PeterM Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 I live near Elgin, IL, and I overheard a conversation on the Devil's Head repeater 160 miles away. I want to ask: is it illegal for me to use the GMRS repeater 150 miles away from it? Thanks! WRYP550 LeeBo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShannon Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 15 minutes ago, PeterM said: I live near Elgin, IL, and I overheard a conversation on the Devil's Head repeater 160 miles away. I want to ask: is it illegal for me to use the GMRS repeater 160 miles away from it? Thanks! WRYP550 No, not at all. Socalgmrs, RadioMarkW, WRXB215 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM Posted September 16 Author Report Share Posted September 16 21 minutes ago, SteveShannon said: No, not at all. Awesome, thanks! SteveShannon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socalgmrs Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 No. I do it all the time. The one i use is nearly 200miles away. I takes line of sight and high radiated power from your antenna. I made the trip with a 20w radio and a 9dbgain Antenna. That set up radiated about 130w. Some times depending on the weather I would not make the trip very well. With my new 50w set up with a 12db gain antenna it I’m putting out around 650w radiated power. I can now make the 200mile trip no problem all day every day no matter the weather KevinJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreggInFL Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 49 minutes ago, WRXP381 said: No. I do it all the time. The one i use is nearly 200miles away. I takes line of sight and high radiated power from your antenna. I made the trip with a 20w radio and a 9dbgain Antenna. That set up radiated about 130w. Some times depending on the weather I would not make the trip very well. With my new 50w set up with a 12db gain antenna it I’m putting out around 650w radiated power. I can now make the 200mile trip no problem all day every day no matter the weather Impressive. What antenna are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRYZ926 Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 Antenna location, height and having a clear line of sight between two antennas is what allows farther distances. Openings in band conditions has some effect too. I have a couple of GMRS repeaters that are about 50-55 miles away. I can get into one easy and the other only when band conditions are just right. I live in Missouri with plenty of hills and forested areas. Both affect how far I can reach with my 50 watt base station. Socalgmrs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socalgmrs Posted September 16 Report Share Posted September 16 5 minutes ago, GreggInFL said: Impressive. What antenna are you using? Old one was a comet 712efc. With a 20w radio new one is the comet 9nc. With a 50w radio. both with 30ft of lmr400 GreggInFL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WSDD439 Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 I live in central Michigan, and I talk to Loraine, Ohio (near Cleveland), all the time, on a TidRadio H-3 & H-8. If conditions are right, your signal can just about bounce anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffRoaderX Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 On 9/16/2024 at 9:18 AM, PeterM said: is it illegal for me to use the GMRS repeater 160 miles away from it? YES! and the FCC has really been cracking-down and issuing more fines lately. If you want to talk that far you should get a H.A.M. license, but if you are willing to take the risk of a major fine, go for it. PeterM, JB007Rules, WRXB215 and 7 others 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaay Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 4 hours ago, OffRoaderX said: YES! and the FCC has really been cracking-down and issuing more fines lately. If you want to talk that far you should get a H.A.M. license, but if you are willing to take the risk of a major fine, go for it. NO they haven't. Shame on you. Raybestos 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeBo Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 On 9/16/2024 at 12:18 PM, PeterM said: I live near Elgin, IL, and I overheard a conversation on the Devil's Head repeater 160 miles away. I want to ask: is it illegal for me to use the GMRS repeater 160 miles away from it? Thanks! WRYP550 Not at all. Just remember just because you can hear it doesn't mean you can access it. But @WRXP381 and @WRYZ926 nailed it. WRYZ926 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffRoaderX Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 9 hours ago, Jaay said: NO they haven't. Shame on you. A licensed and certified H.A.M. radio operator told me that and he's been licensed for over 40 years so it must be true! PeterM, GreggInFL, KevinJ and 2 others 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM Posted September 18 Author Report Share Posted September 18 14 hours ago, OffRoaderX said: YES! and the FCC has really been cracking-down and issuing more fines lately. If you want to talk that far you should get a H.A.M. license, but if you are willing to take the risk of a major fine, go for it. I'm planning to get my HAM license sometime soon, anyway, haha. SteveShannon and GreggInFL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB007Rules Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 That repeater is only about 118 miles from you, not 160 FYI and I frequently hear it in Montgomery, IL as well just south of you primarily during band openings. But yeah, use it! OffRoaderX is Randy from the "NotaRubicon" Youtube channel. He's a well known master troll! Seriously though, he's freaking hilarious and you should watch his videos and be amused!!! KevinJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinJ Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 1 hour ago, JB007Rules said: That repeater is only about 118 miles from you, not 160 FYI and I frequently hear it in Montgomery, IL as well just south of you primarily during band openings. But yeah, use it! OffRoaderX is Randy from the "NotaRubicon" Youtube channel. He's a well known master troll! Seriously though, he's freaking hilarious and you should watch his videos and be amused!!! Gonna have to second and third that! I absolutely enjoy his content, because I'm a human who knows how to laugh, even at myself! Give him a few views at least! SteveShannon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM Posted September 18 Author Report Share Posted September 18 1 hour ago, KevinJ said: Gonna have to second and third that! I absolutely enjoy his content, because I'm a human who knows how to laugh, even at myself! Give him a few views at least! 3 hours ago, JB007Rules said: But yeah, use it! OffRoaderX is Randy from the "NotaRubicon" Youtube channel. He's a well known master troll! Seriously though, he's freaking hilarious and you should watch his videos and be amused!!! I actually started to watch him two years ago when I got my Beofeng (Or how he calls it "Boofwang") UV-5r KevinJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM Posted September 18 Author Report Share Posted September 18 3 hours ago, JB007Rules said: That repeater is only about 118 miles from you, not 160 FYI IDK where you got that from, but where I am located, its about 160 miles away from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB007Rules Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 Sorry, it's 120.42 miles to your location per your call sign, not 118. Where did I get that from? I mean, I used Google?... Here's a snip to your address.... You realize that RF travels in a straight line and doesn't follow roads right? I'm not making little that 120.42 miles is SUPER far for a GMRS repeater to travel, don't get me wrong, and that Baraboo repeater is a BEASTTTTTT... I'm merely correcting your inaccurate distance making it appear further than it really is is all. Thanks, ROB Socalgmrs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoG Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 On 9/18/2024 at 12:25 PM, OffRoaderX said: A licensed and certified H.A.M. radio operator told me that and he's been licensed for over 40 years so it must be true! I saw it on the internet. It must be true. JB007Rules and WRUU653 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoG Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 Well it certainly is possible WRXB215 and WRUU653 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB007Rules Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 LMAO! No dude, I mean not as far as line of site is concerned.... That website sucks and you shouldn't use it.... It doesn't take into consideration the curvature of the earth... Try https://ispdesign.ui.com/ instead I seriously wonder why anyone uses that website... Unless someone thinks the world is flat???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXL702 Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 The Baraboo 650 Is A Descent Repeater, But Would Not Classify It As A "Beast." Along With The Crete & Rugged - They Are Descent Medium To Semi Long Range Repeaters, Limiting To A Realistic Distance Of Operation Of A Mobile To The 50 Mile Range. I Suggest You Research UHF Tropospheric Ducting, To Get An Understanding Of RF Propagation. The "Band Openings" / "Tropospheric Ducting" Conditions Have Be Unbelievable This Past Summer. I Have Had Users Contact My Niles 725 & Osceola 600 Repeaters From As Far As 175 Miles + Away Conversing In Full Quieting. It's Not Always About A Repeater Infrastructure, As It Is On How Mother Nature Delivers Conditions For UHF Propagation..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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