Repeater network navigation

[207]

Hey y'all I'm about 48 hours fresh into my GMRS license so please bear with me as I likely touch the third rail. Although I plan on spending 90% of my time on simplex there's a few spots in my area where I'll be graciously utilizing my local repeater. Within my short time with a license I've discovered that several of my states largest repeaters are connected. Double edged sword because I've actually chatted up a bunch of people all over my fairly gigantic state today. It's been pretty awesome, really nice people and I could totally see myself nerding out on the network. The other side of that sword is that I've read over and over again that GMRS traffic is slow to non existent these days. Not that I was happy about that, but as I was looking to mostly try and communicate with my wife and daughter a handful of times a week with this that actually sounded kind of nice as that was a chunk of the appeal to the whole family license. It's not that either of them would mind as everyone I've heard on the radio has been nothing but polite and G rated, but then I also don't want to be ruining other people's good times with my seven year old checking in with me here and there. 

So tl;dr the entire state network is awesome but now I feel like using a local repeater feels a lot less local. Trying to be vague as I'm certainly not looking to put a spotlight on any particular area but just wanted to see what the thoughts were amongst the crowd here. I've been lurking for a couple months and the community seems awesome so thought I'd seek opinions. 

PS, I'm obviously really green in this space so please fill in the likely canyon-sized holes in my knowledge if I'm missing something. I have transmit and receive tones of my local repeater programmed but still get everyone. 

[SteveShannon]

Welcome. Sounds like you’re doing everything right. 

[WRUE951]

personally, I don't use networked repeaters.. Although i've had plenty of opportunity as there are quite a few out there, I shy from the practice because its not legal.  

[UncleYoda]

13 hours ago, 207 said:

So tl;dr ... canyon-sized holes

Welcome, but what question are you asking?  (even your tl;dr didn't make it clear)

[207]

Well I suppose it was two questions, first being how big of a deal it is if my kid is talking back and forth with me on this repeater network and second would be if there's a way to limit my transmissions to just the local repeater and not get and receive everything from the rest of the network. I have both send and receive ctcss codes to that local repeater but that doesn't seem to limit anything. 

[SteveShannon]

40 minutes ago, 207 said:

Well I suppose it was two questions, first being how big of a deal it is if my kid is talking back and forth with me on this repeater network and second would be if there's a way to limit my transmissions to just the local repeater and not get and receive everything from the rest of the network. I have both send and receive ctcss codes to that local repeater but that doesn't seem to limit anything. 

Regulations permit your child to use your GMRS radio including talking on the repeater. Anything other than that would be the personal preferences of the repeater owner.

If the repeater is linked to other repeaters you’re stuck hearing the link traffic.

[amaff]

41 minutes ago, 207 said:

first being how big of a deal it is if my kid is talking back and forth with me on this repeater network 

Regulations wise? So long as they're not doing anything else wrong, no problem. As far as the owners of the network are concerned? You'd have to read into it / talk to them about it. I've seen all sorts of weird rules for 'mah repeatah!!!!'

41 minutes ago, 207 said:

second would be if there's a way to limit my transmissions to just the local repeater and not get and receive everything from the rest of the network.

Nope. Generally, the 'rebroadcasting to the network' part doesn't happen on your radio's end, but on the linked repeater end. 

 

 

 

[Northcutt114]

2 hours ago, 207 said:

Well I suppose it was two questions, first being how big of a deal it is if my kid is talking back and forth with me on this repeater network and second would be if there's a way to limit my transmissions to just the local repeater and not get and receive everything from the rest of the network. I have both send and receive ctcss codes to that local repeater but that doesn't seem to limit anything. 

To your first question, that would depend entirely on the person on whose repeater you are speaking. With the GMRS license, your whole family is allowed to use the radio. I think you are correct in wondering about the rest of the users wanting/not wanting to hear you and your daughter talk. It is a courteous thought. My advise would be to key up and ask when you hear traffic. Make sure your daughter knows basic radio etiquette see how it goes. I routinely speak with my daughters but we use simplex and tones to ensure they don't hear any untoward traffic that may be out there.

To your second question, short answer is "no." There's not a way to filter incoming RX from the repeater. In for a penny, in for a pound, so to speak.