12/09/2025
I'm sure that there is confusion about linked repeaters and repeater use in general.
Basically, repeaters are privately owned by a group or individual. Any licensed GMRS license holder can apparently set up a remote repeater, install access tones and limit its use to a group of certain numbers. This seems to be the preferred method of GMRS operations, be it everyday use or specific use in an emergency of some sort.
The reality is, you don't need a repeater unless, you buy some low powered, inefficient portable radio and desire to talk great distances, instead of just within a few miles or less, for which they were originally intended. High powered radios for the licensed GMRS holders aren't that difficult to obtain new or used.
Before it was a fad, repeaters weren't often used but, station to station was more common. Even today, repeaters must share the eight high power channels with any station. The repeaters have no priority over other station operators. Once a conversation starts on any channel, be it direct or on a repeater, all stations either stand by or join by permission if the parties engaged in conversation.
If you relegate yourself to a portable radio, I'd advise you to use the first seven channels, limited to five watts. You shouldn't need any more than that to contact family members within a few blocks, to a mile.
This should allow stations to contact others without restrictions in favor of any other station. You can caravan or travel with your family or special group without interruption, even if one or more chooses to use a portable radio, as long as said operator understands it's better to have a unit with an outside antenna on the vehicle.
So, you refused to study for a ham radio license test and opted to buy a license for the family to share? Guessing there wasn't so much to learn until you find out, there's more to GMRS than charging your cellphone? Time to study something.
