JB007Rules

I only use folded dipoles on my repeater systems and I find that 50' of vertical separation is good.  So for my Rugged system, I have RX at the top at 300' extending to 320' the TX antenna is at 240' extending up to 250'
 
My my 2 cents

Hello community,

This is a formal letter to inform everything that the Crete 600 GMRS repeater will be shut down some time between 11/1/2024 and 12/31/2024. Until then, you can continue to use the system as it sits.

Between the FCC changing the rules to not allow GMRS repeater linking and the lack of funding to even cover tower rent to keep it on the air, combined with fact that this repeater isn't used much is what weighs in on this decision. This has been a hard decision to make but know that even though this GMRS system will be shut down, an even better system will be put in its place. As such, I encourage everyone to please email me regarding the new system that will be put in it's place. My email is my call sign @ Gmail: WRDU235@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from everyone interested in the new system over the next couple of months! Please also know that the Rugged 575 GMRS repeater is not going anywhere. Those of you that are within coverage of both of these 2 fantastic machines are encouraged to use the Rugged 575 as well.
 
Thanks
ROB - WRDU235

Hello community,

This is a formal letter to inform everything that the Crete 600 GMRS repeater will be shut down some time between 11/1/2024 and 12/31/2024. Until then, you can continue to use the system as it sits.

Between the FCC changing the rules to not allow GMRS repeater linking and the lack of funding to even cover tower rent to keep it on the air, combined with fact that this repeater isn't used much is what weighs in on this decision. This has been a hard decision to make but know that even though this GMRS system will be shut down, an even better system will be put in its place. As such, I encourage everyone to please email me regarding the new system that will be put in it's place. My email is my call sign @ Gmail: WRDU235@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from everyone interested in the new system over the next couple of months! Please also know that the Rugged 575 GMRS repeater is not going anywhere. Those of you that are within coverage of both of these 2 fantastic machines are encouraged to use the Rugged 575 as well.
 
Thanks
ROB - WRDU235

I saw it on the internet.  It must be true.

That repeater is only about 118 miles from you, not 160 FYI and I frequently hear it in Montgomery, IL as well just south of you primarily during band openings.

But yeah, use it!  OffRoaderX is Randy from the "NotaRubicon" Youtube channel.  He's a well known master troll!  Seriously though, he's freaking hilarious and you should watch his videos and be amused!!!

A licensed and certified H.A.M. radio operator told me that and he's been licensed for over 40 years so it must be true!

YES! and the FCC has really been cracking-down and issuing more fines lately.  If you want to talk that far you should get a H.A.M. license, but if you are willing to take the risk of a major fine, go for it.
 

I use mine for off-roading.. any time I want to "make contacts" and find anonymous men to talk with, I use the Grindr app.

I can't fill out the top very well.

YOu should get everyone together and have a bake sale.

Or a bikini car wash.

Check this guy out:  https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAtTerminalVelocity
That's what I thought of after reading this post!! 🤣
Thanks!

I have a DB-408b for my base station.  420 is better but it's YUGE!

For the RX, the receiver multi-coupler is tuned to accept 460 - 470MHz.
The repeater is a Quantar and has a preselector built in to accept 467.575.
Thanks!

I only use folded dipoles on my repeater systems and I find that 50' of vertical separation is good.  So for my Rugged system, I have RX at the top at 300' extending to 320' the TX antenna is at 240' extending up to 250'
 
My my 2 cents

GMRS repeaters, unlike HAM repeaters are *NOT* required to ID by FCC law FYI.  Many do out of courtesy but some don't.  For example my Crete system is linked to the Midwest network and I don't have it ID'ing.  *Most*, if not all, repeaters have this function standard and will ID based on whatever parameters are set.  For example on my Rugged machine I have it set to *NOT* ID unless it's been keyed.  So for example if it sits for 3 hours with no one keying it, it's not going to be ID'ing every 15 min like some HAM systems I hear (Terribly annoying).  Then say someone uses it or keys it, it will wait 5 seconds for inactivity and then ID.  Say someone keys it in the middle of ID'ing it will stop ID'ing and let the conversation take place.  Once it's dormant for 5 seconds it will attempt to ID again.  Once it fully ID's the 15 min timer starts and the process starts over.  I also have it set to ID in the clear without any PL/DPL tones as having it ID with the tone is the worst cuz then all your users can hear the Morse code which is dumb.  There are some repeaters that ID with the PL and I cannot stand that!  There is *ZERO* reason to do it this way because if you want to hear the ID just open your squelch on your radio.  When you have a receive PL/DPL set on the radio and the repeater is ID'ing in clear, your radio will receive the signal and the RX light will be (in my case) green but no annoying Morse code would be heard unless you open the squelch.
 
Hope this adds some more clarity from the repeater side of, in my opinion, correct repeater CW ID setup.

GMRS repeaters, unlike HAM repeaters are *NOT* required to ID by FCC law FYI.  Many do out of courtesy but some don't.  For example my Crete system is linked to the Midwest network and I don't have it ID'ing.  *Most*, if not all, repeaters have this function standard and will ID based on whatever parameters are set.  For example on my Rugged machine I have it set to *NOT* ID unless it's been keyed.  So for example if it sits for 3 hours with no one keying it, it's not going to be ID'ing every 15 min like some HAM systems I hear (Terribly annoying).  Then say someone uses it or keys it, it will wait 5 seconds for inactivity and then ID.  Say someone keys it in the middle of ID'ing it will stop ID'ing and let the conversation take place.  Once it's dormant for 5 seconds it will attempt to ID again.  Once it fully ID's the 15 min timer starts and the process starts over.  I also have it set to ID in the clear without any PL/DPL tones as having it ID with the tone is the worst cuz then all your users can hear the Morse code which is dumb.  There are some repeaters that ID with the PL and I cannot stand that!  There is *ZERO* reason to do it this way because if you want to hear the ID just open your squelch on your radio.  When you have a receive PL/DPL set on the radio and the repeater is ID'ing in clear, your radio will receive the signal and the RX light will be (in my case) green but no annoying Morse code would be heard unless you open the squelch.
 
Hope this adds some more clarity from the repeater side of, in my opinion, correct repeater CW ID setup.

Weather was snow all day yesterday and today so our tower climber cancelled again FYI.  We cannot win it seems!
Will update more when we have more details at a later date!

This appears to be fixed!

Sure is the same thing!
Although, I will say that the title of this thread is more useless than a wet sock... Anyone searching before posting will have no clue what "says user request denied , I did no such thing." means lol.

@rdunajewski,
Any ideas if the repeater approval page might be broken?
 
I have half a dozen requests for both the Rugged 575 and the Crete 600 machine I own and when I hit "VIEW REQUEST" to the right - the big blue button, no matter which one I select it says "Request Denied" in a big red button at the bottom and says "You have already denied this request. Edit the Response from Owner above and click below to change your decision."
 
The crazy thing is that I haven't denied or approved them.  I cannot select "DENY" or "APPROVE" either as they are greyed out.  I tried logging out and back in as well.
For now I think I'll just email them the details but I figured I'd post about this cuz it isn't working like it normally works.
 
I've attached a snip but have omitted personal details for privacy reasons
 
Thanks!

I located another climber that's going to do the work but we can't do anything as we are about to get a blizzard up here and even worse terrible cold weather.  We'll update as we can.
 
Thanks,
ROB

Well I will say this. I have an extremely tall house. In addition to having a tall house when you go all the way up to the peak where the pitch is which is where the antenna is mounted it's another 10 ft gained. The base of my db408 is at about 37 ft with the tip extending up to about 47 ft. I am in a fairly new subdivision as well where there are not many trees but I could tell you right now that I could see out for miles. I could see out far further from the roof of my house then the neighbor's house because of how tall it is so height is might. I'm almost wondering if the comet antenna was performing better to the gentleman that had it at 20 to 25 ft tall because you're not getting above the tree line or your neighbor's houses. I'm not an RF expert by any means but in my circumstance where I'm at here in Illinois a compscope (Andrews is who invented it) with folded dipole antennas run circles around pretty much all of the fiberglass ones I've used. That's not the only antenna I have on the roof of my house. I also have a very cheap $60 fiberglass stick (Tram BR-6140) just to get a connection back to my main repeater which is only 10 miles away so for that logic there as a link radio, I wasn't going to spend a ton of money on another high-end antenna when I only needed it to go 10 miles. Certainly everybody's circumstances are different and I don't blame you for not wanting to spend $1,000 on this antenna at this point. I only paid about $750 for mine far before inflation and this country went down the drain. Hell, I was paying $1193 for DB420's before bidenflation and they are $1475 now so I get it, trust me.
 
My furthest contact was down in Louisville Kentucky about a month ago and I got into the KARS repeater... that's about 300 miles or so from me and i did it on 5W so to me, it's worth it.
 
Ohh and I'm at about 100' run for both antennas.  I am using LMR400 for the baby link antenna and using 5W. I measured the power on the roof and it was at 2.3W so IMO LMR is junk period. I will concede though that it does have its place on this Earth and that it is far easier to work with. Obviously I'm doing what I need to do with only 2.3 watts all day so no need to spend money on the better line there either. And in my opinion at 100 ft LMR is just absolutely abysmal. It's literally over 50% loss at 100'
 
I built all of my infrastructure for emergency use so if anything were to happen I have communications. So for me it would be a matter of life and death even though I hope that that is not the case ever for me or my children but I'm ready and when me, my wife, or one of my children hits the button to talk it's going to freaking work.  Buy once cry once.
 
I appreciate the other replies too BTW. Internet forums can sometimes be silly with people saying stupid things but I think every single person that's replied to this thread so far has been absolutely great in offering opinions and comments!! Kudos to you all!  Randy from Notarubicon would be proud of you all ?

Quick update.  Just got a text from the tower climber and they are backing out AGAIN so as of now it does not appear this repeater will be put back on the air tomorrow as it should have been.
Thanks!

I just talked to Buddy this morning on the phone and as of right now, the DB420 antenna and new feedline are scheduled to be strung up the new tower on Saturday, 12/3/2022.  it's about 12 miles south / southeast of the previous tower but the height will be about 100' taller as well around 400' or so.  Final height is TBD.  Knowing what I know about this project and with my experience putting up big repeaters myself and by being in close communication with Buddy, if I had to guess it'll take 4 - 8 hours to get this done.  Weather permitting, I'd keep your ears tuned to .725 the evening of Saturday the 3rd.  If something changes or it rains, that would get pushed back further.  I'll try to update you guys if I remember but I don't check in here very often.
 
Thanks,
ROB

I just talked to Buddy this morning on the phone and as of right now, the DB420 antenna and new feedline are scheduled to be strung up the new tower on Saturday, 12/3/2022.  it's about 12 miles south / southeast of the previous tower but the height will be about 100' taller as well around 400' or so.  Final height is TBD.  Knowing what I know about this project and with my experience putting up big repeaters myself and by being in close communication with Buddy, if I had to guess it'll take 4 - 8 hours to get this done.  Weather permitting, I'd keep your ears tuned to .725 the evening of Saturday the 3rd.  If something changes or it rains, that would get pushed back further.  I'll try to update you guys if I remember but I don't check in here very often.
 
Thanks,
ROB