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flashover52

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Everything posted by flashover52

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. 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.
  5. 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?
  6. 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?
  7. 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…..)
  8. 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.
  9. 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?
  10. Curious if anyone has tried a GMRS tuned yagi, such as the one Tram Browning sells?
  11. I have had the CX-333 on gable end of house (35’ off ground) for almost a year. I have been extremely happy with it. I can’t share any measurements as I don’t have any meters but have had nothing but good sound checks using a BTech UV-50x3 mobile. Repeaters 50 miles away are easy to hit. I can get some folks on VHF in simplex at over 20 miles. I have had no bad experiences with the antenna.
  12. My first was a Garmin Rino GPS/GMRS radio. Current? Uh….which one. Radioddity GM-30, BTech GMRS V2, wouxon 805g, Wouxon KG-uv9g pro
  13. The LAK17R GMRS repeater (id’s as WRKT697) operates out of Lake Oswego, OR on 462.600 (+5) and a PL Tone of 123.0. It’s an open repeater set up for local emergency communications in the city but available for general or casual use. There is a weekly net on Monday nights at 7:00pm. If you are in the area or passing through, reach out and say hello. Coverage spans well beyond LO into Wilsonville, Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Milwaukee, Oregon City and up into parts of Camas, Vancouver and Battle Ground, WA.
  14. The Garmin Rino GPS units have been doing this for over a decade. I am surprised it took a radio company so long. It looks slick but I’m not sure I want to carry my phone in the back country to send a text message. Would like to try using one with some Rino’s to see if they share data.
  15. I have the Anysecu ham version. For the price, I like the size and portability it offers. I can hide the base and hang the mic off of an air vent. Controls are wonky for volume and auch but it dos the job for the price. I may have to get the BTech branded GmRS version for my son’s Jeep.
  16. Good luck! One of our ham folks tracked down some interference and it was a neighbors ceiling fan. Specifically the LED switch. Drove him nuts as the interference was sporadic. Had the power company come out and took a bit of trial and error to hunt it down.
  17. Have you looked at the Radioddity GM-30? I charge ours while backpacking with a small solar panel via USB A-C. Might be a bit big for them as my kids are older.
  18. Ugggh, I thought the GMRS travel channel was 20?
  19. Quick question….can you program all of the channels in any combination? Most seem to lock out the first 22 channels and leave them in order allowing you to modify the tone. I have a need to program about 35 combinations using channels 1-7 with different tones and channel names. All of the radios I have tried only allowed user programmed repeater channels so I can only use channels 1-7 one time each. UPDATE: I just read the post above and it answered my question….
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