SteveShannon

I’ll make it simpler yet. I’ll put you on my ignore list.

Welcome!

No - If set to TSQL (Tone Squelch), the radio sends a tone and requires a tone to reproduce received signals. If set to Tone, the radio sends a tone but doesn’t require one to reproduce received signals. In this case the more traditional squelch level is used to prevent reproducing low level signals, or noise, depending on the level to which the squelch is set. If not set to TSQL or Tone, no CTCSS or DCS tone is transmitted, and none is required. Again the traditional squelch level is in effect. I hope this helps with your confusion.

I would disagree that we don’t use Tone squelch a lot in GMRS. When setting up a radio you often have a choice of “Tone” or “TSQL”. TSQL is also referred to as “tone squelch”. Tone in this example means that the radio transmits a tone (CTCSS or DCS) but doesn’t filter the receiver. Everything transmitted on a particular frequency will come through. The regular squelch level is then used to prevent hearing static or noise. TSQL means that the radio receiver filters out any transmissions it receives unless they incorporate a CTCSS or DCS tone that matches their setting. We frequently recommend that people set a repeater channel to “Tone” in order to troubleshoot an issue, but once they have figured it out it’s common to change the squelch mode to “TSQL” to prevent interruptions from other transmissions. If neither Tone nor TSQL is chosen the transmitter doesn’t send a tone.

It’s certainly possible that the kids are playing with GMRS radios or open ham handhelds that can transmit on the repeater input. Still they shouldn’t get through the DCS.

How does a 2 watt FRS radio “key the RX side of the repeater?” It’s transmitting a full 5MHz off. Your duplexer should be filtering out any transmissions in the 462 range; after all it has to filter out the TX side of the repeater. I’m more inclined towards the barndoor theory.

For what? If they’re using FRS radios they’re well within the rules. It’s not their fault that the FCC put FRS radios on the same frequencies as GMRS radios.

So the GMRS radio keys up the repeater. The repeater transmits the tone which opens the squelch on the OP’s radio while the kids with the FRS radios are transmitting on the same output frequency as the repeater. This lets the OP hear the FRS transmissions. That’s the barn door effect @WQRQI583 described. I agree, that’s very possible. To my sleep deprived mind it sounded like you were saying the bubble pack transmissions were coming through the repeater, which didn’t make sense to me.

How does that work? If the input of the repeater is 467.xxx and the output frequency is 462.xxx, how does a GMRS radio with the right tone “allow the audio from the bubble wraps on the output frequency to also get in?”

He only wants people skilled at breaking in.

If it’s listed as “open” it’s open. If listing it as “open” was a mistake the repeater operator must correct it. As to why no tones are listed, if the repeater truly is open I don’t know why they don’t list tones unless they don’t use tones.

That actually sounds like a hardware problem affecting the interface software.

I’m not sure why you think talking down to someone who obviously understands the regulations better than you is called for. It’s not. When radios are certified it’s done as configured from the factory. The configuration in firmware is sometimes adjusted to ensure conformance. Even though the same hardware is used, firmware (and configurations of it) can make a significant difference.

What do the FARs say? This is an intercom, not navigation or vital avionics. I am not sure that the OP isn’t just wanting to use the same headset for his radio.

Welcome @jswed!

Why?

Honestly, I couldn’t understand what you were saying. First you agreed with the previous poster by echoing his statement about poor advice and then you said something about no trespassing signs and finally you said to treat it as an open repeater. You seemed to be all over the place, so I included your post for context. Seeing how you react I’m sorry I did.

Why assume I am disagreeing with you? I included your post for context only.

Make one.

Except that by putting the repeaters on MyGMRS for everyone to see, these repeater owners are advertising their repeaters for use. If they truly wanted you to stay off they never should have advertised them. To advertise them and then fail to respond to requests in a timely manner blocks others from using those repeater frequencies.

A lot of my friends have purchased UV5R radios. I’ve only seen one part failure, a microphone jack that no longer connects the built in microphone when the plug is removed. I’ve not seen one DOA.

I’m trying to understand your dissatisfaction with amateur radio. Are you disappointed that more people in your area aren’t chatting frequently on VHF/UHF?

There’s a conversation about that from maybe eight or nine months ago. Technically you might be able to do something like that but you tie up more channels. Done incorrectly you end up with an infinite loop. But the regulations don’t allow repeaters to transmit on the 467 MHz frequencies so it’s not really possible.

Yes, @marcspaz, speedy recovery and friendly nurses!!!

And Baofeng has had its share of problems: http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-cites-baofeng-importer-for-illegally-marketing-unauthorized-rf-devices#:~:text=The FCC asserts that Amcrest,Service (Land Mobile) rules.