Considerations about linking GMRS repeaters.

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Very simple: you're on 462.625 repeater in town A, talking to someone else in town A on repeater, being simulcasted on distant repeater on 462.600 100 miles away. You have no way of knowing another 462.600 in that area is in use, and your linked conversation just pops up and smashes whoever is using that frequency, in violation of the rules as written- and being a general EF Johnson as well.

See my posts #10 and #14 for a technical solution for co channel repeater vs repeater protection...

 

[marcotor]

GMRS fills a need very nicely and linking repeaters can absolutely be done properly to benefit all involved. Btw.. My organization does not charge for use, no membership required, and no hoops to go through. All active licensed GMRS operators are welcome and we welcome anyone from a child to a retired Grandmother to enjoy talking on our repeaters. We take voluntary donations, but again, do not require any pay to play or membership status.

I think the point MTS is trying to make is in some areas, the linked repeater systems take every pair that is available. That is not playing nice in any way, shape, or form, and it doesn't matter if it's a "non profit" operation or not. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. Leave room for others, and don't hog up the ENTIRE allocation for GMRS so we all have to endure the colonoscopy nets.

 

[Larry1275]

In my opinion, GMRS has no room for linking at all.
None.

FCC going to step in and put an end to it to linking ...

 

[bill4long]

FCC going to step in and put an end to it to linking ...

Based on what?

 

[smittie]

FCC going to step in and put an end to it to linking ...

I seriously doubt it. Why would the FCC care?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

FCC going to step in and put an end to it to linking ...

You have some information? Or just wishful thinking? The rules facilitate it..

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I think the point MTS is trying to make is in some areas, the linked repeater systems take every pair that is available. That is not playing nice in any way, shape, or form, and it doesn't matter if it's a "non profit" operation or not. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. Leave room for others, and don't hog up the ENTIRE allocation for GMRS so we all have to endure the colonoscopy nets.

There are some areas where the topography is such that many repeaters are required to fill in valleys. If one goes to any valley, they may hear one repeater, perhaps 2, but certainly not 8. On the other hand, stand on the hill and you will hear a bunch of repeaters. It is the nature of RF.

 

[mmckenna]

Even on the ham bands, where there is much more spectrum to play in, I've been on high mountains where I can pull up several repeaters all on the same frequency.

There are some areas where the topography is such that many repeaters are required to fill in valleys. If one goes to any valley, they may hear one repeater, perhaps 2, but certainly not 8. On the other hand, stand on the hill and you will hear a bunch of repeaters. It is the nature of RF.

If only there was some magical way to put several repeaters on the same frequency pair and expand the coverage over a wide area…..

I know, GMRS users don't want to invest in simulcast….

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Even on the ham bands, where there is much more spectrum to play in, I've been on high mountains where I can pull up several repeaters all on the same frequency.



If only there was some magical way to put several repeaters on the same frequency pair and expand the coverage over a wide area…..

I know, GMRS users don't want to invest in simulcast….

Then the complainers would argue that five separate 50 watt repeaters exceed the 50 watt TPO limit.

 

[jeepsandradios]

a nice simulcast GMRS system in areas would be the better way to go as said but most folks dont want to spend the fund to do it right. Kinda like the ham crowd. If I had sites I'd put one in my area but site access isn't great where i am now.

 

[03msc]

Like this? CAS 700 - Arkansas GMRS Repeater Group

Definitely seems more wise to simulcast than tying up all pairs for sure.

 

[marcotor]

We looked into it, and had a couple of high level sites that were amicable to our idea, and quite reasonable. But, after thoughtful review decided that given the level of morons and the endless "Uhhh.. WRxxXXX repeater check" in SoCal, it wasn't worth the effort.

OT a bit (a lot), anyone looking to hear/use a well developed, high level, P25 Simulcast system in Southern California check into the N6LXX system.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

The RTCM looks like the way to go if all the timing problems and quirks can be worked out. Then it is imperative that transmitters all be alike.

Why Simulcast? – AllstarLink Amateur Radio Voting and Simulcast

 

[12dbsinad]

Ha, you silly guys throwing around the word simulcast! Most of these guys can't even afford Baofeng's and repeaters that actually work, let alone simulcast.

 

[mmckenna]

Ha, you silly guys throwing around the word simulcast! Most of these guys can't even afford Baofeng's and repeaters that actually work, let alone simulcast.

Oh, you just wait until Baofeng starts selling P25 radios. Motorola, Harris, Kenwood/EFJ and Tait will all go bankrupt since the CCR's are clearly the superior radio! Plus, officers won't need a separate flashlight and can jam to some awesome tunes on the FM band!

 

[03msc]

Plus, officers won't need a separate flashlight and can jam to some awesome tunes on the FM band!

Long overdue feature on the APX line...

 

[mmckenna]

Long overdue feature on the APX line...

Considering I just spent a bunch of money on APX Next radios, I should probably demand Motorola adds an app for music and streaming scanner feeds.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Ha, you silly guys throwing around the word simulcast! Most of these guys can't even afford Baofeng's and repeaters that actually work, let alone simulcast.

Lets be honest the cheap hammies have been buying those low parts count radios by the ship load.

 

[12dbsinad]

Oh, you just wait until Baofeng starts selling P25 radios. Motorola, Harris, Kenwood/EFJ and Tait will all go bankrupt since the CCR's are clearly the superior radio! Plus, officers won't need a separate flashlight and can jam to some awesome tunes on the FM band!

Very true... and they could even name them the APX-25 since the whole radio only costs 25 dollars! Paint them green and bam there is your firefighter radio!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Oh, you just wait until Baofeng starts selling P25 radios. Motorola, Harris, Kenwood/EFJ and Tait will all go bankrupt since the CCR's are clearly the superior radio! Plus, officers won't need a separate flashlight and can jam to some awesome tunes on the FM band!

To be honest, those are the two features that really turn me off on those BF radios. I might actually plunk down 20 clams for one if those two features did not exist.