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That's actually the camp in question. It's illegal to setup an FRS repeater but doing the 5watt GMRS base station would be a plus (FRS could hear it and they can hear the low power HT's...even if HT to HT won't reach).

They currently have a vhf antenna on a dedicated 40' telephone pole. With cleared area 200' around. That is the starting point unless we find something better or donated.

Scouts doing summer camp will get a week long radio class and earn a free tech lic.(after passing VE test) and merit badge. (They'd still have to get a radio, but following events/years they can use it at camp) Gmrs, if added would be on each family to get a license and radio on their own.(camp would just provide the repeater but not push it, just an amenity)

Thanks, that does bring up a good point.. We are doing 2M because we want them to earn the Ham Tech lic during summer camp and be able to use the shack radio. What better way to encourage them and just keep them on the ham band. Maybe later do a small 2M repeater, I know we can reach one club repeater with mobile 25w units, though I doubt a 5w HT can reach it, so maybe that might be a better repeater option for the scouts. (and they can call each other across camp) Radios as prizes are also cheaper on that band, lol. Ken

I have a project (volunteer) of setting up a new HAM shack in one of the largest scout camps in FL, 1500 acres moderately dense forest. So I had the bright idea, if we already have to put up an antenna for 2M and HF would it be worthwhile to offer a GMRS repeater. At least 1000 people (cubs w/families, scouts, others) are at the camp 30 weekends a year, and large events are about 2000 people once a month (and every week during summer)....what you call a captive audience, lol. The site is 10-15 miles from the nearest GMRS repeaters (about 8 of them), and 20 miles from the nearest vhf HAM repeaters. I contacted all the repeaters in a circle around it, tallest is 200' 40 miles away, rest are all below 50' so not a chance with dense forest. Everyone agrees it's doubtful anything is in range, though I'll get a chance to try to reach them all next weekend at an event... So the big question, is GMRS really used much to make it worth doing a repeater. One plus is cell service is very poor in the area. I figure cell phones are what killed most radio. I've noticed several families do have FRS radios but range is limited as you'd expect at 1/2 watt. We're moving forward with setting up 2M (radio merit badge w/tech lic. course), but was just thinking it might be a nice amenity to offer families that camp. We'll prob do a survey later to see if there would be any interest. Just worry that GMRS is dying, ham is cheaper to get and more powerful. Advice? Ken