quarterwave

So much already written and available on this, yet every time we turn around there is a new post rehashing all of it. I think we all like helping others, but I can't frankly find the energy to do all that typing, bless you others for doing it. Some folks need to do a lot...a lot more reading before asking for the instant gratification answer. Not trying to offend anyone....just being direct.

That would be a nice add, although with the equipment available I think GMRS gets looked at more like a consumer grade hobby, rather than a technical grade hobby. However, I like the concept simply because I have done MRE's in commercial work. Both Public safety and Utilities. In utilities and LE, we sold and serviced PAC-RT's that were connected to low band mobiles, and those were VHF Hi, the PAC was .6 (6/10ths of a watt) on the mobile side and 2 watts on the handheld (HT600 Motorola). We also did it 450 handhelds to VHF mobiles for an ambulance district. For those of us who are adept...sure, I'd setup a VHF cross in my vehicle.

Because I saw this today in the DB on a repeater listing: "Apr 9, 2017 -No you don't need permission from the repeater owner to use GMRS frequencies regardless of the repeater being private property. You're not violating private property laws by using a repeater that's on GMRS frequencies. If you want to control who can use your repeater you need a private business (IG) license." I wanted to comment about it and it sort of falls under the topic of this post. He had several other things posted in there about license, and such, and like the above some seem more opinion than fact. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, and not trying to police him, I just don't agree. I don't think this is a good statement to make to others who may just be learning about GMRS. I have been licensed for 25 years, worked in some form of radio, including commercial 2way for a little longer than that, and no where have I ever seen where the FCC says that if you put a GMRS repeater on the air, you cannot control who uses it. It's correct that the frequencies are not exclusive nor "private property" as he says, and that if someone happened to be using the output simplex, there is nothing you can do about that....but most intelligent people understand that if that were the case and they were using simplex and a repeater started blasting them out...well, the users of the repeater may not even be able to hear them to start with...so it's better just change channels. We all have to share the available frequencies. I will and do control who uses my repeater by controlling the DPL code on it. If someone thinks they want to read my code, program their radio and try to use my repeater without my permission, well, that code will get shut off. At that point, it would be obvious they were being an ass, and not asking for permission in good faith. I have to share the frequency if someone else uses it, and I can hear them before I transmit, but I DO NOT have to share the use of my repeater. It is dangerous to mis-educate people, as dangerous as people not educating themselves or claiming ignorance. The worst problem I see in GMRS right now are people who are jumping in with both feet, no life vest and no swimsuit! Making a splash, thinking they have it all figured out after 10 minutes of reading, and wanting to use partial knowledge of things to start suggesting "new" things, trying things they think would be neat...all while being new and naive about everything. That is one thing I like about HAM radio, you are kind of forced to learn some things before you get privileges. Sorry so wordy.

I suppose one could be all pretensive about it and assign official unit numbers...but it's not the Sheriff's office or Fire Department.... I usually just use their first name, nickname or initials. If you are a secret agent man....don't use 007.

I used to use a windows program called ScanRec to record to the PC, was monitoring my repeater output during the day when I suspected someone was getting in to it.

An apple a day...

That's fine, I don't want to argue. But newer people need to know that one persons post is not necessarily fact (neither yours nor mine to be fair) and to read the rules carefully and do what they interpret is right until such time as they find out it is or is not. I have been in commercial radio part 90 for about 28 years, part 95 repeater owner for 25, worked with DC law firms on licensing and problem resolution many times. I'm not new. And I can tell you it's not that way you are stating it. If it were, about 10,000 repeater operators would be shut down, but they are not because they are not violating the rules.

"If a repeater is not identifying but carrying traffic from multiple authorized licensees, the repeater owner is at fault." Not true, the users must each individually identify, but the repeater does not need to, or it indicates the traffic is from the owner, and not the authorized licensees.

Same as FB4 in part 90. (Community Repeater) each individual or business had their own license and the owner had one that included the repeater. If you are going through someone else's repeater, it is your responsibility to operate your equipment according to the rules. If there is a technical problem with the repeater equipment itself it would be determined by the person monitoring it. Once you monitor several different users through the repeater it is fairly easy to discern where the issue is. It is always the user's responsibility to give call sign. The repeater operator usually doesn't chose to let the repeater ID itself (like with a controller) unless he is the only user.

I've heard that alot. Nothing to prevent it, they can use FRS, however, any legit business should get an assigned frequency and license in part 90. Most of the time, it's just a business taking the cheap way out. There was an industrial supplier near me that finally got off FRS due to people breaking the cheap radios, and the fact they were on channel 1 code 1...genius...and always had "interference". LOL Added: I also ran into a situation with a Highway Dept that has a VHF repeater and good radios (Narrowband VHF), but in their flagging operations the radios were setup for 2 watts to conserve battery, and being narrow, range was crap. In fact, they could not hear each other even though they could see each other sometimes. One of the guys brought in his kids FRS radios and they could actually hear each other. I told them to tell their boss to buy a couple of Trbo radios for flagging and program them for 5 watts, and they can still have the main repeater channel in there too.

I have a couple of TRAM antenna mounts left over from a project I did. One is a Stainless Truck Mirror Mount, which can also be used as a bolt on bracket type (Tool box, Rack, ATV, etc). Mini Uhf Connector, NMO Mount. $36. And Two (2) of the small mag mounts. Mini UHF Connector, NMO Mount. $26. All new in package. Paypal for payment. Shipping to 48 CONUS included in price. Thanks.

I can echo that I have both personal and professional experience with both, and always prefer the NMO over a Mag. Why? I always saw a Mag as a temporary setup. Over time they can have issues, mostly from water. I have even seen the ones with clear plastic seals on the bottom have water in them. I observed that reflected power was always better with NMO, and the lower the frequency, the worse it got on the Mag. When I was working at the M shop years ago, our local Sheriff's dept would keep a couple dash mount D51 Maxtrac lowband mobiles, cig plug power cords and Mags for winter, so they could "borrow" a couple of 4x4 Ford Broncos in case of big snow events. Then they would spend 2 hours at out shop while we tried to explain why they were not working right with 60 watts out and 25 reflected at 39 Mhz, and find a sweet spot on the roof where the reflected was better. The older techs told me 26+ years ago that a 1/4 wave on a NMO was the best, most reliable antenna. I found that out several times over the years and that is all I use today.

PL/DPL is for channel sharing. It is not for privacy, and is not for interference, as interference would mean you have exclusive use of a channel. Even in commercial use, it is for filtering out unwanted co-channel users, or distant "skip" signals. As said above, a radio in CSQ hears everything. A radio set to a PL only hears transmissions coded with same PL.

I don't climb...I always thought about buying old worn out bucket truck to use as my "tower"...lol.

The answer to the original question is simply, NO. Without regard to power or whether it is mobile, handheld, or fixed....it is not acceptable to transmit on the repeater input channels (high side) in GMRS unless you are talking to a repeater.

It is a new one in original box. Complete with new mic, power cable and bracket. *** SOLD *** Moderator: You may remove at will if doing clean up. Thanks.

Looks like a few repeaters in the area, get permission and start monitoring, announce you are on air. Power cables and Mics for 1550's are easy to find...good radios, use them!

1. Iv'e never seen anyone "grab" a license from the FCC. 2. The reason we get disappointed in the first place is THAT we have expectations. 3. I'll quit dinging you for looking like you just took a creative writing course and got a C+. Seriously - no, those radios are no going to have "real" range, I don't care what the box says. I assume that my (4) little Uniden GMR1048 with the "forbodden" scramblers are good for a mile. If I get more, Ok, but I use them to that end. When it's time to COMMUNICATE I use real Motorola radios, handheld or mobile, via or sans repeater. Not everyone wants to go that far, but I used to work in commercial radio, so I do. Step up to a wideband, 4-5 watt (commercial or pseudo commercial) radio with a good antenna and you will do better. Any obstacles including buildings you are in or thick trees will cost you 3-6dB (50-75%) loss. keep that in mind. I got a B- in creative writing. So there.

It's amazing how many idiots live among us. I think some of it is truly the mentality that "if I paid for these radios, then my communications are exclusive and private", not unlike having Wifi, but leaving it open with no password required and blaming the guy who is using it without "permission". Or maybe, buying an airplane and just flying it wherever you want, whenever you want. Not quite the way it works.

It's probably an ID'er on a repeater.

Do you want something cheap or something that works (decently well)? I get it, I mean not everyone has money to throw at this hobby, but the best experience is had with moderately good or better equipment. Some of this stuff on the market I would not touch with a 39.5 Foot pole....or an low band 1/4 wave whip....for that matter. I have a UV5R, it has so many quirks, I consider it a toy more than something that I rely on.

I have NOAA alerts on my repeater, 45 second time out, just because that's all you really need to get the point of the alert. I concur that the VHF is sufficient, but we don't keep weather radios in the vehicles or on our person at all times, so it's convenient and good for safety sake, especially in the middle of 1,000 acres.

Interconnection, Wireline and PSTN references are all in rules that are pre-dating internet. They all pertain to switched telephone services and dial up connections voice audio. They do not pertain to point to point leased lines (that do not run through a telco switch) and they do not pertain to internet. Period. I worked with all this stuff, in commercial radio, back in the early 90's when only 1 guy in the neighborhood had dial up internet! There is no use debating HOW the internet is delivered or routed, it doesn't matter, internet is not PSTN in any form.

Most modern ones will back the power off on their own based on heat. I also set my 40 watt radios at about 35, and on my older M1225's I run 35 in hi, and 6-7 in low. With a 1/4 wave, 6-7 works great 80% of the time.

I don't see much of an issue with any of it. Might simplify things a little, doesn't affect me at all from what I can tell.