Linked Repeaters

[WRVG593]

I'm new to GMRS in general. So forgive me if this is a goofy question. I have joined a GMRS group and have all the repeaters obviously. Been using them for about 3 months now. 

My question is, are there repeaters that connect to other repeaters that create a web of repeaters so that I can talk to more than just people in my area? I know that's more of a ham thing, but was wondering if it was even a thing on GMRS. I always figured it would make sense considering I'm seeing more and more truckers use it, and more offroading and hiking groups use it.

Thanks!

[wayoverthere]

Yes, that is a thinf..look no further than https://mygmrs.network/map for a good example. There's also smaller regional networks that some of the members can chime in on; one example that comes to mind is the Southwest Community Radio System (https://swcrs.org/?page_id=1418#Repeater_Location_Map).

It all depends on what the repeater owners want to set up. As for your locale, a quick search found a paid club, southwest Ohio gmrs association. https://forums.mygmrs.com/clubs/21-southwest-ohio-gmrs-association/

[WRVG593]

22 hours ago, wayoverthere said:

 https://mygmrs.network/map 

@wayovertherejust so I'm not confused... are these repeaters linked via the internet? Are they linked to the point of a person in florida is communicating 200 miles away? A man in Cali 200 miles etc. I'm not sure exactly how the linked GMRS repeaters work 

[wayoverthere]

14 minutes ago, WRVG593 said:

@wayovertherejust so I'm not confused... are these repeaters linked via the internet? Are they linked to the point of a person in florida is communicating 200 miles away? A man in Cali 200 miles etc. I'm not sure exactly how the linked GMRS repeaters work 

Yep, this one is internet based, and when everything is connected, yes, its absolutely possible to talk into a repeater in Florida and have it come out from another on the network in California, dependent on having a repeater linked into the network at both ends. (Unfortunately, last I checked, I'm not in range of any of the repeaters linked to the national network)

as far as I know, the map is current status; some nodes (repeaters) only join for nets and similar events, some stay linked most of the time. When they're linked,  all RF traffic into the repeater also gets sent to the network, and spit out as RF at all of the other repeaters connected.

It's also possible to set up a repeater with different tones to dictate whether RF traffic goes to the network or just gets repeated locally. I know the CARLA network over here (on the ham side) has that, and I think some of the swcrs gmrs repeaters have that feature as well.