GMRS repeaters

[Guest yooper]

Sorry for all the questions, this is my second question on the gest forum. I have a 20 watt GMRS radio set up at my home I use mostly for scanning the surrounding area. I'm not someone who talks a lot, I like to listen and build antennas for something to do in retirement.

This is my question: GMRS channels 1 through 7 are five watts. Channels 8 through 14 are 0.5 watts, and 15 through 22 are 50 watts max output. Channels 15 through 22 are repeater channels. 

I keep receiving transmissions on channel 4 that show it's a repeater somewhere in my area. The signal is week, 2 bars on the tower reception, I'm thinking it's a ways away. Am I missing something here? Is channel 4 a repeater channel? Is there a unregistered repeater I'm receiving? Is there a city,town, municipality using GMRS?  Sometimes it sounds like some type of government organization using the repeater on channel 4.

Thanks, red neck yooper

[amaff]

1 hour ago, Guest yooper said:

I keep receiving transmissions on channel 4 that show it's a repeater somewhere in my area. The signal is week, 2 bars on the tower reception, I'm thinking it's a ways away. Am I missing something here? Is channel 4 a repeater channel? Is there a unregistered repeater I'm receiving? Is there a city,town, municipality using GMRS?  Sometimes it sounds like some type of government organization using the repeater on channel 4.

 

1. What do you mean it 'shows' that it's a repeater?
2. Municipalities have on occasion stepped on GMRS channels. I think we've had a couple stories of fire departments on here in the last couple years.

But without, just, SO much more info, I'm not sure we can diagnose it for you.

Is Channel 4 a GMRS repeater channel?
No.
Is there much (other than the FCC rules...) stopping someone from setting up a repeater and using it on Channel 4?
Also no.

[WSAA635]

Depending on the radio you have either Channels 23-30 are Repeater Channels OR RPT 15 thru RPT 22 are Repeater Channels. After GMRS 22 the next 8 Channels, no matter how they're labeled are supposed to be the Repeater Channels.  

[AdmiralCochrane]

In the stone age, there were GMRS business licenses. You could be receiving data being transmitted by a grandfathered business licensee.

[WRUE951]

how do you know or what makes you think what you are hearing on ch 4 is a repeater?

[OffRoaderX]

3 hours ago, Guest yooper said:

I keep receiving transmissions on channel 4 that show it's a repeater somewhere in my area.

This is the part that everyone wants an answer to, because it makes zero sense.