quarterwave

I've had one of these on a secondary repeater (a couple of Radius or Maxtracs) for a number of years. Adjustable audio, hang time, and it works great. https://www.ebay.com/itm/RA-1M-Repeater-Adaptor-Motorola-GM300-CDM1250-RICK/120729366251?hash=item1c1c07eeeb:g:AYwAAMXQOT5Q-Fsy

FB2 is Single User Repeater FB4 is Multiple User, "Community Repeater", Each user group (Ex: Bob's heating and cooling) is licensed for the repeater pair and their mobiles/portables. FB6 is Multiple User, Common Carrier, Only the system (Repeater) is licensed, users are licensed as part of the system when they become users. FB7 Same as FB6 but non-profit FB8 is a trunking repeater (centralized)

This is probably the best way to answer... http://www.nat-com.org/frs-gmrs.html

I will stop reading the peacocking and grandstanding responses some people type because they need everyone to know they are the expert. LOL. The comment wasn't political, it was administrative, many FCC changes occurred under that administration.

Thanks for the reminder of what we know. Is the pulpit free now?

I was probably thinking of that, and you had to not be representing a foreign nation to get a GMRS license....but Hell, after Obama who knows!

Gotcha...so do they even have a momentary monitor function? I haven't partaken yet...as they are not wideband....but Midland assures me they will be updating the product in 2020 to do wideband.

Update... This fall we have had a lot of local projects started (roads, industrial, commercial) and I am hearing a lot more of what is probably newer FRS radios which can use the GMRS mains now at 2 watts, they are all using roger beep, and most can't be heard over a mile. Tell tale signs. Also, alot of Spanish, which would be illegal, and the radios are probably coming from Walmart, Grainger, Fastenal...etc. People just don't know what questions to ask and what is right anymore.

The work around is to TX the right tone and RX with no tone (CSQ) or leave the monitor engaged and listen CSQ regardless. I'm not familiar if the MTX radios have a latching monitor function or not...

M1225's are good radios. I have 3, one still new in box. The 20 channel one I have has outlasted 3 trucks!

How about another repeater part way into the coverage area you want to expand to, and part way in the existing coverage area. Same Freqs, just use a different PL to get into the second repeater, but same output PL. Think of it as overlapping circles. I know of an entire county's fire system that was setup that way years ago, we called it poor mans trunking.

It's also being operated illegally....it says they run digital modulation over it.

GMRS requires a user license, FRS does not. FRS "Rules" are generally non enforceable. 'FRS is licensed by rule. This means an individual license is not required to operate an FRS radio provide you comply with the rules. You may operate an FRS radio regardless of your age, and for personal or for business use if you are not a representative of a foreign government.' And you are right...businesses need to be on MURS if they want cheap comms. Maybe the good thing is that most of the cheap radios that people buy from a "store" are good for 2 watts at best. Really what was done with the rules was to make what people were (uneducated about radio) doing illegally with store bought radios that did GMRS and FRS in being legal. The fcc should have never allowed combo radios to begin with.

I have noticed the same. In my area there is an automotive supplier or two, and a hotel using FRS/GMRS channels and shouldn't be....however..... With the rules change where FRS radios can use the GMRS mains at 2 watts....you don't know who is legal and who is not. I say about 50/50 illegal (seller put them on GMRS), and then business using FRS because it is cheap on equipment...even though it's not right, it is legal. I hope they get tired of replacing junk radios and buy some real ones and a license (part 90).

There is alot (at least there used to be, it was preferred band) UHF commercial and public safety/services in that area. There were a ton of UHF community repeaters which are now probably LTR trunks. It is possible you were hearing a mix, where multiple high power repeaters are on air at same time, especially if your radios have a broad receiver.

Ha ha! It just reminded me of a new employee I had (inherited from another location for the week, I did not hire him) at the radio shop way back in the day. He introduced himself as the FNG and then proceeded to say the words, to a customer no less. I sent him to my office and then home for the day. Dang kids...

Introducing yourself as the "FNG" was probably bold enough to break the ice.

Advice: If no metal under the base, put some there, you need a ground plane, and I would solder a lead from it to the framework as well. Second, if you use a 1/4 wave...rip the ball off the end, you'll use far fewer or none. I took the ball off many times on tall trucks and equipment to keep them from being ripped by tree branches.

I think the moral of the story is simplex repeaters are, with the exception of some testing, and niche applications, very tedious and awkward to use practically. If someone is looking for a reason not to invest in a regular repeater, a simplex repeater isn't it. From experience. I built an interface and used echo station to try one out some years ago.

Best antenna we ever used in commercial application (I worked for Motorola years ago) was a quarterwave. I have one on my Blazer roof connected to a 40w M1225 and it works great. Although, I do recommend hole mounting versus mag. I have Motorola Spectrum 5dB, ASP 5 and 3dB sticks too....never got any more out of them on a NMO hole mount. Quarterwave always matches better too.

I would agree that in the letter of the rule, neither has priority. However... In practical use, I've had a license for about 25 years, and there may be 3 other legit guys within 25 miles of me with a license as well. With that said, channel usage is not a problem. Owning an expensive repeater, I simply don't care if some FRS-er is jacking around on their $22 radio, or a business just happens to start using 13 new radios they got at Menards or Walmart and think that gives them exclusive use on a certain channel. I use my repeater when I want to and they aren't going to get in my way. If I hear a licensed user, I'll give them room. There was a medical office on the same freq that I used for a secondary open repeater once, and I advised them they could not use GMRS (this was 10 years ago). They told me to "get off our headsets". No problem, I made the repeater ID every 15 minutes on the PL they were using. Didn't take long, they were gone. My theory is, file a complaint, we'll see who wins. It is amazing how much of an expert some people are on some things, they really are, but some of the same people pick up a radio....heaven forbid a UV5-R, and think they can just do anything they want. I make the analogy that you can buy a Mustang that goes 150 Mph...but you aren't allowed to do that on the Highway.

Most of them use FRS Channel 1 Tone 1 and believe they are on a completely "private" channel.

I can't remember the brand and model, but I bought one to do this (Severe alerts only for 2 counties) and I made sure it had both a relay output and EOM reset. Mine is hooked to a control station (old M100 Motorola mobile on a power supply) via COR from the relay out. The TOT is set to 45 seconds...Not that my MTR2000 repeater would care...but it is nice to have on there when we are farming in the Spring and Fall. There are no competing repeaters on the same channel in my area, so it's never been a problem.

Amen, Corey.

DSL is not POTS. The only thing they have in common is the copper. They can be had together or individually on the same line. DSL is not POTS, because phone service is switched, and DSL rides the same copper but does not go through the switch. The interesting thing about internet is that cable internet providers are not nearly as regulated as DSL providers, who are normally old school telephone companies. They even get taxed differently...which is unfair.