Now What?

[bmalone667]

Hi all, I just paid my money and got my GMRS lic yesterday.  So now I've got my lic. I've got my radio.  So the question I've got is now what?  The reason I went ahead and did all this is my brother's family and mine are going on a cruise in a couple of months.  I though the radios would be good for the trip.  But I've got a new toy and wanna play .  Any suggestions?

[PastorGary]

Hello, Bryan and welcome to MyGMRS forums.

 

You mentioned that you have a radio... can you tell us what it is so we can give you some pointers or suggestions?

 

Also, you may wish to check with the Cruise Line ahead of time because some companies do not allow two way radios of any kind on board their ships due to potential interference with their own navigation equipment and their own business radios.  Other companies are OK with it and even rent FRS radios to passengers through the on-board store.  However, if you try inside deck to deck comm's, the steel and aluminum structure of the ship may limit distance.

[bmalone667]

I got myself a BAOFENG UV-82 cause I plan on eventually getting my tech ham lic.  But for the rest of the family I got 888s that I've used CHIRP to program with tsql to help filter things.  I had thought about the radios but I'm told that Carnival hasn't any issues with them.

[ark8080]

Hi. I am new here too. I have a Motorola MR350R. It does have GMRS. But, can I use it with repeaters? I have a repeater in my area which has Output freq 462.675MHz and input freq 467.675MHz. What is the third frequency that says 141.3Hz on the repeater? Can someone explain?

[PastorGary]

Hello, Arun, and welcome to the MyGmrs forums.

 

The Motorola product info page does not list your model as being repeater capable.  With that in mind, if you had a repeater capable radio, the 462 frequency is what the repeater broadcasts on.  The 467 frequency is what the repeater receives to rebroadcast that signal.  The 141.3 frequency is a subaudible tone code (CTCSS) that the field radio sends out to activate a repeater that is specifically programmed to look for that tone.

 

Almost all GMRS repeaters in operation in the US require owner permission to use it - unless it is stated in documentation that it is an 'open' repeater. Open repeaters may be used by any LICENSED GMRS operator, but even then, as a courtesy to the owner, check in with that person to let them know your intentions.

 

Your Motorola radios are advertised as having 35 mile range.  That is totally misleading and has been a point of contention between end-users and manufacturers for decades. Realistically, you can expect portable to portable FRS communications in an urban setting of up to 1/2 mile.  The GMRS channels from 15 to 22 will get you at least 1 to 2 miles, depending upon buildings and large trees in the area.  The 35 mile rating is under ideal laboratory conditions and does not reflect real world operation in any way. 

[mellowcream]

Hi. I am new here too. I have a Motorola MR350R. It does have GMRS. But, can I use it with repeaters? I have a repeater in my area which has Output freq 462.675MHz and input freq 467.675MHz. What is the third frequency that says 141.3Hz on the repeater? Can someone explain?

No, the MR350R doesn't support repeaters. The MS350's do. They are only $80, float and are waterproof.

[Pyrodox]

Hi. I am new here too. I have a Motorola MR350R. It does have GMRS. But, can I use it with repeaters? I have a repeater in my area which has Output freq 462.675MHz and input freq 467.675MHz. What is the third frequency that says 141.3Hz on the repeater? Can someone explain?

 

That's the PL/CTCSS tone...  It's a subaudible tone transmitted along with your audiio.  The repeater will not open squelch or repeat your signal without a matching PL tone.

[Logan5]

I tried an MR350R and was able to use on my repeater, although at less than half the range of a "Cheap Chinese Radio" CCR. I also found the sound to be tinny, that may have something to do with wideband/narrow issue. I ended up returning them in favor of more versatile CCR's

[liaq73]

HI! I'm a newbie too and I have the same question as Bmalone667. I just got my license approved yesterday. Now what? I feel like a deer in headlights.

I got it for CERT (newbie there too). Initially, we were told we didn't really need a license since we'll be using the frs channel. But in the long run, I decided to get one because you never know when it might come in handy. I got a motorola MT352R. 

 

I'm also studying to get a ham license. Like I said, it mght come in handy and at least it's there. Any recommendations for a ham radio as well would be appreciated. 

Thank you in advance and hope everyone is having a great day/evening.

[axorlov]

HI! I'm a newbie too and I have the same question as Bmalone667. I just got my license approved yesterday. Now what? I feel like a deer in headlights.

I got it for CERT (newbie there too). Initially, we were told we didn't really need a license since we'll be using the frs channel. But in the long run, I decided to get one because you never know when it might come in handy. I got a motorola MT352R. 

 

I'm also studying to get a ham license. Like I said, it mght come in handy and at least it's there. Any recommendations for a ham radio as well would be appreciated. 

Thank you in advance and hope everyone is having a great day/evening.

 

If you want to talk to strangers you need a repeater-capable radio. But here is Bay Area repeaters are closed/private anyway, so maybe it's moot. Only open repeater I'm aware of is BARN-R1, and it's far and behind the mountain ridge. I can't open it from Livermore with handheld, although I can open it with my mobile radio, but signal reports are not great. Airwaives are busy, though, especially on weekends. Somebody always talking on GMRS around lake Del Valle, where there is no cell service. Rancher kids, hiking buddies, fishermen on water, etc. That's how I use my radios: family communications on camping/hiking trips. GMRS is mostly used as utility tool, and if you want to be able to make random contacts get your HAM ticket. There are number of popular busy HAM repeaters around this area.

[liaq73]

If you want to talk to strangers you need a repeater-capable radio. But here is Bay Area repeaters are closed/private anyway, so maybe it's moot. Only open repeater I'm aware of is BARN-R1, and it's far and behind the mountain ridge. I can't open it from Livermore with handheld, although I can open it with my mobile radio, but signal reports are not great. Airwaives are busy, though, especially on weekends. Somebody always talking on GMRS around lake Del Valle, where there is no cell service. Rancher kids, hiking buddies, fishermen on water, etc. That's how I use my radios: family communications on camping/hiking trips. GMRS is mostly used as utility tool, and if you want to be able to make random contacts get your HAM ticket. There are number of popular busy HAM repeaters around this area.

Thank you axorlov. Will definitley look into it.