pantherpaw9

That's a long distance, are people actually reaching these repeaters from those long distances on approved 4 watt handheld radios. From what I gather so far from my experiences in reading the forums, it seems that everyone is having no problem roaming around with 4 watt radios and reaching these repeaters. It baffles me that a radio that has 4 watts of power apparantly can reach these repeaters from great distances but cant reach another handheld 4 watt twin radio 2 miles away. How is this possible? Anyhoos, that is another topic altogether, but thank you for the information about the 4 seasons being off network. That does answer my question.

I recently joined myGMRS originally requesting access for the Sassafras Mountain repeater with a family plan for 5 users. While I continue to access the repeater network over the Sassafras Mountain repeater from Dahlonega where I live, two of the family members live in Sandy Springs, Geogia. These family members have expressed interest in getting radios and using the network. My question is, since they would have to access the network through the "4SEASONS" Sandy Springs, GA repeater, would I have to get separate permission for them to use that repeater, or are all the repeaters in the network covered under my original family membership obtained on Sassafras Mountain repeater? Please advise, thanks...over...

No problem at all. I just want to make sure you are getting the best help possible. I am so glad to help. I would strongly recommend reading the links that were posted by Hans this morning. Those links look really good. Let us know how it works out for you.

That's good to know. Thanks. I kept my channel 15 and 16 factory programmed MURS channels so I would have some channels to use with my buddies when we go on road trips, since none of them are licensed. I'm surprised they even have a driver's license! hahaha

Back to this topic. To the best of my knowledge, the TERA TR-505 has 2 power level settings. High power is supposed to be 4 watts, and low power is supposed to be 2 watts. This brings up an interesting question that is confusing to me. Maybe you can shed some light on it. The radio is advertised as being approved for MURS as well, and my radios, after getting the software cable and checking the factory programming had 2 MURS channels programmed into the 15 and 16 channel slots. These two MURS channels were set to "low" power setting (supposedly 2 watts). I thought that MURS was only allowed 1/2 watt, so I'm left wondering how these radios are approved for MURS operation if the lowest power level setting is 2 watts (well over the 1/2 watt limit).

Not a problem at all, I was hoping one of you guys would rescue me on this, because since I am learning this process also, I was afraid I may not be giving the best instructions. That is one of the main reasons I suggested he start a new thread so that the answers would not get confused with the items we had been discussing, but these topics are all so inter-related, that it is probably ok. I know some forum sites are picky about the threads being posted in the correct categories. Thanks for your help.

Nice Work Hans. Thanks, I think I’m going to take a read on these sites as well.

One initial tip I do have for you is this: You should probably start a new thread for all this, since this one has been listed as "ANSWERED" so you probably will get better help from a new thread. Now for my programming tips: You must first determine if the Baofeng UV5R is legal for use on GMRS. My guess is that it is not legal to use for GMRS. There are technical FCC rules about this, that frankly, are hard for me to understand. You can probably find out with Google or ask someone on this website by starting a separate and new thread in the "FCC Discussion Section of the Forum". After verifying if the radio is legal for use. You can program the radio using one of two methods: 1. The radio can be programmed with the keypad. This is the difficult way and you will have to read the users manual to learn how to do this. I could try to explain it, but the users manual explains it very well. I learned how to do it by reading the instructions in the Users manual. It is a little tricky but after you try a few times, you will probably figure it out. 2. The other method: you must obtain a data cable to connect the radio to your computer, and use the free "CHIRP" software available on the internet for download. This method is a little easier for most people. After you figure out which programming method you want to use: 1. You must look up the settings for the specific repeater that you want to use. This information can be found on Google or on this website under the "Repeaters" tab at the top of the Home Page or by clicking the link below: https://mygmrs.com/browse 2. You will need to know the following data: a. Transmit Frequency of the Repeater (Your Recieve Frequency) b. Recieve Frequency of the Repeater (Your Transmit Frequency) c. The Repeater's Offset Value (also called Frequency Shift) d. The Repeater's Offset Direction (+ or -) d. The Transmit and Receive Tone Values (Usually these are the same for both Tx & Rx) Once you have these programmed into the radio on the channel you want. Try to contact someone and see if it works. If it does not work, make sure you are not in an RF dead zone. This basically means try some different locations and move around. If none of these things work, then you probably have a setting entered incorrectly and you will have to keep checking and trying until you tweak them all just right. There is no real easy one step way. It is a long learning process, and you have to just keep trying. If you get stuck. Come back and ask again or get clarification from someone. If I have given you any instructions here above, that are wrong or mis-spelled or mis-typed; then rest assured, as sure as the sun rises, someone will tell you exactly which ones I screwed up. So don't worry, You will get the right instructions directly. Good Luck and let us all know how it goes!

No, actually I never used the incorrect 000 500 offset. I caught the error before programming it. So basically I went from no offset 000 000 to the correct offset of 005 000. So technically I was broadcasting my callsign on the repeaters output frequency so no FCC improprieties were executed on this very fine day...LOL. However; You make a good observation sir! So basically I was Simplexing with myself, which is kind of like talking to yourself with radios! As long as you don’t answer back, YOU’RE GOOD!

No worries, because I learned something from it! I'm just glad to be connected with the entire northern 2/3 of Georgia !!

It wasn't the PL tones, but it turned out to be the + 005 000 offset that I was unaware of. I thought the offsets only applied to HAM repeaters, and I failed to grasp that when I did the initial programming. I used some settings for the offset that GaDalek sent me and PRESTO! Now let's see what kind of trouble I can get into next (hahaha)... Actually, I surprised myself, because the offset GaDelek sent me was 000 500 and I somehow managed to figure out it was 1 decimal point off and fixed that part on my own (which is a minor miracle).

Just made contact on the Sassafras Mountain repeater to a gentleman in Ellijay, GA so I would like to thank all of you for your assistance and patience with me in solving my startup issues. I can't say enough positive things about this group and the organization. I look forward to tuning in to the next NET meeting.

Bienvenido, no hablo español, pero estoy usando un software de traducción para darle la bienvenida al grupo. No puedo ayudarte porque estoy aquí para aprender a conectarme al repetidor tal como eres. Si puede hablar inglés, puede obtener ayuda leyendo los consejos que los expertos me han dado aquí. De lo contrario, es posible que desee iniciar un nuevo hilo y buscar ayuda en español. Welcome, I do not speak Spanish, but I'm using translation software to welcome you to the group. I can not help you because I am here to learn to connect to the repeater as you are. If you can speak english, you may get some help by reading the advice that the experts have given me here. Otherwise, you may want to start a new thread and seek help in spanish.

BTW, my avatar image is borrowed humor from a post I saw on here in the General Forum (I think) and I saw a discussion on radio testing and the comment was "test...test..." and it had a link to a video on youtube that showed a Baofeng being set on fire as a "test" and I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair. So I made an image of the burnt radio from a screen capture image. So I wanted to make sure to not take credit for thinking up that joke. I hope that user doesn't mind...haha...

I used the keypad to program my other radio, as I do not have a programming cable yet. It seems that I may need to go ahead and order one. I suppose I should probably go with the keypad method and I would be very grateful to receive those settings from you. Thank you very much.

Well, I checked into the NET meeting tonight 4 times on the radio and was not heard and with a Nagoya NA-771 antenna, so I definitely have a problem to solve...I can't imagine that I am not able to reach that repeater, I am on top of a hill and I can physically see the top of Sassafras mountain from my back porch. There has to be something wrong with the radio setup. I can hear everyone loud and clear on the other radio, but nothing is getting to the repeater, and on the TERA TR-505, I can neither listen nor transmit. Very frustrating.

Well that's not surprising, everything is a scam these days when they advertise, so who really knows what they are buying until they get it and test it with a meter. I suppose I meant to say, "are you using a radio with an advertised rating of 4 watts (2 watts)" haha...anyway, I really appreciate the info, I have learned so much from you folks on this site. While I am envious of the knowledge around these parts; I am still having a blast geeking out on these radios!!

I don't know if this thread is still active or relevant, but these are both VHF / UHF AND CHEAP. You can always lock the keypad to for normal people use. Baofeng BF-8HP+ available from Wally World: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ktaxon-Baofeng-BF-F8-V-UHF-136-174-400-520MHz-Two-way-Ham-FM-Amateur-Radio-Earpiece/110615490?athcpid=110615490&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVAV&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=cdb0bd56-56a-1678572175c961&athena=true

You mentioned you are reaching the repeater from about 20 miles away; may I ask what radio and power output you are running just to get an idea if I'm in the ballpark? I'm assuming since you did say handheld you probably are around 4 watts like my TERA. Thanks

That is a great tip. I have ordered the programming cable and software to do just that. I suspect that you are right, and the TR-505 user manual has listed that the tones are pre-programmed, but in fact they are probably not. My guess is that they printed the user manual, then found out having the radios pre-programmed with the repeater codes was not a good idea, since that makes it very easy for a person to accidentally jump onto a repeater, without a GMRS license when they are thinking they have a simple walkie talkie. Regardless, I will know in 2 days when the software arrives. In the mean time, I plan to tune in tonight for the NET meeting and try to make a few quick contacts to see if transmission is possible from my house. Thanks for your continued assistance.

Actually, I have another radio, programmed with the frequency and tone code listed on MyGMRS and I can hear traffic. So I think MyGMRS has the correct data posted to the website. I posted earlier that I am waiting on some new antennas so that may help also. I also ordered a TR-505 programming software kit so I can double check what tone codes are programmed into the TERA radio. My guess is that the tone codes that are listed in the product user manual are not the actual tone codes programmed into the TR-505, since I am hearing the repeater on the other radio. As soon as the software kit arrives, I will check those tone codes and see if that solves the problem. That is a big disadvantage of having a cheaper TERA radio with no screen or keypad. It leaves you in doubt of what is actually programmed in there. This is all very good advice and I will check these items and report back on my results. Thank you all so much for your help.

I know there has got to be gold in my back yard somewhere down there! I think you've got it figured out for sure...haha. Actually that's interesting that you say that about the antenna, I am waiting on an order from a radio outfit in California for a hot rod ferrari lamborgini antenna. They moved their offices so the order has been delayed. But yes I did order a high gain antenna and hopefully that will help a bit. I will update the post when I find out if that has any improvement on my problem.

Thank you so much for the reply! That is great information and I am glad to hear it. The repeater that is closest to me is Sassafras Mt. and I can almost see it from my house as I live on the top of a moderately high ridge line. I live in Dahlonega, Georgia which is Lumpkin County (yes we are mountain folk). The radio has a channel 13 that is pre-programmed (according to the users manual) out of the box to the 462.675 MHz frequency with the 141.3 Hz tones already in it. This is what the MyGMRS site listed as the specs for that repeater. So I can't imagine what could be the problem. It's probably something really simple and stupid that I'm doing wrong. I will just have to keep digging and see if I can figure it out I suppose.

Hi, I'm new to all this, and as you can imagine, I have lot's of questions. The first of which is this: How much power do I need to use GMRS over a repeater that is about 16 miles west of my house. I can't seem to hear any signals coming from the repeater, and I don't think my 4 watt handheld would be enough to reach out that far. Am I dreaming thinking I can use my TERA TR-505 handheld radio to communicate with anyone that is in range of the the repeater coverage area? I'm not sure what equipment I will need to get on the NET meeting and participate. I can hear traffic when I tune a different radio to the frequency. I was wondering why I can hear traffic on the one radio but not on the TERA GMRS radio that I just bought. Any tips for a beginner would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!