's got me!

I have several rifles that use Magpul 5.56 magazines.  How dare the 9mm magazines do not work on those rifles, therefore, the 5.56 is not valid.
You use what works for what you need.

But its free, and works.  Taking a bit to learn it, like anything else you have to do to get by in life will not kill you.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone! I had my first successful repeater hit today! I was on a BF UV-9G on the ground from Mt. Summit, IN, and hit the Muncie Repeater!  HUZAHH!!!!!!

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone! I had my first successful repeater hit today! I was on a BF UV-9G on the ground from Mt. Summit, IN, and hit the Muncie Repeater!  HUZAHH!!!!!!

I can say this got me at first too, but I set all my repeater sets to tone, and today I did get my first hit once I was within range. It worked well, they said I came through "full quiet"  or something like that where my voice was clear and no background noise. I have not went into the radio to review what it looks like in there, but I set the chirp just like those pics above show and it works like a charm. I can hear others talk on that repeater from my house, but my handheld doesn't have enough juice to reach out.

I can say this got me at first too, but I set all my repeater sets to tone, and today I did get my first hit once I was within range. It worked well, they said I came through "full quiet"  or something like that where my voice was clear and no background noise. I have not went into the radio to review what it looks like in there, but I set the chirp just like those pics above show and it works like a charm. I can hear others talk on that repeater from my house, but my handheld doesn't have enough juice to reach out.

I can say this got me at first too, but I set all my repeater sets to tone, and today I did get my first hit once I was within range. It worked well, they said I came through "full quiet"  or something like that where my voice was clear and no background noise. I have not went into the radio to review what it looks like in there, but I set the chirp just like those pics above show and it works like a charm. I can hear others talk on that repeater from my house, but my handheld doesn't have enough juice to reach out.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone! I had my first successful repeater hit today! I was on a BF UV-9G on the ground from Mt. Summit, IN, and hit the Muncie Repeater!  HUZAHH!!!!!!

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone! I had my first successful repeater hit today! I was on a BF UV-9G on the ground from Mt. Summit, IN, and hit the Muncie Repeater!  HUZAHH!!!!!!

Okay, thanks a lot for that explanation and tip. I must have had a case of stupid the first time I read this because I didn't get any lights coming on from it, but as I re-read it late at night for some reason this time it made sense! I will modify the saved file I have and give it a try. Thanks again!

Only a few weeks ago did I learned about the linked network. I also learned that one of the repeaters I can hit from my place has joined the linked network. I am using a handheld gmrs radio with a full numeric keypad which is required to connect to repeater nodes. How would I use the keys on my radio to access the node and talk on the linked network. 

If you can reach the repeater and know the CTSS number, put them in the radio and have fun. My BTech will find the CTSS numbers if the channel is busy. I'm quite active on the Roadkill network, reach coast to coast using linked repeaters. 

Last night at 2310 hrs my son-in-law called me and woke me up. He said he and my daughter were outside watching a wildfire on a mountain that is less than two miles from my house. I got up and went into the living room and could see the flames. I turned on my 935G+ and moved to the Cal Fire Command frequency and the County Sheriff's frequencies. We talked for a few more minutes about evac routes which would be different for both of us and chose a GMRS channel for contact in case we had to leave. I called a neighbor who lives close and let him know and heand his wife came up to our house as they didn't have a view of the incident. As we got settled in our dark living room I turned on my second 935G+ and brought up the Cal Fire tactical channels and found which two they were using. At that point We could hear the local SO as they were trying help get gates open on the dirt roads crossing private lands for Cal Fire. We could here Cal Fire setting up the Incident Command post and after units from as far as two hours away arrived we could here the fire teams talking to each other as they reached and worked the fires. My neighbors left at a 0130 and my wife went to bed at 0230. I sat in a dark room watching the fire and listening to the fire fighting activities until the sun came up a couple of hours ago. There are a lot of radios that can do what the 935G+ can do as well as and maybe better. However, I had all of the frequencies programmed into both radios in advance and they are always charged up and ready to use. As I sit here this morning looking at the burn area so close to my house and listening to the fire fighters give turn overs to the next shift I realize how important having a good radio/radios can be in emergencies. Went tend to use our radios as a fun tool or toy. We like to get on line and argue and complain about things that don't really matter, comparing the size of our antennas. Program your radios with frequencies that can help in an emergency and keep them charged up. Learn to use your equipment and have a plan.
The fire was burning 1/4 mile below six towers on the mountain top that have the local amateur repeaters and a lot of commercial antennas (no GMRS repeaters). Thankfully the fire didn't go that direction. The fire went in the opposite direction from us. I can no longer see the fire so it looks like we are safe this time.  At this point no lives were lost and no permanent structures were destroyed with no firefighter injuries.
I now return you to the latest thread on FCC ambiguity...

Okay, thanks a lot for that explanation and tip. I must have had a case of stupid the first time I read this because I didn't get any lights coming on from it, but as I re-read it late at night for some reason this time it made sense! I will modify the saved file I have and give it a try. Thanks again!

There is a good chance that it won't work within the building.  If the structure is the common corrugated metal with concrete, it will be blocked.  A repeater to work within a building with that structure ... would be adjacent to the building rather than in it or on top.

Thank you for giving us your call-sign.

Not sure who you mean. I'm just a guy that's too dumb to get a H.A.M. license so I just hang around here and try to shill cheap Chinese radios.

Wait... you're the evil Satan that kills thousands of innocent baby hams a year with your dangerous spurious emissions! Begone, foul beast. The power of Chris compels you...

Apparently it's working. I'm a tightwad and I've bought several.

Convinced me to buy two TD-H3's

Hello, new here! What is the etiquette on just using someone's repeater if all the information is listed? I have requested permission from about 4 repeaters in my area that don't require paid subscriptions or memberships. I have tried the closest ones to me, but I am uncertain where on the chirp software to put the tones in. I am unsure if it is TSQL or how to properly enter and never had one successfully hit the repeater tail sound. It may be that I had it right and am not close enough as I am only using a 5w handheld, but would like to be able to program them in and be ready to test it when I'm out and about. But before all this, I didn't wanna step on toes as none of the permission requests I made almost 2 weeks ago have been denied or granted. I have heard people talk from here though.

Hello, new here! What is the etiquette on just using someone's repeater if all the information is listed? I have requested permission from about 4 repeaters in my area that don't require paid subscriptions or memberships. I have tried the closest ones to me, but I am uncertain where on the chirp software to put the tones in. I am unsure if it is TSQL or how to properly enter and never had one successfully hit the repeater tail sound. It may be that I had it right and am not close enough as I am only using a 5w handheld, but would like to be able to program them in and be ready to test it when I'm out and about. But before all this, I didn't wanna step on toes as none of the permission requests I made almost 2 weeks ago have been denied or granted. I have heard people talk from here though.

Unless you think the repeater might be closed/permission-only, then just start using it. Worst case scenario is the repeater owner will come on and ask you to stop using it, but if all the info is listed publicly then it is probably "open" for anyone to use..
As far as your settings, that all depends on what model of radio you are using... Soooo ?  But if it is a "GMRS" radio, just figure out which repeater channel to use based on the listed frequency for the repeater, then go to that channel and then into to menu setting and add/save the Transmit CTCSS or DCS/DTC tone and you're done, no need for guessing what settings to use in CHIRP.. 
HOWEVER - if you are using a H.A.M. radio, then... you should have bought a GMRS radio.. And in that case, good luck because you will need it.