SDK

338538504_ActiveGMRSRepeatersInMaine-2022-08-10.pdf 2022-08-16 - Active Maine GMRS Licenses by Call Sign.pdf 2022-08-16 - Active Maine GMRS Licenses by Name.xlsx

It seems like there are new and stronger repeaters going up every week lately. It is hard to keep up with them all. I am trying to put together a document with all the specs available. Attached is what I have compiled so far.
Maine GMRS Repeaters - 2022-06-09.pdf

I am new to GMRS (finally), and have mobile and portable communications as of right now. Hoping to have a base set up before the end of summer. I have a UHF base antenna. I just need to get the coax and radio and get my antennas mounted permanently.  I currently monitor all 8 GMRS channels on my scanner at home in addition to some Ham radio repeaters local to me and simplex calling channels. I have the same ability when I am mobile. I try to stay prepared if anyone uses them for help. 

I have not noticed any active repeaters except for Woodstock, Belfast, and there is one other local to the Belfast area but I cant remember what the frequency is off the top of my head. 

WRQI583 - GMRS
N1YFA - HAM RADIO

Is it legal? NO. Has anyone ever been prosecuted? Probably not. My own thought is use of a non certified radio on GMRS is probably not a primary offense. That is, the FCC is extremely unlikely to come after you for this reason alone. In fact, if the radio is operating properly there’s is no way anyone could tell it was not certified just by monitoring it. However, if the FCC had other reasons to go after you, like spurious transmissions, too much power, being a nuisance or other observable violations. Then, they would probably add a charge for use of a non-certified radio to whatever else they were pursuing.
 
That is 100% my personal view and does not reflect this site or, possibly, even my view tomorrow.

Thanks for the "Heads-up" there SDK I Was not clear on the actual lines. So I'm thinking that only the two Ch/Freq limiting us at this location should not be a big loss to us. If you have anything else to share please do. I'm having internet & cell service issues as usual so might not be able to respond at times.

On March 23 2022 the FCC announced the new fees for GMRS and Amateur radio will become effective on April 19 2022.
https://www.fcc.gov/document/effective-date-wireless-application-fee-rates

If there are any other Maine Preppers out there, check out our family's mission to educate, enlighten, and entertain. We will be doing a video on GMRS (and Ham) radio sometime this year.
https://www.maineprepperkids.com/
 

My reason for asking is that if there are repeaters in the North Maine Woods (NMW) for the state officers to use, maybe there would be locations where GMRS and/or Ham repeaters could be installed for us civilians when we are in the area.

I was researching yesterday and found that it is still $70 (March 8, 2022). Spread out over 10 years it is still worth getting when you want it. Why wait for just a penny a day savings?

Trickydogshow
Was that the second stage of the licensing process? The first stage is just to get your FRN (FCC Registration Number) which is at no cost. After you get that you have to log in with your FRN to apply for a license.

Look at it this way: I’m a ham and a gmrs licensee.  Once the GMRS license comes down and the ham license goes up, I’ll still be paying exactly the same average cost for comm licenses. ?

Currently there are 655 active GMRS licenses in Maine and 5,051 active Ham licenses, although some are Silent Key.
WQYC747 / KC1LGL - Steve

Exact same reason I have both GMRS and ham (technician) licenses. Emergency and vacation comms with the family, and ham for me to branch out further. All good, IMHO.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken
WRFC318 / K0RVW

Yep, I read the manual and watched some video tutorials.  CHIRP is just faster for me.

Ok, let's try to keep this in scale. If one were to renew for $70 the day before the new price went into effect. The total extent of the "damage" would be $3.50 per year over the 10 year life of the license.  That is $ 0.0095 per day, $0.067 per week, or a whopping $0.29 a month.