[chirp_users] GMRS Channel Locking

[Chris Romp]

Hi Nigel,

In the case of the RB26 that doesn't appear to be true: I have one in my
hands that's configured for repeater 18 (625) on the radio's channel 1, and
they seem perfectly happy to radio clone that configuration to
other units.  It may be that other radios do enforce it in the firmware
(e.g. BTech GMRS V1, though I haven't tested that).

Jim KC9HI explained that CHIRP is doing this because that's how the OEM
software behaves in the case of the RB26. I've since pulled down their
(terrible) software and verified that, and emailed Retevis to ask why (not
optimistic I'll get a useful response).

Thanks,
Chris KN6LEH

On Wed, Feb 23, 2022 at 10:16 AM Nigel A. Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel at ngunn.net>
wrote:

> Nothing to do with Chirp. The radio's firmware doesn't allow them to be
> changed.
>
>
> > On 23/02/2022 12:44 Chris Romp <chrisromp+chirp at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Thanks, Jim, for that info.  I've reached out to Retevis to see if
> > they have any input. Would it basically be a requirement for CHIRP to
> > support assigning any GMRS frequency to any channel for Retevis to
> > change their OEM software, even if the radio supports it?
> >
> > Thanks again,
> > Chris
> >
> > > On Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 6:08 PM Chris Romp <chrisromp+chirp at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > I have a question about how CHIRP handles GMRS radios, e.g. BTech
> GMRS V1 and Retevis RB26. I've noticed that CHIRP enforces that GMRS
> channels follow the FRS channel number and frequency pairings, e.g. Channel
> 1 is 462.5625, Channel 18 is 462.625, etc.  I've been trying to find in the
> FCC regs if this mapping is a requirement of GMRS operation. The only place
> I've found the channels spelled out is on 47 CFR Part 95B ?95.563 "FRS
> Channels" (link), but GMRS seems only to specify the frequencies and
> bandwidth which may be used via Part 95E ?95.1763 "GMRS Channels" (link).
> It's entirely possible that I've missed the clause requiring this mapping,
> and I am not a lawyer, so apologies if I've overlooked it.
> > > >
> > > > When I am programming a GMRS radio, I don't always want what my
> family refers to as our "channel 1" to be 462.5625.  Likewise I may want to
> set up different repeaters that may use the same frequencies, but different
> tones (especially on radios where I cannot edit the tone from the radio
> itself)  I am able to program the RB26 to accept an alternate GMRS-legal
> frequency with a little trickery, so there does not seem to be a firmware
> restriction enforcing this and it hasn't bricked my radio (yet).
> > > >
> > > > Would it be possible for CHIRP to accept GMRS-legal frequencies in
> any channel slot, and not require the FRS channel-frequency mapping?
> > > >
> > > > Thank you,
> > > > Chris Romp
> > >
> > > The BTECH GMRS-V1 channel assignments are in firmware. Even if CHIRP
> > > would let you put in different frequencies, it wouldn't make any
> > > difference. Channel 1 will always be 465.5625 MHz.
> > >
> > > The Retevis models are programmed to match how the OEM software
> > > behaves. Some of the newer Retevis models let you program the GMRS
> > > frequencies in the radio however you please.
> > >
> > > Jim KC9HI
> > _______________________________________________
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> > This message was sent to Nigel Gunn, W8IFF at nigel at ngunn.net
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>
> Nigel A. Gunn, ///shoulders.outwards.resolutions tel +1-937-971-0366
> Amateur Radio G8IFF W8IFF and GMRS WRBV701, e-mail nigel at ngunn.net www
> http://www.ngunn.net
>
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