GMRS VoIP linking

[K4RJJ]

The GMRS crowd has had their FCC ruling and can now legally do VoIP linking. Anyone think this is good or bad for Amateur radio?

http://www.gmrslinking.com/

[KC5SAS]

I don't think it has anything to do with Ham Radio.
It's good news for a GMRS repeater user, like me, since it provides another potential way to use my GMRS radio on the local repeater.

[W7DJM]

"""Anyone think this is good or bad for Amateur radio""""


I'm not sure what you are asking. If you are suggesting that this "service" (VOIP) can be interlinked from GMRS to an amateur system, that is forbidden. You can't intertie RF commercial systems with amateur radio.

The one exception I can think of offhand, is that it MAY be legal to interlink amateur and commercial point to point microwave links, but I'm not sure.

[K4RJJ]

Quote[/b] (W7DJM @ July 08 2005,05:43)]"""Anyone think this is good or bad for Amateur radio""""


I'm not sure what you are asking. If you are suggesting that this "service" (VOIP) can be interlinked from GMRS to an amateur system, that is forbidden. You can't intertie RF commercial systems with amateur radio.

The one exception I can think of offhand, is that it MAY be legal to interlink amateur and commercial point to point microwave links, but I'm not sure.

Guess you did not read their website. The FCC has ruled that this IS legal to set up VoIP on GMRS repeaters. I do think it's a good thing for the GMRS service.

They are going to have a separate similar network. I plan to be able to use both very soon.

[WA2ZDY]

DJM did not misread, you did. He said GMRS cannot be linked with a ham station. He made no comment on the legality of GMRS using VoIP.

Is VOiP a good thing for GMRS? No. It will further encourage the hobbyists to use GMRS. That is not what GMRS is for. It's for folks like me whose family members are not hams and who do not want to put up with the crap on 11m. GMRS is already under "attack" by FRS users and those who've bought GMRS walkie-talkies by the millions and who use them without licensing them.

VOiP has some use, but it will be abused by those hobbyists who choose to "shoot skip" via the net.

[N8CPA]

Chris you have nicely summarized the appeal of Echolink, IRLP, and other wirelessless schemes. #It's shooting skip in a barrel, farm raised DX; game minus the sport.

It's a wonderfully usefool tool for some radio service applications where such ready comm capability is needed. #I'll grant that. #

But Amateur Radio DX is about the sport. #As far as I'm concerned, if wall paper doesn't represent a convergence of operating skill, #atmospheric luck, and a degree of persistence on the part of an [b] autonomous [\b] station operator, it is counterfeit. #It's a slug from a slim.

[KA3RFE]

Biggest mistake the FCC made was to include GMRS freqs into FRS. But also since many people are using radios without the license, its another CB debicle.

[W7DJM]

CPA, I agree with everything, except I don't understand the last:

"""It's a slug from a slim."""


I know what a "slug" means, but what's a "slim?"

(Sleezy snake mit dos englassesdarken?)

[N8CPA]

"Slim" is a term used to describe false DX calls, particularly fictitious DX-pediton calls. I'm using it in an expanded context, for a bogus DX QSO. It's bogus because using infra-structure linking violates the point to point attribute that a QSL implies. Really, it's no different for relayed RSTs as heard on DX nets, which I also consider bogus QSOs.

[W7DJM]

I must say, I've never before heard that term in amateur radio.