UncleYoda

NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!!! A FIXED STATION IS NOT, I REPEAT NOT, A MOBILE, HANDHELD OR BASE STATION. It is not any of the normal station types by its own lame definition - can only talk to other fixed stations. Obviously, mobile and handheld portable aren't fixed so that part is clear. The one 99.9% of users mistake is base station. Base can't be what they are calling a fixed station (even though it is in a fixed location) because the regulations are clearly different for the two types - different power limits, different channel usage, different definitions. The fact that FCC can't clear this up proves they should be defunded pronto because it's ridiculous for a regulatory agency to not properly explain regulations.

You're misreading the regs there. It does say only when communicating through a repeater (or test message) - seems plain enough to me. The only type not included in that is fixed station, which even FCC can't explain what it is. BUT I SEE YOU CHANGED IT IN YOUR NEXT POST. (Both of those can't be true.)

I use phonetics a lot. I wish more people did. I have been able to decode only about half of the GMRS local area users callsigns because they all rush through their IDs. Maybe FCC can make sense of that but I can't. So I'll keep using phonetics as often as I feel like doing so.

Wrong. It's very common on 2m for HAMs to turn up the power to get louder voice audio. There's a difference between theory and practical experience.

You can trim the antenna but you don't want a full wavelength, use 5/8. And mount it on center of roof if possible. And the cable is probably an issue. Small cables like RG58 and even smaller ones they use on these mag mounts are not good for UHF. You'd have to cut the cable near the mount, put on a new counter, and connect it to some better quality cable. Buying a new antenna would have been a better choice because you'd still have your CB antenna for a time when it may be useful again.

That is for transmissions, not the same thing as conversations. I see all these opinions here that GMRS is for a different use than HAM, but it's just your opinions, not what is in the regs. When I applied for a GMRS, FCC didn't say, "No, we can't issue you a license because you have an Amateur license." So, what y'all think it is or should be means nothing, unless you convince FCC to change the regs, or you set rules for a repeater you own.

Yes, the UV-5G doesn't allow transmit on the additional channels when programmed from the radio (VFO mode). Someone else here said using the Chirp software will allow transmit on additional channels. I haven't tried using Chirp on these yet; just changing the tone is easy enough for my use.

For the ones I've done, the tones were given to me in an email. Nothing changed on the mygmrs repeater listing (tones still not shown). Maybe the repeater owner you requested approval from doesn't know he has to send that to you.

If user knowledge is not required, then why are the GMRS regs worded so intricately that they are very difficult to decipher the intent behind the words. And I'd guess more than half of the users are violating the regs. I agree the radios aren't hard to use, but it is still easy to use them in a way that's not allowed.

I don't need to explain nuthin'. OP is very anti-HAM.

Nagoya UT-72G mag mount: Nagoya UT-72G High Gain Magnet Mount GMRS Antenna (462-467 MHz) Nagoya 771G for attaching to radio in handheld carry mode also better than stock antenna: Authentic Nagoya NA-771G Handheld GMRS Antenna (15.3 Inch) (both also avail on Amazon if you want to support Bezos instead of a small business :) Amazon does offer free shipping but I like supporting the other guys)

But they're still receive only on those channels, right? (barring some unlock trick which breaks compliance).

Yes, it's that "designed" wording. There are other unrelated products that put an American flag on their package based on American design/engineering (or sometimes "assembled") but are made in China. Edit: Also see "American-owned" like that. It's all intended to make it seem better.

BTech has, at least in the past, had worse quality (or quality control) than Baofeng. BTech sold knock-offs that were responsible for many of the older bad reports for Baofeng radios. They were not made in America then AFAIK, don't know now because I won't buy one of their radios. The only one I ever got was an "8W" that only did the same 4.5W on 2m and 0.5W on 440 (paid double for less). Another similar brand I don't trust for radios is Abbree. These companies may improve over time but most start out selling unreliable junk. I may risk it for accessories like charging cables if there's no other vendor.

They've been introducing bills like this for many years. They never pass. Better to just not live in a HOA neighborhood.

Not specifically referencing power limits, but this is wording I got in a response from the folks in charge, if it helps: Handheld portables are a subset of mobile stations and must comply with any applicable mobile station requirements and any additional requirements for handheld portable units.

No, don't have one; seems way overpriced. BTWR has a Melowave NMO mag mount base with better quality cable. And they have a 6DB gain stacked 5/8 wave Tram antenna that should fit (no flex tab on antenna like I am used to but seems to mate OK). I just got both and so far have only tested the SWR (1.1:1) but haven't had time to test transmission or reception yet.

Why are individual Guests listed in Online Users? Most forums just list the count of guests. FWIW, the main reason for asking is it would be less to browse through if it was just members listed.

Well, I was looking forward to it at first, but even before I got all the gear I needed, I was told about the obscure limitation by omission that base stations aren't allowed to use repeaters. That mostly dulled my interest for now due to lack of mobile-ing around but maybe your interests/needs are different. I agree the licensed GMRS repeater users I hear are well behaved. I do hear foreign language users on the repeater outputs sometime but can't tell for sure that they are local on simplex. I rarely hear anyone on the shared FRS channels other than little giggly kids (I guess I should set tones to block those, or disable scanning). I may try shifting my interest in GMRS to some kind of neighborhood comms that don't need a repeater but would benefit from a base station. But that probably won't be used until the grid and regular comms are down long term. 2m isn't quite as dead here as it is for you. Hear more if you know when to listen rather than monitoring throughout the day. I think HAMs are making a mistake by veering off into so many different formats - 2m analog should be the focus. But heck, people don't even agree on what HAM's primary purpose is.

The "Licenses" section is not visible (to me, logged in or not) on other members' profiles. If you see it, I guess it's shown only to older long-term members.

I'm glad you distinguish 15W transmitter output from ERP. That is how I see it as well. That means the 6dbi antenna I got is good to use with up to 50W output (30 something more likely) because both of those items in 95.1767(a) are worded similarly. ?

But those are just what you and the other guys think it may mean. There is no authority to it. If FCC gave examples, then we'd have something. Yes, base station is the main concern because it's obvious mobile and handheld portable in normal operation are not fixed stations. And I had already come to that conclusion myself from reading the regs (if you want, look back where I said so and Sshannon asked me to explain that but I didn't bother). There are lots of places on the internet where guys are claiming base stations can't have more than 15W because of misinterpreting the rule for fixed stations. Amazon reviews is one place I saw recently, in the reviews or posted questions for a 20W mobile, somebody answered and told the prospective buyer he could not use it for a base station. These kinds of comments are common. So, yea, a 20W mobile is fine to set up as a base and if I get one I would probably swap back and forth between that and the vehicle. BUT!... This leads to another hitch which would be best handled in another thread, however with the reactions I've gotten here I doubt I will bother. If I'm overthinking it, it's my business and the rest of y'all here who aren't interested are free to ignore what I post. So far, I see a few users who dominate all the conversations here as if they are experts and they attack and criticize anybody who dares doubt their wisdom. Well, I won't even bother debating with them anymore. And if you want to continue criticizing how I think I'll treat you the same. Really, I don't even need this forum to just use the radios.

The main benefit in my experience (HAM not GMRS but doesn't matter) is that the tone allows someone to respond without letting the repeater drop every time. You still want to leave a gap every so often for others to join in, but don't necessarily need to do that after every short transmission. Actually, like I said above, it's more the opposite in my experience. It means you don't need to wait. I asked one repeater owner about why he had it setup to use a courtesy tone, and he confirmed it was to allow transmit without letting the repeater drop to keep the repeater from cycling on and off so much.

Nobody has actually said anything meaningful. I already knew what the regs said. And all these nutty opinions people post on here mean nothing. The title and original post were what does it mean to FCC, not what Joe Blow thinks it means. But if everybody will leave it alone I will too because it's clear nobody knows.

The question is valid, and still unanswered. Anybody who can't respond seriously goes on ignore.