WSFF627

I understand what your trying to do, its a cool idea and I sincerely hope it works out for you. However, I believe the FCC is going to tell you you cant do it because it is a clear violation of the rules as written. POC uses the Cell telephone / data network. It is a network in every sense of the word. As I and others have stated before, yes you can connect a repeater for remote control of the repeater, you cant do it to carry messages / voice comms. In any case, please keep us posted with the FCCs answer. This is and has been a good conversation.

It is clear in my head. I understand how to read the law. BTW, the FCC "Just rules" are Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The Communications Act of 1934 gave the FCC the authority create and enforce rules and laws, ie Title 47, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 95

Please go read the Law. Its clear you cant operate on digital modes on GMRS. Its clear you cant connect GMRS to another network for comms. I don't need an attorney to take it to court to show its illegal, its written in the law. This horse is dead. If you don't want to read the law or are looking for bits and pieces to justify what you want to do, go hire an attorney for a few hundred to review it and give you a legal opinion. Or do it anyway and end up on the FCC enforcement radar and risk it. Telling people what your doing and selling them a product or service that is not legal opens you up to liability. Hire an attorney and get a legal opinion from them.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be a win, but currently what your doing is not legal. Also, it sounds a lot like your talking about DMR talk groups on GMRS and taking a page out of the HAM / DMR / Brandmeister playbook and marketing it. All of which is available on the HAM bands for free, including linked and worldwide repeater network, hotspots, etc. as I'm sure you know. Now I'm knocking you for trying this, cant really fault you for it. But at the end of the day, GMRS does not allow it and does not have the bandwidth other radio services do, like HAM, which is easily accessible to the public.

I understand your frustration. GMRS is easier to get into than HAM, especially for families. No, there is not enough bandwidth, that's why linking untimely isn't allowed.

"remote control" and conveying "messages" are not the same thing as defined by the law and FCC. Remote control would be activating / deactivating transmitting function of the station, changing the channel, tone, etc. messages, wireline control link - every network everywhere travels along a wireline All cell towers are on a fiber and copper wire network.

Please see my post above citing the law on linking / connecting repeaters. I sure lots of GMRS users are using equipment that is not type accepted equipment. There is no type acceptance requirement for HAM. That's why its HAM, you can build and use, legally, your own radio.

From your website... Digital modes are not permitted in GMRS. "Other networks" is the internet, and literally any other network... LTE networks included. The law: § 95.1749 GMRS network connection. Operation of a GMRS station with a telephone connection is prohibited, as in § 95.349. GMRS repeater, base and fixed stations, however, may be connected to the public switched network or other networks for the sole purpose of operation by remote control pursuant to § 95.1745. § 95.1731 Permissible GMRS uses. The operator of a GMRS station may use that station for two-way plain language voice communications with other GMRS stations and with FRS units concerning personal or business activities. (d) Digital data. GMRS hand-held portable units may transmit digital data containing location information, or requesting location information from one or more other GMRS or FRS units, or containing a brief text message to another specific GMRS or FRS unit 95.1733 Prohibited GMRS uses. (8) Messages which are both conveyed by a wireline control link and transmitted by a GMRS station;

X2 BoxCar. I'm also quite curious about this.... you website clearly states its connecting the GMRS repeater to an LTE network. FCC Rules state "Linking multiple repeaters to enable a repeater outside the communications range of the handheld or mobile device to retransmit messages violates sections 95.1733(a)(8) and 95.1749 of the Commission’s rules, and potentially other rules in 47 C.F.R. Repeaters may be connected to the telephone network or other networks only for purposes of remote control of a GMRS station, not for carrying communication signals."

I normally don't respond to posts or spend a bunch of time on forums. I found this interesting with lots of differing opinions and some good points. My thoughts on radio and its use are shaped by a carrier in public safety, emergency management, and my personal use of Marine VHF, GMRS and HAM, within licensure guidelines. The FCC states "95.1703 Definitions, GMRS. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). A mobile two-way voice communication service, with limited data applications, for facilitating activities of individual licensees and their family members, including, but not limited to, voluntary provision of assistance to the public during emergencies and natural disasters." As mentioned, I have both GMRS and HAM licenses. I also own a local GMRS repeater that has a large footprint, and am involved in HAM repeater systems that are part of the SKYWARN network. No, GMRS was never meant to be HAM. But all things evolve over time, it will not become HAM (nothing will become HAM, it is literally an experimental license that allows HAMs to do many, many things), but its use has and will evolve (grandfathered licenses for example) just like CB radio did. In my opinion, GMRS has some distinct advantages over HAM. The biggest being that once license covers a family. Repeater linking is not allowed in GMRS, so that keeps comms more local. A big benefit to GMRS and GMRS repeaters in particular, is the ability to provide alternate and emergency comms for families and friends. Most of the people who want access to my repeater specify they want it for emergency use to communicate with family and friends. Something a lot of people don't realize about cell phone service. Cell providers, and really all of telecom, are not required to provide long term emergency power for their sites or nodes. Most only have battery backup that doesn't last very long. My area gets hit with some severe weather once a year that causes widespread outages due to power and telecom lines being down. The first thing that happens is the cell towers get loaded up and bandwidth drops. If you have a cell provider that is not a big company that owns its own network, you are the first to get dropped from the network / site. Most people also don't realize that most "landline" phones are now VIOP. When the node goes down because its batteries are dead, so is you phone and internet (assuming you have power). As soon as the cell site without a generator looses it battery backup, its off the air and your cell is out. This can last for days. In contrast, the "big" repeater sites, both HAM and GMRS, are on UPS and gen power. My GMRS repeater can run a minimum of 24 hours with moderate use before I need to plug it into the generator. All the HAM sites I'm familiar with are the same way and are usually on commercial towers with gen backup. In order to use radio for emergency comms, you need to be familiar with radio and be fluent in its use. You need to know your radios work, you need to know the repeaters you programmed a year ago are on the air, and you need to know where you can use them from and who you can communicate with on them. You also need to have a plan for using radio to communicate when cells and landlines are down. Radio checks, general conversation, and rag chewing on repeaters helps ensure this.