Any suggestions for a Highway Channel???

[russwbrill]

Sigh, what was I thinking...

[Jones]

The long recognized GMRS "Travel Channel" is 462.675 with a CTCSS Tone of 141.3Hz.

 

On a Midland MicroMobile, that would be channel 20 with a "Privacy Code" of 22.

[Extreme]

Why not just set the radio to "SCAN"?

[marcspaz]

Why not just set the radio to "SCAN"?

There is something called the Open Repeater Initiative or OPI. It uses 462.675 with a CTCSS Tone of 141.3Hz. The frequency was selected by a group of Repeater owners who wanted to create a standard for travelers to be able to have easy access to repeater while on the road, without having to search for a repeater or ask for permission to use it. The 141.3 tone was also selected as the "travel tone" standard.

 

Scanning the frequencies is okay, but you may only talk for a couple of miles. Using open repeaters with "traveler" settings gives you a chance to reach the greatest number of operators for more distance and time.

[Ian]

"Breaker one-niner!"

 

But yeah, when I'm between cities, I do 20-22 as well.  ORI where I can find it, and I welcome the chatter.

[Jones]

Once again, for some reason the original post has been edited, but in this case, the subject line sums up the original question, and several posts agreed on a valid answer.

 

There is already a well established "Highway" or "Travel Channel" for GMRS, and it is 462.675 with a CTCSS Tone of 141.3Hz.

 

Again, on a Midland MicroMobile, (and many other GMRS or Combo radios) that would be channel 20 with a "Privacy Code" of 22. (However, check your radio's owner's manual for the privacy or quiet code that matches 141.3 Hz.  Not all radios are mapped the same for these codes.)

 

This frequency can be used in repeater mode, or simplex if a repeater is not available in the area.

 

...and if you don't want to miss any possible action, then use WRAF233's suggestion, and just set the radio to "SCAN".

 

Also of note, just yesterday, I was traveling on US HWY 81 in North Central Kansas, and heard 2 truckers using channel 20-22.

[Coffeemaker]

Isn't this the best GMRS Forum on the interwebs?  Why don't we just pick a non-repeater channel and promote it?  I'd recommend Channel 5, 462.6625 MHz, without a squelch code.  It's mid band, FRS accessible, and 5 watts allowed.  At 5 watts we'd have CB like range,but clearer voice.  This would prevent interference with repeater traffic that is substantially "local". 

[Lscott]

https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/1847-any-suggestions-for-a-highway-channel/

 

[Coffeemaker]

Ha! Did you just link to this same thread? 

[Lscott]

Yup. The question was already answered. If there is going to be a standard highway/road channel, where one has been proposed and used for a while, we should stick with it. Trying to establish another one just confuses people and likely guarantees nether get used much. Unless there is a very good reason to change it I don’t see the point trying to establish something different.

[WQBI410]

I would go with 462.6375 as it is exactly middle of the band.

[wayoverthere]

On 8/29/2021 at 8:45 AM, Lscott said:

Yup. The question was already answered. If there is going to be a standard highway/road channel, where one has been proposed and used for a while, we should stick with it. Trying to establish another one just confuses people and likely guarantees nether get used much. Unless there is a very good reason to change it I don’t see the point trying to establish something different.

The overlap between simplex and repeater could be a good thing if you're using a "highway channel" for max range, as anyone tuning in for this will hear both the repeaters and the simplex calls. Another plus of .675 is higher power vs 5 watts on the 462 interstitials.