Repeaters

[WSGL345]

Brand new GMRSer

I have the understanding that you must get permission of owner to use repeater. There are six repeaters that I mar be able to reach; all owned by same gentleman. Do i just get on repeater and request that he give me permission?

[Peat]

Welcome! I’m new myself, both to GMRS and the forum. I’ve made a permission request to a repeater owner through the repeater map on this site and was granted permission rather quickly. I’m not saying it’s the only way, or even the preferred means of requesting permission, but it worked in my case. 

[Davichko5650]

27 minutes ago, WSGL345 said:

Brand new GMRSer

 

Do i just get on repeater and request that he give me permission?

First off, welcome to the exciting world of GMRS.

Secondly, if the repeater has the PL tones listed, it can be accessed by you, assuming you can hit it. You could give a call out and see if anyone answers. Let them know you're new at the game and ask them if it's ok to use the machine.  More often than not, it'll be fine.  Repeaters listed here with the tones unlisted will be the ones you'll want to send a message to the owner to ask about.

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, WSGL345 said:

I have the understanding that you must get permission of owner to use repeater.

Only if the owner requires permission.  

[WSGL345]

Thanks I have set up all repeaters even talked to a guy on one then i read where you have to have permission. I will just go back and see if its okay with them. Makes it easier I suppose if all repeaters are owned by same guy.

[Hoppyjr]

If you log in to this site from the web (not Tapatalk) and then navigate to “repeaters”, you will see under “Type” of it says “Open System” you don’t need specific permission. If it says “Permission Required” you need permission. It’s really pretty clear. You can request access from that page too.

[WSGL775]

Okay everyone, I'm dense and I can't figure this out. I'm asking for assistance to access a certain repeater. Here's the particulars:

1. Using a Baofeng UV-5r Gmrs radio. One of my HAM friends told me that I cannot use this radio for GMRS. I think that I can.

2. I'm using CHIRP software and have attached screen shot of my program

3. Trying to link to repeater LV650 on mygmrs.com. I receiver permission from owner to use this repeater.

I can't figure out why I can't reach this repeater. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's frustrating when you know hardly nothing about how this works!

 

 

[SteveShannon]

27 minutes ago, WSGL775 said:

Okay everyone, I'm dense and I can't figure this out. I'm asking for assistance to access a certain repeater. Here's the particulars:

1. Using a Baofeng UV-5r Gmrs radio. One of my HAM friends told me that I cannot use this radio for GMRS. I think that I can.

2. I'm using CHIRP software and have attached screen shot of my program

3. Trying to link to repeater LV650 on mygmrs.com. I receiver permission from owner to use this repeater.

I can't figure out why I can't reach this repeater. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's frustrating when you know hardly nothing about how this works!

 

 

John,

We must both be equally dense. It looks like you have it set correctly. Try getting closer to the repeater. 

[WRZD706]

You need to program a +5.000 offset on the that repeater channel ... line 27 in the pic.  That way when you hit the transmit key to talk your radio will use frequency 467.650 with a tone of 123.0, but your radio will listen for a response on frequency 462.650 with no 123.0 tone (because you picked "tone" instead of "TSQL").  Make that change, go outside, key up on that channel and ask if anyone can hear you.  And, don't listen to your friend about your non-type certified radio.  Just enjoy your new toy for all that it can do.  No one will know.  More importantly, no one important will care if your radio isn't GMRS type certified.  

[WSGL775]

Thank You Steve! I will definitely give that a try. That is probably what is happening because I can hear their transmissions clearly, but I can't get a response from a radio check.

[WRZD706]

WRZD706 = Jim not Steve

Jim is not nearly as knowledgeable or cool as SteveShannon.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WRZD706 said:

You need to program a +5.000 offset on the that repeater channel ... line 27 in the pic.  That way when you hit the transmit key to talk your radio will use frequency 467.650 with a tone of 123.0, but your radio will listen for a response on frequency 462.650 with no 123.0 tone (because you picked "tone" instead of "TSQL").  Make that change, go outside, key up on that channel and ask if anyone can hear you.  And, don't listen to your friend about your non-type certified radio.  Just enjoy your new toy for all that it can do.  No one will know.  More importantly, no one important will care if your radio isn't GMRS type certified.  

This is exactly right. In my defense, because it is a GMRS radio, the channel should have the offset baked in to the channels between 23 and 30. Or did I misunderstand it being a GMRS radio?

[WSGL775]

I guess I wiped out all that stuff in chirp. It was there in the beginning. This is on me. I flashed the radio and inputted the channels back but did not put the offsets back into the program. 

Thank You Jim! I get confused easily.....

[WSGL775]

Okay let's try this programming:

[WSGL775]

Well some good news folks! I was able to make contact on the repeater designated as Alamo NW 462.625 with an operator about 35 miles from my location. So I know the radio works. It was very clear without any noise. The other two repeaters - no contact. I'll keep trying on those frequencies. 

I appreciate your insight and help on this matter Jim. Thank You!

[WRUU653]

2 minutes ago, WSGL775 said:

Well some good news folks! I was able to make contact on the repeater designated as Alamo NW 462.625 with an operator about 35 miles from my location. So I know the radio works. It was very clear without any noise. The other two repeaters - no contact. I'll keep trying on those frequencies. 

I appreciate your insight and help on this matter Jim. Thank You!

Good job.
And yes a good catch by @WRZD706 on the offset. I also was thinking it should have been baked in not thinking it would be removed. I always download an extra file from the radio and only make the changes to one in case I need to go back. It also helps to compare files if you make a mistake somewhere… which I have done. 

[WSGL775]

13 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

Good job.
And yes a good catch by @WRZD706 on the offset. I also was thinking it should have been baked in not thinking it would be removed. I always download an extra file from the radio and only make the changes to one in case I need to go back. It also helps to compare files if you make a mistake somewhere… which I have done. 

That is an excellent suggestion and one that I will certainly pay attention to. I thought that I had uploaded from the radio (which I did) but made changes. I did not save as a new image and overwrote the default. That's a hard lesson learned but a very valuable one. I'm so glad to be on this site with people whom are not afraid to share knowledge and guidance.