Open All GMRS to valid license holders

[jeff613]

Hi all,

 

I wanted to ask why it appears to be common practice to require a valid GMRS user to seek permission before using a GMRS repeater. When I obtained my Amateur Radio license, I was surprised that virtually all Amateur radio repeaters were open to properly licensed ham operators. 

 

On several occasions I have requested permission and have never heard back from the repeater operator. I don't use the repeater of course, but that experience makes me wonder why the person required someone to seek permission if they were not going to reply back. If an owner/operator has posted their information on www.myGMRS.com, then isn't implied they want to have their system used. It would be really nice to be able to look up and use a GMRS repeater without obtaining permission. I could then give my family GMRS radios to be able to communicate instead of cell phones. My family is not licensed Amateur Radio operators, so that is not an option for us.

 

One GMRS repeater in my area --- BART-R1, published on myGMRS, lists in the comment section: "As long as you have a valid GMRS license and ID every 15 minutes as required, you may use the system." This is good!

 

I wonder if making GMRS repeaters "open-systems" to licensed GMRS holders would help the GMRS community grow? Would a diminishing community cause the FCC to possibly put a target on the GMRS frequencies as a potential for reallocation? There is such a grab for spectrum these days, I wouldn't doubt it!

 

I know there are a lot of non-licensed GMRS frequency users out there and I am in no way defending or supporting their illegal use of  the frequencies. A non-licensed user wouldn't even know they were supposed to seek permission or probably wouldn't even care! 

 

 

Thank you for reading my post and any reply you might have.

 

 

WQSE362

KK6ILT

[zap]

If you look, there are open repeaters on the database. Many people leave 675 open nationwide with a 141.3 PL as it's a fairly common standard and open repeater. 

 

You're also not thinking about closed systems that get posted simply to show the pair is currently in use. It's a courtesy to those building repeaters in the area and shows them what splits and PL's they should avoid with their own repeaters.

[PastorGary]

One of the reasons that owners request permission of licensed users is to actually verify IF the license is active and to log the mailing address of the new user in case there are "issues" in the future. Another reason that goes along with this, is to provide a checks and balances system to keep private access code data private so it doesn't end up on the net where unlicensed hackers can get to it and create chaos,

[zap]

Unfortunately for GMRS…you can't rely on the honesty system like you can with amateur radio. Just a sad truth of GMRS.

[quarterwave]

I've operated a repeater for many years, but never publicized it because it was mostly family and we didn't want anyone else in the mix. I paid for it, so I get to say. In our area there are few to no real GMRS operators besides me/friends except for the occasional bubble packer that wanders on to the freq I use, of course we run DPL so we don't hear them. 

 

With that said, I do have an "open" repeater. I put up a lower powered unit on a different freq at the same site. I have it listed, and I too say open to all licensed users, follow all rules. It's doesn't ID on it's own, so it's up to them to use it right and ID. Not sure I have ever heard anyone use it. I do know a local rental yard runs simplex (illegally) on that freq and they don't like it when I am testing. LOL.

 

In area's of heavy use, I can see why people don't want to share an expensive repeater they want to use for them and their buddies. Nothing says they have to. But, I do think that if you have the means (a small repeater made from 2 mobiles is cheap) and there are lots of people using, put up a public machine too. 

 

As far as HAM goes, I know anyone can use the local (to me) clubs repeaters, but you are encouraged to join if you want to gab all the time. Back in the day, you had to join to get a DTMF code to use the autopatch. 

[JohnE]

I will second Quarterwave on this. I have 3 machines and have helped a few other do theirs and we all have significant $$$$ in them. our time, our money, our discretion, to be blunt about it.

if you read through the threads for my machines you will see i have shut mine several times for people "playing" w/them.

[Guest spd641]

I will concur with the illegal operation point and I hate to say but a local ham and radio shop owner installed GMRS in the tower climbers radios and the just happen to be in my area.I politely asked them to move off my repeater input frequency and they did.what I didn't know was this was the same person who owns the tower our amateur repeater gear is located at.

 

I was kind of taken back why another ham would do this knowing it was illegal to begin with and he also called me and said they got on your repeater input didn't they.He knew I had a GMRS repeater installed so why he did it who knows but I am like the rest of you.I think if you want to have a repeater for family use that is quite alright.

 

I also have a few spare GE Mastr II repeater sitting idle right now and a spare duplexer so for around the cost of the icoms to go in those and some buddy to tune the duplexer I could be on the air with it at full legal limit.I already have a repeater controller with multiple pl/dpl capabilities which would be a waste on amateur so I would be set for under $100.00.Step 2 would be what location to put it in....William

[zap]

I will concur with the illegal operation point and I hate to say but a local ham and radio shop owner installed GMRS in the tower climbers radios and the just happen to be in my area.I politely asked them to move off my repeater input frequency and they did.what I didn't know was this was the same person who owns the tower our amateur repeater gear is located at.

 

I was kind of taken back why another ham would do this knowing it was illegal to begin with and he also called me and said they got on your repeater input didn't they.He knew I had a GMRS repeater installed so why he did it who knows but I am like the rest of you.I think if you want to have a repeater for family use that is quite alright.

 

I also have a few spare GE Mastr II repeater sitting idle right now and a spare duplexer so for around the cost of the icoms to go in those and some buddy to tune the duplexer I could be on the air with it at full legal limit.I already have a repeater controller with multiple pl/dpl capabilities which would be a waste on amateur so I would be set for under $100.00.Step 2 would be what location to put it in....William

Sounds like an old com-spec pl board I found in a junk like (that works) that I'm probably going to interface to a Micor I'm putting up at a friends farm so him and his family can have a business like radio system.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WQPE714]

I've operated a repeater for many years, but never publicized it because it was mostly family and we didn't want anyone else in the mix. I paid for it, so I get to say. In our area there are few to no real GMRS operators besides me/friends except for the occasional bubble packer that wanders on to the freq I use, of course we run DPL so we don't hear them. 

 

With that said, I do have an "open" repeater. I put up a lower powered unit on a different freq at the same site. I have it listed, and I too say open to all licensed users, follow all rules. It's doesn't ID on it's own, so it's up to them to use it right and ID. Not sure I have ever heard anyone use it. I do know a local rental yard runs simplex (illegally) on that freq and they don't like it when I am testing. LOL.

 

In area's of heavy use, I can see why people don't want to share an expensive repeater they want to use for them and their buddies. Nothing says they have to. But, I do think that if you have the means (a small repeater made from 2 mobiles is cheap) and there are lots of people using, put up a public machine too. 

 

As far as HAM goes, I know anyone can use the local (to me) clubs repeaters, but you are encouraged to join if you want to gab all the time. Back in the day, you had to join to get a DTMF code to use the autopatch.

 

Bubble packers out here drive me crazy, I always here someone on 15 or 16 shopping for groceries at least until the repeater starts keying over them when someone uses it.