SteveShannon

From your first post: “Thus, four conversations can be supported within each of the current GMRS channels.” But the experiments you’ve done are very interesting and I enjoy hearing about them. ?

It won’t be happening anytime soon and if you go back read my post more carefully you’ll realize that I am neutral; I’m not advocating for or against. I’m just pointing out considerations. But don’t you already have the same problem with people chatting on the radio? If not, and if allowing DMR will cause an influx of users, isn’t that an argument for DMR?

No, each DMR channel has a spectrum bandwidth of 12.5 kHz which is time divided into two channels. That’s the only way the two DMR signals fit within a single analog 12.5 kHz channel. They’re not 6.25 kHz channels. If they were I would agree that you could squeeze in four.

Our local Hytera 70cm repeater is both DMR and analog. It seems to work well. The repeater give preference to analog communications. Our Monday evening 2 meter net has moved to this repeater using 70 cm analog because our 2 meter Yaesu DR1 is locked up and the mountain top site is not accessible without a helicopter. People watching the mountain have noticed that avalanches have taken place. It’s first come, first served, like any repeater. When people are using the repeater for analog both time slots of DMR are blocked. When people are using either time slot for DMR no analog transmissions can take place. Technically that’s probably not considered interference; it’s just the limitations of the technology. After all, when a person is on an analog repeater no other analog transmissions can take place either. The coordination that you mentioned is all of our responsibility; we should not hog the repeater. The vulnerability to being blocked is something that currently exists. Changing to DMR would not change that. My only objections to the OP’s initial post are that four DMR channels cannot fit into the space of one analog channel (only two can, but that’s still a benefit) and that using DMR is not a realistic preferential alternative for someone who finds learning enough to pass the technician test difficult. Currently emission type F1D, F3E, and F2D are all permitted (along with quite a few others). Two slot DMR can be done on F1D and F2D. I’m not sure what part of the regulations make it prohibited to use DMR on GMRS frequencies now, but I suspect I just don’t recall the right paragraph.

No, not rhetorical at all. I have three different gmrs handheld radios (Motorola, Midland, and Garmin) that have separate up and down buttons for channels and tone. I don’t see how it could be easier. I don’t need my phone or a computer to program them. But we should really just be happy for Adamdaj that he found a radio that’s easy for him to use. We all want that!

How can programming a GMRS radio using a phone be easier than pushing the up or down channel button and up or down tone button on the radio?

Actually, the government will always get YOUR moolah! ?

If they were still alive… A license elapses when the licensee expires. Here’s the actual regulation: 2) Any individual who holds an individual license may allow his or her immediate family members to operate his or her GMRS station or stations. Immediate family members are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

There’s the FT70, but his collection is built on higher end hardware, isn’t it? Also the FT70 doesn’t APRS.

The FT5DR was down to $329 during hamvention. Maybe still.

Where’s the emoji for envy when I need it?

Welcome!

Plus you can now hit the like button on as many posts as you want.

People are quick to say “in an emergency” as if that excuses all sorts of non-compliance, but the truth is that non-compliance during an actual emergency is more likely to be detrimental to those who need effective communications. A recent example was the jerk who interfered with fire-fighting crews by getting on the radio and trying to redirect their efforts to what he considered an emergency. The regulations do allow certain behaviors in an emergency but you must read the actual language of those exceptions. None of them amount to “anything goes.” But you are correct that the FCC might not even investigate unless a complaint is made.

Pictures always help. In this blown up shot of your previous image it appears that you have one white and one gray. You also have one shield wire which has no insulation.

Well, they’re only $25 and if you use the new one to figure out the connections you’ll have a spare. Good luck!

Here’s what the regulations say: § 95.1733 Prohibited GMRS uses. (a) In addition to the prohibited uses outlined in § 95.333 of this chapter, GMRS stations must not communicate: (1) Messages in connection with any activity which is against Federal, State, or local law; (2) False or deceptive messages; (3) Coded messages or messages with hidden meanings (“10 codes” are permissible);

DMR channels do not use 7.6 kHz of spectrum; they each use 12.5 kHz but they use time division multiplexing to share that portion of spectrum. In other words each current GMRS channel would only represent two DMR channels. Gil is correct that this would impact everyone who has an analog GMRS radio. Use of such a radio requires the entire channel, making it unavailable for DMR. Conversely, to those who have analog radios, every DMR transmission sounds like an impact wrench. “Here in California, CERT, neighborhood or fire watch, militia groups, etc. have implemented GMRS because 80-90% of their members have no direct interest in the technical aspects of amateur radio.” I don’t know how true that statistic is, but ruining GMRS for the rest of us isn’t the answer. P.S. People who have no direct interest in the technical aspects of amateur radio might have a tough go when they have to program a codeplug. DMR codeplugs are extremely technical. I guess you could sell the radio with a basic codeplug that’s simplex DMR on 1-22 and duplex on 23-30, but what do you use for talk groups, time slots, and color codes?

Which three were off when the Mike stopped working? What functions stopped working as designed? You probably documented where the other five went before you removed them. Which pins did they go to?

You’ll need to program your radio with the transmit tone. Without the TX tone the repeater will ignore your transmission. Usually it’s just a setting for each channel. Your manual should show you where. Look under “privacy tones” or CTCSS. It’ll be in that section. FYI “privacy tones” don’t protect you from eavesdropping.

That frequency is the one you listen to. Yes, TX is up 5 MHz and that’s where you must use the DCTS tone to get into the repeater. If your radio is a certified gmrs radio the offset will already be included when you choose a repeater channel (15RP - 22RP or 23-30 depending on how your radio has them labeled.) I recommend leaving the tone off of your receiver at first, so you can be sure you get in. If you’re bothered by hearing other non-repeater traffic on the frequency you can always add DCTS to your receive channel.

Have you done this before?

It was very clear what you meant from the context of the conversation.

One nice thing about GMRS is that radios which are certified for use for GMRS come preprogrammed with the correct channels. All you have to do is choose one of the repeater channels and set the tone to access the repeater. So, for most GMRS radios, channels 1-22 are not for use with repeaters, but rather for direct communications using a single frequency, which is known as Simplex communications. The repeaters reuse channels 15-22 for receiving, but add eight more frequencies, which are almost always exactly 5 MHz higher than the receive frequencies. That’s done usually without you needing to know much about how it works. The repeater channels will often be called something that implies that relationship. So, for instance, 15RP would be the “channel” that you set your radio to which receives on the same frequency as 15, but transmits on a frequency that is 5 MHz higher. The frequency offset is necessary for a repeater to transmit at the same time it receives, which is called Full Duplex. Channel 15 for example is 462.550 MHz. Channel 15RP receives on 462.550 MHz, but automatically transmits on 467.550 MHz. You should not be entering frequencies for transmitting and if you have a radio that’s certified for GMRS you don’t have to. Sometime the company doesn’t call the repeater channels 15RP through 22RP. Sometimes they number them 23-30, but it means the same thing. I echo the others who recommended watching Notarubicon videosas a way to get started in GMRS. As Marc pointed out GMRS and Amateur Radio are two completely different service. In GMRS you simply buy a license and radio and begin using it. GMRS is primarily about using the radio for short range personal communications. Amateur Radio encompasses that and much more.

So even with the engine off you get the whine? I would start by pulling fuses to see when the whine stops. Check your owners manual first to make sure you won’t set some off kind of anti-theft measure. Once you know which circuit produces the whine, then maybe you can figure out how to mitigate the problem. The interference is getting into the radio through either power, ground, or the antenna. The question will be can you stop (maybe reduce is a better word) it at the source or where it enters the radio?