Logan5

GMRS travel is 141.3 and is one of the various PL tones available. the travel tone allows for easier travel from repeater to repeater and could work well with the ORI= Open repeater initiative. Our local repeaters use travel tones and ORI with advance permission, but were all open to formal "open air request as well. My repeater operates in mixed tone mode. PL tone to open the repeater and DPL on the output.  hope this helps.

You should be on Linux, I use with Libre office, chirp, and it's a happier place than anything MS, only windows machine I keep is an old laptop, only way to program the bridgecom

Welcome to the myGMRS forum SAM. Sorry it took so long to reply, but with the Holiday and all. Ok when you set up a new radio, you will use it's manual to get intouch with it's basic workings first. Some radios allow direct programing, others only allow for USB programing, most everything else is str8 forward from there. let's say you set up RX  on 462.600mhz, in your radio menu you will find an option that allows you to set the repeater offset. +,- or none. under this menu option you will select +5,000mhz this will put your TX or transmit on 467.600,. there are other options in the menu system of your radio that allow you to set other varibles  as well, one most critical to repeater usage is the PL tone, or CTCSS and to some degree DCS. in the this case of CTCSS let's say the repeater has an input tone of 167.9 you would need to set your TX CTCSS to 167.9 to activate the repeater. If you chose to lock out other simplex chatter on 462.600, you would also set your RX CTCSS to 167.9 this will filter out most others conversations. But is not to be confused with a private conversation., many bubble pak radios boast the CTCSS and DCS as privacy codes and they are not. With regard to chosing a radio, There are many options, Cheap Chinese Radios (CCR's) are not Part95 certified, although they will work on GMRS, They are not techincally compliant. Some CCR's also get hot quickly and degrade in transmit quality when hot. also to remain compliant as well as courtsey to the repeater owner, you should always announce your call sign and refrains from interupting an already on going conversation. I sugest turning off noise makers like beep tone and the like. is not nessary and get's old fast. If a conversation with your family member can be made via simplex, keep it on simplex, save the repeater usage for those that need it. There is much more to learn and you will in time, but this should be enough to get you started. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate, we are here to help.   Jim...

That's how it's done, build it for your own use and share with others.

Look for brands like Cellwave, Sinclair and RFS. USA made only. I just checked fleabay and best mobile deal is 149.00 but I have seen used US made for around 100. I purchased a full size cavity for 150, so you just have to wait for a deal.

Until this week! Retevis submitted the RT97 for FCC Part 95E approval and got it. The FCC ID is 2ASNSRT97.
 
The interesting thing is they are only certified for 5W whereas the other RT97's are rated for 10W output.
 
The best part? You can preorder yours now from myGMRS! 
 
I have 2 on the way from China and will place an order for more based on demand. Current ETA is mid-June for the first batch, but no idea how accurate that date is. Shipping to the US has been very slow lately due to the lack of flights from China. There are things I've ordered from early March that still haven't left the country, but they were not Express shipments. 
 
I think these have potential to explode in popularity for GMRS. Everyone wants cheap repeaters that are plug-n-play, and these are about as cheap as you can get while being type-accepted and not just 2 HTs taped together.

I'd like to be able to see the map with __all__ coverage circles __at the same time.__ Should make it much easier to tell where repeater coverage is required!

Needs more cowbell.

GMRS is a utility service. Typically, users only wish to communicate with others of their group. Amateur radio is a hobby service, where users wish to communicate with everyone.  
Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk

I was checking my credit card statement today and it says I had a $70 credit from the FCC. I got my license in January of this year. Anyone else see something wierd like this? COVID-19 FCC stimulus maybe??

If it can work a repeater, it is not FRS. This thread is under the wrong topic.

I'd be willing to suggest that not one bit of that "junk" even worked!

It's an Egg cooker.

Got it and love it...
I use a dedicated 8" tablet to control the radio and it works great.
You can use the wired mic or remove the mic all together and use a BT headset and PTT button 
The app works like the walkie-talkie Zello as a stand alone walkie-talkie or to link your phone to a repeater.
Frequencies are stored in banks of 16 channels each with the choice to monitor 2 frequencies or scan all 16 
 
The APRS function shows where other hams are on the map.

no, thats what we call a "Whacker" lol

Low swr is better. 1:1 means you are getting all the power out. Higher means you are getting reflected power or wasting some as heat. There is an old video (50's 60's) that explains it with models. Swr is not the end all to antennas and many focus on it too much. But generally strive for lower.
 
Db is the increase of gain on the antenna. Dbi means it is based off a reference. Usually DBi gives you a better idea of increase in gain to a reference antenna. Where db may the gain vs a pencil for all you know. So 3 db with make your 5 watt radio equal to a radio with 15 watts of power with no gain.
 
The higher the gain value normally the radiation pattern is flatter with a higher take off angle. For example 1/4 wave antenna is a bit more spherical (like a ball). So when offroading it can be beneficial if you are going up a dune at the crest and there is a truck below you, you'll can hear him. With a half wave design the pattern is flatter and you may not hear him.
 
However, when using a repeater from a mobile the 1/2 wave can more beneficial because then repeater is higher and you have more gain.
 
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Sigh... wasn't letting me add the JPG.
 
https://i.imgur.com/mVih2uV.jpg

Hi BoxCar-
 
   GMRS came into existence in 1947, when the first license was issued to Al Gross, of Cleveland.  He is the electronics engineer who conceived of CItizens' Radio as World War II came to a close.  I can tell you a lot more about the history of GMRS if you are interested.  Randy Knowles, KAA 8142.

That's deeply rude to the people who weren't involved.
 
… Especially to other fans of the MicroMobile series.  Love that handheld control head.

Not all base antennas can be secured to a 3/4" pipe though. And depending on the antenna they use, the 3/4" could bend in higher winds which is why my go-to is 1-1.5" 1/8" thick galvanized pipe. Its heavy, but it works and lasts.

Your callsign was in today's update that just came in. You should be able to register now. Seems the FCC is an extra day behind this week.

You probably hear repeater traffic because signal reflects from the hills around you. 4W HT may not have enough power for reflected signal to open repeater. Mobile radio might have enough power. It's impossible to know in advance. Directional antenna may help too.

I like the battery power supply option, You would purchase a nice deep cycle battery and an appropriate low noise charger for said battery. then connect your gear to the battery via a fused circuit. Your power will generally be 13.8v and during grid power fail, you will still have 12.5 to 13v and several hours of stand by power. In my case, I have a 110AH lead acid battery under my bench and 12v power outlets at my work space. I also have several 12v powered tools and a ventilation fan. I also have a 9" LED TV that only uses 5.5 watts. Great post storm set up, keeps communications going for several hours. Our repeater has a 55 AH AGM battery and operates for up to a day of lite to moderate use. clean quite power supplies like Astron can cost several hundred, this set is comparable in price.

Well Ft. Lauderdale is flat as a pancake so 55ft HAAT is above the tree line and over most anything in a residential 'hood.  If I could get 50ft up I'd be over the same obstacles as I'm in Florida as well. That said my lil mast is at 25 ft and VHF has much better range than UHF. Just need an extra 25ft that the HOA won't see.
 

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