jwilkers

These privacy codes should be thought of as a type of filter allowing you to control who you hear, but not who hears you. They don't afford any security. If someone's radio has no tone set, they will hear everything on the channel regardless of privacy code.
 
They work by adding a subaudible tone (67-250 Hz or so) onto your voice, which is below the range of what 2-way radios will reproduce through the speaker. If your radio is set up with that tone, it will keep the speaker off unless it hears that tone. But if someone's radio isn't set up to use a code/tone, they'll hear everything. DCS is a similar concept, but instead of a steady subaudible tone, it uses a subaudible digital signal.
 
The original intent with these tones long predates GMRS, and was for cases where users in two distant cities might have the same frequency, and weakly hear each other. (Or cases of random noise on the frequency.) The distant signal was weak enough to not interfere with local communications, but annoying to listen to when it came through during times of silence. CTCSS allowed those people to set up a "private" tone that they'd use and not have to hear the distant user / noise on the frequency.
 
They've also found use on repeaters, where people can set up an unpublished tone required to bring up a repeater. In that case random people might transmit on the repeater input frequency, but without the right tone, the repeater receiver won't open up. It's hardly bulletproof security, but it keeps casual unauthorized users off.

It's not necessary and most folks don't bother. This is not ARES or RACES where they are a bit overboard on these things. Even other hams don't use phonetics day to day.
 
As a long time police, fire, and ems dispatcher and instructor of same, I always told my students to use phonetics only when needed. Uncommon spelling of names, interference or background noise, and weak radio links are examples.
 
My advise is to use phonetics only when obviously needed.

Hi Seven,
 
Welcome! Let's see if I can answer those questions for you. Others may chime in and lend their expertise as well.
 
1. This is a Ham radio, and is not certified for use on GMRS frequencies. According to the FCC Rules (Part 95), any radio used on GMRS frequencies must carry Part 95A certification. However, as you may find if you do your own research, it's very hard to find a currently-produced Part 95A radio which is repeater capable. It's kind of a niche and most manufacturers don't bother with it anymore. For us, that presents us with a dilemma. Either we are stuck using very old and obsolete equipment, or we could use Part 90 radios (virtually all commercial-grade radios for business or public safety use) which adheres to stricter technical requirements. I don't recommend or advocate it, but many people have decided that a Part 90 radio, when operated properly, is just as good or even better. Many of the Baofeng radios and their clones now carry Part 90 certification when the user is unable to change the frequency on the fly. So the short answer is, yes it's a Ham radio. The longer answer is, it may have Part 90 certification and would then perform similarly to a Part 95A radio, so you would be using it at your own risk. The argument has been made with the FCC but to date no answer has been given.
 
2. For simplex, you can use any GMRS frequency that is not a repeater input (467.xxx MHz). You can speak in another language, but you are required to state your callsign in English every 15 minutes during a conversation, and at the end of the conversation according to the FCC rules. Yes, you can set a PL tone on simplex for you and your friend. It will not provide true privacy, but would prevent you two from hearing other people on the same channel unless they happen to be using the same tone.
 
3. Yes, your GMRS license allows you to use a GMRS repeater. However, repeaters are privately owned and you need the permission of the owner. Some repeaters are posted on this site as "open" which means any licensed user can use it without permission (just follow the rules), while some are private or require explicit permission. The listing for the repeater on this website should indicate which, and you can contact the owner through this site. The repeater will retransmit your audio over a wider area so others can hear you who would not normally be able to hear your radio directly. It's not private, and anyone else who has the repeater programmed in their radio could talk back to you.
 
4. English isn't required, but you may want to talk to the repeater owner and give them a heads-up that you intend to speak in another language but will be complying with the FCC rules. Some people are alarmed by not knowing what someone is saying on their repeater, so it doesn't hurt to state that up front to avoid confusion. Nothing in GMRS is private, so others would be able to hear you if they're within range of the repeater (typically 15-30 miles, perhaps more)
 
5. Only one person may transmit at a time, so if there's a conversation going on already, you'll have to wait your turn. If you have something to add to the conversation, you can jump in and introduce yourself. Most people are happy to talk with you, so don't be shy about it. Just don't interrupt another conversation with your own.
 
Good luck, and let me know if you need any further clarification!

I use it to keep the Baofengs off…and keep people using radios actually designed for channelized use. 
 
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The FCC no longer mails paper licenses unless specifically requested. Your digital copy is full authority to operate within the scope of the license.  
This info is easily read on the FCC's website as well.

MDC on input. Change the input tone (keep the output the same, try dpl and pl combos).
 
 
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Those were left over from when fixed stations (and repeaters) had to be registered (pre-1988). There are a few legacy (businesses) operating under those licenses so the definitions remain in the rules.

Repeaters are subject to the same 50W (RF) power limits that mobiles are (notice, no defined ERP unlike the interstitial channels). 

Just kind of a curiosity I want to see how they perform and what their limits are, I know they are not going to be anywhere close to GMRS or FRS. Just a fun project.

I was at my parents a couple days ago and my dad had found my old walkie talkies in storage and gave them back to me. have not had a chance to get them out yet but thought I would share. Next off days I'm gonna grab some 9v batteries and take them for a spin.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/jon321rogers/DSCN9069.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/jon321rogers/DSCN9071.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/jon321rogers/DSCN9072.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/jon321rogers/DSCN9074.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/jon321rogers/back%20plate.jpg

LoL, Have fun on 49mhz.

This is probably the BEST resource for GMRS.. period.  I love the fact that only licensees have access here... It assures only those with the best interests of the service are here.
 
For amateurs, I echo the thoughts above.... but there, sometimes, you have to pick and choose thru a lot of stuff

If you follow the statement in your first paragraph above, you will be in compliance.  Not sure what type of equipment you are using, but if you are using 2 to 4 watt portables simplex, not many persons will hear you anyway...

This is probably the BEST resource for GMRS.. period.  I love the fact that only licensees have access here... It assures only those with the best interests of the service are here.
 
For amateurs, I echo the thoughts above.... but there, sometimes, you have to pick and choose thru a lot of stuff

I'm a recent ham licensee so this is something that piques my interest. Sorry it took so long long for me to see it.
 
Greg
KC1ELP

Sounds interesting.

So I built this little machine, scabbing together some pieces and parts and used equipment with two new pieces that I just couldn't fabricate, it's a frequency agile AllStar/Echolink node with a frequency agile Uhf/Vhf Repeater.
 
What I was wondering is, would anyone here be interested in how I did this project? And are they looking to possibly build something like this for themselves?
 
This is a primarily a GMRS forum, but I've seen a lot of guys who are somewhat interested in ham radio stuff too.  This project is going to be going into a 6U Gator Box to be transported and field deployable (field days, JOTA/JOTI, who knows what else).  
 
I've had this thing on the air now for about 4 days, and have had NO heat problems, even with the Hawaii AllStar / Mainland net which lasted for over an hour and the radio transmitted for almost 100% of that time.
 
BTW the radio is a Yaesu FT-8800R.
 
73!
James
W8JVF
WQUL457

Don't let it get you down.  There's a lot of things to learn when you're starting out in radio.  If you're looking to monitor a frequency, you need to know a few things about it.  1.  the frequency-this may be a single frequency (conventional), multiple conventional channels used for different needs or multiple channels used in a trunking system.  2.  Is it analog or digital?  If digital, what type?  P25, DMR, NXDN, iDAS, etc.  3. Is it "in the clear" or encrypted?  If encrypted, give up now.
 
Once you have those answers, the next question is; how am I going to listen?  If you're looking for a base to monitor one channel or system, the dongle suggestion above is probably your best bet as it can decode many of the digital modes as well as analog.  If you need a portable solution, you'll need to look at scanners with the frequency range and capabilities you require.  Uniden is scheduled to make an announcement tomorrow that many are speculating that they will have a firmware update that allows DMR decoding, but as of right now, the only digital mode scanners will receive is P25.  for any of the other modes, you would need to buy a portable radio capable of the mode. If it's a trunked system that's not P25, even a portable capable of working on the system won't work as it has to be authenticated onto the system by the administrator. 
 
I know it's a lot, but the more you learn, the easier it gets.

If not using trunking, could also get an analog scanner and add a discriminator tap with DSD or DSD plus.
 
 
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Ken, for amateur radio related information, don't forget the ARRL site, but do note that their publications can sometimes be purchased at lower prices through Amazon.
 
And if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out the Ham Nation shows on TWiT TV.
 
Regards,
 
Frank.

You're very welcome. Ham Nation is a part of the ever-expanding Leo Laporte NetCast Network.
 
By the way, if you like the ARRL Web site, the RSGB site may also be of interest. Like the ARRL, they offer some very useful publications.
 
Frank.

I would echo Ken's post, lot's of decent folks, great info.
 
Ken I have spent a lot of time at Radio Reference's forums, as well as for ham qrz.com hamsexy.com and eham.net.
 
For technical/geeky stuff like posted radio reference, batlabs (what a place), repeater builder and communications.support, though more geared towards /\/\otorola gear (my new addiction).

I'd just like to thank the site organizers and the regular posters for their contributions to this site. I am learning so much from reading the threads here (including how little I know about amateur radio in general).

If there is one book/site/place you would send someone who is a rank novice who wants to learn more about amateur radio, what would it be?
 
Thanks!
Ken

Well, I guess whatever electronic burp happened must have passed. I tried to log in and the system allowed it this time.
GRIN

You need roughly 10 feet of vertical (or 30 feet of horizontal) separation to keep those things from desensing one another.

Depending on how the radios are programmed, one of two things will happen. In one instance, a radio with a busy TX inhibit would sense the (already  present signal) keep the radio from keying altogether while keeping the squelch closed. In the other, the two signals would mix and it may or may not open squelch properly on the receiving end depending on the FM capture effect.