WRPZ296

A base station definitely would receive better. Not only are the electronics in the radio quite a bit better but; getting an antenna up as high as possible is the most important thing you can do for performance. I have an antenna up on my roof and for kicks, a few times, I've connected it directly to one of my HT's. I can definitely attest that in my case, there's a noticeable difference in receive performance. Some of the further-out repeaters that are readable on my mobile (base) unit are garbled and useless static on the HT. Totally get not being interested in a base setup. Lots of people prefer just HT's, nothing wrong with it! Just throwing that out there that you would in fact see an improvement in receive performance.

This is, I think, the BIGGEST strength of GMRS. People like to imagine the Zombie Apocalypse but real world disasters happen all the time. When I was a kid, we had a massive tornado rip through. Ambulances and law enforcement were struggling to navigate because trees, landmarks, and street signs were all ripped out. (Those departments were some of the first in the state to adopt GPS once it became available.) People were driving around, if they had a car that was still working, checking on homes and looking for injured people. That was on the "Shout if you find something" system. If I imagine that same scenario today and think of how to be prepared for it; it's all about GMRS. If a tornado took out the local cell towers, it's taking the repeaters down with it. But Tornados tend to affect a small area. So this is where a neighboring repeater comes in incredibly handy. We have one 25 miles away, for example. And those folks very likely will still have power and cell service. So now I've got a radio in my truck, assuming it's still upright, and I can communicate with someone 25 miles away, reliably, and have them call emergency services if needed. But; now I can ALSO communicate with anyone who has access to an FRS radio. Some kids radio somewhere they have, or we could literally just run to Wal-Mart and grab a bunch. Plus I've got a drawer full. And now volunteers on the ground could do the same sort of spotting and looking for people in need; while those with the right equipment can relay those messages through repeaters or even directly to emergency services if need be. That's pretty cool! And a whole lot more useful than other services with complex radios and capabilities you probably wouldn't actually need in a disaster. Frankly; if I need to setup a NVIS high powered HF station to reach someone 800 miles away; what the heck are they going to be able to do for me anyway? Some sort of massive, globe-wide catacylsm isn't the sort of emergency that radio is particularly helpful for. Short range and simple communication between folks at the epicenter of a local disaster is the sort of thing radios are actually used for in actual emergencies all the time.

That’s probably true.

The FCC has been sending some nastygrams to vendors and manufacturers lately, specific to GMRS radios. The FCC seems more concerned with GMRS radios that can transmit on ham bands than ham radios that can transmit on GMRS. Or at least; that's what it seems like. Most of these GMRS radios are functionally identical to their ham counterpart but have a locked firmware. Interestingly enough; it's often a lot easier to modify the ham variant to transmit on GMRS than it is to modify the GMRS variant to transmit on Ham. You shouldn't have any issues programming in LISTENING channels though (just leave the transmit cell blank in the software).

The repeaters are all on shared frequencies. For example, what's labeled "Channel 15" and "Channel 15R" in most radios (with the R suffix being a repeater) is exactly the same listening frequency. What makes it a repeater channel is a +5MHz offset on the uplink. What that means in essence is that if there's a repeater nearby transmitting on 462.550 (for example), you'll hear it on both Channel 15 and Channel 15R. But the repeater won't hear you unless you change to Channel 15R (Channel 15: TX/RX on 462.550. Channel 15R: RX on 462.550, TX on 467.550). But given that the vast majority of GMRS repeaters (at least that I encounter or are listed on RepeaterBook or here on MyGMRS) have a 'tone' set, you likely won't be able to just 'tune' to a repeater channel and then use the repeater. You'd need to identify the repeater, look it up, and program the tone in. At which point best practice is probably to create a 'new' channel specific to that repeater. So tl;dr, the way you're currently scanning is probably the best way to scan. Otherwise you're scanning through redundant channels. However, the actual answer to your question is to go to the repeater channels (15R, 16R, etc.), press 'Menu', and then scroll until you see "SCAN-ADD", then make sure that's 'ON', then those channels will be included in the scan. If that setting is already 'on', then you'll want to get the programming cable and connect to the software on a PC and adjust the 'Scan Groups' (or try to do that through the on-screen menu). But again, I personally wouldn't. You'll hear every repeater in range scanning as you currently are; adding the repeater channels to the scan group will just slow it down. If you're interested in repeaters and don't already have a programming cable; I'd get one. Then program in local repeaters or those you think you'll encounter (999 memory slots; you've got lots of space). Then they'll be ready to go. I haven't tested it, but I believe if you set receive tones for those repeaters and then put all those repeaters into a scan group; you can scan JUST through the repeaters and it'll ignore all other traffic except for what the repeater is transmitting. (Meaning simplex communications that aren't a part of the repeater won't be picked up by the scanner)

You might consider a remote install; which is one big benefit of that unit. It may or may not be an option on your vehicle; but I actually have mine installed inside my dash. Still gets plenty of airflow but I can't hear the fan. The faceplate is installed where I can see/access it, but the unit itself is tucked away. The faceplate attaches with a standard Ethernet cable so as long as you can get your antenna connection and power to it; you can install it absolutely anywhere that has decent airflow and no water. Trunk, under a seat, inside the dash, glovebox, inside an enclosed trailer that you pull behind your vehicle everywhere you go (I mean, technically it would work...)

There are off the shelf VHF/UHF (ham) radios that can be configured to work with various business-only systems. I’m not sure the legality of that as I’m not really well versed in that side of the FCC but I’m aware that it’s not uncommon in the oil field world. I actually stumbled on that looking for mounting ideas for a GMRS radio in my truck. I discovered that a lot of people who worked in oil and gas or other industries had installed programmable UHF/VHF radios; sometimes actual commercial radios meant for that and sometimes just off the shelf ham radios, that they would then tune to the appropriate frequencies for whoever they happened to be working for. At any rate; GMRS is a really poor fit for businesses. It may not be legal (depending on how you read the language), and at any rate, requires every single user to be licensed. So while GMRS seems like a great idea because the equipment is so available; it’s an issue when every one of those independent contractors, employees, etc. have to get a GMRS license. There are really three solutions. FRS, MURS (which has some additional performance benefits over FRS), and of course; working with the FCC to use VHF/UHF bands (Industrial/Business pool). The FCC does stuff specifically for industries like this. There’s a ton of flexibility with the Industrial/Business pool. Including “Texas sized” repeaters and fixed stations, the ability to go well over 50 watts (a theme park near me has three 500 watt repeaters, for example). Even in the case of independent contractors; it’s easy to simply lend out handhelds. With the flexibility of powerful repeaters and tall towers; you can absolutely reach as far as you’d realistically need to with a basic Motorola or Icom HT that you’ve got 300 of lining various shelves in the security office.

So, I'm not sure you're aware how a deficit works. Without getting into the politics of deficits; the FCC still gets their funding. Deficits means the government borrows to cover that budget. But agencies like the FCC will get every penny that Congress authorizes them to get; it just means they may have to borrow to cover it. That $10,000 fine is, once again, not even remotely related to the "otherwise legal" aspect that we're talking about here. That was a private business who was informed by the FCC of their illegal use and then refused to make amends; so they were then fined. Commercial use of a non-commercial band is absolutely something the FCC enforces heavily. In fact; that does tend to be where the FCC levies the bulk of their fines; against businesses who improperly use the airwaves. That's STILL not a case of someone transmitting on GMRS frequencies in a manner otherwise legal using ham radio equipment. Also, regarding my 'checkbook' and another comment you made; I said in my initial correspondence with you that I'm not using GMRS in this way. I just think rooting for the FCC to drop $10,000 fines on people who are doing absolutely nothing harmful is a bizarre way to treat this community. You've made a lot of claims that you haven't been able to back up and I'm wondering if you might consider that you're a little off on some of your information, that's all. The purpose of a forum like this is to learn and share information. You are, of course, exactly right that using GMRS with a ham radio is in violation of the FCC's statutes. That is, I'll admit, part of the reason I don't do it. But I do wish the regulations were better thought out and I find the fear-mongering to be unhelpful in this conversation.

There’s a pretty substantial difference between what you’re describing, and using a ham radio to transmit on GMRS. That’s why I offered the “otherwise legally” caveat. The FCC’s primary concern is interference, whether malicious or otherwise. The FCC is not going to “make an example” out of someone for using GMRS in that manner. In the example you offered of 11m band misuse; those individuals are doing things that interfere with other users and limit their ability to use it. In the example of a non-certified radio that is being used “otherwise legally” (correct frequencies and power outputs, etc.); there is absolutely no interference/disruption happening. In fact the majority of the “GMRS” type certified radios which are in the same class as the kind of radios we’re talking about; they are themselves 100% identical to the ham version. It’s the exact same radio. The only difference is firmware; which the FCC requires as a part of the type certification (a software lockout from ham bands).

Can you provide a citation for "$10,000 fine"? Going 5 over the speed limit is illegal. However, you don't go to prison for 15 years on your first offense. Just because something is illegal, doesn't mean it's a severe felony. The FCC's actions towards individuals who improperly use radios are all public and there is not a single example of a person being fined for using a ham radio to transmit on GMRS in a manner that would otherwise be legal. Sure; just like the cop who dings you for the lanyard over the rear view mirror 'obstructing your vision' when they stop you for speeding; there are examples of people who were also doing other illegal things being dinged, yes. And the FCC is definitely going after / cracking down on vendors and manufacturers who sell radios capable of both. But no; it is not a priority for the FCC to aggressively prosecute people who use the GMRS service with a ham radio or vice versa, who are otherwise licensed to do so, and who are doing so in a manner that is otherwise legal (non-disruptive, not causing interference, transmitting at appropriate frequencies and powers, etc.) I use two radios myself; mostly just because I want the performance of a proper GMRS antenna and the easiest way for my smooth brain to figure out how to do that was two antennas and two radios in my truck. There's probably a way to get my ham radio to transmit over GMRS; I dunno. Haven't figured it out if there is. And generally speaking, I prefer to follow the rules and I'm pretty by the book. But there is this bizarre internet disconnect happening where folks thing that something that violates a regulatory bodies statute is the same thing as a felony; or would ever warrant a $10,000 fine. People get fined by the FCC when they intentionally cause problems, or when they use their equipment to deny other people the right to use their equipment (such as jammers, something the FCC really does go after hardcore).