SteveShannon

On a Tupperware lid.

Welcome, I hope you enjoy it here!

I don’t know. Is communicating through a repeater enough to make it a control station? After looking up the definition I think you’re right. Here’s the definition of a control station: Control station. A station at a fixed location that communicates with mobile stations and other control stations through repeater stations, and may also be used to control the operation of repeater stations. Here’s the definition of a base station: Base station. A station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations.

I think you could.

The difference is that a repeater is used for two way communications and a repeater is allowed to operate under automatic control. A beacon (the fox) typically used in a foxhunt does one way communications, which I’ve already explained is prohibited in GMRS, and would be operating under automatic control which is prohibited except for repeaters. 95.1747 GMRS automatic control. Notwithstanding the prohibition in § 95.347, GMRS repeater stations may be operated by automatic control. In addition depending on the beacon it might be transmitting continuously which is prohibited. Simply put, a fox such as is typically used for amateur radio foxhunts would violate the regulations. A hidden repeater, depending on how its used, might be just fine. Whether the FCC can detect a regulation violation has nothing to do with whether something is a violation. My question is why are you trying to make GMRS more like ham radio?

And repeaters are allowed to use automatic control so that’s still not an issue. (95.1747)

I can’t find fault with that idea.

Usage is what determines whether a radio is a base station, a mobile station, a fixed station, a control station, a repeater, or a handheld portable station. So while you use a mobile radio as a base station you have to follow the regulations for base stations. The FCC will almost certainly never know or even care though, but I just thought you might want to know what the regulations say.

The second thing with AI answers is that they are drawn from the “collective wisdom of the internet.” You might not have asked correctly. The first is that AI has no authority to answer the question. But go ahead and trust it. Here’s an example:

I use a Yaesu FT-4x with a tiny little Diamond antenna sometimes when range isn’t an issue. It works well. I’ll try to find a picture.

Me too! It’s no substitute for actually using a key but it’s a great way to learn to identify the characters by their sounds.

Exactly, it’s good etiquette and done often in the ham world as if introducing oneself (which we often are) but not required.

I’m pretty sure I tried G4Fon when I first got interested in Morse code. It didn’t engage me like Morse Mania. Morse Mania is more of a game.

In amateur radio it’s very similar, a shorter interval between IDs (10 minutes) and more choices for how to ID. 97.117. Each amateur station, except a space station or telecommand station, must transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication, for the purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from the station known to those receiving the transmissions. No station may transmit unidentified communications or signals, or transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not authorized to the station.

I thought that also at first, and etiquette would lean that way maybe, but here are the actual rules: 95.1751 GMRS station identification. Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification. (a) The GMRS station call sign must be transmitted: (1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and, (2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes. (b) The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone. (c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if: (1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and, (2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.