Let’s Operate!

Okay, I Have A Radio! Now What!

Here are a couple of pointers to help you get started, including some FCC and local “rules”…

• To use a repeater, your radio needs to be capable of something called semi-duplex. Repeaters requires a separate input frequency, output frequency, and usually a Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) or DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) tone to operate. For instance, a repeater in the listing might have an input of 467.600MHz, an output of 462.600MHz, and a CTCSS tone of 146.2Hz. Your radio needs to transmit on 467.600MHz, listen on 462.600MHz and transmit (encode) a CTCSS tone of 146.2Hz. We have YouTube videos on how to program common radios with free software, or follow the instructions that may have come with your radio.

• When using or “hitting” a repeater, the repeater will usually transmit a silent carrier (silent signal) for a short time immediately after you let off the button, typically a half-second up to 3 seconds. There may also be some sort of audible courtesy tone or beep. This courtesy tone is intended to let you know that the person transmitting has finished, and now it is your turn. You do not need to use your own courtesy tones, “roger beeps” or any other audio transmitting on your radio and can turn any such features off. Make sure to use your call sign when transmitting at all times.
• When using a repeater, you must identify your transmission, regardless of how short or long that transmission is. Just clicking the button on your radio to see if you can ‘hit the repeater” is bad form, frowned upon, and really doesn’t tell you much. You want to make sure that not only can you get to the repeater, but that others can actually hear you as well. Use your FCC call sign and your Group ID if you’d like. Your FCC license requires you to identify:
  • Following a single transmission, or series of transmissions
  • After 15 minutes (if your conversation lasts 15 minutes or more)
  • At least once every 15 minutes after the initial 15 minute ID (if your conversation lasts 30 minutes or more)

You do NOT need to say your callsign every time you press the transmit button during a conversation. This means that you can call someone and talk, but you need to use your call sign when you’re done talking as well as every 15 minutes during. If there are 2 people under the same call sign talking, theoretically BOTH parties must identify after the conversation is complete. We hope and require that at least one of you does. It is good practice to START your transmission with your call sign also, including any “tactical” unit numbers you were assigned or your family may have decided to use.

• Sometimes you will hear someone say “WABC123 Monitoring”. This means WABC123 is listening to the repeater and is open to short conversations.
• If you are testing your radio to see if things are working, you should say “WABC123 Testing”. You may get replies from others but you don’t need to answer. If you’re looking to test without any response, you could say “WABC123 testing, no response needed”. DO NOT JUST CLICK THE RADIO!
• Clicking the repeater to see if you can get into is is poor form and doesn’t really tell you anything. You can hear the the repeater, transmit and “open up” the repeater, but you have no idea what your audio quality is. Just because you can transmit to it does not always mean that your signal is good. If you’re curious, transmit something like “WABC123, how well am I being heard?” or something of that nature. Chances are someone will come back to you and tell you what your signal quality is.
• We have members that may have or currently use other systems like ham radio, police band, CB radio or others. In GMRS, we use plain English and no codes or slang. Keep slang from other services there. Talk in plain English like you would when you speak to someone in person.
• GMRS is in the Ultra-High frequency band, otherwise known as UHF. UHF has a small wavelength and the signal likes to bounce off of things. Due to this, UHF is considered line of sight. We try to place repeaters with antennas in very high places so they can see far across the horizon. However, as a GMRS user, you may find times you’re unable to access a repeater. This is usually due to distance to the repeater, operation of a portable radio in a car (car acts like a cage and holds the radio transmissions inside the vehicle), tree cover absorbing the signal and so on. If something doesn’t work, try to get an antenna higher in the air and try again.
• The General Mobile Radio Service, or GMRS, is just that; a service designed for mobile radio use. Over the years, it’s morphed into a lot of people using portable radios for their communications. However, many repeaters are designed and mapped for the use of higher powered mobile radios. Your ability to access a repeater with a portable will always be predicated on your location, height, and obstructions. Repeater maps are designed for mobile coverage and portable coverage will be less than indicated.
• We are a family-centric group. Repeater owners do not allow swearing, music, whistling or other prohibited communications on our affiliated systems, linked or stand alone. You should be familiar with prohibited communications, which can be found HERE.
• When communicating on a repeater, make sure to leave some space between transmissions just in case someone needs to get in or even has an emergency. We have had instances where emergencies that a member needed help with came over the air. Please be kind and help your fellow users by leaving space here and there between transmissions.
• The linked repeaters are a value add to users for wider area coverage. Repeater owners who have linked their systems want and allow their systems to be used. There is no reason to be afraid of it and want it used. In return, be respectful of their repeater and work.
• Linked repeaters behave like stand alone repeaters when their link is down for whatever reason since it is just remote control. All repeaters have a “coverage area” and that local coverage area does not change whether its linked or not. If the link is down, many cases the repeater is still on the air and working locally unless there was a failure at the site for some reason that knocked the whole system off the air. It’s electronics, it happens sometimes, albeit rarely.
• Once a month, we have something called a “net”. This net, or Network, is hosted on the linked repeaters and is more or less a radio-based meeting. Someone calls a net using a script, and reads out times for members to “check in”. This is your attendance, and is completely optional. It is an EXCELLENT way to test your radios monthly because if the net controller can hear you and acknowledges, your signal is getting through! It is also a time for various members around the system to pass information or announcements to the group and listeners as a whole. Don’t be afraid, check in and say hi!