gortex2

Richmond 575 is the only repeater with a foot print in Richmond. You do need to request permission. https://mygmrs.com/repeater/5399

I have no issues on either page.

That was the best part. They were on 24/7 and were simple. That's why we used them in the campers at the campgrounds. To be honest if I could find another I'd install it at my new house and guest house. Parents are over there all winter and be nice to use as the "intercom" vs cell all the time.

It was narrowband only. My parents had the FRS-1000 unit which was basically the same but with the 14 FRS frequencies and no removeable antenna. Sadly they left it mounted in a 5th wheel they had when they bought a new one. Both did what they were intended to do. We would use them to talk from camper to camper, camper to hand held and use weather alerts. That was the case use so they were ideal. Never had to search for a handheld or find batteries when it was dead. Unit just sat there working. At the time we were running Uniden GMRS mobiles in the driving area/truck and rarely had issues talking to each other via Uniden and this box.

In the middle of unpacking and found my old GMRS base from my motorhome. We had it mounted in our 5th wheel with a 1/4 wave UHF whip on the roof. When we got the Motorhome I had it on a try band larsen that I would use for the scanner when needed also. Cool part was it would run off the DC power pack if we had power, a 12V cord or batteries. I ran rechargeable in it and when at NASCAR races it would charge all day on solar or generator then run all night on battery. It went off multiple times while in Charlotte one year when the track got warned for a tornado. Had it go off for other severe weather events at other tracks and campgrounds over the years. The antenna was a BNC so you could use the one on it or the mounted antenna. Definitely a cool box for the day. Maybe some day I'll use it again.

Very few Motorola repeaters are made from mobiles. The original DMR XPR8300 was 2 mobiles and in the end was just as bad as a mobile. the PA would burn out and you would swap decks. The MTR2000,3000, SLR, Quantar and GTR are all quality designed repeaters. As much as I hate the GR1225 it is based on the GR series mobiles with special firmware. It has the larger PA but it never helped. Nothing of that nature will last in a 100% duty cycle. Normally by the time you buy 2 mobiles, repeater controller and power supply you are over the cost of a real repeater. The last Quantar I picked up was $1000. It will outlast any mobile based repeater out there. There is a difference between a home use/limited use repeater and a wide area coverage repeater. If folks are going to use it it wont last long without the proper cooling.

As described what you are looking for is not available. You can grab the tram UHF/VHF dual band antenna and try to tune it on the top side of the HAM stuff but it will be a sacrifice. I'd have to sweep one to see what it really looks like. Personally I run band specific antenna's at home as well as my vehicles. I would focus on the primary communications you want it for and see if it will be acceptable for other uses. If your end goal is HAM radio grab the Tram and see how it works. If its for purely GMRS then go for a UHF specific antenna.

AS close as you want. Its the tower thats the issue. I lived on the other side of a fence from an airport and had to get an approval for a small tower. Had antenna on the house for years with no issues.

The maxon is not a 100% duty cycle radio. No mobile is rated for that. To get a 100% duty cycle you need to get a true repeater. The maxon will heat up just as much as the KG.

I use the MLC8000 on my repeaters. But requires Ethernet transport between each site. I use MPLS to do this but in your case I'm not sure who you could get point to point ethernet. The old way of using a Digitac, SpectraTac, JPS or even GE voter shelves will work but requires either a 4W RTL line or some way to get that voted audio to the comparator. I was using T1 circuits previously for channel banks with the audio feeding along them. It worked and worked well with a mix of MTR, Quantar receivers. We really only upgraded to be able to simulcast.

AUXCOMM is a sit in class. As said alot of the basic ICS can be done online for free. They take about an hour each max. Less time if you have been in public safety. The AUXCOMM course is a good bridge between Public Safety and Amateur Radio but is only as good as you take out of it. The last 3 I have been part of only about 2 guys actually took anything out of the class and are active in other parts of public safety also. If your in public safety and a ham its an ideal course.

I miss the "old" GMRS days. It was much simpler and no one was on my repeaters unless I wanted them on them. And when they were they had a real radio.

ITs very are specific for sure. I hear about clubs that are very active and involved in public safety and into new technology. Again I read and hear about them. I have yet in 20 years come across one of those groups in working all over the North East. I was a member of 2 different RACES groups up north at different times. Both held nets and "drills" but anytime either got asked to actually help with something no one was ever available. Unless it was a 9-4 scheduled event you never got any of them to leave the donut coffee shop and actually assist. I'm another 1/4 century ham and am saddened at the state of ham radio now. I got my career in part with ham radio. Where I am now the county has no races/ares or any ham involvement. I talked to the 911 director and his take is they have a TLMR system and the State also does. He sees no need for them and if he needs them he said he plans to call the state. I wish I could find that "group" of active involved hams but in 25 year I have not.

Thats basically what I did in the JK. Its behind the console and cord is pulled out around. Would have liked a cleaner install but it works fine for the purpose. I have a CM760 CB that is the same on the other side of the console.

Looks nice. I miss the space the TJ had there for a jack. the JK has no room. I have no top or doors on the JK and have long given up worrys about someone stealing stuff.

Its all about how many people will do it. Normally a petition to the DMV will result in a new plate. We tried to get SAR plates in NY and never got enough "wants" for the state to do it.

The other issue with this site and many sites that list repeaters is lack of participation. At one point folks were telling others to list a repeater even when they never had anything on the air. Unless a repeater is up and available for use in my opinion it should not be on the site or require a annual update to keep on the site. Its been an issue for some time. For those that require access they should be replying to folks. Its been an issue for some time. None of my repeaters are any longer listed for part of this reason. Changes happen for everyone. So in the end the person who listed it may no longer have the email associated or it just goes to spam. As far as using others repeaters as others said try it and if someone is on the air ask if its open for use. Some don't care some do. Those that do have many options to limit use if they want to.

We sold our motorhome this spring and in our new camper I used a Jackery for all power. Simple and effective. I would have to loose alot before I need to use the battery but its a nice add.

Yup long ago our area used hams alot for the stuff. Over the years that has been used less and less. Our SAR team supports 5-6 events a year. One event is managed by the county EMO and we use the TLMR system. All others we use our SAR public safety system and SAR is the IC for the event. All communications are run out of our MCU as well as mapping and FA support. Mostly because we know it works and again we dont run into issues handing a person a portable radio. The other issue they had was hams not showing up and not knowing how to use equipment. We got called in years ago to support an air show and the hams flipped. In the end we had the proper gear and knew the ICS plan and such. Sadly that event went away but we did 2 years of it for them. Its different all over the US. I think clubs that are Public Safety mindful and work with the counties or municipalities normally are used more but some sit at home waiting for the big call and it will never happen. You have to market your service and complete the task when asked or you wont get used.

For the most part I see no reason a government entity would put up a GMRS system unless it was a public thing thru a CERT team or something of that nature. Government and Public Safety have many other systems they can use and don't require a person to get a license. Our SAR team still has a GMRS repeater at a county park that was provided with funding from a grant via the county years ago. Other than an occasional user its pretty quiet. All park staff use the TLMR system as well as all public safety.

I know of a few folks that have removed their repeaters from all listings online. Its not a surprise that its missing.

The GR1225 Repeater used at 45 watts will most likely last less than a year. Have repaired, installed and removed many over my years. The 45 watt rating is "pre" duplexer meaning from the transmitter port on the radio. Depending on the duplexer you could see almost 3db of loss (cheap china stuff) which would effectively leave 20 watts out. The GR1225 runs very good if you turn it down to 25 watts (with a 45 watt PA), and with a good quality duplexer you can expect 15-20 watts out to the antenna port. A quality duplexer such as the Sinclair is spec'd at 1.2db of loss. Add in a jumper cable and your at about 16-18 watts. The GR1225 is a great home repeater but was never intended for long conversations and continuous service like the MTR or Quantar. I run 4 different sites with the GR1225 cut back to 25 watts and have been on the air for years.

A lot of information in these forums if you do some searching and reading.

The Leixen UV-25D is not a GMRS certified radio. Secondly from what I find online (ebay) the radio sells for around $100-125. Add in ammo can's, repeater controller, cables and 2 $35.00 antennas adapters and such and your not far from the cost of a RT97.

And this is why I don't argue with folks over licenses. The hams all know better than most in regards to GMRS. Its really no different than the hunters that use 2m channels while chasing the dogs. I try to educate when I can. And yes he was the one using the crappy mobile that was distorted as heck and basically the only guy we couldn't understand all day. So the bubble pack rule doesn't apply on his Rugged Radio. After his "excuse" of why he doesn't need a license I went and opened a beer by the campfire. Your never going to get everyone to get a license as much as you say we should. Unless it comes in a box with a "mail your check with this form" it wont happen.