GMRS Repeaters HELP!

**montanadave** · 02-26-12, 11:01

So I'm trying to figure out a way to provide decent two-way communication on about 250 acres of mountain pasture and wooded hills. I was thinking about getting some high-quality GMRS handhelds but am concerned about not having the necessary range required. I will have a building at one of the high points on the property which would provide (I presume) an ideal spot to install a small repeater which might fill in any gaps in coverage.

I'm trying to educate myself, but there is so much technical jargon that I find myself in over my head just about everywhere I surf around to get information. I'm not looking to spend a fortune but I could budget $1500 dollars to get a system up and running.

Is this feasible and where can I go to get the right advice on selecting the right equipment and installing it properly?

**TacCommE21** · 02-26-12, 12:19

I would skip the GMRS and get an amateur radio technician license. Much greater range of freqs and features. Email me with any questions.

**Hmac** · 02-26-12, 12:27

I suppose your particular terrain plays a big part, but my buddies and I all use Garmin Rino's for snowmobiling. The US version of the upper level Rino's transmits voice on GMRS at 1.0 watt and we have found it to work just fine for communication over distances 3-5 miles in the woods of Minnesota and mountains of Montana with line-of-sight ranges of up to 11 miles. GPS coordinate transmission on the versions we use is over FRS at 500 mw, however, so that function has more limited range, but usable range for voice on GMRS hasn't been a problem. Unless your terrain is outrageous, I'd be surprised if you had much communication trouble over the 1/2 square mile you're mentioning.

**TacCommE21** · 02-26-12, 12:54

...and don't forget the required GMRS license which is $85.

**Hmac** · 02-26-12, 17:24

For 5 years.

Amateur licenses are basically free, although there would be cost of study materials for the test and the cost of taking the test itself.
It is true that a technician amateur license would be cost-effective and would likely be the way to go, especially if there is already a 2-meter repeater in your area. I'm not sure you'd get better much better performance out of a 2-meter handheld than a GMRS handheld without it.

**alienb1212** · 02-26-12, 19:20

Just for curiosity's sake, where would one GET a GMRS repeater?

**montanadave** · 02-26-12, 21:14

So if I were to stick with the GRMS route, who makes the best equipment? And are there units which also incorporate NOAA channels, etc.? I know Garmin has some units with GPS capability but that's probably overkill for my purposes.

I want something powerful, rugged, and simple to use. I'm no tech geek and my wife is even less so. Too complicated and she won't take it with her.

**Hmac** · 02-26-12, 23:20

Originally Posted by montanadave

So if I were to stick with the GRMS route, who makes the best equipment? And are there units which also incorporate NOAA channels, etc.? I know Garmin has some units with GPS capability but that's probably overkill for my purposes.

I want something powerful, rugged, and simple to use. I'm no tech geek and my wife is even less so. Too complicated and she won't take it with her.

If we're talking handhelds, I don't really know. I mean, Motorola would be the obvious place to start, but I don't know about their quality, and I've read that their published range estimates are...uh..optimistic. I mean, they say 35-45 miles on the package of their top-of-the-line 2 watt rigs, but published reviews are kind of harsh on those statistics. And Motorola reportedly doesn't make them (China, I'd guess)...they only actually make their business line of radios. Another good place to look would be Midland. Maybe start checking reviews on Midland products. Then there's Kenwood, Icom, Pryme, Maxon, Uniden. There are a number of GMRS forums around, like popularwireless.com, probably some good info there.