I'm the owner of myGMRS, and we have a RoIP linking solution which is based on app_rpt. We've been testing it since 2013 and are actively expanding it. It is a separate network from Allstar so there is no risk of accidentally crossing GMRS and Ham at any point. It is compliant with FCC rules and does not use the PSTN at all.
Anyone interested in more info can reach out to me on here or the myGMRS forums. A repeater can be linked for less than $100.
As for amphibian, his listings were removed because they were for dozens of repeaters which did not exist. He was recently licensed for GMRS so it wasn't practical to expect dozens of systems to be put online overnight across the US. I received a lot of complaints from members who didn't appreciate the false listings. Then he was starting the same argumentative behavior you're witnessing here on our forums, so it was time for him to go. No room for that nonsense.
Wow, talk about nonsense.....you finally appear after several weeks of ignoring numerous emails of request on what violations you claimed I violated (since you don't have any policies listed on your poorly run web site) to come out in the open and make a statement about why I was removed. And you do it in an open forum here where I'm sure your thinking is that I will prove you right as to being argumentative. Just like on here and your web site, the only discussions I have had that appeared to be argumentative were by other ham operators that thought they had the only true answer to all GMRS questions and when I proved them wrong they themselves became hostile. In fact, not only did you remove my responses to their answers you also removed the whole questions and answers of the ones I was responding to and at he same time telling those of us that were part of those conversations we needed to take such questions and responses to a private messaging area and not on your open forum. So how do you explain that.... You removed any possibility of anyone being able to read my answers to said questions so as to cover your backside. It's ok though, since then myself and a lot of people really see what kind of site you run over there and what kind of person you are.
What caused my removal, in my opinion and also believed by several that have sent me emails (little over 300 emails received to date) to such, is that I was competing against something you were doing. You have proven that today with your above listed statement on how much it cost to join your network. Apparent you didn't like the competition. Several in fact thought it strange that after receiving an offer from you, you asking them to join your network, and, their asking of you what the difference was between yours and mine, that all the sudden I and my listings of actual repeaters were removed. You should put in clear and plain language on your myGMRS.com site that you don't like competition and such will be removed and not allowed..... A simple request to verify actual installation of said listed repeaters would have provided proof. In fact a lot of the discussions over at your site that included me were over the fact that I couldn't afford to put up such a network.... like these people knew what my financial capabilities were or like they were the only ones that could afford to do it. When you have been in the Two-way & wireless business for over thirty years, you learn how to obtain repeater sites and how to put repeater sites in operation for very little expense.I have a lot of contacts and know a lot of tower owners in this country. Also, I've had and do have repeaters in stock. Also have radios that can be made into repeaters and other associated equipment to place repeaters into operation. In fact, because I can buy GMRS radios at such a great price I hope to offer them to our Association members on a payment plan so they can too can get on the air. Our Association will be giving a new handheld or mobile radios to each member that joins the Association as a welcoming gift and to show our support for each member. Like I have said, it's all in the knowledge and experiences that allows one to succeed....
And sir, if I may educate you on your lack of experience and knowledge of FCC rules, I just know this will blow your mind (and others to) out the window, but under FCC rules I don't personally have to have a FCC GMRS approved license to obtain, purchase, and/or install any amount of repeaters (GMRS or otherwise) I wish at any time. I only have to have a GMRS license or a family member that is GMRS licensed to use a radio communication device to communicate thru GMRS communication devices. If I so desire to install a repeater anywhere I want and never turn it on.... I can and I don't need your permission or anyone esles to do so. I know that sounds harsh, but it's true. I have other family members that have a GMRS license which allows them and me (go study your GMRS FCC rules again) to communicate on any repeater I so choose to install for them. I only chose to go ahead and spend the money to get a personal GMRS license in my name as several people who were joining the association asked why it's owner didn't have one. After talking with people involved in setting up the association with me I decided to obtain one just to do away with the "why don't you have a GMRS license" questions. The fact that I spent well over thirty years in the communication business didn't seem to impress those that I knew what I was doing unless I had a GMRS license so I got one.
I have been working on getting the USGMRS Repeater & Users Group Association up and operational for some time now and in doing so, at the same time, I've been putting together a network of working GMRS repeaters that are not only owned by me but by other private people, people whom are willing to be part of a professional operation and not just a hobby association like a bunch of hams are.. Once I received my license and was informed about your site by registered users of your site requesting I list them on the site, I chose to go ahead and list our repeaters. Had I known ahead of time that I was required to send pics, copies of contracts, agreements on where the repeaters were before listing them so that you had proof that they existed I would have. But like I said, poorly run website to say the least. In fact, if you so choose to go back and look thru your email, I sent one in the beginning, after registering and being approved by YOU, requesting if YOU could put another category on your site, showing in a different color, "potential future" listing so that I and others could see where there was scheduled intent of new repeaters so that it would give us and others a way to plan on putting one or not putting one in a particular place. I didn't see a reason to place one in operation where there was one already scheduled to be placed. An attempt on our part to save me and others time and money. Of course, again, you fail to respond to my email. You have a serious problem over there in responding to peoples email evidently. Again, very unprofessional.
Now as far as your system using the app_rpt. I've been using Asterisk since 2002 and am very familiar with app_rpt and the EchoLink & Allstar Networks. I have said from the beginning, no repeater on our linking network will have the ability to connect to either of those two networks of linking and if that is a requirement to be part of our network then you would need to find someone else to link up with. No offense to Amateur radio operators but GMRS has become too infested with "ham" radio users (those that are not true Amateur Radio Operators) that think if GMRS is not linked their way then it can't be or shouldn't be done. Hams that have managed to ruin their own clubs and are now looking at other ways to get members and so they prey on the inexperienced GMRS new licensees. I want no availability for any ham radio or Amateur Radio operator to start claiming that we are interfering with their networks. So in order to do that I have refrain and written code into the Asterisk software that prevents that capability. Several people who have requested to be part of our network claimed the reason they didn't want to be with yours is because you did have the option of interlinking the other link formats on your network of linked repeaters. In fact several told me that you had advised them they would have to eventually get a ham license so they could get listed with Allstar so they could use your network.....now true or not, you can see what I am talking about.
I have no ill feelings of you removing me from your site. If anything it gave me the opportunity up front to see how your site is run and how I am glad I am away from it. It has also given others the same opportunity and have shown them why an association is more than welcomed at this point. We don't charge a fee to join our network or to use the repeaters of our network. We do how ever, charge a membership fee to the Association (just like other Associations do) and as a member of the Association and upon signing a users agreement, you are given the ID codes (not just PPL or DCS codes).
I would recommend to you though sir, as an experienced web designer and developer that if you are going to ban one for policy violations that you list your policies on your web site first, and, that you try to update your website more than every two years so people know that you have a vested interest in your users, and, when you receive an email from one of your registered users you respond to them.
Now I know that this seems like I am degrading Amateur radio operators and I'm not. I have a lot of good friends that are both Amateur & GMRS licensed. They are the true Amateur Radio Operators as they know the difference between the two. They don't look at you as though you are nothing with out a Amateur license and they actively take part in the desire to better the GMRS world. These men and women feel GMRS should have an Association like the Amateur's do, and, also feel that GMRS users should have the latest state of the art communications as they do. This is why I say, our Association is for GMRS licensees. It's about GMRS all the way and not Amateur radio....
William R Howell,
GMRS License Call Sign: WQYX489
CEO, USGMRS Repeater & Users Group Association
Coming Soon
