UncleYoda

The channels function independently. The repeater channel has a 5MHz offset programmed in for the transmit frequency. So if both your display channels are set to the same receive frequency, the radio could receive on either one. If the repeater transmits an output tone, you can optionally set a receive tone to know when you're receiving from the repeater.

You could try Baofeng K5+ ... they seem very close and it is 10W tri-power, aircraft ban RX. I can't tell what if anything is different. The extra battery being sold for AR fits them both. It has 5RM as part of the ID #s on the inside back label. https://www.baofengradio.com/pages/download

I don't know who he is, but... President Trump Announces Brendan Carr as Chairman of the FCC: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/president-trump-announces-brendan-carr-as-chairman-fcc/

It has some issues you should be aware of. The BTWR owner would not post my review where I explained all this. When setting tones or just changing channels, holding down the arrow keys does not work to cycle through like it does on every other radio I have. Starting a scan takes 3 button presses instead of holding down one button. The channel numbers on the right are really small - I need high magnification glasses to read the chanel numbers. The extra info across the top is tiny too but that is less important usually than channel number. The mic port went bad on mine in less than a year. I usually listen on earphones with a mic button; the speaker port still works and I can still talk by using the PTT button as I would without the earphones. Not a big deal but I expected better quality from TYT since my 12 yr old UV5Rs never went bad. It does receive well, better than the newer UV5Rs which have somehow been modified to not pick up weak signals as well as the older ones did. Transmission sound is good too. I believe it's supposed to be good as far as harmonics but I can't test. One feature I like is the screen backlight can be set to stay on - I hate radios that go dark just to save battery power, I want to see that my radio is on and be able to glance at the screen. I leave mine on 3, the middle setting, brightest is too bright and dimmest is too dim. The battery eliminator which I got started having problems - somewhere inside or in the cord there is a loose connection. I use battery eliminators indoors whenever I can. Other people may not care. And I've only had this one so I don't know if it's a common problem. The battery release, on the bottom, is really hard for me to operate. It's a good, mostly well built HT. But overall I was not impressed enough to buy more. As it ships (AT LEAST WHEN I GOT MINE), VFO mode is locked out, which is ridiculous for a ham radio (but common in Part 90 radios). The key sequence for unlocking VFO is posted on the BTWR site.

REACT HQ would not even give me a contact for my state

We don't have one group hogging everything, but all the frequencies are in use or at least claimed except maybe the 550 (off-air but still listed). I'm not sure what the best choice is for the next one to be put up. Is that private 600 one ever used or are they just camping on the frequency?

Yes, the main reason given was the risks. It's a typical attitude for emergency management people; they think we're incapable of doing basic things everyone can do. A 911 dispatcher told me that same kind of thing - getting in the way or needing to be rescued - when I was a volunteer. But people don't need FEMA cousres, Red Cross courses, or an AUXCOMM approval to do basic shit that we've all done when needed. [There is possibly something much worse than this happening but it's not verifiable with reliable sources yet, so I prefer to hold off on discussing it. It isn't radio related anyway, but like always ham (and GMRS) operators could help spread the word when MSM doesn't cover it.]

Which repeater(s) do you monitor most? And later, if they're in range for me (Gilbert and Batesburg-Leesvile is not the best direction for me), it would help to get your callsign to know I'm talking to the right person - PM me that later if you are OK with that. Based on what I learned about Andy's location, it will be difficult for me to make contact with him. I'm not sure if I understood. Is that private VHF repeater you want to put up for SCSG and CERT a different effort from this GMRS repeater you're looking into? Would the GMRS repeater be open?

It would've been helpful to say that up front. Since you're down that low, there's nothing we can do to help. If you get to a high spot in that area, you'd probably be in range of 625 from high ground. And Hopkins 675 may line up well with the downstream river valley. Even 650 maybe, although it depends on exact line to the repeater. But from down in a hole, all you can do well is sky reflection, meaning HF ham.

A beam type directional antenna would be best if Gilbert is your main focus. "Yagi" is a common beam type but not the only one. A yagi for GMRS does not need to be big. I know guys in HOAs use attic antennas, but if performance is an issue, you want an outdoor antenna as high as you can manage (with good coax). Your numbers for elevation look off. Lake level full pool is 360. The sandhill ridge is around 500. You should be in between those.

I'll let him explain if he wants to. The details he's leaving out do matter. But he asked for a video to watch and that is different than asking for advice.

Amp would not be a good idea where he has the antenna (too much RF exposure).

Yea I have one. I've left it in GMRS mode so far. Having to redo the channels each time is why I'm not eager to switch back and forth. The other thing they could've designed better is allowing more channels to be programmed for TX.

Has there ever been a case of being fined, warned or whatever FCC does for using a ham radio for GMRS where POWER and BANDWIDTH were correct?

As far as I know, there is no oversight. FCC has a minimum membership number, as I recall, for ham club call signs. But GMRS uses an individual's ID. So, unless someone says otherwise, anyone can start a club just by saying so. Tower owners may have their own requirement, however, and I'm not going to speculate on that. Max probably knows more about that. Another possibility is an existing club centered farther away expanding its coverage into Lexington and surrounding counties. Less administrative overhead that way. As far as not getting a reply on the Gilbert repeater, that's probably due to reduced activity without the links. I can listen if you let me know when you're testing it. I can't transmit back though so I would have to post here or something. I could reply on one of the ham repeaters though - you can listen without a license. Or just wait for Max to help you test.

I don't know of a GMRS club specifically for Lexington. The CSRA club includes the members-only Columbia and Gilbert repeaters and does have members from the area ($30/yr). There are ham clubs in Lexington that could, if they wanted to, also support a GMRS repeater. I'm not in Lexington Co. (close though) and what I can reach there depends on the details. I think it might be better to accept members beyond that one county if they are in the coverage area. There are some issues I would need to discuss before I would participate in a club. But that would need to be discussed elsewhere.

@MaxHeadroom ETV's ham activity is mostly coordinated through SCHEART, now even including the unlinked 210 repeater. I hope you don't get them involved; that would kill any interest I might have, assuming I could even reach what you put up.. I left SCSG long ago. And I checked on CERT and decided not to bother. I just want to stay an independent radio operator and make my own decisions; we should be able to have comms without having bosses.

Use Ignored users in your account name menu. If there is a simple one-click button I don't see it either.

I knew the callsign changed but I didn't know it was moved. The repeater listing (RB) still says 350 Feet Ant. Height I'll try listening again [yep, digital still there, can block w/ tone but I didn't want a tone on simplex channel]. He's still fighting the burper though.

Yea, I doubt if 550 is on-air; I should remove it from my list and reset my radios. I am not familiar with a 650 in Leesville.

I'm hearing digital on 725 now so I can't stand to monitor it anymore. It does have good coverage but he needs to kill that linking once and for all. That would work the best for me but it being closed off to new members is what kept me from getting GMRS license 10 years earlier. How far up the lake? There is still the 550 on the Lexington side of the dam right? And 625 on the Ballentine side should cover the lower half of the lake on the water and waterfront (and the owner is friendly). And there's a 575 in Batesburg-Leesville but it's not open. If you could get approval (big if), putting it on the same tower as the 147.000 would be my best suggestion.

I know the one Andy's referring to. It is the one that's linked nationally (and was the focus of my Linking is back thread before it got derailed with "meaningless jibber jabber").

The ham coordination is being covered on the Mt. Mitchell repeater. These websites are supposed to be updated with current needs: projecthelene.org (doesn't appear to have as much detail as it once did) wethepeoplemission.us (Avery Co airport group that also covers Yancey and Mitchell) From what I can remember Avery Co. airport mostly needs people to do chores at the distribution site. Last I heard they don't want any more water. They were looking for chainsaws and people that know how to use them but that may be old news now. They lock the gate at 9pm so if you arrive later you have to camp outside the gate.

No, you're mixing up the process. The state did not try to regulate ham radio, at least not in any enforced way. They told ham operators, in particular the net control who went along with their approach, that hams or other individuals listening should not be doing the actual on-the-ground welfare checks. They said to refer the requests to the central state NIMS position which in this case was AUXCOMM and they would follow up at the appropriate time after search and rescue phase was completed. But they were not doing anything with them right away. It was a very poor, short-sighted approach since doing the checks quickly could save lives.

You might get a better response by asking something specific. Don't be like that other guy who kept posting his ID and never said anything meaningful. I listen to the local repeaters sometimes but don't talk on them.