WRUX266 Posted April 26, 2023 Report Posted April 26, 2023 Greetings to the group. Recently licensed GMRS user here, longtime ham operator. My family has vacationed on the outer banks of NC for almost 20 years. In the past I have programmed local VHF/UHF repeaters in a HT and had some fun chit-chat with local operators. I've also done some low power (QRP) HF work from the OBX using a simple temporary wire antenna. My question is has anyone else visited the OBX and brought along a GMRS HT? If so, did you encounter any activity? I'm sure there is plenty FRS activity with families keeping in touch on the beach and such, but I'm curious about any GMRS-specific activity. Just wondering if it's worth it to pack a radio/battery charger for my trip this summer, or if it would be a disappointing waste of time. Thanks! WRUX266 Quote
gortex2 Posted April 27, 2023 Report Posted April 27, 2023 Was out there last summer for a weekend. Had my mobile on the entire time and never heard a peep. When I went back to the mainland on the ferry there was one group of cars talking on ch1 waiting on the ferry. WRUX266 1 Quote
rivrrat Posted April 27, 2023 Report Posted April 27, 2023 1 hour ago, gortex2 said: Was out there last summer for a weekend. Had my mobile on the entire time and never heard a peep. When I went back to the mainland on the ferry there was one group of cars talking on ch1 waiting on the ferry. Same experience for me. Heard nothing - from Ocean City (MD) all the way down to KDH . I see on repeater book there is a repeater down by Emerald Isle. WRUX266 1 Quote
nokones Posted April 27, 2023 Report Posted April 27, 2023 Always plan to have a means of alternate communication with you when venturing out. Cell phones are not absolutes in case of an emergency or during castistrophic events. The Cell phone system coverage is subject to be not available in remote areas or online or over saturated. Bisquit4407 1 Quote
radiozip Posted September 17, 2023 Report Posted September 17, 2023 Staying a few blocks from the Emerald Isle pier I wasn’t able to bring up that GMRS repeater. I was able to bring up the Newport 462.575 ( DCS 315, not the PL tone) around 10 miles away. Hope this helps anyone going that way since this thread came up in my search. Quote
WRKC935 Posted September 17, 2023 Report Posted September 17, 2023 Yeah, I was down there recently myself. Had my first intercontinental chat on Echo Link. Talked to a guy in Ireland. Was very surprised with that since I didn't know the repeater was an Echo Link machine. GMRS however was flat. Nothing heard. Hope that changes some before my next trip down. Quote
marino389 Posted January 10 Report Posted January 10 Repeaterbook lists one in Buxton... https://www.repeaterbook.com/gmrs/details.php?state_id=37&ID=1099 Quote
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