Net Control = Control Station?

[UncleYoda]

The way I learned it in ham, no.  And I know those advocating anyone who talks on a repeater is a control station in GMRS would consider it obvious.  But from those who don't think just talking makes you a control station, what do you think?  And for context, assume the net controller is not the repeater owner, is not located physically at the repeater, and has not been given codes to control the repeater remotely.  And that is probably the most common situation for the nets around me.

It's been a busy day for me and I've had it for tonight.  "I'll be back" as Arnold said, to see what y'all think tomorrow.

[WRXB215]

No, net control is not a control station.

[LeoG]

In order to be a control station it must be a fixed transmitter at 15 watts or less.  Usually fixed meaning it only communicates with another fixed station.

As soon as the net controller responds to others on the repeater he's not following fixed station etiquette and not a controller.

[BoxCar]

11 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

The way I learned it in ham, no.  And I know those advocating anyone who talks on a repeater is a control station in GMRS would consider it obvious.  But from those who don't think just talking makes you a control station, what do you think?  And for context, assume the net cont. roller is not the repeater owner, is not located physically at the repeater, and has not been given codes to control the repeater remotely.  And that is probably the most common situation for the nets around me.

It's been a busy day for me and I've had it for tonight.  "I'll be back" as Arnold said, to see what y'all think tomorrow.

Look at this:

The FCC defines "Control Station" in the context of radio services, particularly under Part 95 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. While the term isn't always explicitly defined in every radio service, here's how it's generally understood:

FCC Definition (Part 95 Context)

A Control Station typically refers to: l l

• A fixed location station that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations.
• It may also serve as the central point of control for a system of cooperating stations, such as in repeater or auxiliary setups.

In amateur radio (Part 97), related terms include:

• Control Operator: The person responsible for ensuring the station complies with FCC rules.
• Control Point: The location at which the control operator exercises control over the station.
• Remote Control: Operation of a station from a distance via a control link, still under the supervision of a control operator.

You can explore the full regulatory definitions in 47 CFR § 97.3.

[SteveShannon]

10 minutes ago, LeoG said:

In order to be a control station it must be a fixed transmitter at 15 watts or less.  Usually fixed meaning it only communicates with another fixed station.

As soon as the net controller responds to others on the repeater he's not following fixed station etiquette and not a controller.

Don’t confuse Fixed Station with fixed location.  A Fixed Station is not the same as a Control Station. Nor is a Fixed Station the same as a Base Station.  All three are located in “fixed locations” but all three serve different purposes and have different limitations. A Fixed Station is limited to 15 watts and is required to only communicate with other Fixed Stations. Base Stations and Control Stations may have 50 watts and are used to communicate with other types of stations. 

[BoxCar]

2 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Don’t confuse Fixed Station with fixed location.  A Fixed Station is not the same as a Control Station. Nor is a Fixed Station the same as a Base Station.  All three are located in “fixed locations” but all three serve different purposes and have different limitations. A Fixed Station is limited to 15 watts and is required to only communicate with other Fixed Stations. Base Stations and Control Stations may have 50 watts and are used to communicate with other types of stations. 

Yes. It's best to think of fixed stations as transmitters permanently attached to a fixed pad firmly attached to the ground under them. They are used to send information from one permanent location to another station meeting the same mounting requirements. The best example for the simpletons is a radio transmitter connected to a gauge monitoring liquid levels or pressure at one location sending to a receiver at another permanent location that receives only the information from the sending unit of the pair.

[LeoG]

21 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Don’t confuse Fixed Station with fixed location.  A Fixed Station is not the same as a Control Station. Nor is a Fixed Station the same as a Base Station.  All three are located in “fixed locations” but all three serve different purposes and have different limitations. A Fixed Station is limited to 15 watts and is required to only communicate with other Fixed Stations. Base Stations and Control Stations may have 50 watts and are used to communicate with other types of stations. 

I'm seeing that after reading what Boxcar posted.

[SteveShannon]

10 minutes ago, BoxCar said:

Yes. It's best to think of fixed stations as transmitters permanently attached to a fixed pad firmly attached to the ground under them. They are used to send information from one permanent location to another station meeting the same mounting requirements. The best example for the simpletons is a radio transmitter connected to a gauge monitoring liquid levels or pressure at one location sending to a receiver at another permanent location that receives only the information from the sending unit of the pair.

That’s a great example. Another example would be dedicated intercoms between two or three buildings.

[UncleYoda]

4 hours ago, LeoG said:

In order to be a control station it must be a fixed transmitter at 15 watts or less.  Usually fixed meaning it only communicates with another fixed station.

As soon as the net controller responds to others on the repeater he's not following fixed station etiquette and not a controller.

You really have that mixed up.  Fixed station has nothing to do with this.

[UncleYoda]

4 hours ago, BoxCar said:

Yes. It's best to think of fixed stations as transmitters permanently attached to a fixed pad firmly attached to the ground under them. They are used to send information from one permanent location to another station meeting the same mounting requirements. The best example for the simpletons is a radio transmitter connected to a gauge monitoring liquid levels or pressure at one location sending to a receiver at another permanent location that receives only the information from the sending unit of the pair.

That doesn't match what FCC said.  (I put that in another thread.)  They specifically said "any station..." without qualifying it except for the specific fixed station limitations.  So IMO a base setup definitely fits when it follows the fixed station rules.   [And that's not what this topic/thread is about anyway.]

[BoxCar]

2 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

That doesn't match what FCC said.  (I put that in another thread.)  They specifically said "any station..." without qualifying it except for the specific fixed station limitations.  So IMO a base setup definitely fits when it follows the fixed station rules.   [And that's not what this topic/thread is about anyway.]

Show me a GMRS base station. One that is manufactured to fit the qualifications of a true base station, not cobbled together from a portable or mobile transceiver and power supply. The only units I can see that approximate the requirements of being in a fixed location are repeaters however, they fail the "communicates only with other fixed stations" prong of the FCC definition.

[UncleYoda]

1 hour ago, BoxCar said:

Show me a GMRS base station.

Well, I'm not doing show and tell.  You are wrong about the equipment.  It does not have to be a desktop type rig, i.e. a true base radio; mobiles and handhelds in a house, garage, radio shack, office, etc. with an external antenna on a pole, roof, chimney or in a tree are base stations.  That's what they mean by fixed location, and notice they always refer to base station not base radio.   My DB20G can be setup as base station, mobile station and portable station.  Even my UV5G can be a base station.