Non-CB Radios - RRJC Channel Cheat Sheets & Troubleshooting

  
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Non-CB Radios - RRJC Channel Cheat Sheets & Troubleshooting

Postby LOBSTER » Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:52 pm

  1. Are you using the latest RRJC program?
    If you channel mode names are like the ones in the images below, you need to update your radio programming. If you have something different and want it updated reply to this post and someone who can program it can help you out or walk you through the process of programming it yourself. Many of us can update radios for other members.
  2. Don't have our latest program?
    Chances are your channels named "ONE, TWO, THREE, ..." will map out to "RRJC1, RRJC2, RRJC3, ..." if it's an RRJC program OR "FRS1, FRS2, FRS3, ..." if you have the Kamikazi Krawlerz program. Use the images below as a loose guide to program yourself or see #1.
  3. You can hear someone fine but they can't hear you despite volume being turned up?
    This can be caused by a few things: there's a chance you are both using a channel called something like "ONE" that is on the same frequency but their programmed channel has tone squelch turned on which mutes people that don't transmit the correct tone in addition to whatever they are saying; OR your radio thinks a microphone is plugged in when it isn't, OR your handheld microphone in broken, OR you plugged in microphone isn't working.
    1. Scroll through the channels together and see if there are differences in what was programmed to rule out programming OR switch to frequency mode and test on the same frequency.
    2. Blow into the microphone port, restart the radio, and transmit again.
    3. Plug in a microphone and see if it will work that way.
    4. Unplug the microphone and plug it back in, restart, and see if it will work.
    5. Use a different microphone, restart, and see if it will work.
  4. You don't know how to use your programming cable?
    Reply to this post and ask for help. A member who knows how to program radios may be able to help you.
  5. Why are some standard GMRS channels missing?
    GMRS and FRS share the same frequencies and in some of the older programs we did not add redundant frequencies in channels. The paired GMRS channels are literally sharing the same frequency as the odd FRS channels times two. For example, FRS1 uses the same frequency as GMRS2 while FRS5 is the same as GMRS10. Rather than include all the standard GMRS channels, we provided the ones that do not share the same frequency as the standard FRS channels. The newer programs do away with FRS channels and just have all the GMRS channels. If you are using your radio with someone that has an FRS channel, remember FRS channel name time 2 = GMRS channel name.
  6. What's the deal with RRJC1 and why doesn't it always work like the others?
    RRJC1 is the FRS1 frequency with Tone Squelch to reduce chatter from people not in our group. It has always resided in "Location = 0" for the club programming and is usually our default channel to use. A long time ago, someone explained to me that some brands of radios don't like it when "Location = 0" is used. Due to this, I will update our image files to program all the channels into 1 location higher than they've been in the past. As of 2021, our program has stopped using it. If you encounter this issue and don't have the latest program, just have everyone pick a different channel.
ChannelListA.png

ChannelListB.png
"...because without pictures/videos, it didn't happen."
| Gary (plus Teresa, Jack, and Amelia) | Club Treasurer | 2013 JKUR in Rock Lobster |
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BEFORE YOU TRANSMIT

Postby LOBSTER » Sat Feb 20, 2021 4:06 pm

BEFORE YOU TRANSMIT
  • In Canada, only transmit on the channels with names starting with "RRJC", "FRS", or "GPRS" in the name if you do not hold an amateur radio license. In an emergency scenario, if you hear activity on one of the other channels it may be OK to transmit and ask for help.
  • In the USA, there are different rules. Best to check with the locals you are with to see what can be used and don't forget as long as they know the frequency of their channel, you can probably switch to frequency mode and just dial it in if it doesn't match one of our programmed ones.
"...because without pictures/videos, it didn't happen."
| Gary (plus Teresa, Jack, and Amelia) | Club Treasurer | 2013 JKUR in Rock Lobster |
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Program Update - October 2021

Postby LOBSTER » Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:35 am

In October 2021 I updated the programs and they haven't changed since. You should be able to tell if you have the latest program because when you turn it on you should see the following:

UPDATE
202110


!ChannelCheatSheet_202110.png

It should work fine with previous programming as long as you stick to channels on the old radios with FRS or GMRS in the name.

We have images for programming the following models of radio:
- Baofeng UV-5R
- Baofeng UV-5RX3
- Baofeng BF-F8HP
- Baofeng UV-82WP (UV-9R)
- Wouxun KG-UV66

Each one of those radios is set up as close to each other as possible. You can tell if you have the most recent program on your radio by turning it on. It should say 202110 momentarily. This was added to help everyone local to MB figure out what versions of programming a radio has on startup going forward. Many changes have been made, based on active member feedback, not just re-arranging saved channels and deleting duplicates. In theory, if I find time a full breakdown of what was done and why is forthcoming.

If you have one of the original programs with channels literally named, one, two, three, ..., you are long overdue to update as people may hear you but you won't hear them. Those channels, or later ones named "RRJC #" should match up with the FRS and GMRS channels. Be patient and eventually you will find one that will work on either radio even if you're using the oldest program with some trial. Likewise, previous programs we have done with FRS or GMRS in the channel name will sync up with the new program channels named "GMRS#" because they all use the same frequencies. In 2017 FCC, in USA, reorganized FRS and GMRS channels to be in sync with one another and Industry Canada has yet to adopt those changes. It was done to simplify the channels between FRS and GMRS radios which used the same frequencies but assigned them to different channel numbers. Simply put the frequencies used didn't change, the names associated with them did. Our most recent program uses that standard and does away with the tone squelch feature we were using on previous programs. On paper, it was a good idea by muting transmissions by others on the channel we are using who aren't sending the code, but in reality, sets us up for a scenario where someone looking for help gets ignored by us when they can hear us. If there is too much interference on a channel our group is using, we can switch to another. There are 22 GMRS channels we can transmit on.
"...because without pictures/videos, it didn't happen."
| Gary (plus Teresa, Jack, and Amelia) | Club Treasurer | 2013 JKUR in Rock Lobster |
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What should I look out for BEFORE buying a radio?

Postby LOBSTER » Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:37 am

What should I look out for BEFORE buying a radio?

Make sure the radio you are buying is intended for use on GMRS (or FRS) frequencies. Also, you may want to make sure it doesn't tone-squelch (mute) other people's transmissions that aren't the same make/model as yours. Some radios call this privacy mode. If it does have that feature, make sure you can turn it off or other people in the group will hear what you say but you won't hear them.

If you're looking at a HAM radio, like a dual-band VHF/UHF, review the details and make sure the frequencies that it can transmit (TX) includes 462-468MHz. If it doesn't you will only be able to receive/hear what people are saying on the channel and not transmit. This means you won't be able to talk to others on the channels they can use.
"...because without pictures/videos, it didn't happen."
| Gary (plus Teresa, Jack, and Amelia) | Club Treasurer | 2013 JKUR in Rock Lobster |
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What to check on new Baofeng UV-5R before programming

Postby LOBSTER » Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:42 am

What to check on new Baofeng UV-5R before programming

Ideally, you would do this with another radio, so you can tell if it can transmit on frequencies between 462-468MHz. If you don't have a second radio, you can do it by using the one you have.

  1. Turn on the radio to a volume you can hear.
  2. Press the red "VFO/MR" button until you enter "Frequency Mode"
  3. Enter the following frequency: 462.600
  4. Hold the PTT button, the long one on the left-hand side as you look at the front of the radio and confirm the transmit icon appears. It will look like an antenna with 4 or 5 bars beside it on the top left of the screen.
  5. Let go of that PTT button and confirm the icon goes away. If you saw it in Step #4, you have a radio that should work with other RRJC members. If you didn't see it appear and go away, proceed with the following.
  6. Enter the following frequency: 166.470
  7. Quickly repeat what you did in Steps #4-5. If you see the transmit icon appear and go away you've confirmed your radio can transmit on frequencies we're not allowed to use. You will be able to receive transmissions from other members but not transmit to them. Your best bet is to package the radio back up and return it to the vendor ASAP. Before doing so, look closely through the details to see if information about what frequencies it can transmit on was listed in the details. Now you know what to look out for the next time you buy a radio.
"...because without pictures/videos, it didn't happen."
| Gary (plus Teresa, Jack, and Amelia) | Club Treasurer | 2013 JKUR in Rock Lobster |
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How to Unlock a New Baofeng UV-5R so it can transmit on GMRS

Postby LOBSTER » Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:48 am

How to Unlock a New Baofeng UV-5R so it can transmit on GMRS/FRS

In theory, this may work.

Watch on youtube.com
"...because without pictures/videos, it didn't happen."
| Gary (plus Teresa, Jack, and Amelia) | Club Treasurer | 2013 JKUR in Rock Lobster |
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Why mobile GMRS radios don't transmit on channels 8-14

Postby LOBSTER » Tue Aug 22, 2023 5:56 pm

If you are in a group with a mobile GMRS, they might not be able to access Channel 8-14. The reason why makes sense but in theory, the manufacturer could have programmed them to receive but not transmit on them easily. If it is a mobile HAM radio, this stuff probably doesn't apply.

https://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/20 ... -8-14.html
... only handheld GMRS radios can transmit on channels 8-14 because, well, you can only transmit on channels 8-14 with a handheld GMRS radio.
"...because without pictures/videos, it didn't happen."
| Gary (plus Teresa, Jack, and Amelia) | Club Treasurer | 2013 JKUR in Rock Lobster |
User avatar
LOBSTER
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:17 pm
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