Newbie general question about joining the National GMRS weekly events

[jssimbulan]

New member here and beginner in GMRS. I live in Northern VA close to Warrenton and have no clue how to join in the weekly event conversations since the map doesn't have any repeaters I can hop on or join.

 

I appreciate any response

Thanks

Joe

WRKG795

[WRAK968]

Hello Joe, Welcome to MyGMRS

The regional/national nets which take place every Sunday are only accessible two ways. The first is through a repeater that is networked through the MyGMRS network, the other through a Zello node (only one I know of is the Bronx zoo repeater.) If you are interested in setting up your own local repeater on the MyGMRS network there are kits you can buy from MyGMRS.com, or if you wish you can buy everything separate and build your own kit. 
 

[jssimbulan]

Thanks for this info. I guess i'm one of the new guys who really need a repeater in my backyard.

 

Also checked the available repeaters in the store and it seems this is my only option for gmrs Retevis RT97 Portable GMRS Repeater 5W

Regular price$399.99 2 AVAILABLE

 

since the rest are not Part 95 approved

 

Any comment would be great

 

Thanks again

Joe

[gortex2]

A repeater will not get you into the net either although many that do tie in via repeater. 

 

Also as reference Warrenton did have a repeater (I used it in the past). If you look at the map and click outdated listings the info should come up. I doubt it is connected to any nets but may be wrong. 

 

I can say none of mine are connected to any network's.

[jssimbulan]

Thanks KB2ZTX

 

I did see that repeater in Warrenton and submitted a request twice also sent email to the owner but have yet to get a response. Since the site specified "permission required" not sure if he is also on the gmrs net. So I guess i'm out of luck to hop on where I'm at.

 

May I ask how are you getting conencted to the net is there special hardware or software I need. I have a Midland MXT400 with a 6db antenna as a base station. the last couple of days I am able to receive repeater traffic on channel 19 RX 462.6500 TX 467.6500 looking at the map even at repeaterbook and I dont see that repeater listed anywhere. Any help would be great

[WRAK968]

Thanks for this info. I guess i'm one of the new guys who really need a repeater in my backyard.

 

Also checked the available repeaters in the store and it seems this is my only option for gmrs Retevis RT97 Portable GMRS Repeater 5W

Regular price$399.99 2 AVAILABLE

 

since the rest are not Part 95 approved

 

Any comment would be great

 

Thanks again

Joe

As KB2ZTX mentioned the repeater alone will not get you into the net. You would also need one of these:

https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/repeaters-and-accessories/products/repeater-linking-bundle

 

This unit connects your repeater to the internet and into the GMRS server, allowing you to operate on the network. Due to simplex (radio to radio) operations not needing a license, Rich does not want simplex nodes being set up everywhere that anyone can tie into which is why you would be required to have a repeater.

 

As for repeaters themselves, I prefer the Motorola GR1225/RKR1225 (Its the same unit however the RKR1225 is rack mountable) They go for about $300 used and seem to work well. 100% duty cycle on low power (25W.) The nice part is that the bundle kit above is plug and play, order the maxtrac cable, plug it into the back of the radio and your done.

 

If your somewhat serious about setting up a local repeater for friends or family, get a BP/BR duplexer(another $300ish plus tuning), good feedline($40-100 depending on length), and a fair 460-470 antenna($150), and mount it as high as you can. You should get some good coverage given the terrain you have, looks nearly flat farmland from google earth.

 

Setting up a repeater is an expense, however if there are no linked repeaters, and very few operating repeaters around, it is an option to do if you have the time and money to put into it.

[jssimbulan]

That is awesome information KC2YQW I will definitely consider all of these. Hopefully I can build something that would be cost effective for me. My goal is to be able to hop on the net and also connect to family members that are about 30 miles away in all directions. I'm thinking setting up a repeater and just install my MXT400 in my truck since I have an MXT115 now and put it in my wife's SUV. Would need to figurre out a good antenna and longer cable and attach to my old exede dish on the roof

[WRAK968]

That is awesome information KC2YQW I will definitely consider all of these. Hopefully I can build something that would be cost effective for me. My goal is to be able to hop on the net and also connect to family members that are about 30 miles away in all directions. I'm thinking setting up a repeater and just install my MXT400 in my truck since I have an MXT115 now and put it in my wife's SUV. Would need to figurre out a good antenna and longer cable and attach to my old exede dish on the roof

well, 30 miles may be a bit of a stretch without a 100' tower, however on a 3 story building 8-10 miles can be easily reached. Rule of thumb is that each time you double antenna height you double range, however at lower heights, being able to get over trees and buildings and hills can sometimes tripple or quadruple your range.

 

On a good day, my repeater can be hit (though unreliably) and heard from about 45 miles away by friends down in cape may and wildwood, however has dead spots the closer you get to the repeater till about 6 miles away. Thats with the antenna only being 25-30 feet up.

[smalpierre]

One thing about the repeater - I'm not 100% sure how bad it'll be, but I'm setting one up now, and got LMR400 feedline for it. It's good coax - but for duplex operations (repeater) it can cause a lot of intermod, receive desense, and noise. It's supposedly beacuse of the braid / foil shield, dissimilar metals, or something? For repeaters real RG-214 is supposedly ok but you have to use silver plated connectors (no chrome or nickel)  and it's 5 bucks / foot. I'm looking now to see if somebodys got some hardline laying around from an upgrade of an installation or something. I think hardline is actually cheaper than the 214 ...

[piglet]

New member here and beginner in GMRS. I live in Northern VA close to Warrenton and have no clue how to join in the weekly event conversations since the map doesn't have any repeaters I can hop on or join.

 

I am a newbie too. Got my license and radio last month.

 

Just because the map does not have any repeaters in your area does not mean that they are not there. There are 14 repeaters in my end of the state that are not on the map. They are part of an organized club, and if you want access, you join the club and pay dues. Unfortunately for me, the club is run by a fudd who doesn't like my brand of radio and one of the rules of the club is you don't use that brand on the network.

 

Thanks for this info. I guess i'm one of the new guys who really need a repeater in my backyard.

 

Also checked the available repeaters in the store and it seems this is my only option for gmrs Retevis RT97 Portable GMRS Repeater 5W

Regular price$399.99 2 AVAILABLE

 

since the rest are not Part 95 approved

 

Setting up a repeater seems to be an expensive proposition, especially if you want any range. My understanding is that the single most critical success factor is the antenna and its height above the surrounding area. One of the open repeaters in my area is atop a 5 story hotel and gets a consistent 8 mile range in most directions.

 

You may want to consider the Wouxun KG 1000G, which has built in repeater function when you hook two up together with the repeater cable. It would probably make your life easier.