Gmrs

[scannernut63]

Would it be worth the time to get into gmrs around here in Newberry county.

 

[buddrousa]

This is a question you have to answer for you.

1 Can you afford the equipment?
2 Would it benefit you?
3 Do you have access to a good tower site?

 

[scannernut63]

yes
yes
there is a repeater but not real close.

 

[mmckenna]

GMRS isn't going anywhere.

4th Question would be: Who are you going to talk to?

GMRS is not a good choice for making random contacts like CB or ham radio. Most GMRS users are using it for short range family communications. Many users keep a CTCSS or DCS squelch set so they don't have to listen to random users. That makes random contacts difficult.
If you are just looking for a couple of radios to use for talking between your friends/family, then it is absolutely a good choice.
If you are looking for a hobby radio service to talk to random people, get a CB or study for your ham radio license.

 

[buddrousa]

Question 3 was do you have access to a good site.
Meaning repeaters on 20 to 50 foot towers do not have much range but rent a spot 200 foot up and you would have decent range 300 foot would be better.

 

[rescuecomm]

What is the going rate for commercial tower rental sites? It used to be $2.00 per foot back in 1992. That would be $400.00 per month for an antenna at 200 feet. I imagine it is a considerable amount now.

 

[mmckenna]

What is the going rate for commercial tower rental sites? It used to be $2.00 per foot back in 1992. That would be $400.00 per month for an antenna at 200 feet. I imagine it is a considerable amount now.

I don't know.
I do have a few tower sites at work and we lease space to cell carriers. Depending on the location, it's between $1500 and $3000 per month.

 

[rescuecomm]

If someone was mounting a single antenna for a IG repeater at 250 feet, is the price the same? The cellular arrays are really big. I used to have pics of my stepson doing installations.

 

[mmckenna]

If someone was mounting a single antenna for a IG repeater at 250 feet, is the price the same? The cellular arrays are really big. I used to have pics of my stepson doing installations.

No, the cell carriers are paying market prices for a big chunk of the top of the tower.
A single antenna would be much cheaper, but still in the hundreds range.

Used to be you could find small towers owned by individuals or a city/county and work a decent deal. Now, so many towers are owned by Crown Castle, American Tower, etc. and they usually are not interested in making deals.
Also, any reputable tower owner will want you to:
Have insurance
Have professional/trained/certified/insured tower climbers, or use the tower owners climbers.
Structure loading studies,
RF interference/Intermodulation studies,
Money up front.

But, hunt around, you can find deals.

 

[rescuecomm]

I was referencing buddrousa on locating a repeater on a 200 foot plus tower. It's a reason that good GMRS repeaters are relatively rare and require a subscription fee. One used to be able to get on TV/radio transmitter sites by doing public service comms and they would add your group to their FCC paperwork. Public services don't need any help with their comms these days, so I suppose everyone pays site rent up front.

 

[buddrousa]

Bob you could look into FM Radio Station might could make a deal.

 

[MUTNAV]

I was thinking a local building, but it really depends on what the OP wants, family and friends? Some people live close to work and stay in the same area all day, some people commute between Conneticut and NJ on a daily basis...

So... whats the objective here?

 

[rescuecomm]

The OP is in Whitmire SC. I've been through there a few times over the years. Other than a utility water tank and cell towers, theres not many tall structures you could put a repeater on.

 

[MUTNAV]

The OP is in Whitmire SC. I've been through there a few times over the years. Other than a utility water tank and cell towers, theres not many tall structures you could put a repeater on.

A water tank !!! Owned by the town? Possibilities Possibilities Especially if the original poster has some applicable skills, (and the size and disposition of town leadership).

BTW this isn't disparaging in any way, I saw in California a tri-band beam mounted to the fire escape of a military barracks because of the friendly disposition of the base commander (the next commander wasn't happy about it, but it was too late).

Thanks
Joel

 

[rescuecomm]

If the OP is a local and knows the local political leaders, it can be done.

 

[ecps92]

Most liability insurances are pushing the towns to remove any RF from active Water towers.
A group I belonged to had multiple on town Water towers and all had to be removed, that also included the PD/FD and DPW

A water tank !!! Owned by the town? Possibilities Possibilities Especially if the original poster has some applicable skills, (and the size and disposition of town leadership).

BTW this isn't disparaging in any way, I saw in California a tri-band beam mounted to the fire escape of a military barracks because of the friendly disposition of the base commander (the next commander wasn't happy about it, but it was too late).

Thanks
Joel

 

[buddrousa]

At one time the company's that service water tanks claimed RF made the paint peel and fade.

 

[gman4661]

Would it be worth the time to get into gmrs around here in Newberry county.

There's a newish GMRS repeater around Edgefield, SC on 462.625