LOUISIANA NEEDS GMRS/HAM users.. comms sucks here!

[derekdauzat]

most of this state is seriously lacking in communications wish there we had more users here!

[WRXB215]

Have you tried the Roadkill network?

[Guest]

Guess you’re gonna have to put up a repeater and advertise gmrs.  

[WRWE456]

I wonder if you understand what the intended use of GMRS/FRS is? It's not social media. You come here for that. LOL! The reason the license covers your family is so families and friends can stay in touch for things like camping, hiking, off roading, use on the property, farm etc. Amateur radio (ham) is better for reaching out to strangers to make contacts if that is your interest. Sure there is some of that with GMRS but that's not really what it's for. 

[WRDJ205]

LOUISIANA NEEDS GMRS/HAM users.. 

Yes

[WSAK388]

There’s a couple Facebook groups for Louisiana GMRS users and one for SE Louisiana repeaters specifically. Come make some friends, probably more around than you realize depending on where you are. The New Orleans repeater is on GMRS Live and it pretty active. 

[WROQ359]

On 4/26/2024 at 4:30 AM, derekdauzat said:

most of this state is seriously lacking in communications wish there we had more users here!

What part of Louisiana are you in? I am planning on relocating out there and looks like a good bit of GMRS activity in the southern part of the state. 

 

[Guest WSAD744]

In Northwest LA it's very deserted, In my area there is 1 HAM group with maybe 6 people? But GMRS wise nobody uses it, I've heard maybe one person contact me and he was passing by in his big rig. GMRS really isn't for contact but I feel like some people should be interested in radio such as this and take advantage of a license that covers your whole family. 

[Guest]

38 minutes ago, Guest WSAD744 said:

In Northwest LA it's very deserted, In my area there is 1 HAM group with maybe 6 people? But GMRS wise nobody uses it, I've heard maybe one person contact me and he was passing by in his big rig. GMRS really isn't for contact but I feel like some people should be interested in radio such as this and take advantage of a license that covers your whole family. 

So in times like these it’s gonna fall in you to get interest up.   Talk to people.  Get involved with local cert.  hang flyers up. Go to community meetings.  Neighborhood watch groups.  Get a cheap repeater up at your place with donations.  Start a club on this site.   You are the change you’re looking for.  

[WROQ359]

On 10/7/2024 at 9:10 AM, Guest WSAD744 said:

In Northwest LA it's very deserted, In my area there is 1 HAM group with maybe 6 people? But GMRS wise nobody uses it, I've heard maybe one person contact me and he was passing by in his big rig. GMRS really isn't for contact but I feel like some people should be interested in radio such as this and take advantage of a license that covers your whole family. 

I just moved to central Louisiana a couple of months ago. Now that I am here I am the only licensed GMRS user in our small town and the neighboring towns only have about a handful of users. I am really looking forward to putting up an external antenna which will increase range and going to get my ham license so that may generate more activity. It is quite a change how quiet it is here compared to the city I moved from. 

[AdmiralCochrane]

As the one who shall not be mentioned says, perhaps Grinder is better for contacting strange men.  The intent of GMRS is different.

[OffRoaderX]

18 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

As the one who shall not be mentioned says, perhaps Grinder is better for contacting strange men.  The intent of GMRS is different.

Who you talkin-bout Willis?

[Raybestos]

2 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

Who you talkin-bout Willis?

Old Man Willis?

 

 

 

 

[WSEZ864]

This doesn't sound like the best use of GMRS and based on what I'm reading here, it really seems that the OP's area is ripe for a decent 2 meter repeater setup.

The amateur radio Technician's License (to start with) isn't terribly hard to get and with that, one can use those 2 meter frequencies and legally maintain the gear.

I would think that the local emergency infrastructure would welcome additional communications and it would likely be easy to get tall tower space somewhere. Our club has a repeater antenna up on top of a local water tower. The initial setup is relatively expensive, but donations can often defray the costs.

[WRUE951]

On 12/15/2024 at 3:42 PM, AdmiralCochrane said:

As the one who shall not be mentioned says, perhaps Grinder is better for contacting strange men.  The intent of GMRS is different.

Randy is waiting,,  eager and willing    

[Guest wrpg486]

On 4/26/2024 at 12:05 PM, WRDJ205 said:

LOUISIANA NEEDS GMRS/HAM users.. 

Yes

we are here. the problem is no one wants to talk they only wanna listen. scared i guess

wrpg468

[WRCR724]

I'm willing to bet that the OP gave up on GMRS and also this forum. 

 

 

[WRXB215]

17 minutes ago, Guest wrpg486 said:

they only wanna listen

They work for the NSA? 

[WSGZ768]

On 12/15/2024 at 5:42 PM, AdmiralCochrane said:

As the one who shall not be mentioned says, perhaps Grinder is better for contacting strange men.  The intent of GMRS is different.

I watch a guy on Rumble/YouTube.  He talks a lot about "Some People"! lol 

I love watching his shows!  

[WSGZ768]

I'm new here and new to the site.  I just acquired my GMRS license a couple days ago.  I'm in Deep East Tx. by Toledo Bend Reservoir. There's a lot of HAMS in my area, but I'm not sure about GMRS folks.  My only radios (right now...) are the Midland GTX1000's.  They are fine for around my yard and not much further.  I am looking for some repeaters in my area, so I can keep in contact with my mother (she had a major stroke) and I take care of her 24/7.  I need something that can reach town and my general area.  I plan on getting my Ham license, but there's no way my mother could operate or pass a Ham exam.  She cant even use the telephone or cell phone anymore.... She is used to using the Midland GTX1000 that I have set up and locked for her.

[BoxCar]

Those radios are spec'd at 3.07W according to their FCC data. It's doubtful you would get more than 5 miles of distance between them with outside antennas 20 feet in the air. I doubt you could get more than a mile or two across the reservoir with them in simplex (on the same channel). They don't seem to be repeater capable so were pretty much a waste of money IMO. 

Your best bet would be to contact a local ham club, explain what you are trying to do, and ask for help.

[WSGZ768]

31 minutes ago, BoxCar said:

Those radios are spec'd at 3.07W according to their FCC data. It's doubtful you would get more than 5 miles of distance between them with outside antennas 20 feet in the air. I doubt you could get more than a mile or two across the reservoir with them in simplex (on the same channel). They don't seem to be repeater capable so were pretty much a waste of money IMO. 

Your best bet would be to contact a local ham club, explain what you are trying to do, and ask for help.

I totally agree!  They're perfect for working around in the yard, or playing in the woods on the 4wheelers and buggy's.  Think I'll have to set up my own repeater tower and radios.  I am interested in the Wouxun KG-Q10G (for myself) and a simple repeater capable radio for my mother to use.   As for the Repeater itself... I'm clueless yet! lol!  My town is aprox. 5 miles away from the house.  (in a tall/dense national forest)  I can build the tower easy enough. (I'm a welder/fabricator/mechanic).  Should I buy or build the repeater...?? That is the question! 

Thanks BoxCar for the reply!

[BoxCar]

If you are pretty much set on a HH, I would look to Yaesu, Anytone, or TYT as alternates. These can all be unlocked for GMRS and have about the same capabilities but can be lower in price. One of the low-price GMRS "suitcase" repeaters would be sufficient for covering 5 miles with a decent base antenna or a good mobile antenna with a ground plane.

[WSGZ768]

22 hours ago, BoxCar said:

If you are pretty much set on a HH, I would look to Yaesu, Anytone, or TYT as alternates. These can all be unlocked for GMRS and have about the same capabilities but can be lower in price. One of the low-price GMRS "suitcase" repeaters would be sufficient for covering 5 miles with a decent base antenna or a good mobile antenna with a ground plane.

My thoughts on the "build" for a repeater would be a couple 50W radios.  Might as well go big, right? lol

[SteveShannon]

1 minute ago, WSGZ768 said:

My thoughts on the "build" for a repeater would be a couple 50W radios.  Might as well go big, right? lol

1. They frequently don’t work well unless they’re designed for the job. 
2. Then you need a much larger duplexer. The portable repeaters have one built in. 
3. Power output is vastly overrated. Range is usually limited by other factors for UHF, not power.