FYI,, After running a 'report' this morning for current updates.. it does look like many of the Repeater Linking guys are turning off 'Access Request' for their repeater sites. Meaning they are not accepting request to join their repeater circus.. Also noting that many are toggling from 'Paid Access' to 'Permission Required or Open System'.. Some are even disabling their rogue repeater.
Southern and northern Calif is extremely busy with CB like Chatter on every channel. . Bay area is just as bad. North from Palmdale gets pretty quite and some of the repeaters are actually a pleasant to use. . One of my favorite repeaters on El Paso Mtn can talk from Acton to Lone Pine and Hesperia and Lone Pine about 175-180 miles. Los Angeles basin has it's share of 'Spanish speaking guys as well and yes they can talk like two little girls in a powder room.
get yourself a Nano VNA.. They're great for checking Coax, Antennas and other things.. Lots of various how to videos on Google.. https://www.amazon.com/AURSINC-NanoVNA-H-Vector-Network-Analyzer/dp/B07Z5VY7B6/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=27K9G2O94D6NI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._c0Hx-JK1n0L41oe77KD7fcLIRsFX4_XZT_H7ZxdIs8BCuulklYWSZi7bTrGHD8BF5z2nq9d8KApRHbUSVwUAgta_Ua95QfM8DPnc4-tA2DhuxMPbV3MIXo2Mx5sF585EG8W2sSQ6wvgY9C8-kgPsGcS3mn3b6tKW01ocBWjju-1rDEXX_kIkdR_YyEidg6hl9HR8HPx1PGcYOS141bEaHxJBpwGmQ8UPK5D1Dd7bYc.oIILvBvlLqcs08bDNYLGdvdRu9BbUXTzf5XOjxbRaKo&dib_tag=se&keywords=vna&qid=1725726595&sprefix=vna%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
Like Randy say's. The FCC 'doesn't care' and would rather sit on their desk sucking loli pops than come after violators, so fuk the lic.. Who needs one...... Besides,, GMRS and FRS is nothing but a free for all zoo anyway.. If you can't beat em' join em'
should have know better,, the rules have always been clear.. They never changed, same 'ole rules.. Put it on Ebay... Lots of UHF repeater stuff posted lately.. Good luck....