Mr

[Guest Tedgrener]

Sometimes I hear Morse code from repeater that I have tuned to. Is this an identifier for the repeater or does it signify something else. Thanks in advance!

[WRTC928]

There's no way to know for sure without more information, but some repeaters do use Morse code to identify.

[OffRoaderX]

2 hours ago, Guest Tedgrener said:

Is this an identifier for the repeater

Yes, with a probability of 97%

[nokones]

1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

There's no way to know for sure without more information, but some repeaters do use Morse code to identify.

And some use recorded audio

[RayDiddio]

11 hours ago, nokones said:

And some use recorded audio

And some use both! 

[RayDiddio]

13 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

Yes, with a probability of 97%

You leave your expert opinions out of this! 

[Northcutt114]

Is there a reason that one would choose to do this? Morse Code, in 2025?

[amaff]

19 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

Is there a reason that one would choose to do this? Morse Code, in 2025?

There are still hams mad that CW isn't required anymore to get your license, so.....

[SteveShannon]

54 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

Is there a reason that one would choose to do this? Morse Code, in 2025?

Many repeaters have the ability built in so it’s fairly easy to configure.  Sometimes (especially on digital repeaters in ham radio) the Morse Code ID is sent without CTCSS tones, so anyone who uses a receiver tone do not even hear the repeater ID.

Personally, I prefer a repeater that IDs using a voice ID because I still haven’t trained myself to copy CW, but as long as the FCC allows Morse code to be used it will be.

[dosw]

18 hours ago, Guest Tedgrener said:

Sometimes I hear Morse code from repeater that I have tuned to. Is this an identifier for the repeater or does it signify something else. Thanks in advance!

It's the repeater identifying the license under which it operates. At least that's by far the most common reason you would hear Morse code on a GMRS repeater, and the only Morse I've ever heard on a GMRS repeater.

In Amateur radio you may hear CW (Morse) beacons which send out a call sign plus location and power information; CW for realtime communications; Morse identifiers on 2m or 70cm repeaters, so many other use cases. But for GMRS is nearly always just a repeater identifying by the license of its owner.

Here's how you can know, though:

1. Record the transmission: Use a VOX recorder plugged into your radio, or plug your radio into your computer and record with Audacity or some other recording software, or use an SDR and SDR software with recording capabilities.
2. Trim down to the relevant section of the recording using Audacity or some other software.
3. Reduce noise using Audacity or some other software.
4. Upload to one of many websites that will transform audio samples of Morse code into plain text.
5. Once you see that it's a call-sign, use the FCC tool to look up the call sign's owner, if interested.

The whole process takes just a few minutes and can be kind of fun to work through once or twice.