Wannabe Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 I found a repeater that is really close to me (just a couple miles) but it isn’t listed anywhere I can find. I found the tone (uses the travel tone) and hear traffic on it often. Would I be out of line to start using it? I would ask permission but don’t know how to contact the owner. What is the proper protocol here? I would love to use this one since it’s so close and it covers a decent area around my part of town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffRoaderX Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 There is no protocol in GMRS, but most people consider a repeater that uses the travel tone to be 'open' .. If it was ME, i would start using it until someone complains. The worst thing that will happen is someone complains... Wannabe, WRTT642 and marcspaz 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRUU653 Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 I agree, if it’s using the “travel tone” you are likely okay to use. I would go ahead and ask someone who is on it about it. I did this once and was able to talk with the owner who told me about his repeater and now chat with him occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted March 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said: There is no protocol in GMRS, but most people consider a repeater that uses the travel tone to be 'open' .. If it was ME, i would start using it until someone complains. The worst thing that will happen is someone complains... Thanks for the confirmation, this is what I was hoping to hear from others. Just didn’t want to piss anyone off, especially this close to home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShannon Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 I don’t disagree with the others, but there should be a way to discover who owns it. Does the repeater ever identify itself? This site (mygmrs.com) and the FCC have the ability to look up the licensee. WRUU653 and Wannabe 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted March 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 3 hours ago, Sshannon said: I don’t disagree with the others, but there should be a way to discover who owns it. Does the repeater ever identify itself? This site (mygmrs.com) and the FCC have the ability to look up the licensee. I have translated the id Morse code and looked up the owner, but I didn’t want to look like a creeper hitting him up out of nowhere (and I wouldn’t know how to do that without knocking on his door) That’s how I know it’s only a couple miles from me (I can see the antenna mast on google maps). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShannon Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 8 minutes ago, Wannabe said: I have translated the id Morse code and looked up the owner, but I didn’t want to look like a creeper hitting him up out of nowhere (and I wouldn’t know how to do that without knocking on his door) That’s how I know it’s only a couple miles from me (I can see the antenna mast on google maps). What about snail mail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted March 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 3 hours ago, Sshannon said: What about snail mail? That’s an option. I was planning on monitoring a little more and trying to catch the owner to chat. SteveShannon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fe2o3 Posted March 30, 2023 Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 Why not just call the owner on his own repeater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted March 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 1 minute ago, fe2o3 said: Why not just call the owner on his own repeater? 6 hours ago, Wannabe said: That’s an option. I was planning on monitoring a little more and trying to catch the owner to chat. Kinda what I was getting at here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffRoaderX Posted March 30, 2023 Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 1 minute ago, fe2o3 said: Why not just call the owner on his own repeater? Not all repeater owners listen to their repeater 24/7. I rarely listen to mine. Wannabe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fe2o3 Posted March 30, 2023 Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 3 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said: Not all repeater owners listen to their repeater 24/7. I rarely listen to mine. This one might. Ya never know 'til ya try! I've done it on the "pig herder" repeaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted March 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 7 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said: Not all repeater owners listen to their repeater 24/7. I rarely listen to mine. If I had a repeater similar to yours, I'm not sure I would be able to stay off of it much. Or does it get old after a while when the "new" wears off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted March 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 2 minutes ago, fe2o3 said: This one might. Ya never know 'til ya try! I've done it on the "pig herder" repeaters. we shall see, its near my house and I work 40 miles away in an office so my monitoring time is limited. fe2o3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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