Help Us Clean Up GMRS In Southern California

1. Document The Interference for the FCC

First, we need our 500+ members to help document the intentional interference we face every day and during our scheduled nets. MCRC leadership has recorded much of the interference, but it will be more effective to show the FCC audio/video documentation reported by our members at various times and frequencies rather than just from the leadership of the club.

When you hear intentional interference or broadcasting on the repeaters, please record video and audio on your phone. Capture the audio of the interfering transmissions and show your radio’s display of the frequency in the video. Also, include the date and time or state them in your recording. If you've been hearing the interference for a prolonged period, you can describe how long it’s been going on in your video. Any additional information about the interference that you can provide should also be included.

The video clip should be no longer than 30-40 seconds so we can submit many reports without long individual recordings.

With your help, we can fill the FCC complaint box and make sure they hear us!

2. Pinpoint the Interference Locations

We also need our member's assistance to locate the source of the interfering stations. If you detect intentional interference and have created your report video as described, please have a second HT radio tuned in VFO mode or create a channel naming it "Jammer"—open (no) tone—to 467.XXX (the INPUT frequency / "TX frequency" you use to transmit to the repeater), do not use 462.XXX frequencies we listen (receive) from the repeaters.

For example, on our Mesa Bravo repeater, you typically listen on 462.700 and your radio transmits +5 MHz above the receive side on 467.700. Tune to 467.700 to check for interference near you.

(Note: turn down the volume if you transmit with your other radio to avoid feedback!)

If you hear the interference on the 467.XXX Mhz frequency, the source is probably within a few miles of your location. If you still hear it after removing your antenna from the HT, they must be very close—nearly your neighbor!

The more people listening and reporting, the easier it will be to narrow down where these transmissions are coming from.