GMRS Repeaters

[WSET270]

Hello all. I'm new to GMRS and stumbled upon this site. It's a godsend! I am using a Baofeng AR-152 and I have a question about programming the repeater channels.

As you can surmise, I'm sum what "technologically challenged.

I have found the Tx and Rx frequencies but what I don't understand is:

Are the repeater channels repeaters that are operated by local owners?

Are there tones that are specifice to the 8 repeater channels listed the same for the whole US or is it an area specific thing?

Sorry if these questions seem so basic but there is a staggering amount of info out there but sifting through it is tough.

Thanks,

Chris

[SteveShannon]

22 minutes ago, WSET270 said:

Hello all. I'm new to GMRS and stumbled upon this site. It's a godsend! I am using a Baofeng AR-152 and I have a question about programming the repeater channels.

As you can surmise, I'm sum what "technologically challenged.

I have found the Tx and Rx frequencies but what I don't understand is:

Are the repeater channels repeaters that are operated by local owners?

Are there tones that are specifice to the 8 repeater channels listed the same for the whole US or is it an area specific thing?

Sorry if these questions seem so basic but there is a staggering amount of info out there but sifting through it is tough.

Thanks,

Chris

Yes, individuals just like you and I own the repeaters. They choose whether to allow others to use their repeaters. Most allow others to use them. The licensing is specifically for individuals, with the exception of a few grandfathered licenses. 
Channels are established by regulations: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E
There is no organized coordination of channels. You are responsible for not interfering with others, just as others are responsible to not interfere with you. 
Nor does anyone own any of the frequencies. You’re free to use any established channel that’s not in use. 
The eight repeater frequency pairs are established by federal regulations and are the same everywhere in the United States. The frequency your radio receives from a repeater is also used as a simplex frequency, but the frequencies you transmit to the repeater are for the most part limited to repeaters.
Note that a couple of frequencies may not be used above Line A, but that will only affect you if you are using your radio in the northern tier states. There’s a similar prohibition for folks who live near the eastern border of Alaska. 

[Socalgmrs]

Gmrs repeaters are owned and operated by local owners and clubs.  The tones are keys to get into the repeaters.  The owners choose what tones or combination of tones they want for their repeaters. There is no one sized fits all tones.  The 2 main points of tones is so that the reapeaters do not let every one into to the reapeter and they only allow the people with permission into the repeater. 

[TrikeRadio]

 

1 hour ago, WSET270 said:

Are the repeater channels repeaters that are operated by local owners?

The repeater channels on your radio are just channels on your radio set up to transmit on one frequency (+5 mhz) and listen on another frequency. This is how they contact and listen to repeaters. (They send to a frequency that the repeater receives and then it will re-transmit on the frequency you and others are listening to)

Repeaters can be owned / operated by local individual owners or by clubs.
 

 

1 hour ago, WSET270 said:

Are there tones that are specifice to the 8 repeater channels listed the same for the whole US or is it an area specific thing?

The input (tx) tone and output (rx) tone can be any of the CTCSS or DTS (digital) codes that the repeater owner chooses. You have to know the proper TX tone to activate the repeater. The RX tone can isolate only transmissions from the repeater, or you can leave the RX tone off so you hear anything on the frequency.

And repeaters are local. Usually with a range of a few miles up to 100 miles if they are powerful and/or up on a high location.

[WSET270]

Thanks everyone. That clears up A LOT of questions. Now it's time to figure out the antenna thing.

[GreggInFL]

3 minutes ago, WSET270 said:

Thanks everyone. That clears up A LOT of questions. Now it's time to figure out the antenna thing.

Good luck with that.  Those things are weird.