North Georgia GMRS linked systems

[mmckenna]

One thing I will add:
That LAST thing GMRS needs is some ham radio coordination group trying to jump in to "fix" things. I'm not aware of anyone trying to do that, but I do know that some homegrown online ham radio repeater guides also track GMRS repeaters. GMRS doesn't need ARRL getting invovled and screwing things up (yeah, I know they are not, but I'm sure some of the egos over there have considered it). GMRS doesn't need ham radio style repeater coordination where clubs suck up available pairs on paper and don't put up a machine.

I'd kind of rather have it the way it is now, all busted and broken, than some local ham radio coordinator trying to force their image of what they think the service should be on everyone. With the right group of individual repeater owners, adults should be able to sort this out.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

One thing I will add:
That LAST thing GMRS needs is some ham radio coordination group trying to jump in to "fix" things. I'm not aware of anyone trying to do that, but I do know that some homegrown online ham radio repeater guides also track GMRS repeaters. GMRS doesn't need ARRL getting invovled and screwing things up (yeah, I know they are not, but I'm sure some of the egos over there have considered it). GMRS doesn't need ham radio style repeater coordination where clubs suck up available pairs on paper and don't put up a machine.

I'd kind of rather have it the way it is now, all busted and broken, than some local ham radio coordinator trying to force their image of what they think the service should be on everyone. With the right group of individual repeater owners, adults should be able to sort this out.

Jeez, reminds me of that guy/troll who repeatedly pushed proposals to "fix GMRS", eliminate and "refarm" GMRS into a low simplex only service because in his opinion we needed more FRS type channels because in his town they were all busy.

 

[mmckenna]

Jeez, reminds me of that guy/troll who repeatedly pushed proposals to "fix GMRS", eliminate and "refarm" GMRS into a low simplex only service because in his opinion we needed more FRS type channels because in his town they were all busy.

Haven't heard from that guy in a while, I wonder what happened to him?

I like GMRS the way it is. Glad the FCC didn't break it any more than it already is.

As for this specific situation, I really gotta wonder if any thought went into system design, or if they just started buying up existing repeaters and linking them all together. Seems like a good way to piss of the most number of users possible.

Kind of like the guy in the buffet line that takes all the slices of pie and leaves stale cookies for everyone else.

 

[KevinC]

I vote for 38 mHz.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I vote for 38 mHz.

I am thinking 35.04 MHz, 141.3 Hz for my itinerant low band. It is within frequency range of any low band radio model out there. I might also be able to triplex with 10M and 6M antennas with some skills.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Haven't heard from that guy in a while, I wonder what happened to him?

I like GMRS the way it is. Glad the FCC didn't break it any more than it already is.

As for this specific situation, I really gotta wonder if any thought went into system design, or if they just started buying up existing repeaters and linking them all together. Seems like a good way to piss of the most number of users possible.

Kind of like the guy in the buffet line that takes all the slices of pie and leaves stale cookies for everyone else.

Well they have something north of 1,100 happy customers on the network and only two people on this thread are unhappy. Assuming they have 14 repeaters and 31,000 square miles, I doubt that they are occupying all 8 pairs in every point on the map. That said there are probably dozens of private repeaters in the state. I will be joining the system just to find out more and because I travel that area, much of it is very sparsely populated. So for example, one breaks their leg hiking in say, Cades Cove, it will be a life saver to be linked to a population center. I don't think the naysayers have given this much thought.

We have a system called SARNET here in Florida for the Hams. It is very extensively linked and only exists because someone with some pull at the FDOT was able to colocate on state owned towers. Is it wasteful to light up 50 repeaters statewide to talk with a buddy a mile away? Sure, but if there is a hurricane it is linked all the way to state EOC.

 

[mmckenna]

I don't think the naysayers have given this much thought.

Not being from Georgia, I'm not familiar with the area, so that's a good point. I suspect there are other system that would work if GMRS wasn't available. But, good to have options.

I'm running off the info that OP provided, that they are tying up all 8 pairs with the same multicasted traffic in the same area. Hopefully that's not the case.

I had access to a high level GMRS repeater for many years. I was fortunate enough to get my own PL tone on it. It was a shared repeater with several tones, plus it covered some high population areas that had many repeaters on each pair. We were all still able to get along.

We have a system called SARNET here in Florida for the Hams. It is very extensively linked and only exists because someone with some pull at the FDOT was able to colocate on state owned towers. Is it wasteful to light up 50 repeaters statewide to talk with a buddy a mile away? Sure, but if there is a hurricane it is linked all the way to state EOC.

Easier to do on amateur, that's for sure. I've used a few wide area ham systems and they are useful at times. Usually don't hear a whole lot of traffic on them, though.

 

[MTS2000des]

Well they have something north of 1,100 happy customers on the network and only two people on this thread are unhappy. Assuming they have 14 repeaters and 31,000 square miles, I doubt that they are occupying all 8 pairs in every point on the map. That said there are probably dozens of private repeaters in the state. I will be joining the system just to find out more and because I travel that area, much of it is very sparsely populated. So for example, one breaks their leg hiking in say, Cades Cove, it will be a life saver to be linked to a population center. I don't think the naysayers have given this much thought.

Great. You sound like one of those cellphone carrier cheerleaders on a forum I used to frequent. Someone posts valid, verified factual information that (insert the cheerleader's carrier of choice) that calls them out when their coverage, billing, or promotions go awry, and the ad hominem attack is on.

Speaking of cellphones, maybe you should retire that 2008 flip phone before Verizon kills off CDMA, then you wouldn't have to resort to using some cobbled together frequency hogging GMRS network to keep good comms. Sorry could not resist since taking cheap shots is the norm on RR forums.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Great. You sound like one of those cellphone carrier cheerleaders on a forum I used to frequent. Someone posts valid, verified factual information that (insert the cheerleader's carrier of choice) that calls them out when their coverage, billing, or promotions go awry, and the ad hominem attack is on.

Speaking of cellphones, maybe you should retire that 2008 flip phone before Verizon kills off CDMA, then you wouldn't have to resort to using some cobbled together frequency hogging GMRS network to keep good comms. Sorry could not resist since taking cheap shots is the norm on RR forums.

well... Geez and its only been a month since I took you off my ignore list.

 

[KevinC]

Stop, just stop it. Jeez!!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Not being from Georgia, I'm not familiar with the area, so that's a good point. I suspect there are other system that would work if GMRS wasn't available. But, good to have options.

I'm running off the info that OP provided, that they are tying up all 8 pairs with the same multicasted traffic in the same area. Hopefully that's not the case.

I had access to a high level GMRS repeater for many years. I was fortunate enough to get my own PL tone on it. It was a shared repeater with several tones, plus it covered some high population areas that had many repeaters on each pair. We were all still able to get along.

Easier to do on amateur, that's for sure. I've used a few wide area ham systems and they are useful at times. Usually don't hear a whole lot of traffic on them, though.

Getting a high site is impossible these days. Especially in FL where we have no mountains or hills for that matter. So unless you have very deep pockets it may be necessary to use linking to get beyond a 5 or 10 mile radius. DMR IP SITE Connect could make linking very easy, but guess what even that modern technology cannot monitor the remote site for co channel activity.

 

[kny2xb]

Jeez, reminds me of that guy/troll who repeatedly pushed proposals to "fix GMRS", eliminate and "refarm" GMRS into a low simplex only service because in his opinion we needed more FRS type channels because in his town they were all busy.

Oh God, if I remember that guy correctly, lets NOT speak of him anymore lest we invoke his return

He was even on other web forums with his 'ideas' [I use the word loosely, & guardedly]

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Oh God, if I remember that guy correctly, lets NOT speak of him anymore lest we invoke his return

He was even on other web forums with his 'ideas' [I use the word loosely, & guardedly]

 

[DailyUser83]

Just an update for the members who tried to help me. I have decided to go to a part 90 type system. I had a member reach out to me with extensive personal knowledge who gave me the skinny on this group and how they operate (Dick Tracy and Playing Batman types). Really pathetic and put a bad taste in my mouth. I will not go into detail. But thanks again for the technical guidance.

 

[Cameron314]

I'm running off the info that OP provided, that they are tying up all 8 pairs with the same multicasted traffic in the same area. Hopefully that's not the case.

I had the same understanding which would be ridiculous.

 

[ur20v]

I wonder how much the administrators of that nonprofit personally make each year? It would be interesting to see, given that in addition to dues for membership, they also ask for financial donations on their website.

 

[mmckenna]

Just an update for the members who tried to help me. I have decided to go to a part 90 type system.

Are you going to rent service from someone else, or convert your system to a Part 90?

Either one would work well. Plus it gives you a lot more options in the long run. GMRS ties you to analog, which is just fine, but digital is more better for a lot of reasons.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

"How can a user of one linked repeater effectively monitor ALL linked repeaters to ensure ALL frequencies are clear before transmitting so as to operate in compliance with 95.359?"

There is actually a very simple technique to do this that may already be a software feature in some commercial repeaters. It may be an LTR and DMR feature. This solution should satisfy co channel sharing.

It requires rudimentary logic and a timer: A PIC12F675 uC will do all of this easily with few extra parts.

1. Monitor CSQ , valid CTCSS and wireline PTT.

2. If CSQ is active and valid CTCSS is NOT, hold off wireline PTT until CSQ is inactive and xxx seconds have elapsed. Link will be polite due to a cochannel mobile being sensed. xxx seconds = typical repeater drop out delay plus a margin.

3. If CSQ is active and valid CTCSS is active , hold off wireline PTT until CSQ is inactive and zero seconds elapse. Allows link to transmit without barging in on valid users, optional.

4. if CSQ and valid CTCSS are inactive allow wireline PTT to assert TX.

This is not a "perfect solution" if the repeater is "an alligator", but the timer, if set properly will not only accommodate repeater drop out delay of the co channel repeater, it will sense co channel activity beyond the 50% contour of the repeater coverage (random squelch breaks). It won't protect simplex operations, but simplex users generally have more channel options.

 

[DailyUser83]

Just going to rent for now. The provider has multiple repeaters around the Atlanta area. I really could care less about what they are charging and how they justify their business practices. Non profits just opens a big can of worms for the Treasury's Audit taskforce in my books. Maybe the FCC will fix it, maybe they won't. One big maybe. Thanks again for everyone's help. Problem solved.

 

[mmckenna]

Just going to rent for now. The provider has multiple repeaters around the Atlanta area. I really could care less about what they are charging and how they justify their business practices. Non profits just opens a big can of worms for the Treasury's Audit taskforce in my books. Maybe the FCC will fix it, maybe they won't. One big maybe. Thanks again for everyone's help. Problem solved.

Once you leave GMRS, you can do cool things like run digital, encryption, etc.

And you'll get better coverage than what you would with your own single site repeater.