11/28/2020
Questions about this page:
What is a GMRS radio? In its simplest form its a hand held or mobile radio that you probably would call a walkie talkie. Today the range is quite good, several miles in many cases. If you use a repeater it can reach 30 or 40 miles away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service
Why do I want a radio? I have a cell phone!
You do and its hands down the best communication device you own. But it may not always work in the event of an emergency or if you are in an area that doesn't have a cellular coverage like camping, off roading, hiking, hunting, etc.
I don't want to talk to you on a walkie talkie.
Maybe not. I wanted to share an interest of mine with folks that are interested in being prepared and might want to learn to use a radio for communication when you can't use a cell phone. We're very dependent on our phones today. At this point everyone relies on our cellular providers 100 percent of the time to talk to others, if the phone in your pocket suddenly doesn't work you might be glad you have another way to reach people.
What is a repeater?
A radio repeater simultaneously receives a radio signal and re-transmits it at a higher power so it can cover greater distances. This enables communication between radio users where obstructions or distance are a problem.
Repeater stations usually have their antennas mounted high up on top of a tall building or hill which ideally is central to your area that you are looking to cover, so their range is much greater. The boosted signal from a repeater can also improve the clarity of the transmission. Repeaters receive radio waves on one frequency, called the “input” frequency, and then re-transmit the information on its “output” frequency.
Radio repeater systems are widely used by commercial businesses that operate over large or built-up areas, emergency services, public transport and amateur radio enthusiasts.
Why did you build a repeater?
Handheld radios are fun and useful, but they only transmit close ranges. With a repeater people can talk across all of Rockwall county and into surrounding cities. Most of my friends and family aren't interested in ham radio and studying for a technical test but many of them are interested in being able to communicate even without a phone if a disaster happens. I chose to use the GMRS radio service because of several reasons:
The radios are cheap. My friends can be cheap at times so this works.
While you need a license to talk on the repeater its easy and cheap from the FCC. It lasts 10 years, you get a sweet call sign from the government (who doesn't want a call sign) and your whole family can use it.
In short, I knew that if it was cheap, easy and quick my friends and family might buy a radio and get signed up. My goal isn't actually to chat to my buddies on a radio 24/7. By learning to use the radio and use the repeater to talk to each other they will actually have learned how to operate a radio effectively if and when the time or emergency came that they need it. If you don't become proficient before you need a radio then an emergency is a bad time to try to learn. As of today, I have over 20 friends and family that have bought radios and are FCC licensed on the GMRS radio service in the Rockwall, Texas area.
Sounds cool but I'm not capable of figuring all this out.
If you are local to me (and even if you're not) I help people buy, program and use radios. I help people get on the FCC website and get their license. I'll help you, too! If you're interested message me here on this page or email me at [email protected]
