Preprogrammed GMRS repeater

[WRTP558]

I am interested in purchasing a pre programmed gmrs repeater and installing it in my neighborhood. What shall I do to verify that I get a frequency that is not going to impede on other gmrs repeaters in my area? I feel like this question has been asked in the past so forgive me for besting a dead horse. 

[OffRoaderX]

1. look at the repeater coverage map here at MyGMRS to see if there are any other repeaters listed.
2. monitor the repeater frequencies for a few days to see if you hear anyone.

 

[LeoG]

Put your radio on scan and listen to the repeater channels making sure you have no Rx tone encoded.  The stations that seem to have no traffic are probably good.  Look at the repeater list here and on a few other websites that list them to see if there are any known site near you (35-70 miles)

After you find a channel that seems unused in your area hang on that channel for a week to see if anything comes across.  If you can hear one sided conversations it's likely not a repeater and just people on simplex.

It also matters what you think your repeater range will be.  If you are sticking it on top of a mountain and plan on a 50-200 mile circle then you have more to worry about than if you plan on putting an antenna up 50' which will limit your range considerably.

 

 

[WRTP558]

Thanks guys for the advice.

[WRTP558]

What would be better, Wide band or narrow band ? 

[LeoG]

Always wide band.

[Socalgmrs]

Yup seams pretty simple.  Check the map on this site. Also listen to all 8 pairs and see how it goes. And 15-22 are wide band so yes wide band. I’d wonder if you really neeed a repeater but thats a different question 

[WRTP558]

I probably don’t need a repeater it would just be nice to have one set up a little farther south then where they are mostly located to my neighborhood at the moment and there are plenty of family and off road friends who live in this area that would like to use it. Right now it’s just a thought that I have been pondering for a couple years now and I may wait until I buy the next house with some property. 

[Socalgmrs]

6 minutes ago, WRTP558 said:

I probably don’t need a repeater it would just be nice to have one set up a little farther south then where they are mostly located to my neighborhood at the moment and there are plenty of family and off road friends who live in this area that would like to use it. Right now it’s just a thought that I have been pondering for a couple years now and I may wait until I buy the next house with some property. 

Aww ok. Planning ahead is a good thing. 

[nokones]

How big is the neighborhood? You might be able to do simplex with good coverage  depending on the size of the area.

[WRTP558]

The neighborhood is not very big but most of my connections are outside of this neighborhood and once I hit the neighborhood we loos transmissions due to either trees , houses, or other RF interference. . I think it’s best I just do a simple base station set up  . I have most all the hardware. We shall see what happens.