SteveShannon

Welcome! I like the db20g mobile from Radioddity. Small, simple, lightweight, only 20 watts but it has a button marked “FUN”. And it’s often on sale for less than $90. I bought two of them. If I wanted a full 50 watts I’d look at the Wouxun kg1000g. It’s not inexpensive but only a couple people have ever complained about it.

Welcome back. If you could find one of your old posts maybe Rich could reconnect you to your old account. Was it under a different call sign?

How about trying a company dedicated to antennas? https://theantennafarm.com

Is it the VHF or UHF version?

Welcome!

It falls in the same frequency range but GMRS is considered one of the personal radio services defined in part 95. Defining every individual channel is beyond that chart.

Hi Stanley, Before you buy another radio, make sure you exhaust the possible solutions. There are at least three different technical possibilities for why people using the repeater didn’t acknowledge you: 1. You might have been on the wrong channel. Channels 15-22 are for talking directly to other radio users. On the Trailblazer 450 the repeater channels are named 15RP - 22RP. You can hear repeaters on either group of channels but you can only transmit to a repeater on the repeater channels. 2. Nearly every repeater uses tones or digital signals to prevent accidental interruptions. The tones are called PL, or CTCSS, or something similar. Digital signals (codes) are called DCS or DPL. If you have no receive tones set you hear everything. If you have the wrong transmit tone or no transmit tone set, the repeater will automatically ignore you. Nobody will hear you in that case. 3. Finally, you mentioned power output. It’s possible your radio isn’t reaching the repeater. Try getting closer. Welcome to the forum!

You have to be a premium member to post in the classifieds. It might help to give more details, such as frequency range, power output.

I said it like that because I am not convinced that the regulations support this interpretation. But I suspect it would be very expensive to fight them.

I look forward to hearing what you discover. Although the technology is interesting I think it will be turned down for the most basic reason: You’re connecting a GMRS repeater to a network, which means you are carrying GMRS communications on a network which is prohibited by the FCC interpretation of the rules. Here’s their interpretation: GMRS stations cannot be interconnected with the public switched telephone network or any other network for the purpose of carrying GMRS communications, but these networks can be used for remote control of repeater stations.

Funny, the song “Let’s all go to the lobby” popped into my head.

You must load the driver that services the cable before ever plugging in the cable. If you don’t Windows will attempt to load a driver, which might not work. It’s the driver that creates the virtual serial port that Chirp or any other CPS software uses. In Device Manager you should be able to see the virtual serial port created when the cable is plugged into your computer. Then you can specify to Chirp which port to use rather than hoping it finds the right one.

Correct, but that requires putting GMRS communications onto a network, which is what is prohibited.

Do you feel like pidgin English is the language of this thread?

Lincoln (city/town) has the Bagley Mtn 625 repeater which is open access, no permission required to use.

Hi Rob, I am not familiar with Maine or the location of Lincoln County, but there are 45 GMRS repeaters listed for Maine in the database: https://mygmrs.com/repeaters Seems like some of them ought to be nearby.

I agree. Clearly the FCC doesn’t approve of carrying GMRS communications on the telephone network or any other network. Yet that’s exactly what this does. Cogent would need to produce a letter from the fcc saying that it’s okay to connect GMRS repeaters in this manner before I would consider it.

This page in the fcc website explains the rationale they expressed when clarifying their rules: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs Most notably, the language here (any other network) would seem to indicate that the FCC would not approve this scheme either: A GMRS user can expect a communications range of one to twenty-five miles depending on station class, terrain, and repeater use. GMRS stations cannot be interconnected with the public switched telephone network or any other network for the purpose of carrying GMRS communications, but these networks can be used for remote control of repeater stations.

Based on my experience with this forum, there is a greater number of people in GMRS who feel that ham wannabes are taking over GMRS, than hams who feel that GMRS is a pseudo-ham service. There are some people who try to enjoy GMRS by doing activities that are similar to ham radio, but I see nothing wrong with that. I don’t attribute it to either laziness or stupidity. I think some people are either test-shy or feel too busy to study or resent the fact that the government makes them take a test after a life spent working on radio’s. I think some of them they’re afraid they cannot pass the test or intimidated by the math. A free tool like HamStudy.org is a simple (and free!) way to find out.

Hi Lee, Although I have a GT-5R for ham radio, I don’t really know if you can unlock it to program in GMRS channels. I’ve never tried to unlock mine. One of the radios that has been designed to be a GMRS radio would be slightly easier to use. Whichever way you go, I also recommend getting a radio that uses Chirp (freely available) or RT Systems if you ever want to download and program the frequencies of nearby repeaters, public services, and other important transmissions. Welcome!

And 8-14 are limited to 0.5 watts erp for both GMRS and FRS.

There are NMO mounts that only require a 3/8 inch hole. That’s what I would use.

One of the changes to the regulations in 2017 was to prohibit the future certification of those combination GMRS/FRS radios. 95.1761 d) Effective December 27, 2017, the Commission will no longer issue a grant of equipment authorization for hand-held portable unit transmitter types under both this subpart (GMRS) and subpart B of this part (FRS).

That’s how I took it also. He has the repeater programmed into his radio and has been able to use it.

QRZ.com is also available, but you have to sign up.