flashover52

This is the ‘pre-enforcement’ period otherwise known as the educational time. After its been out and public knowledge then folks won’t have much reason to say they didn’t know.

So is this enough to make you believe that linking wasn’t permitted and now they are starting to enforce it? https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs?fbclid=IwY2xjawEuNpxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHddzmEk8pDIkz8iOzEaSkASDKlIvS8M5ieWeeGwChFTQTCnQBNKT9h_vdQ_aem_irT21Y0IH0wUbWwyKoPQ0A#:~:text=You%20must%20cooperate%20in%20the,or%20through%20a%20repeater%20station

It will all be terrain specific. There are areas in both Sherwood and Newberg with good signals and areas with no signals. Sherwood HS is an area fine with a handheld. There is a guy up pretty high in Newberg that uses a handheld while someone else I know can’t get in from Newberg with a high gain base antenna at 20’ due to a couple of large peaks. Good luck!

Yes, we have been running a weekly net on Mondays at 7:00 pm since April of 2022 (excluding holidays). I have over 300 people now on the master log but generally it averages about 15-18 folks with a high over 30 checking in on one night from all over the metro region. Depending on the net control operator or day, there may be a short message passing exercise or we may do some simplex tests within the city during the net. However, we welcome anyone to check in by following the net control operators instructions.

It’s similar to the Garmin Rino’s (GPS/GMRS radio combo) of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. It only sends data to other radio units. Only the Garmin units allowed you to send text messages to other folks close by without needing a phone.

Given some of the recent articles/notices the FCC is releasing and their focus on GMRS traffic can’t be passed over telephone/communication equipment, I foresee the linked GMRS repeater systems a thing of the past…. There have been several people I know who have been in tings with FCC staff where this topic came up. They were adamant that linking isn’t permitted. I believe the FCC is starting with these notices and will slowly start ramping up enforcement action in the coming year.

The texting via GMRS has been available for a long time. Garmin Rhino’s were first to the game in the early 2000’s. It was a novelty then. It’s okay if there is a need to not talk. Unfortunately, the format doesn’t seem to work across hardware devices.

Yup, not gonna be the first means for someone but it’s great tech to have. I have been on emergency calls with folks that have disabilities; deaf/blind. For those that are deaf, we often grab a phone or notepad. In a disaster, this gives someone who can’t hear another option if traditional comm paths are down. Cool stuff!

I have used it on ham bands. Wondered how long it would be before FRS and GMRS radios found it. Interesting technology even for one who uses Winlink & APRS a bit. I was under the impression that there are only small exceptions for “data” that is passed over GMRS frequencies. I thought it was limited to the GPS stuff the old Garmin Rino’s used to send location data; but I guess we could text through that.

The plan is to put the radios n Pelican cases. I was hoping to have everything except the antenna/tripod in the case. We have a repeater that provides excellent coverage of our city. Heck, I can hit it from my house a couple counties away (-45 miles). So in the city we have the repeater that most HT’s can ping. The main focus is if that repeater is down, then we have a simplex plan. I already have VHF/UHF ham radios at these sites. We are adding the GMRS radios to support the AREs folks and distribute traffic. Sounds like I may need to leave the coax out of the case, bite the bullet and go with LMR400. How durable or long should I expect it to last if it’s getting unrolled/rolled a couple times per month?

I’m assembling some mobile radio kits for an emergency communications group. I will be using Wouxon KG-1000g Plus radios, Laird FG4603 antennas mounted on 20’ telescoping poles and MFJ-1921 tripods. I want to have a 25’ and 100’ length of cable in each “field” kit (or maybe 50’ & 75’) so LMR400 is going to be a bit too stiff. These could be set up in a building and pass cable out a window, in a large tent used by a large incident Incident Management Team or operated out of a vehicle on a ridgeline. I have a 300’ pool of rG213 I could cut, though it seems bulky. I was thinking of LMR240 but had someone mention that it’s not great for GMRS frequencies. Anyone have any suggestions?

A whole family can get i to GMRS with a single license that doesn’t need a test. My family would not touch the amateur side of radio but GMRS and jumping onto a repeater if needed is much easier for my family. I know many hams that got their GMRS license simply for this reason. (Well, maybe it helped justify buying new radios for the family…..)

Unfortunately my employer blocks Google applications and websites for fear of an attack on a server. The IT folks have had a few people be a bit too careless and allowed applications into city resources.

Is there an online utility that can be used to log weekly check ins for a GMRS net? I need something online as there are multiple users who serve as net control. Currently I have a spreadsheet and they email me each week. I would like to have a central location that tracks it all that they are able to simply update on their own. I know there are ham radio versions that link call signs to the FCC database but I see a potential problem with those platforms given you can have multiple people use the same GMRS call sign. Ideally…..this software would allow us to track FRS users by first name and neighborhood as well. Anyone aware of such a solution?

Curious if anyone has tried a GMRS tuned yagi, such as the one Tram Browning sells?