ID-o-magic 4

[WROH500]

Has anyone built a repeater use Baufeng and the ID-o-madic 4. I’ve got some bugs I’m trying to figure out and could use some insight. 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WROH500 said:

All though the rules say the station must ID not a repeater.

A repeater is a station. 

[WRYZ926]

48 minutes ago, Jaay said:

I'm convinced SoCal Doesn't understand this !

I'm beginning to think that when brains were being handed out, Negative Nancy though someone said "trains so he said "no thanks, I'll take the (short) bus".

Unfortunately I have had the same argument about GMRS repeater ID requirements with fellow members of my amateur radio club. I had to break the regulations down for them so they would understand that a GMRS repeater does need to ID per Part 95.1751 quoted above.

When they kept bringing up family members I had to remind them that we are in Missouri and not Arkansas. Plus the fact that most people that use our repeater are NOT related and they have their own GMRS licenses.

[WRUU653]

1 hour ago, Jaay said:

I'm convinced SoCal Doesn't understand this !

But but “if he had read the rules that he agreed to read when he got his license”

 

[WRUU653]

5 minutes ago, LeoG said:

(c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if:

(1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and,

(2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

 

Sounds like as long as the people using the repeater transmit their own IDs the repeater doesn't need to identify itself.

Nope. Not what it says  

 

1 hour ago, WRUU653 said:

if:

(1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates;and

You have to read the whole thing.

Only communications operating under Individual license under which it operates = the owners call sign, meaning people of the same family 

And (not or)

1 hour ago, WRUU653 said:

The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

Those same people (family members) identify using the aforementioned call sign 

 

[WRUU653]

5 minutes ago, LeoG said:

Whoops

Ha, yeah no worries. I don’t know why lawyers got to be so wordy, they could have just said if it’s only used by you and your immediate family and everyone uses the same call sign no repeater ID needed. That’s too simple though I guess.

[LeoG]

They do it on purpose so normal people can't dissect it without a lawyers help.  And they also make it so it can be interpreted several different ways.  That way they can say they use this interpretation and now you need to be fined.

Usually someone needs to rat you out unless you are doing something so obvious you call yourself out.  My repeater is family only.  I've had people decode and use the system on rare occasion.  And I'm still not worried.

[SteveShannon]

Ask specific questions and you’ll probably get answers. The ID-O-Matic has been discussed a few times, including how to program it and wire it to a repeater. 
The more information you provide the better quality answers you’ll receive, but don’t hesitate to ask questions about things you don’t know. 

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

Why?  Just announce your call sign when using the repeater and make sure every one else does as well.   No id o Matic needed.  Then but the saved money into a better repeater.  

That only works if @WROH500 uses the repeater every time anyone else uses it.
Besides, it’s not just an IDer; it’s also a repeater controller, which @WROH500 might need if they’re wiring two Baofeng radios together. 

[WRUE951]

I used the ID O Matic on a home brew repeater with two Maxon radios.  CWID or Voice works great, programing not difficult and building the board was fun..   I say just try your plan but i warn you, there is no known medicine or Vax out there to cure the virus you are about ready to catch.   Have fun

[Lscott]

3 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

Why?  Just announce your call sign when using the repeater and make sure every one else does as well.   No id o Matic needed.  Then but the saved money into a better repeater.  

If anyone other than a family member operating under the repeater owners license the repeater must self ID using the repeater’s owners call sign.

[WROH500]

It’s not for a GMRS repeater. I see so many post about a GMRS repeater with ID. All though the rules say the station must ID not a repeater. I am needing insight on hooking the Buafeng K5 Plus to an ID-o-matic for a 220 repeater. I am almost there but just can get the CORE input down.

[Jaay]

43 minutes ago, WROH500 said:

It’s not for a GMRS repeater. I see so many post about a GMRS repeater with ID. All though the rules say the station must ID not a repeater. I am needing insight on hooking the Buafeng K5 Plus to an ID-o-matic for a 220 repeater. I am almost there but just can get the CORE input down.

Give repeaterbuilder.com a look. there's a LOT of great controller and IDer information available.

[WRUU653]

40 minutes ago, WROH500 said:

All though the rules say the station must ID not a repeater

This isn’t correct…

95.1745.

§ 95.1751 GMRS station identification.

Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification.

(a) The GMRS station call sign must be transmitted:

(1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and,

(2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes.

(b) The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone.

(c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if:

(1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and,

(2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

So if it’s only your immediate family that are using it and they identify under the same call sign then the repeater doesn’t have to ID. Anything else and the repeater is required to identify.

 

[Jaay]

On 3/15/2025 at 3:10 PM, Socalgmrs said:

Why?  Just announce your call sign when using the repeater and make sure every one else does as well.   No id o Matic needed.  Then but the saved money into a better repeater.  

DO YOU NOT READ ?? This was already replied to you in another post.  The Repeater needs to ID it's owner/ Licensee call sign with an Auto ID, because other users Can't ID with the owners call sign !! The Repeater needs to ID itself.  DO YOU UNDERSTAND ??

[Jaay]

15 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

This isn’t correct…

95.1745.

§ 95.1751 GMRS station identification.

Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification.

(a) The GMRS station call sign must be transmitted:

(1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and,

(2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes.

(b) The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone.

(c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if:

(1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and,

(2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

So if it’s only your immediate family that are using it and they identify under the same call sign then the repeater doesn’t have to ID. Anything else and the repeater is required to identify.

 

I'm convinced SoCal Doesn't understand this !

[Jaay]

On 3/15/2025 at 3:10 PM, Socalgmrs said:

Why?  Just announce your call sign when using the repeater and make sure every one else does as well.   No id o Matic needed.  Then but the saved money into a better repeater.  

[LeoG]

(c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if:

(1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and,

(2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

 

Sounds like as long as the people using the repeater transmit their own IDs the repeater doesn't need to identify itself.

[LeoG]

(c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if:

(1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and,

(2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

 

 

Whoops

[Jaay]

9 hours ago, LeoG said:

(c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if:

(1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and,

(2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.

 

Sounds like as long as the people using the repeater transmit their own IDs the repeater doesn't need to identify itself.

IF it transmits, it needs to ID, either by the Licensee OR by electronic means. A USER of the repeater is responsible to ID with their Own call sign if they're NOT immediate family.

[Jaay]

8 hours ago, WRUU653 said:

Ha, yeah no worries. I don’t know why lawyers got to be so wordy, they could have just said if it’s only used by you and your immediate family and everyone uses the same call sign no repeater ID needed. That’s too simple though I guess.

NOT publishing a repeater on mygmrs.com as well as using Split tones  is a Good way to insure your repeater is less known about too, if it's only for Family use.

[WROH500]

I didn’t mean to bring all the legalities of repeater ID to this. My GMRS repeater is closed; so I’m not worried about an ID on it. I just saw all the talk about ID’ing repeaters in the threads and thought I would ask. I’ll stop being a pain and go. 
 

 

Thanks for the replies.

73’s from WHOR500/KG4SAU

[WROH500]

Typo lol! Got to love it!!!

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WROH500 said:

I didn’t mean to bring all the legalities of repeater ID to this. My GMRS repeater is closed; so I’m not worried about an ID on it. I just saw all the talk about ID’ing repeaters in the threads and thought I would ask. I’ll stop being a pain and go. 
 

 

Thanks for the replies.

73’s from WHOR500/KG4SAU

Don’t feel like you need to go away. We like to argue minutiae.

[Lscott]

11 hours ago, WROH500 said:

I didn’t mean to bring all the legalities of repeater ID to this. My GMRS repeater is closed; so I’m not worried about an ID on it. I just saw all the talk about ID’ing repeaters in the threads and thought I would ask.

You would be surprised how many people get this point all wrong, repeater ID'ing. Where the mistake is usually made is in reading the rules and missing the two usage cases, the first where only users all operating under the repeater's owner's license, closed, and the second where the repeater is "open" for use by any licensed GMRS user. 

The first case is only users operating under the owner's license, and the only users allowed on it, closed, when they ID it is sufficient to ID the repeater. No self ID is required.

The second requires the repeater to self ID using some kind of automated control using the repeater owner's id, either by voice using English, or by Morse code, at the intervals specified by the rules. 

It's not unusual to find general use, open, repeaters that fail to ID. Those are bad examples of what NOT to do, and are not operating per the FCC rules.

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, Lscott said:

You would be surprised how many people get this point all wrong, repeater ID'ing. 

Most GMRS repeater users with id' ing set them so they ID every half hour regardless of traffic..  In my area there are 5 GMRS repeaters and all you hear for the most part is their CW ID every single half hour..  And there are a handful in Los Angeles area that do the same but they are using a long winded Voice ID, some with time and temp.  I find it total ridicilous,.    I don't know what controller they are using but every controller i have ever used allows you to set them to trigger when 'busy' only.. They only trigger when traffic is present..   Unlike HAM repeaters, GMRS is  shared frequencies,  One is not assigned a frequency for their soul use, so there is no need to ring your CW every single half hour.