zello app linking

[sonnyguz920]

Does anyone know if it's legal to link GMRS repeaters to the Zello app and create a channel? I'm starting to see owners all over doing that here in the USA and Canada. However I do think it's a good idea. If it's mainly ment to be used by family members it's great to stay in touch when out of range and in the event of anemergency.

[Durake]

I will allow someone else to step in and answer the legality of it. I know in past discussions, linking via RF is prohibited. But I don't recall anything over the internet. I've already got my project parts coming in for my link. The last thing I need to order is a directional antenna, since I don't have quick access to my site and I'm still experimenting with Zello, I'd like to keep it at home for a bit and play around with it. Hope your question gets answered! 

[rfmedic]

Zello has its purpose but its in that legal gray area. My argument against it is the waste of a repeater frequency when 90% of the time the people on the repeater are not in range via RF and now this signal is sitting there eating a channel.  

[jwilkers]

Does anyone know if it's legal to link GMRS repeaters to the Zello app and create a channel? I'm starting to see owners all over doing that here in the USA and Canada. However I do think it's a good idea. If it's mainly ment to be used by family members it's great to stay in touch when out of range and in the event of anemergency.

Well, there is a risk of an unlicensed person getting on the zello channel and using the repeater.

 

AntiSquid Disclaimer: All posted content is personal opinion only and may not imply fact or accusation.

[Durake]

Well, there is a risk of an unlicensed person getting on the zello channel and using the repeater.

 

AntiSquid Disclaimer: All posted content is personal opinion only and may not imply fact or accusation.

 

Depending on what permissions you have set. In my case its only being used by me and my buddy if either of us are out of range or don't have a reliable signal. The repeater we're on is about 15 miles away in a rough spot putting out 40 watts, its not the highest spot in the area. I'm within range most of the time, but for those rare times him or I am not, we still have a way to communicate with the users on it. The Zello Channel is passworded as well as Zelect+ were only Admins, Mods, or Trusted Users can talk and listen. So its pretty secure as far as that goes. 

[jwilkers]

Depending on what permissions you have set. In my case its only being used by me and my buddy if either of us are out of range or don't have a reliable signal. The repeater we're on is about 15 miles away in a rough spot putting out 40 watts, its not the highest spot in the area. I'm within range most of the time, but for those rare times him or I am not, we still have a way to communicate with the users on it. The Zello Channel is passworded as well as Zelect+ were only Admins, Mods, or Trusted Users can talk and listen. So its pretty secure as far as that goes.

Yeah....that's true.

 

AntiSquid Disclaimer: All posted content is personal opinion only and may not imply fact or accusation.

[6040]

After some unsuccsessfull attempts on an RF link, I have been giving some thought on this as well. There are a few repeaters in my area using Zello.  

i think its a great idea if you can link local repeaters together to gain more coverage. Myself, I'm not into the phone app stuff, I'm into radio's, if i have to use my smart phone to make a contact, why dont i just call you on the cell.....just my thought

[mainehazmt]

After some unsuccsessfull attempts on an RF link, I have been giving some thought on this as well. There are a few repeaters in my area using Zello.  

i think its a great idea if you can link local repeaters together to gain more coverage. Myself, I'm not into the phone app stuff, I'm into radio's, if i have to use my smart phone to make a contact, why dont i just call you on the cell.....just my thought

.

 

A way around the cell phone while driving laws....

[sonnyguz920]

UPDATE:I called the FCC to ask this question and they said its NOT elegal. Only if you connect a phone to the repeater. zello is considered data that is a gray area and their are NO rules on that at this time. So until they come up with some kind if law on it it's perfectly legal to link Zello with GMRS repeaters says the FCC.

[n4gix]

* illegal *

[sonnyguz920]

Ask them yourself! (K0SJG / WQVB468)

[coryb27]

Ask them yourself! (K0SJG / WQVB468)

 

I think he was correcting your spelling since you typed elegal, and it should have been * illegal *

[sonnyguz920]

OK sorry. Cheap android phone. Thanks.

[WSAE510]

According to the FCC it's not illegal to link repeater to Zello channels. I called them and they said that it is NOT illegal those who says its illegal is wrong

[CentralFloridaGMRS]

Zello is shutting down the PC version and older versions  on June 25th. 

• Android app versions older than 6.0.2 (Note: newer versions no longer support Android OS versions earlier than 7)
• iOS app versions older than 6.1 (Note: newer versions no longer support iOS versions earlier than 14)
• Legacy PC app – all versions

[wayoverthere]

5 hours ago, CentralFloridaGMRS said:

Zello is shutting down the PC version and older versions  on June 25th. 

• Android app versions older than 6.0.2 (Note: newer versions no longer support Android OS versions earlier than 7)
• iOS app versions older than 6.1 (Note: newer versions no longer support iOS versions earlier than 14)
• Legacy PC app – all versions

AFAIK, they'd hidden/removed the install file for either the PC version or the free version for PC awhile ago, so not entirely surprising.  I still had a copy installed and working, but it looks like they're shrinking access to the free side of things....not that I had access to much anymore anyway.

[WRCR724]

14 hours ago, wayoverthere said:

AFAIK, they'd hidden/removed the install file for either the PC version or the free version for PC awhile ago, so not entirely surprising.  I still had a copy installed and working, but it looks like they're shrinking access to the free side of things....not that I had access to much anymore anyway.

https://zello.com/downloads/desktop/

 

I can't download it right now on the work PC but I don't know if that download is for the free version or a paid version. 

[WRCR724]

20 hours ago, CentralFloridaGMRS said:

Zello is shutting down the PC version and older versions  on June 25th. 

• Android app versions older than 6.0.2 (Note: newer versions no longer support Android OS versions earlier than 7)
• iOS app versions older than 6.1 (Note: newer versions no longer support iOS versions earlier than 14)
• Legacy PC app – all versions

Where did you find this information? Only asking because I didn't see anything on their blog mentioning it. Thanks. 

[CentralFloridaGMRS]

15 minutes ago, WRCR724 said:

Where did you find this information? Only asking because I didn't see anything on their blog mentioning it. Thanks. 

It's on the Zello website 

https://support.zello.com/hc/en-us/articles/36830119152397-2025-Service-Changes Depending on what they charge I think I would pay for it. It's an outstanding service for our Community.

[WRCR724]

28 minutes ago, CentralFloridaGMRS said:

It's on the Zello website 

https://support.zello.com/hc/en-us/articles/36830119152397-2025-Service-Changes Depending on what they charge I think I would pay for it. It's an outstanding service for our Community 

Thanks!

[WRUE951]

I wonder, Can the FCC actually enforce their GMRS Linking ruling to require Zello to stop allowing GMRS traffic on their Network?  I thought it was radio operator responsibility.   Interesting  ??

[OffRoaderX]

5 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

Can the FCC actually enforce their GMRS Linking ruling to require Zello to stop allowing GMRS traffic on their Network?

No. There are no regulations or rules against a software company making software that can be used for among many other things, linking repeaters.  It is the radio operator's responsibility to not violate the rules.

Zello began deprecating the desktop version years ago when they stopped updating it and removed the direct-links to the download from their website.

[WRUE951]

1 minute ago, OffRoaderX said:

No. There are no regulations or rules against a software company making software that can be used for among many other things, linking repeaters.  It is the radio operator's responsibility to not violate the rules.

Zello began deprecating the desktop version years ago when they stopped updating it and removed the direct-links to the download from their website.

yea, thats what i thought.   I just didnt know for sure where this was heading.   - thanks  

[wayoverthere]

2 hours ago, WRCR724 said:

https://zello.com/downloads/desktop/

 

I can't download it right now on the work PC but I don't know if that download is for the free version or a paid version. 

Will have to look at that when I can get on a PC. It may be the version that only works with a paid account, or they may have put the free one back since I last looked (been some months). not that it matters much with them killing the pc version off later this month.