GMRS Travel and Off-road Channels

[Lgkaos]

For many of us most of what you all say flies right over our heads. We may know that VHF is Very High Frequency and UHF is Ultra High Frequency, and I am old enough to remember tuning a black and white television set or listening to the LA Dodgers on my transistor radio. Though TX? RX? TL;DL? Tones and repeaters? 16 or462.5750? Mode, Power, Band? Frankly, I don't even know if my dual band radios are GRMS or FRS. What pragmatically does all this mean those who want to join in on the trails in a productive, civil way while enjoying our jeeps amongst you all? Perhaps you would be kind enough to offer a lesson or point a noob in the right direction–

Honestly...I recommend you watch "NotARubicon: GMRS Basic 101". This guy does a great job of explaining complicated radio topics (GMRS specifically) and explaining it all in a non-pretentious, humorous manner that is easy to understand. Another good one is NotARubicon: Repeater Channel 101 episode.Careful though, once you watch one episode...you might be hooked for more.

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[jeepdriver99]

I saw that too. I think @jeepdriver99 meant to highlight that GMRS and FRS speak with each other on the channels/frequencies they share—

Thanks for pointing that out for IdahoJOAT. You are correct.

 

[IdahoJOAT]

Thanks for pointing that out for IdahoJOAT. You are correct.

Yup, I assumed it was a simple mistype, wasn't trying to be a dick.

There's been times I've had misspellings or mistypes and no one's said shit, which is good in a sense, but I'd rather someone say something and I'll edit/correct. No worries!

 

[prerunner1982]

GMRS can use repeater stations that are all over the country. My understanding is that licensing fees are for the upkeep of the repeater stations.

The FCC isn't giving any of their money to repeater owners for the upkeep of their repeaters.

 

[prerunner1982]

I must admit I don't understand the repeater use. You broadcast on one frequency, though listen on another? I get that a repeater sends you signal farther along; why the different frequencies?

So that the repeated signal can be retransmitted simultaneously. If a repeater used the same frequency for receive and transmit it would have to wait until you finished speaking to then retransmit your signal, so those close enough to receive your signal simplex would hear you twice. There would also be long delays between signals on the repeater while it waits for the next incoming signal that will be repeated. Those not within simplex range wouldn't know if they could transmit or not as they wouldn't hear you talking due to the delay.

APRS digital repeaters do use the same frequency, 144.390 in North America. This works because APRS transmissions are very short so the delay between RX and TX is short as well.

 

[jeepdriver99]

Yup, I assumed it was a simple mistype, wasn't trying to be a dick.

It never entered my mind that you were. I took it how you meant it!!

 

[IdahoJOAT]

What frequency do you all use typically?

We went out yesterday and everyone was on 16.

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