How to Connect to Repeater

[WSDV836]

Another newbie question:

I was granted access to a local repeater and have the frequency, input and output tone numbers. Do I need any other information in order to connect?

On my Baofeng 15 Pro radio, how do I connect to the repeater. I tried following some YouTube videos but I don’t believe I fully understood. 

Many thanks for any step by step guidance. 

[Guest]

Might want to swap over to chirp or some other programming software.  100xs easier.  
 

no all you need is the frequency or “channel” offset. SHOULD be +5 and the tones.     Are you within range?  The repeater may have a big foot print but with an ht you may or may not be able to hit the repeater. Also do you have good line of site?

[WSDV836]

From what I learned from the video, the frequency corresponds to a channel number. So I go to that channel and then put the input and output tones into the TX-CTCSS and RX-CTCSS menu selections in the radio. Does that sound correct?

i probably am not within range from inside my house. And no line of sight. I’m guessing if I drove closer to the repeater location that might solve it. Just not sure what I described above is the right process to connect. 

[Guest]

Yes sounds good to me with out seeing your radio.  Yea drive close run till they can hear you. Then back trans drive around some and see how things go.  Also an antenna upgrade may help?  

[WSDV836]

Great. Will do and thanks!!

[WSDV836]

How does the owner of the repeater who has granted access to me to use the repeater know that it is me connecting to the repeater when I key my microphone? I’m curious what the repeater owner does on their end to manage radio operators, whether granted access or not, to try to connect to his repeater.

[BoxCar]

The only method is to monitor the repeater's input or output. Optionally, you can connect a recorder.

[nokones]

2 hours ago, WSDV836 said:

How does the owner of the repeater who has granted access to me to use the repeater know that it is me connecting to the repeater when I key my microphone? I’m curious what the repeater owner does on their end to manage radio operators, whether granted access or not, to try to connect to his repeater.

They will only be available to identify if each user has an individual identifier for repeater access such as MDC or DTMF signalling.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, WSDV836 said:

How does the owner of the repeater who has granted access to me to use the repeater know that it is me connecting to the repeater when I key my microphone? I’m curious what the repeater owner does on their end to manage radio operators, whether granted access or not, to try to connect to his repeater.

The repeater owner has no idea who you are until you give your call sign.  Input Tones help keep out unwanted people.   And yes some have recording equipment.  

[WSDV836]

Thank you. The frequency, output and input tones are available on mygmrs.com. If that’s all you need, why does the repeater owner need to “grant” access? Can’t anyone just get those numbers and that’s all they need?

[WRXR255]

27 minutes ago, WSDV836 said:

If that’s all you need, why does the repeater owner need to “grant” access? Can’t anyone just get those numbers and that’s all they need?

It is  more of a courtesy gesture than anything.  Like asking a neighbor to borrow a lawnmower.  Repeaters are oftentimes privately owned or owned by a club, so in some cases a repeater is put up by someone for family/friends/business use and for them and clubs, its good to know the metrics on how many users they have.

[SteveShannon]

3 hours ago, WSDV836 said:

Thank you. The frequency, output and input tones are available on mygmrs.com. If that’s all you need, why does the repeater owner need to “grant” access? Can’t anyone just get those numbers and that’s all they need?

They could, and many of us feel that “open access “ means no permission is required. But, the courteous thing to do is to acknowledge the generosity of the repeater owner and thank them.

A repeater owner doesn’t “need” to grant access, but because they are responsible for the use of their repeater it makes sense to at least be aware of who’s using it.  A repeater owner has responsibilities under the regulations:

§ 95.1705 Individual licenses required; eligibility; who may operate; cooperative use.

(d) Individual licensee duties. The holder of an individual license:

(1) Shall determine specifically which individuals, including family members, are allowed to operate (i.e., exercise operational control over) its GMRS station(s) (see paragraph (c) of this section);

(2) May allow any person to use (i.e., benefit from the operation of) its GMRS repeater, or alternatively, may limit the use of its GMRS repeater to specific persons;

(3) May disallow the use of its GMRS repeater by specific persons as may be necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this section.

[WSDV836]

Makes total sense. Thanks for the clarification.