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Another nub... how to ID random repeaters?


scootle

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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!

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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!  :D

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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