scootle Posted August 14, 2019 Report Posted August 14, 2019 Hi all,Another nub here absorbing info about how to best utilize local GMRS resources. One thing I've noticed in my area is that I can hear certain repeaters (I assume that's what they are) issuing their FCC ID broadcasts every 10-15 minutes as they are mandated to do... however, they seem to mostly broadcast these ID messages in CW, which a layperson like myself could never hope to decode on the fly.Are there tools available to help real-time decode these transmissions so we can ID which repeater we are hearing? I've resorted to just noting the output frequency on the scanner and then cross-referencing the myGMRS map to see what the likely candidates might be, but this doesn't seem optimal. Thanks! Quote
kidphc Posted August 14, 2019 Report Posted August 14, 2019 There are apps that will decode CW for you. Quote
scootle Posted August 14, 2019 Author Report Posted August 14, 2019 There are apps that will decode CW for you. I looked, none seemed to do it real-time from an audio recording. These IDs are broadcast pretty fast for untrained human ears. All that I tried seem to be "translators" that you have to enter the morse manually (seem like they are more intended as CW study aids). If there are recommended apps for this, please do tell! Quote
WRAK968 Posted August 14, 2019 Report Posted August 14, 2019 fldigi can, itll use the computers mic to listen. just set it for cw scootle 1 Quote
deanq Posted August 15, 2019 Report Posted August 15, 2019 Hi all,One thing I've noticed in my area is that I can hear certain repeaters (I assume that's what they are) issuing their FCC ID broadcasts every 10-15 minutes as they are mandated to do... Are you sure your listening to GMRS repeaters? There is no requirement for GMRS repeaters to ID. They "can" ID, but aren't required to. You may be hearing an amateur radio or commercial repeater. You may want to verify the frequency your listening to. Quote
iadams Posted August 15, 2019 Report Posted August 15, 2019 Are you sure your listening to GMRS repeaters? There is no requirement for GMRS repeaters to ID. They "can" ID, but aren't required to. You may be hearing an amateur radio or commercial repeater. You may want to verify the frequency your listening to. It must not be uncommon. I can hear a repeater in Maryland and one in Pennsylvania and both of them ID a few time per day in fast CW. Definitely GMRS repeaters - especially since I hear people talk on them IDing with GMRS call signs. scootle 1 Quote
scootle Posted August 16, 2019 Author Report Posted August 16, 2019 Are you sure your listening to GMRS repeaters? There is no requirement for GMRS repeaters to ID. They "can" ID, but aren't required to. You may be hearing an amateur radio or commercial repeater. You may want to verify the frequency your listening to. These are most definitely on GMRS frequencies. I set up my scanner specifically to see what was alive at my location on GMRS frequencies and accessible signal-wise. Quote
OffRoaderX Posted August 16, 2019 Report Posted August 16, 2019 All the GMRS repeaters (both of them) in my area do station ID's .. one in CW .. Quote
WRAK968 Posted August 16, 2019 Report Posted August 16, 2019 I think what Dean means is that GMRS repeaters are not Required to ID, only the users are. That said, many will ID as a form a courtesy should there be an issue with the repeater itself or if there is interference with another repeater. By having the repeater ID the owners callsign, its easy to notify the owner when there's something wrong, or just to ask for permission to use the repeater. It also cuts down the possibility of someone who doesn't own the repeater trying to charge for access (Had someone do that. When they demanded I pay for my own repeater, I simply disabled the repeater for a few minutes until they got the idea who really ran the system. scootle 1 Quote
scootle Posted August 20, 2019 Author Report Posted August 20, 2019 Are you sure your listening to GMRS repeaters? There is no requirement for GMRS repeaters to ID. They "can" ID, but aren't required to. You may be hearing an amateur radio or commercial repeater. You may want to verify the frequency your listening to. So, I guess this is actually covered in Part 95... §95.1751 GMRS station identification. ... (c ) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if: (1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and, (2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section. Seems like transmitting station ID is the only way to avoid being held as the individual license for all transmissions (presumably from public users, who aren't eligible as "family"), right? It's not required, but it would seem prudent for any repeater open to the public since ( c)(2) is dependent upon the public being licensed and follow the rules, yadda yadda. BoxCar 1 Quote
kidphc Posted August 20, 2019 Report Posted August 20, 2019 Found a real time CW decoder that can do it off of audio, in this months QST magazine. I don't think you want to spend a $100 +shipping for a decoder though. Quote
n4gix Posted August 20, 2019 Report Posted August 20, 2019 It's not required, but it would seem prudent for any repeater open to the public since ( c)(2) is dependent upon the public being licensed and follow the rules, yadda yadda.That is indeed why many GMRS repeater owners setup to send the CW ID every 15 minutes. It's called "self-protection"... scootle 1 Quote
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