Linking GMRS Repeaters

[WSJP534]

Thanks so much for the replies. Please feel free to point me to any stickies or threads that might teach me more about how this network might degrade my GMRS experience on the higher power channels when transmitting simplex. I am worried now that my investment was bad. 

Now back to your regularly scheduled FCC Rule discussion...

[marcspaz]

2 hours ago, WSJP534 said:

Thanks so much for the replies. Please feel free to point me to any stickies or threads that might teach me more about how this network might degrade my GMRS experience on the higher power channels when transmitting simplex. I am worried now that my investment was bad. 

Now back to your regularly scheduled FCC Rule discussion...

 

I would say it was a good investment if you need or want inexpensive and reliable short range comms. You can 100% use your radio as you would like, but may need to do things like use Tone squelch to stop hearing unwanted traffic and/or timing use between active conversations or the higher frequencies, which is common/best practice anyway. The congregation will make it a bit more cumbersome to accomplish, but still usable. Adding a repeater that would be usable would be way more complex to accomplish. 

[mixdup]

On 8/16/2025 at 1:16 PM, marcspaz said:

 

Phrased they way you did, it likely wouldn't. However, in the reddit post, several people implied (or maybe I inferred) that the club/group/whatever has every repeater pair used on their network, making it almost impossible for anyone else to standup their own repeater anywhere in North Georgia due to capture effect on the mobiles in the area. Im sure the capture effect causes problems on simplex and same channel repeater inputs, too.

 

Of course, I am summarizing an interpretation of what I read and sharing an opinion based on that interpretation, assuming it's true.

 

 

There's other rules they've broken. For example, the "owner" of the network maintains ownership of all the equipment. They charge for access to the network and have various tiers. FCC regs say you can only charge an equitable amount (ie: the same) for the shared costs of the repeater. They use these funds for all kinds of non-repeater stuff, which is fine if that's what you want to have a club for, to buy Gary a radio studio in a trailer, but that can't be tied to repeater access

Also, the "owner" of the network has started a side business selling radios, and links to that business from the GMRS group's website. When he first started it a year or two ago, they were talking about it on their 'nets', but someone pointed out to them the regs on commercial use and advertising on GMRS they toned that down on the air, but seems to still be going hot and heavy on Facebook and their website 

Lastly, this group is a non-profit in the state of Georgia but does not appear to be a non-profit registered with the IRS, so god himself only knows the level of tax evasion that has gone on there 

[WRUE951]

6 hours ago, mixdup said:

There's other rules they've broken. For example, the "owner" of the network maintains ownership of all the equipment. They charge for access to the network and have various tiers. FCC regs say you can only charge an equitable amount (ie: the same) for the shared costs of the repeater. They use these funds for all kinds of non-repeater stuff, which is fine if that's what you want to have a club for, to buy Gary a radio studio in a trailer, but that can't be tied to repeater access

Also, the "owner" of the network has started a side business selling radios, and links to that business from the GMRS group's website. When he first started it a year or two ago, they were talking about it on their 'nets', but someone pointed out to them the regs on commercial use and advertising on GMRS they toned that down on the air, but seems to still be going hot and heavy on Facebook and their website 

Lastly, this group is a non-profit in the state of Georgia but does not appear to be a non-profit registered with the IRS, so god himself only knows the level of tax evasion that has gone on there 

The Linking Repeater folks don't care about the rules they are breaking.  Many that got scared when the FCC clarified the rules are back setting up camp adding more radios to their network. If you don't like what they are doing, send a complaint to the FCC. But know you will be wasting your time,  The FCC does no care..  So your best approach what you don't like here is not tune into their repeaters, just ignore them.  My first whore girlfriend use to alway tell me, 'What you Don't know, Won't hurt you'...  Tune out my friend,  stop worrying about them gangsters.   

[LeoG]

Does that go for the bull rushing up behind you?

As the Queen of all GMRS always says they don't have enough manpower to do anything except for huge violations.  And even then....

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, LeoG said:

Does that go for the bull rushing up behind you?

As the Queen of all GMRS always says they don't have enough manpower to do anything except for huge violations.  And even then....

IMO - the only violations the FCC is interested in are those were they can fine millions..  Big Radio, Big TV, Big Cell.  

[WRUE951]

1 minute ago, WRUE951 said:

IMO - the only violations the FCC is interested in are those were they can fine millions..  Big Radio, Big TV, Big Cell.  We GMRS pe ons' have no interest to them  

 

[LeoG]

26 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

IMO - the only violations the FCC is interested in are those were they can fine millions..  Big Radio, Big TV, Big Cell.  

 

[73blazer]

On 11/23/2025 at 6:33 PM, WRUE951 said:

IMO - the only violations the FCC is interested in are those were they can fine millions..  Big Radio, Big TV, Big Cell.  

They do plenty of actions against individuals with mean letters and proposed fines. Most just stop their egregious activity, some just ignore the letters and continue. I've never seen one against an individual get referred to the DOJ for actual collection/prosecution however. 

[amaff]

28 minutes ago, 73blazer said:

"plenty" of "actions" 

[WRUE951]

3 hours ago, 73blazer said:

They do plenty of actions against individuals with mean letters and proposed fines. Most just stop their egregious activity, some just ignore the letters and continue. I've never seen one against an individual get referred to the DOJ for actual collection/prosecution however. 

if they can't collect Millions and threaten to shut down your multi-billion dollar business, they ain't coming after you..   I remember reading about the 11 meter guy they keep busting and fining. The guy has never paid a penny in fines and keeps going back to doing what he does with his 2000 W rig..  He brags that no criminal charges were ever charged against him and his attorneys claim there never will. 

[OffRoaderX]

13 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

He brags that no criminal charges were ever charged against him and his attorneys claim there never will. 

and he (and his attorneys) would be correct because criminal charges cant be brought since violating an FCC regulation is not a criminal offense.