You must have a license. obtaining-your-gmrs-license/

Notes it does reach 167 s not sure about west court

Predicted maps. Not yet in operation

Test at 35ft

Test at 100 ft .

However based on actual ABSD tracking history i get a different plot

Looking at the inner ring which is up to 999ft that almost matches the 100ft prediction

Using actual plot and reducing it down to what should be a 30 ft area i get my prediction
Only a prediction I would be shocked if I could reach the interstate. Or Natchitoches.

Just an experiment need to do actual testing

32 Ft mapping test

So above is expected actual coverage

The post Winnfield La GMRS range test Archived first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.

Here is a link to the guy that found the COS qyt-kt8900-allstar-node
In case that link goes down here are the connections.

PTT comes from mic RJ45
3=mic
5=PPT
6=GND

Audio comes from vol control

COS comes from the main chip. Front facing you from the bottom up its the 5th pin

The post QYT KT8900 COS connections for a GMRS node first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.

The world of GMRS

“The Licensed Frequencies”

Once upon a time, in the quaint town of Radioville, there existed a curious community of radio enthusiasts. They were passionate about communication, but their paths diverged when it came to licensing.

Chapter 1: The Ham’s Quest

Meet Henry the Ham Operator. Henry was an old-timer with a handlebar mustache and a collection of vintage vacuum tubes. He spent his days tinkering with Morse code keys, building antennas, and chatting with fellow hams across the globe. His shack was adorned with QSL cards from distant lands, each representing a successful radio contact.

Henry believed in the sacred art of licensing with a test. He had passed his amateur radio exams, aced the technical questions, and even memorized the phonetic alphabet. To him, the airwaves were a privilege—one earned through knowledge and dedication.

Chapter 2: The GMRS Rebel

On the other side of Radioville lived Grace the GMRS Rebel. Grace was a free spirit with wild hair and a knack for pushing boundaries. She loved her Baofeng handheld radio—the one she bought online without any tests or certifications. Grace reveled in the simplicity of GMRS. No Morse code, no theory, just a button to press and a voice to be heard.

Grace’s friends joined her in the rebellion. They formed the “Licensed Frequencies Club” and met at the local coffee shop. Their conversations were unfiltered, spontaneous, and occasionally chaotic. They talked about everything—from weather updates to conspiracy theories—all without the need for a rigorous exam.

Chapter 3: The Hidden Node

One day, Grace stumbled upon an abandoned radio tower deep in the Radioville forest. It was covered in ivy, its rusted antenna pointing toward the sky. Curiosity piqued, she climbed the tower and discovered a hidden room. Inside, an ancient radio set blinked to life.

The voice crackled through the speaker: “Welcome, Grace. I am Node 1195 You have found the gateway to a parallel radio universe. a place where all the fun is without the sad hams”

Grace’s eyes widened. Node 1195 explained that GMRS was like ham radio’s rebellious cousin. It didn’t require extensive tests, but it had limitations. The frequencies were shared with walkie-talkies, baby monitors, and such. It was a chaotic playground where anyone could transmit, but only a truly understood the dance of the waves and that a $35 license would let you use 50 watts..

Chapter 4: The Grand Experiment

Grace returned to Radioville with newfound purpose. She rallied her rebel friends and set up a makeshift GMRS repeater atop the old tower. They called it “GMRS Live”. It became a hub for chatter—a place where truckers, campers, and conspiracy theorists mingled freely.

Henry, the ham, was skeptical. He visited the tower one moonlit night. There, he met Grace and listened to the cacophony of voices. “This isn’t radio,” he grumbled. “It’s chaos.” The sad ham would interrupt with radio broadcast talking about ‘traffic control’ & ‘how gmrs is not supposed to be this.’ But everyone just ignored him and refused to fight him.

But Grace disagreed. “Radio is about connection,” she said.

Epilogue: The Harmonious Blend

And so, Radioville found balance. The hams and the GMRS rebels learned from each other. Henry taught Grace Morse code, and Grace showed Henry how to program a Baofeng. They shared stories, laughter, and the magic of the airwaves.

In the end, it wasn’t just about licenses or exams. It was about the joy of reaching out, touching distant souls, and saying, “Can you hear me? Over.”

And so, in the heart of Radioville, the Licensed Frequencies Club thrived, bridging the gap between tradition and rebellion. They proved that sometimes, the best conversations happen when rules are flexible, and frequencies blend seamlessly.

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real radio operators, towns, or hidden nodes is purely coincidental.

The post GMRS vrs Sad HAMs first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.

MFJ Enterprises, a well-known name in the amateur radio community, has made the difficult decision to cease on-site production. The company, founded by Martin F. Jue (callsign K5FLU), has been a staple in the world of ham radio for over five decades. Their products, including brands like Ameritron, Hy-Gain, Cushcraft, Mirage, and Vectronics, have been trusted by hams worldwide.

The announcement came as a surprise to many. MFJ’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the growth of amateur radio. From antenna tuners to amplifiers, their equipment has been a fixture in ham shacks. However, financial challenges, compounded by the impact of the Covid pandemic, led to this difficult decision.

Martin F. Jue, now 80 years old, penned a heartfelt letter to the MFJ community, expressing gratitude for their support over the years. While on-site production may cease, the MFJ brand will live on through repair services and existing stock. Hams everywhere continue to appreciate the quality and innovation that MFJ brought to the hobby.

As the sun sets on the MFJ Enterprises facility in Starkville, Mississippi, the ham radio world reflects on the legacy of Martin F. Jue—a legacy that will resonate through the airwaves for generations to come.

Martin F. Jue is an American business personality, inventor and founder/owner of several companies, including MFJ Enterprises, Hy-Gain, Cushcraft,^[2] Ameritron, Vectronics and others, all of which manufacture products for the amateur radio industry. He holds numerous patents on specialized technology, especially in the area of T network field tuners.

https://mfjenterprises.com

Everything is on sale on the website if you need a antenna or something for GMRS check it out.

The post MFJ Enterprises Ceases On-Site Production first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed radio service regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Here are some key points about GMRS:

1. Frequency Range:
   • GMRS operates on channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz.
   • These frequencies are commonly used for short-distance, two-way voice communications using handheld radios, mobile radios, and repeater systems.
2. Communication Devices:
   • GMRS allows communication through various devices, including:
     • Handheld Radios: Portable devices for personal use.
     • Mobile Radios: Installed in vehicles or fixed locations.
     • Repeater Systems: Used to extend the range of communication.
3. Expanded Functionality:
   • In 2017, the FCC expanded GMRS to allow additional features:
     • Short Data Messaging: Including text messaging.
     • GPS Location Information: Enhancing safety and coordination.
   • Similar services include the Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS), Family Radio Service (FRS), and Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS).
4. Licensing:
   • An FCC license is required to operate a GMRS system.
   • Licenses are issued for a ten-year term and can be renewed.
   • Eligibility for new GMRS system licenses is limited to individuals.
   • Previously licensed non-individual systems can continue using GMRS.
5. Channels and Bandwidth:
   • There are 30 GMRS channels with a bandwidth of 25 kHz (20 kHz authorized bandwidth) or 12.5 kHz.
   • Channels are used for voice-only or voice and data operations.
   • Cooperation in channel selection ensures effective use and reduces interference.
6. Operating Rules:
   • GMRS license holders can use a combination of portable, mobile, fixed, and repeater stations.
   • No channel is exclusively assigned to any system.
   • Family members, regardless of age, can operate GMRS stations within the licensed system.

The post GMRS Help What is it first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.

The post GMRS- 10 MINUTE NODE SETUP MADE EASY first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.

To strengthen existing cybersecurity measures and safeguard user accounts, starting on March 29,
2024, users of the FCC’s Commission Registration System (CORES) will be required to undergo a twostep login authentication process each time a user logs into CORES or its associated FCC User
Registration System (https://apps2.fcc.gov/fccUserReg/pages/login.htm). All applicants and licensees are
required to access CORES to pay any application or regulatory fees, manage or reset a password on an
existing FRN, or request a new FRN. When accessing the system, users will be prompted to request a sixdigit secondary verification code, which will be sent to the email address(es) associated with each
username. The user will then need to enter the code into CORES before they can continue. This additional
layer of security will further safeguard against unauthorized access, thereby enhancing the overall
integrity of information contained within the CORES system and improving the security of user data.
We recommend registrants confirm they have access to their Username Account E-mail and add a
secondary e-mail address, if appropriate. Please consult the article Updating Your Username Account for
detailed instructions.
Going forward, the FCC is in the process of adopting new technology to meet the “high
confidence” Authenticator Assurance Level standard for identity proofing in order for a user to create or
access an account within the CORES system.
For inquiries or assistance regarding the implementation of multi-factor authentication on
CORES, please submit a help request at https://www.fcc.gov/wtbhelp

The post FCC website to add 2 Factor first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.

AI made this cat image for me. The cat has a radio…

The post The AI Cat watches your node for you first appeared on Louisiana Nationwide.