Logan5

lol, yes it is. and yes you can, keep in mind that an inline connection is better than a barrel connection, so when you chose your more flexible segment of coax. chose your connectors accordingly M to F not M to M requiring a female barrel connector. M to F is a single connection, wile a M to M with a barrel is two connections, and greater loss.

Well, the lack of an ID on our repeater setup started bugging me so we ended up buying a used repeater with ID. It's a much more robust setup than we had in storage and were preparing to put on the air so it is a win-win. Thank you to those who contributed to this discussion and corrected some misunderstandings I had about the rules.
 
We were getting ready to purchase our duplexer and a power supply and reasoned that for a $100 more or less, we could get a better repeater with a better (non-China) duplexer and power supply built in. The repeater ID discussion here opened my mind to looking at repeaters again and helped me realize the financial sense in going this route over the original plan. When I originally shopped for repeaters a few years ago, none were as affordable as the one we recently purchased. I wouldn't have even looked around again if it were not for this thread.

Yeah, it's a pipe dream but since there is discussion on petitioning the FCC for changes to GMRS...
 
It would be very nice to get some VHF frequencies channelized into GMRS with the express allowance for cross-band repeating. These could be from somewhere around MURS (or even MURS itself; I'm not picky.) Under the proposed rule changes, the VHF channels could be limited to simplex and cross-band repeat "local" side only, 2 watts maximum. Even just one VHF channel addition would increase the usefulness of GMRS, IMHO.
 
I know that something like this has probably a snowball's chance. However, I don't think there is harm in putting the idea into GMRS user's heads now, in case an opportunity to propose it comes up later.
 
What say ye?

Got my radios, cables, etc to put my base and mobile in operation about a month ago, but haven't been able to finish because its been raining here about every 4 days -- imagine that in West Texas.  I had 4" yesterday and its just been too muddy to get my antenna mast set.  My mast will be about 35 ft. Starting with a simple J-pole antenna just to see how it does, but one thing I noticed is that the LMR400 cable is pretty stiff.  Would a short pigtail from the main cable to the radio that is more flexible be reasonable - if so, what cable would be best.

Now that the FCC has allowed GMRS to have the ability for the “transmission of limited data applications such as text messaging and GPS location information”, is anyone using such features?
 
Is there a protocol that has been standardized, similar to APRS, or is it left to each manufacturer to have their own protocol? (Hopefully there is a standardized protocol.)
 
Anyone actually even using these features? Are there any GMRS transceivers on the market yet taking advantage of this?
 
Hmm. Wondering if this could be used over linked GMRS networks as well?
 
Just curious...
 
Thanks.

Staff Reminder: PLEASE Do Not post any CTCSS or DCS system access information to any thread that is not located in the Private Discussion posting area.

You can listen to, and record any open, in-the-clear radio transmissions you would like, (except cellular phone and encrypted comms) and you may forward the recordings along with other documentation as evidence of violations to authorities.
 
If you are a repeater owner or trustee, then record away, it is your system to control. 
...and keep very good logs and notes, including time and date of alleged violations, and any triangulation or location info you have.
 
Make sure you have facts. Just saying "I think Billy is kerchunking my machine." will get you no where.
 
Also... one thing I have done on one my Ham machines to eliminate kerchunkers is to have ZERO hang time, and no "courtesy tone" or "Roger Beep".  The repeater works, but if they chunk-chunk-chunk it and don't hear the "tail", they assume it isn't working, or that they do not have the correct tone, and they leave.  If they key up and ID themselves, then I will answer.  I inform them about the machine having no hang time, and no beeps and boops.  I tell them it is like a "religious" repeater: they just need to have faith that it is working.

Thanks guys greatly appreciated i didn't want to be doing anything illegal.

Considering the FCC accepts audio recordings, when making a compliant of interference or illegal operation. We have used audio recordings of illegal operation to obtain information on the individuals involved. A major convenience to review than to sit and listen the whole day.  

Considering the FCC accepts audio recordings, when making a compliant of interference or illegal operation. We have used audio recordings of illegal operation to obtain information on the individuals involved. A major convenience to review than to sit and listen the whole day.  

I don't believe so. I know some states have something called the "wiretap law" but I'm too lazy to look it up and it probably varies by state. Here in Texas I've recorded (and uploaded) plenty of illegal transmissions and activity on both GMRS and Amateur. No issues thus far.

I really don't think that is likely. The number of new non-identifying shared GMRS repeaters that would have to crop up and the number of complaints that would have to make their way through the FCC machine makes the odds look slimmer than slim. Barring something very interesting happening in the radio service, I don't foresee even close to enough licenses, let alone those that put a repeater up, being held between now and the death** of GMRS.
 
(** I'm not stating that GMRS' demise is right around the corner; rather, meaning whenever it croaks, for whatever reason.)
 

I agree. The rules, at least to me, indicate that a GMRS repeater can skip ID only when the repeater is held by cooperative ownership of multiple licensees under a written agreement where they all self-identify OR all users of the repeater are under the same license and all they all self-identify. Of course, I left out grandfathered licenses.
 
I'm not really concerned about the FCC because they pretty much ignore GMRS. The reason we probably won't open our non-id repeater, or will get an ID system in place before allowing it to be open, is because I don't want to hear whining from local radio nazis; most likely certain local amateur radio operators. They annoy me far more than the few lids.

Once again it is that time of year.
ERS NY will be shut down from Tuesday 9/18 - 10/5.
 

In theory, yes, but in addition to using the travel tone they are also operating in a non compliant mode. simplex on the repeater input frequency. To make an announcement to said illegal operators, requires shutting down the repeater and attaching mobile radio to the antenna and TX'ing on 467 or reversing the duplexor and running the repeater in reverse. I have made several announcements using 25 watt's. no response. So we have disabled the travel tone indefinitely.

We started with Times Microwave LMR400 We are now running LMR600. You can get 50feet of genuine tm LMR400 for less than a hundred bucks. Get it terminated with Type N connector and get an antenna with Type N connector, for the least hassle waterproof low loss connection. You may also like heat shrink tubing, some is adhesive lined for particular waterproof applications.

Higher power seldom improves a less than ideal situation. antenna Height, and quality feedline are far more important. Once communication is established it is common courtesy to reduce power output to a level sufficient to maintain communications. a 5 watt radio at 50' is generally more effective than a 50 watt radio at 5'.

Spot on. There is no way admin could verify and maintain that database.
 
Isn't one of the functions of the comment feature (powered by Disqus); to give people a chance to pass information along about a repeater, such as 'I haven't been able to wake that Lazarus for 6 months now'? If people comment on seemingly inactive repeaters then it would give others a little more information. Hopefully they use the comment system.

I don’t know how much clearer he could have been: ...The DATA UPDATING in our main listing website is the responsibility of the owner to keep current. Old or out dated information may exist, but MyGMRS takes no responsibility for the lack of accuracy in any listing at the main website.  
In any case, determining activity, or inactivity, is not that easy. Some nominally active repeaters may be silent for weeks on end, or down for repairs. There is no way the managers of this site could know, and they are not likely to put a lot of faith in anecdotal reports from operators who are not otherwise privy to the operations of the repeater.

Rich messaged me last night and everything is fixed. Not sure what the problem was but it seems to work now. Thanks again for you help everyone.

is Monty Python back on the air?!!

Well, the a transmitter is more tangible than Negan the FCC... But the latter has Lucille NALs, so there's that.

Mark,
 
I am interested in setting up GMRS repeater(s) in Delaware. I am located in Middletown Delaware (50 ft above sea level) with an active repeater and a 6 db antenna on a 64' mast. I have reached the repeater from my mobile from the Pennsylvania / Delaware border (Newark to Concordville) and a little North into PA, the Elk River in Maryland, Western Salem County New Jersey and most of New Castle County Delaware.
 
Let me know if you are still interested.
 
Thanks,
Mark

A Radio Shack Pro-2021 I refurbished recently to use on my desk at work:
 

 
More info on my blog post.

The range of a UHF radio will be pretty much limited to line of sight.  If your antenna is 6 feet off the ground, its distance to the horizon is 3 miles.  If the antenna for the other radio is also at about 6 feet, then you have an approximate theoretical range of 6 miles.  Trees, structures, land, antenna gain, RF interference, output power, etc will all have an effect on this range.  If you're currently getting 3 miles simplex between radios, that's pretty good!  You are also correct in that your current antenna placement on the Jeep spare tire is less than ideal.  The best location for a mobile antenna is always the center of the roof - this is the highest point on the vehicle and the surface area of the roof will provide a ground plane.  Is this is the antenna you are currently using?  I * think * this is a 5/8 wave antenna, which will require a ground plane to operate efficiently.  Since you're in a jeep, a fiberglass roof is not a great surface for that ground plane (and you may not even have a roof at times..) so you should look into 1/2 wave antennas, which do not require a ground plane to operate.  The antenna should still ideally be mounted as high on the vehicle as possible.

I would also suggest using a directional antenna for the VHF radio. Since Marine VHF is only legal to use when communicating between or with a boat, unless you live on an island, it is likely the water is within a specific arc from your home. Depending on how wide that arc is, you should be able to find a suitably matched VHF directional antenna.  Any propagation loss you get from mounting the antenna below your UHF J-Pole would be offset by the gain.  You should also look for an antenna that has low radiation upwards or downwards, since most boats tend to be at water level . And, make sure you mount it vertically.
http://www.antennaskit.com/files/Yagi-4-elementi_30_150-300.JPG
 
 
You can also use an outrigger as PastorGary suggested. That would work must better with a directional antenna than an omni, since the antenna mast itself  would not be in the path of your beam - and would, probably, act as an additional reflector..