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Posted: 8/1/2022 4:27:21 PM EDT
[#1]
I accidentally let mine expire. Didn't feel like getting a new callsign. I don't really miss it, even though there's at least 1 GMRS repeater I can hit with an HT from the house.
Now that FRS is 22 channels, there's less of a reason to bother with it. Basically it's just for mobile and repeater use. Anyone I need to talk to on radio is a ham around here, anyway. |
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Posted: 8/1/2022 4:35:35 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I accidentally let mine expire. Didn't feel like getting a new callsign. I don't really miss it, even though there's at least 1 GMRS repeater I can hit with an HT from the house. Now that FRS is 22 channels, there's less of a reason to bother with it. Basically it's just for mobile and repeater use. Anyone I need to talk to on radio is a ham around here, anyway. My main reasons are 95% to be able (legally) to use part 95 radios instead of bubble pack FRS. The other 5% is random gee whiz, using repeaters, having a backup, etc. |
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Posted: 8/1/2022 4:46:19 PM EDT
[#3]
There are a couple active GMRS repeaters in Houston, so I keep mine up on the off-random chance I might choose to join a net someday.
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Posted: 8/1/2022 4:46:31 PM EDT
[#4]
I have mine. But other than my son and I goofing off around the house, I've never used them. We have two GMRS repeaters around here. Haven't heard anyone on there so far.
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Posted: 8/1/2022 5:49:14 PM EDT
[#5]
I do...
Used to have a GMRS repeater running. Just need a new mast to get it set up again. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 1:47:43 AM EDT
[#6]
I do, mainly because I'm riding with lmr radios. Still carry a Rino as a spare radio/gps.
Handful of repeaters in a few areas I ride, so I'll add those to my arsenal. Rarely use them though. For the price, if you're already in the system, what's another callsign to manage. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 2:54:47 AM EDT
[#7]
No interest in funding usurpers of human rights.
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Posted: 8/2/2022 8:01:51 AM EDT
[#8]
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Posted: 8/2/2022 8:11:32 AM EDT
[#9]
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Posted: 8/2/2022 9:08:42 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I have mine. But other than my son and I goofing off around the house, I've never used them. We have two GMRS repeaters around here. Haven't heard anyone on there so far. I've actually picked up a fair amount of GMRS repeater traffic in the area; some are hams that want to get away from the local ham repeater politics. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 11:37:21 AM EDT
[#11]
I had mine, let it lapse and then reapplied for it for reasons unknown to me (I have VHF and UHF itinerants). I was going to program up the two repeaters here in DFW but one requires MDC and while most of my UHF radios support MDC...I'm curently too lazy to go find them as I've got a EFJ VP6330 sitting on my desk that isn't licensed for MDC (I'll add it to the list of features I need to have added to it but not a top priority right now).
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Posted: 8/2/2022 12:53:13 PM EDT
[#12]
I've thought about it. I use the GMRS repeaters and commercial radio and honestly $35 for 10 years isn't bad to be legit.
There's not many reasons TOO do it but there's also not many reasons not to. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 1:15:22 PM EDT
[#13]
I have a GMRS license, but never really use it. The only time those radios get dragged out is when I am out with the Jeep club. They use them to manage the group of Jeeps out on the trail, and I doubt if any(?) of the others are licensed.. I haven't gone on a trail run in a long time. I should get the radios out and see if I can pick up anything local...
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Posted: 8/2/2022 1:28:05 PM EDT
[#14]
I'm a HAM that also has a GMRS license. For $70 for 10 years I figured why not? Its the price of one Gourmet shit coffee from Starbucks once a year.
I also got in before the HAM License $35 fee so I dont know if thats also a contributing factor of yours as well. Its cool to have both I suppose. Im just a General though. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 3:19:58 PM EDT
[#15]
Have both my Tech and GMRS.
I use my amateur radios almost daily. I only use my GMRS when doing something like Camping, Geocaching, Hiking, Off Roading. To be honest, I have shitty Cobra Bubble packs that aren't programmable or Repeater capable. Also, we have no GMRS repeaters within 80+ miles of us that I've seen on any official listings. The neat/positive thing is, I have scanned 24x7 for weeks and every so often and never heard a peep in my AO. So that means, I pretty much have multiple wide open, uncontested Channels to use when we want to use them, providing we stay in acceptable range of each other. Worth while or not depends on each users needs and expectations. If the range will work for you, then they are awesome, cheap and easy to use. Even the programmable ones and Chirp. Many are looking for a bit too much, range wise for GMRS and too me fair, Many are looking for more than they'll realistically get out of a 2m Simplex set up too though. Needs, Range and Wants? Those are they key questions each person or group needs to ask themselves. Is this right for me. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 6:50:27 PM EDT
[#16]
Midland has really gone on an advertising blitz on FB. I see their ads all the time now.
It’s worth having a radio or two that does GMRS. Especially for off-roading type stuff with a club or group rides, where it has almost entirely replaced CB. Whether that means you may personally feel the need to have the license is another story. But… it’s not expensive. Low risk. Low reward, really. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 6:57:24 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've actually picked up a fair amount of GMRS repeater traffic in the area; some are hams that want to get away from the local ham repeater politics. |
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Posted: 8/2/2022 9:21:19 PM EDT
[#18]
There is an active repeater group in this area, just across the river.
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Posted: 8/2/2022 10:12:15 PM EDT
[#19]
I paid for one last year so wife and I could use the repeater 14 air miles away on an excellent site. Then the repeater went down and couldn't be fixed. The group has a better one, but the group's tech hasn't had time to tune the duplexer. Maybe it'll be back up before hunting season. Cell coverage sucks in the hills around here. For low power simplex or FRS use, I wouldn't have bothered with the license.
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Posted: 8/3/2022 12:13:44 PM EDT
[#20]
I applied yesterday; got the call sign at 2am this morning. lol...for the price, why the eff not. Now to find my Garmin Rhinos (supposedly support repeater use AND position beaconing).
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Posted: 8/3/2022 1:59:21 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I applied yesterday; got the call sign at 2am this morning. lol...for the price, why the eff not. Now to find my Garmin Rhinos (supposedly support repeater use AND position beaconing). Sounds about right. I applied for my GMRS late last year, got it the next AM like you. A few weeks later, I passed the tech test, between the VE sending it in and the fcc doing their part it was almost 2 weeks before I got anything from them. Someone on here actually found mine online and sent it too me, before the govt did... Glad I got both through, each has their uses and I enjoy "playing radios" and messing with all this stuff. When I 1st started reading about it and getting into it, I mistakenly though, this will be much cheaper than guns... 
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Posted: 8/3/2022 4:30:49 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: When I 1st started reading about it and getting into it, I mistakenly though, this will be much cheaper than guns...  |
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Posted: 8/3/2022 8:27:40 PM EDT
[#23]
yup.
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Posted: 8/4/2022 11:30:23 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've actually picked up a fair amount of GMRS repeater traffic in the area; some are hams that want to get away from the local ham repeater politics. |
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Posted: 8/5/2022 6:19:07 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: There are a couple active GMRS repeaters in Houston, so I keep mine up on the off-random chance I might choose to join a net someday. yea im on gmrs in houston all the time.. it,s a tool. 
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Posted: 8/5/2022 8:06:32 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: yea im on gmrs in houston all the time.. it,s a tool. |
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Posted: 8/6/2022 12:36:06 AM EDT
[#27]
I’ll amend my statement to “at least one” active GMRS repeater in the Houston area. I have my dual band set up to scan GMRS channels but haven’t paid enough attention to recognize then different ones, if there is more than one.
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Posted: 8/6/2022 12:53:41 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've actually picked up a fair amount of GMRS repeater traffic in the area; some are hams that want to get away from the local ham repeater politics. I'm sure it's due to my moutaintop location, but I pick up legit nets (generally prepper nets) multiple times per week on MURS, FRS/GMRS where I am. I was genuinely surprised by both the amount and content of traffic. It's more than the local 2M repeater has. Protip: even in my advantaged location, I almost never pick up traffic on the 500mW FRS channels, so if you don't want to be heard, FRS channels 8-14 are a better bet. |
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Posted: 8/6/2022 1:07:55 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'll amend my statement to "at least one" active GMRS repeater in the Houston area. I have my dual band set up to scan GMRS channels but haven't paid enough attention to recognize then different ones, if there is more than one. |
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Posted: 8/6/2022 7:52:35 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I’ll amend my statement to “at least one” active GMRS repeater in the Houston area. I have my dual band set up to scan GMRS channels but haven’t paid enough attention to recognize then different ones, if there is more than one. I wouldn't be surprised if there were linked multicast machines down there. We have a linked GMRS system that covers most of southern AZ and the majority of NM. Vote scan with a decent mobile makes that a very user-friendly system; I use it far more than amateur. |
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Posted: 8/8/2022 11:46:46 AM EDT
[#31]
I was farting around this weekend, and remembered that I have a pair of Garmin Rhino 120s (GPS enabled FRS/GMRS). Sure as shit, they support repeater channels and CTCSS/PL. Luckily, my local GMRS repeater also uses tones on it's output, as this radio cannot use tones for TX only.
Kind of a handy gee-whiz. And if one were so inclined, they could use the repeater to relay location info. |
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Posted: 8/8/2022 3:47:20 PM EDT
[#32]
What's the rule for GMRS and data. I originally thought they were strictly voice only but the fact that radios like that rino can send GPS data suggests some kinds of data is permitted.
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Posted: 8/8/2022 4:02:19 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: What's the rule for GMRS and data. I originally thought they were strictly voice only but the fact that radios like that rino can send GPS data suggests some kinds of data is permitted. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E |
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Posted: 8/8/2022 9:18:07 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Data rules are quite restrictive. You can read the regulations at the following link: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: What's the rule for GMRS and data. I originally thought they were strictly voice only but the fact that radios like that rino can send GPS data suggests some kinds of data is permitted. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E Digital data. GMRS hand-held portable units may transmit digital data containing location information, or requesting location information from one or more other GMRS or FRS units, or containing a brief text message to another specific GMRS or FRS unit.   I guess the text message part is something to interpret creatively. |
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Posted: 8/9/2022 6:16:57 AM EDT
[#35]
Don't forget that there are also channel restrictions and length restrictions on GMRS data. And no data transmission allowed from mobile or fixed stations, handheld only.
That said, nobody, including the FCC, is going to notice if you bend some of these rules, with the possible exception of the channel restrictions. |
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