I wanted to ask why it appears to be common practice to require a valid GMRS user to seek permission before using a GMRS repeater. When I obtained my Amateur Radio license, I was surprised that virtually all Amateur radio repeaters were open to properly licensed ham operators.
On several occasions I have requested permission and have never heard back from the repeater operator. I don't use the repeater of course, but that experience makes me wonder why the person required someone to seek permission if they were not going to reply back. If an owner/operator has posted their information on www.myGMRS.com, then isn't implied they want to have their system used. It would be really nice to be able to look up and use a GMRS repeater without obtaining permission. I could then give my family GMRS radios to be able to communicate instead of cell phones. My family is not licensed Amateur Radio operators, so that is not an option for us.
One GMRS repeater in my area --- BART-R1, published on myGMRS, lists in the comment section: "As long as you have a valid GMRS license and ID every 15 minutes as required, you may use the system." This is good!
I wonder if making GMRS repeaters "open-systems" to licensed GMRS holders would help the GMRS community grow? Would a diminishing community cause the FCC to possibly put a target on the GMRS frequencies as a potential for reallocation? There is such a grab for spectrum these days, I wouldn't doubt it!
I know there are a lot of non-licensed GMRS frequency users out there and I am in no way defending or supporting their illegal use of the frequencies. A non-licensed user wouldn't even know they were supposed to seek permission or probably wouldn't even care!
Thank you for reading my post and any reply you might have.
