Logan5

Hello All! 
I am brand new to the GMRS world.   I got myself the a Baofeng GMRS V1 and have been listening a bit.   I don't hear too much traffic besides for some little kids playing around.   Looks like there are a few local repeaters but I am not hearing much besides for the occasional tone.   I have requested permission to use them and heard back from one of them which is the closest which is great!
 
Thanks for all the great info on this site!
 
 

I searched  "Yagi antenna calculator" here is a site that offers a calculator, if this is what you are looking for then get building!!
  
There are others too.  Good luck
http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennae3ycalc.html
 
If you get it done, post your results,  it would be nice to see!!

It wasn't the OP that made the claim. He was just looking for comments on the radio. However, in Post #5, WQYA707 stated the following:
 
Before testing the radios, I cloned one using CHIRP, and made some modifications, including adding the VHF/UHF emergency communications channels for my area. Note that the pre-programmed GMRS frequencies/offsets can not be changed and the radio cannot be programmed to transmit on any other channels.  The GRMS PL tones, channel names, power level, and scanner inclusion can be programmed. Programming is straightforward, as is cloning a CHIRP image from radio to radio.
 
In my test rig, I used an inline power and SWR meter and tested the units with both the stock antenna and a J Pole that that I with my VHF/UHF rig. 
 
VHF power: 2W/5.4W,  SWR (with J pole): 1.1 to 1.5 across the band
UHF power 1.75W/5W, SWR (with J pole)  1.1 to 1.7 across the band
 
That pretty clearly says to me that he is claiming to have been able to program VHF Tx frequencies into the radio and then measured power out and SWR. In the first paragraph that I quoted, the first and second sentences would seem to be contradictory. Either the radio is hard coded for just GMRS frequencies or he was able to make some modifications using CHIRP and program in his local emergency frequencies. If he hacked it to actually transmit on other frequencies in either band, like you, I really want to know more. And, same as you, I fail to see how he would have been able to make a radio that is built for UHF Tx only transmit on VHF frequencies without some serious hardware changes.
 
However, as I pointed out previously, WQYA707 hasn't been back on since the 20th of November, the day after he joined and made this post and one other. That kinda nibbles at his credibility, doesn't it?

Hey Drake,
 
Could you send me a private message and let me know which repeaters shouldn't be assigned to you? I'm not sure why that happened yet.

Hello, I'm not new to GMRS. my original callsign was WPUE603, I am back after a long break and now have a new call sign. I am happy to see the community still exists and that the FCC backed off making the service license-free. I notice the service is not as congested as it once was, in my opinion, that is not a bad thing. Looking forward to being part of this group.
 
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In my area we had an issue with a major chain Hotel using 462.725 (one of our repeater pairs) for their business comms on commercial radios.   After we researched and verified that there was no possibility of them having an ancient license for Non-Individual on GMRS,  I politely contacted them on their frequency in an attempt to explain the situation.   The Manager got on the radio telling me she was going to "Call the Cops" because I was not allowed to use their "channel".    So I stopped at the hotel and again,  politely, attempted to show them the FCC regulations and offer them a solution when the manager freaked out and called the police.   Because I was on their property I simply left shaking my head.    Needless to say I made sure they got a letter from our northwest FCC Representative Binh Mtuyem out of the Portland, Oregon area. 

We've had a few other businesses pop up on GMRS and most are polite and will move to FRS once it's politely explained to them,  but there are still geniuses at gas stations and hotels that love to wander into GMRS then cuss and threaten anyone who tries to help them follow the law.   Oh well!  

On a trip through Sisters, Oregon we had a Hotel/Resort employee on a MURS frequency we were using for travel comms tell us they "Owned" this channel and we needed to immediately get off of "his" channel or he was going to call the "FBI".   That was a fun conversation!  LOL

 

I reported a school for using GMRS. A violation notice was issued. It's important to have a known physical location, times they are on the air, etc.
 
AntiSquid Disclaimer: All posted content is personal opinion only and may not imply fact or accusation.

Yeah, I was just kidding about blowing them out of the water.  I don't think I've ever heard anything on 19 so I'll light up on there.  I'm sure none of it is intentional on their parts, they probably just don't know any better.
 
On a brighter note, I was just out in the parking lot at work playing around with the radio and heard a couple of guys on that channel 16 repeater.  I was able to use my cheapie moto handheld to scan for their PL and talked to the owner for a few minutes.  It's way up on a mountain roughly 80 miles from here and sounded clear as could be.  It's a private repeater but he said he doesn't mind someone using it for a quick call if they have to.  
 
Thanks for the explanation on the different squelch methods.

Replying to all above who have commented.

I've still had no luck here.
Understand the "woefully inaccurate" data cause and that repeater might be down.
Have attempted to contact "Stoney" via radio
Have not tried the "travel tone" suggestion. Not understanding what that might be. Help please. 
I do note on the MyGMRS.com page of repeater listing that there is NO travel tone used.
I have attempted e:mailing "Stoney" several days back - no response to couple of attempts
LIve only a a couple miles away so I'm gonna drive by and knock.

I sincerely appreciate all of your responses!

the repeater owner is the control operator and, according to the FCC, responsible for the repeater, whatever the service. so if it is illegal to have a repeater on MURS frequencies, then the folks that set it up are on the hook. that said, if a MURS radio user connects to a repeater, when he or she figures that out, they must stop using it, since it is also illegal to use a repeater on MURS. 

Probably has it hooked to Skype or one of the PTT apps...to make his "nationwide network". 
 
Sounds like a mess to me. 

the test bank questions and answers are on line most people one day of reading them then next day taking the practice tests will have you passing. You can pass it I did so anyone can!

Logan 5
 
I am very familiar with solar systems and battery back ups,  I have built control boxes both solar and AC for Cellular networks.  However I have never build the radio portion.
 
 
I will be building sometime soon we will see how it works.
 
 
thank you for the help.

Since you are already "breaking the rules" by kerchunking the "repeater" you may as well give a brief voice transmission as well, such as "Testing, 1, 2, 3" and see if it is "parroted back" to your radio.

I would not doubt it being TRBO at all.We have a generation of people the rules do not apply to...William

I like they got on board.
http://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_GMRS-V1.php

Gel or AGM batteries have a fixed cycle life. 300 to 500 is common. a daily cycle could result in battery needing replacement, annualy to every 18 months or worse. For such a remote location Gel/AGM could be well suited, if you don't care to carry distilled water to the site for maintenance. Most importantly is to purchase the appropriate size Amp Hour battery for your load. If you find your self wiring batteries in parallel, You do not have the proper battery and it will fail in short order. Batteries should only be wired in series so charging and discharge is balanced. When batteries are wired in parallel they charge and discharge unevenly and become unbalanced, unless batteries are removed from the parallel for an equalization charge routinely the batteries will fail sooner than later. Yes when using solar and batteries, less is more. No point in TX'ing 40 watts if 10 to 20 will do the job.

I'll also add, I've been seeing a lot of issues with mobile duplexers here lately (even Celwave/RFS). Anything much more than 35W and they start de-sening even though they are rated at 50W. 

yeah it's IM have it all the time on 650 here in NYC. you should hear some of the junk I get on both sides.

I'm just gonna point this out, Motorola PA's are notoriously narrow in their efficiency. A 40 watt rated PA on a Radius series mobile is 23% efficient from 40W to 25W, beyond that its efficiency dwindles. The 25W version is 24% efficient from 25-10 W (but has the same heat sink as the higher power model). In retrospective, the 20W GE custom MVP is 29% efficient from 8-20W.

What do I mean by efficient? I mean that the output in RF is that percentage of the total power drawn in current. That means for your average 25% efficient radio you need 4 times the power output just to provide power. It also tells you how much heat is being generated from the circuit (conservation of energy).

When it comes to solar powered repeaters, one is better off running 10W or less and focusing on antenna systems. Avoid the Chinese junk (even antennas) as you want something you only have to buy once. Quality feedline, (avoid LMR in a full duplex environment), and proper installation. General rule of thumb is your solar system needs to be able to carry your load in snow shedding.


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Just taking the exam for "General" helps prepare you for taking and passing it next time.

BAOFENG MAKES A NEW RADIO THAT IS FOR GMRS!!!
 
the GMRS-V1   $55.00      https://baofengtech.com/gmrs-v1 
 
ALSO Tera makes one for GMRS as well.
 
the TR-505 GMRS   $99.00   and both are repeater capable!
 
https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr505-gmrs-recreational-handheld-radio

In that case...get some old cellphones without service and put them in the closets. All cellphones that are not activated can still call 911
 
AntiSquid Disclaimer: All comments are personal opinion only and may not constitute actual fact.

The radio comes pre-programmed with all GMRS repeater pairs. CTCSS/DCS tones are FPP (front panel programmable) and are remembered when turning off the radio and then turning on again.
 
One other neat feature is that you can "scan for tones" and quickly identify what tone is being used, then simply program that channel to use the detected tone.

I would run AC power to the location and keep all coax run as short as possible. As has been stated go with the higher location,