GMRS repeater linking and the FCC

[N4GEX]

Don't forget the "peas, beans, corn, taters, maters, cucumbers, and squash" nets where the object is to prattle on for hours on how to plant (or cook) the aforementioned fruits and vegetables. 🙄

Now that sounds like a net that I might actually enjoy.

 

[KV4BL]

Hopefully it's a big one in the Midwest that gets spanked. They are the ones running their mouths all over social media about not complying

Plus the North Georgia group. Hit 2-4 of the big boys around the country and watch the rest fold, hopefully.

 

[bill4long]

Florida has their own laws regarding pirate radio etc..

True. But the laws do not supersede federal law on the management of radio spectrum.

Here in Indiana, using a radio to "harass" or "annoy" someone is a class B misdemeanor. (Indiana Code § 35-45-2-2) But the law doesn't supersede FCC regs.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

True. But the laws do not supersede federal law on the management of radio spectrum.

Here in Indiana, using a radio to "harass" or "annoy" someone is a class B misdemeanor. But the law doesn't not supersede FCC regs.

Of course not. Florida does not want to afford its citizens any more freedom than the feds do. Just the opposite in most cases.

In Indiana, it sounds like my first amendment rights to annoy someone on the CB radio, might be unlawfully constrained. By the way, Indiana wants me, but I can't go back there.

 

[W8UU]

Indiana wants me, but I can't go back there.

R. Dean Taylor, 1970

Great song.

 

[vagrant]

Popcorn! Popcorn! Get your popcorn here!

I’m going to make a fortune selling popcorn as we watch this progress.

 

[NC1]

The funny thing is, from what I can tell, 80+ percent of the GMRS users on these networks are licensed hams. [Shrug]

Right there is the part I find perplexingly unexplainable. Why the insistence on using the very limited pairs in a service not designated for their desired purposes? I have yet to hear a valid argument as to WHY it absolutely HAS to be GMRS.

They already have the amateur license, they have the equipment, they have the knowledge, they have all the frequency spectrum they could possibly want, and linking repeaters is not only permissible but is actually encouraged. It's like fighting an uphill battle in the woods instead of using the paved road under your feet.

 

[nd5y]

They already have the amateur license,

But some of the other people refuse to get an amateur license or are incapable of passing the test.

 

[kv5e]

Running your mouth about "non-compliance" only shows mens rea or intent to disobey/disregard the published clarification of the rules of GMRS. An administrative judge might look at this unfavorably during a hearing.

 

[MTS2000des]

Right there is the part I find perplexingly unexplainable. Why the insistence on using the very limited pairs in a service not designated for their desired purposes? I have yet to hear a valid argument as to WHY it absolutely HAS to be GMRS.

They already have the amateur license, they have the equipment, they have the knowledge, they have all the frequency spectrum they could possibly want, and linking repeaters is not only permissible but is actually encouraged. It's like fighting an uphill battle in the woods instead of using the paved road under your feet.

I've asked this dozens of times and never get a logical answer. Just write it off to sad hams who don't feel "elite" enough using part 97 and want more "respect" in the whacker/prepper community and less crap about charging "membership fees" to access their illegal, frequency hogging gas bag network of repeaters. Maybe they can't get proper coordination on part 97? I know that can't be the case here in Georgia. There are plenty of pairs and paper repeaters as well as "real" part 97 repeaters in prominent locations that sit silent for days. Talk about sad.

The fact that a solid 85 percent of these folks implementing these systems and utilizing them are hams really makes a sad statement about the future of the amateur radio service. To see mission statements of GMRS organizations proclaiming themselves as "radio hobbyists" really shows the disconnect and misunderstanding about the basis and purpose of GMRS as a radio service.

 

[mmckenna]

I have yet to hear a valid argument as to WHY it absolutely HAS to be GMRS.

Might be the same reason I used GMRS back in the 90's/early 2000's. No one else in the family wanted to get their ham ticket. After trying for a while, it was just easier to get one GMRS license and use GMRS. That way everyone could talk.

That worked fine for years, then it triggered enough interest that pretty much everyone got their ham license.

Amateur radio has its place, but so does GMRS. Not everyone wants to take the test, and not everyone can pass the test.

As for the individual hams, there seem to be those that feel the need to get on every single radio service they possibly can.

 

[mmckenna]

MyGMRS.com just posted this on Facebook:

Given this new information, it is in our best interest to begin shutting down the myGMRS Network, which allows repeater owners to link using VoIP technology over the Internet. We will shut down the myGMRS registration server in one week, on August 28th, 2024. The main myGMRS website will not be affected and will continue to serve the GMRS community as it has for nearly 20 years.​

Connections between repeaters or audio are not carried through our servers; only the registration server is used to keep a listing of which nodes are online at any given time. Disabling the registration server will not break the connection to existing nodes; it will only prevent new connections from occurring. Repeater owners who continue using VoIP or other means to link repeaters together will do so at their own risk.​

Along with the change.org link to petition the FCC to allow linking on GMRS.

 

[celestis]

With all the money these groups bring in they might as well throw in the towel and just use it to lease existing Part 22 license, no one but the system operator would need a license at that point

but that must make too much sense for them to do it

 

[NC1]

But some of the other people refuse to get an amateur license or are incapable of passing the test.

Very few are incapable of passing the test, certainly not enough to require the linking of repeaters for everyone. If they refuse to take the test, then that is self inflicted and they suffer the consequences.

 

[AK9R]

Very few are incapable of passing the test, certainly not enough to require the linking of repeaters for everyone.

Given that someone with a Technician class amateur radio license could put up a repeater with a power output of 1500 watts as well as all kinds of linking features, maybe it's a good thing that some can't pass the test.

Edited to add that amateur radio repeaters do not have the same height above ground limitations that GMRS stations have.

 

[KV4BL]

Somebody from the "No Linking" side needs to start a "Change Dot Org" petition. I would but an not super literate with these endeavors. Anyone out there up to it?

 

[prcguy]

Somebody from the "No Linking" side needs to start a "Change Dot Org" petition. I would but an not super literate with these endeavors. Anyone out there up to it?

If you just change "an" to "am" in your last post you would be plenty literate to fill things out and push it through.

 

[12dbsinad]

A petition? What exactly is there to petition? That there are only 8 repeater pairs and we whackers want to hoard them all leaving all the simplex/other repeater users with major interference?

There is a technical reason to this. These people need to find a different hobby, like the ham band most of them are already licensed for.

 

[prcguy]

A petition? What exactly is there to petition? That there are only 8 repeater pairs and we whackers want to hoard them all leaving all the simplex/other repeater users with major interference?

There is a technical reason to this. These people need to find a different hobby, like the ham band most of them are already licensed for.

Petition for 50w simplex on all the 467MHz channels. Maybe add APRS and 50w at 467MHz.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Somebody from the "No Linking" side needs to start a "Change Dot Org" petition. I would but an not super literate with these endeavors. Anyone out there up to it?

Why would anyone do that?