GMRS

[MPMB]

Got one fixed for "range" (the 275) and a handful of... handhelds.

A couple weeks ago, in the "backcountry," I was able to pickup the cleaning staff at Jenny Lake Lodge, a tick over 2mi away.

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[bd100]

In general, it'd be fine to start with 2-3 handhelds. Bonus points if you can plug them into power, and another bonus point if you can add an external speaker microphone for use in the truck. If you end up using one in the truck a lot, you might as well invest in a Midland 275, which can be mounted out of sight and can use an external antenna for better range. You can also do that with a GMRS handheld w/ speaker mike and external antenna, but the 275 would be a cleaner install and a bit more power.

But the easy option is start with a bubble pack of 2-3 FRS radios and call it good.

 

[Stormtroopin]

Don’t want to hijack the thread but I’ve been looking for a whip antenna for a GMRS setup. Looking to do something similar to the older hummers in the Military. Anyone have a similar setup or know when I should look for something like that.

 

[Radio Guy]

Don’t want to hijack the thread but I’ve been looking for a whip antenna for a GMRS setup. Looking to do something similar to the older hummers in the Military. Anyone have a similar setup or know when I should look for something like that.

Hummer antenna brackets are on eBay and here is one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/185308844230
Most Military/HMMWV antennas you see on eBay are about 9ft tall and cover roughly 30 to 90MHz and you need one that covers 462-467MHz. Most look the same as the 30-90MHz version but can cover 30-512MHz continuous and they cost a bit more, typically $250-$500 used.

I have one on my Mojave and a couple spares in the garage. My military mount is on the inside bed wall up high between the tailgate and wheel wheel well. I only use it when playing with military radios as its a helluva big ass antenna for just GMRS and the gain is similar to a 6" 1/4 wave whip on UHF.

 

[SamJ3]

I do more challenging wheeling about 1-2 times per year. I have a Midland MXT275 mounted inside, and a MXTA26 6DB Gain Whip Antenna outside. When not wheeling with a large group or in remote areas, I store the antenna and radio under the back seat. (The MX275 is rather compact and is mounted on a quick release bracket attached to the side of the dash - see the photo below.)

I also carry two Baofeng handheld GMRS radios (UV-5R and GM-15) for shorter range use, spotting, and as spares for other drivers.

I previously used FMRS radios, but those were insufficient for some groups and Jeep Jamboree.

Yes, I licensed per FCC requirements.

 

[cfi4u]

Question. The Radios at work, (equipment installed and handhelds), send out a digital signature with transmission. With a little work the communication department can track the radio that sent out the message. You don’t hear it but it’s there. Do these radio do the same? I think most digital type radios do. That might be the purpose of registering the radio to link radio and owner. Just a little conspiracy theory for you). That said I plan on going with one installed for the reach in an emergency and the handheld for back up.

 

[SamJ3]

Question. The Radios at work, (equipment installed and handhelds), send out a digital signature with transmission. With a little work the communication department can track the radio that sent out the message. You don’t hear it but it’s there. Do these radio do the same? I think most digital type radios do. That might be the purpose of registering the radio to link radio and owner. Just a little conspiracy theory for you). That said I plan on going with one installed for the reach in an emergency and the handheld for back up.

Regardless of if there is a digital signature on the radio (that's not a thing for the GMRS specification), the FCC license registration only associates the license owner by name to a call sign. Radios are not explicitly registered with family GMRS licenses. (The radios themselves must be FCC certified for GMRS use, but they are not individually registered with the FCC.)

 

[cfi4u]

Regardless of if there is a digital signature on the radio (that's not a thing for the GMRS specification), the FCC license registration only associates the license owner by name to a call sign. Radios are not explicitly registered with family GMRS licenses. (The radios themselves must be FCC certified for GMRS use, but they are not individually registered with the FCC.)

Good to know, thanks for the info…. conspiracy busted!

 

[Figmo]

Question. The Radios at work, (equipment installed and handhelds), send out a digital signature with transmission. With a little work the communication department can track the radio that sent out the message. You don’t hear it but it’s there. Do these radio do the same? I think most digital type radios do. That might be the purpose of registering the radio to link radio and owner. Just a little conspiracy theory for you). That said I plan on going with one installed for the reach in an emergency and the handheld for back up.

I am NOT a ham - but I think what you are describing is CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System) which is an inaudible tone you and your buddies can set when you broadcast. Others can then filter out all other radio traffic and just listen for signals matching that tone. Sort of a "I don't want to hear anybody else but these people" feature.

But it's not hard coded into your radio like some kind of identifying serial number or something. And it's also not an encryption or scrambler (which is illegal on GMRS). Anybody can just ignore the tones and listen to your conversation if they want to.

It's just to help groups filter out random chatter and focus only on the radios within the group.

 

[Radio Guy]

I am NOT a ham - but I think what you are describing is CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System) which is an inaudible tone you and your buddies can set when you broadcast. Others can then filter out all other radio traffic and just listen for signals matching that tone. Sort of a "I don't want to hear anybody else but these people" feature.

But it's not hard coded into your radio like some kind of identifying serial number or something. And it's also not an encryption or scrambler (which is illegal on GMRS). Anybody can just ignore the tones and listen to your conversation if they want to.

It's just to help groups filter out random chatter and focus only on the radios within the group.

On digital systems like P25, DMR, etc, there is a unit ID# sent with each transmission and that is assigned by the system operator. Some radios are set up to read user IDs some are not but the system operator can read them all. The ID is sent as digital data and not heard by users.

 

[bd100]

Some GMRS radios can do ID.

 

[djthumper]

Some GMRS radios can do ID.

Very few GMRS radios will transmit your location.

 

[SamJ3]

Some GMRS radios can do ID.

Yes, some GMRS radios can broadcast an ID as either a recorded voice message, or in Morse code.

GMRS CWID (Continuous Wave Identification) is a system where a GMRS repeater transmits a unique Morse code signal to identify itself periodically to comply with FCC regs.

These are typically used with repeaters, configurable by the radio user, and audibly present when used. (Sorry if this thread has fallen into a 'big brother is watching' rabbit hole )

 

[Radio Guy]

Yes, some GMRS radios can broadcast an ID as either a recorded voice message, or in Morse code.

GMRS CWID (Continuous Wave Identification) is a system where a GMRS repeater transmits a unique Morse code signal to identify itself periodically to comply with FCC regs.

These are typically used with repeaters, configurable by the radio user, and audibly present when used. (Sorry if this thread has fallen into a 'big brother is watching' rabbit hole )

Many GMRS users run Motorola or Harris or other commercial radios which can do MCD1200 signaling, which is left over technology from police/public service analog radio systems. You might hear this as a quick bleepity bleep bleep at the end of a transmission and the unit # will be displayed on radios equipped with MDC. Its really annoying to other users but some think its cool. Which its not really.

 

[Gladiatorguy]

GMRS newbie. Is there an "emergency" channel that everyone is supposed to monitor on dual-watch radios (or FRS for that matter)?

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