What is busy channel lockout? This is a programmable feature on most GMRS Radio's that will keep your radio from transmitting while another radio user is occupying the frequency. A classic example of the use of this feature is during net checkins. Often times users will "double" with another user while trying to checkin to the net and will cancel each other out. If one signal is significantly stronger net control may copy that station, but often neither radio user will be copied by net control. Using busy channel lockout will go along way to eliminating this problem. This is also a very helpful feature in just normal day to day radio usage. If there are more than three users on the radio at the same time it will also help with the possibility of two users trying to talk at the same time.
At a recent Tuolumne County GMRS users group meeting we talked about this feature and how it could help eliminate "doubling" on the County wide GMRS Repeaters. This feature programmed into the radio will help the net control operators keep the radio nets running more smoothly and not have to ask for stations to repeat themselves.
Here is a report from one of our members to see if the Radioditty GM-30 which is a very often used radio on our systems has this lockout feature.
"BTW We talked about how to prevent doubling on nets on Tuesday. The
GM-30 from Radioditty does have a Busy Lockout option. In the
programming software under Channel, then Channel Edit, check the Busy
Lockout square. I think most radios have this option, it's a pity more
people don't select it. And I always forget that the USB cable that
comes with the GM 30 is only a charging cable, won't work for
programming. You need to buy a bonafide programming cable to use the
software. Rich "
So to conclude let's all check our radio's to see if we have the busy channel lockout feature and consider using that feature, especially on our Repeater Systems.
At a recent Tuolumne County GMRS users group meeting we talked about this feature and how it could help eliminate "doubling" on the County wide GMRS Repeaters. This feature programmed into the radio will help the net control operators keep the radio nets running more smoothly and not have to ask for stations to repeat themselves.
Here is a report from one of our members to see if the Radioditty GM-30 which is a very often used radio on our systems has this lockout feature.
"BTW We talked about how to prevent doubling on nets on Tuesday. The
GM-30 from Radioditty does have a Busy Lockout option. In the
programming software under Channel, then Channel Edit, check the Busy
Lockout square. I think most radios have this option, it's a pity more
people don't select it. And I always forget that the USB cable that
comes with the GM 30 is only a charging cable, won't work for
programming. You need to buy a bonafide programming cable to use the
software. Rich "
So to conclude let's all check our radio's to see if we have the busy channel lockout feature and consider using that feature, especially on our Repeater Systems.