NETWORK UPDATE - ALL SHOULD READ
12/20/2022
So the end is here over membership, sort of...
In regards to the Donation for membership it has been decided to STAY HOW WE ARE NOW!
That's Right, No membership donations. A part of the reasoning behind it was to make life a little
easier on the administration side of things. Currently we enter everything by hand for Nodes and
Zello. There are times people not sure what a node is request them because they think they need them.
They end up never using them. I figured if we went membership it may weed out some of it and make it
easier. To go membership we would need a new website with a member area. Then we would need to
administer that and keep records and such ending up to be just as much work as with the open system.
Plus deciding what to make available to members only. So what's the point. But there is still the cost
of running the network so we are going make available on a VOLUNTARY bases a donation button. No pressure.
While learning to create the website (yes it is still coming) I installed a database. It is the plan for
new users (and old to help out) to enter their information for Nodes and Zello in a request form instead
of emailing. Currently when they email I must convert the information over to a text file and generate
node numbers and password, then put it in the file for the registration server. When that is all done I
have to create a email. It all takes time. But with the database it makes it a lot easier. I have half
the script written to access the info in the database so it can send it to the registration server. The
database will then create the email. This will free up more time for other GMRS Live projects and family
time. The network software has always been open to anyone. Anyone can download and use the software that
is configured for us. The scripts and How-To files are for everyone. No Passwords or hidden anything. A
membership would just divide that.
Back to the roots that worked - I also want to take this time to apologize to you, the users. When Kim
let me start this project way back when I was no threat to anyone. Just some guy making a network. I
recall being so excited at having 5 members. A few people jumped in to help. I decided then that we
would not 'bash' other groups. One group would try and call me out but I would ignore them. Worked out
good. I would not go around to other sites and try and drum up users. I let word of mouth be our
advertising. I know along the way I upset some users but believe me I always have the good of the
network at heart. Somewhere a month or so ago I got lost in what was happing. I made open comments
about things that were happening and got in a back in forth with another group. It won't happen again,
it just looks petty. We currently have over 450 members with node numbers and a constant connection of
over 200 nodes. Private HUBs and groups are springing up all over the country and the network is very
stable. All from word of mouth and the good things you all say.
So here is to all of you, the members of GMRS Live that are the ones who make this what it is. Lets see
how high we can get that connected number up to. When (or if) I ever finish the new website it will have
the donation button. A link is posted below if anyone wants it now. There is a box that says 'What's
this payment for", please put your name or call sign or both so we know who you are. Also select friend
and family since we are not selling anything.
-Tony
Click Here to Donate with PayPal.me
Service disruption - Support Team
07/07/2022
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** IMPORTANT NOTICE **
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With Topical Storm Ian gaining strength it should be a Category 3 Hurricane. Its track
has it hitting the Florida coast around Wednesday. On its current path it will take it
straight over the GMRS Live Cooperate Offices, Lucky us... This will disrupt some services.
The Registration Server as well as the HUBs, DYNDNS and Website Server will be fine as they
are hosted out of state in a Hillbilly Farm Shack, out of harms way. Access from Florida to
the servers to update any settings or user information (new or changes) before during and
most likely after the storm may not be possible. Everything on the network should continue
as it does now with the exception of the Zello link. Since it originates locally in Florida
it may go down. The HUB will still be accessible as well as the Zello channel itself, just the
link between the two may suffer. Sorry if this causes any problem for current users as well
as any new users trying to get on or join the network but it is out of our control.
Moderators for the GMRS Live Hosted HUBs
07/07/2022
Everything on the network is working great. But Admins can't be everywhere at once.
There has been on occasion a stuck node or a repeater receiving interference and
disrupting the HUBS. Or you may get unauthorized users saying things over a repeater
that shouldn't be said. To help combat this we have a few users that have stepped
up and volunteered to help. In case of some sort of interference or noise they have
access to remove the offending node(s) until it is corrected. These 'Moderators'
have a better chance of being online and hearing these minor things when we are
unavailable. They are just normal users like you (and us) out talking on the
radio having fun at our hobby. But thanks to them things will stay pleasant for
all to use, plus free up valuable time for the Admins to do other task. This ONLY
effects HUBS hosted by GMRS Live Network. We/they have no control of the many HUBs
or other Nodes created and operated by the users of the network. If there is a issue
with any node not hosted by GMRS Live you would need to contact that node owner.
So to your new Moderators...
Chris Reine (WRFT828)
BJ Pinsky (WRNS719)
Coy Wagoner (WRKB779)
Kirk McCann (WRJN397)
Thanks for supporting the network and helping make it a enjoyable experience for all.
- Admins, GMRS Live
New 900 HUB
06/29/2022
There is a new HUB on the Network. It is the 900...
The 900 is a EOC (Emergency Operations Center) HUB. Its use is for during a EMERGENCY. Last year when a hurricane
threatened the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Louisiana area) many network users stayed in contact and received updates while
using the 700. A few users outside the effected area questioned if they could still use the 700 for normal
communications, the answer was yes. Repeater and simplex users in the path of the storm questioned if they
could stay on the 700 to communicate during the storm, the answer was YES, of course! The 900 was created so
these users in the path of or in other EMERGENCY situations have somewhere they can gather. If a emergency
arises or is in the near future all effected parties are encourage to switch to the 900. Along with the effected
parties anyone of our users may go to and use the 900. The 900 is NOT for general chit chat! Users outside of the
effected area can use the channel to ask for updates or such while the channel is clear. Users outside the effected
area can even just go and monitor to see how their fellow members are doing. All users are welcome But be it known...
** THE USERS IN THE EFFECTED AREA HAVE 100% PRIOERITY!!
** ALL USERS MUST STAND DOWN IF A USER IN THE EFFECTED AREA IS USING (OR NEEDS) THE CHANNEL!
When a user finishes a transmission (on the 900) they will here a series of distinctive beeps indicating they are transmitting
on a emergency channel. Only the person transmitting will hear these beeps at unkey. This is nothing fancy. Just a indication
your on the emergency channel.
The emergency can have many natures, Fire, Snow Storm, Hurricane, Tornado.... Emergencies have many ugly faces.
GMRS Live Admins or Moderators do not have to give permission for the 900 HUB use. If you need it then use it.
Just remember it is a tool to help our fellow users. All HUBS host by GMRS Live are on National Datacenter Servers.
GMRS Live DOES NOT and CAN NOT guarantee the operation of the HUB. We do everything we can to make and keep all of
our HUBS active but do to technical problems there can be outages. Our data center has a 99.9999% uptime and we have
NEVER had a outage. Even when they notified us of a move we noticed zero network issues.
If you are not seeing the 900 hub on the status page it can be for 2 reasons. You may need to refresh your page or
you are looking at a page you bookmarked. If you bookmarked the status page and not the GMRS Live main page it will
not reflect this and future updates. You should always bookmark the main GMRS Live Home page (gmrslive.com), then
click the status page. This will guarantee you get the latest and greatest things.
Nodes Back Online
06/24/2022
The hosted nodes are back online. Well most of them.
There was a interest in having them back as well as some confusion on what was/is GMRS Live and
what was not. A few users stepped up to moderate the HUBS to take the load off the Admins
making it easier to put back on. We will let you know who they are as soon as we get everything
in place. The old status page address is no longer in service. The status page can be found here
on the blue banner. If you want to bookmark the status page it is best to bookmark this
'GMRSLIVE.COM' page. This way you will see any updates we post and if we move a node around it
won't break your bookmark link. For now the 700, 411, and 611 are back. If there is a need more
can be added. Sorry for all the confusion.
Tony
Image Updated
05/01/2022
The image has been updated. With this update the image should run on the new pi4 chipsets.
The GMRS Live Team
Status Page Update
09/24/2021
We have been updating the status pages on the system. We recommend anytime you are bookmarking the status
page, bookmark the main page and not the links as they may change and break.
Any user that hosts a HUB (not a private node) for multiple users to connect to are free to add that link under
'Networks' tab on our status page. Other users can then click on the link to access your status page with the
proper ports open. Just send us a email with the status page link (or use our nameserver) and what you want the
description to be. It will be reviewed and posted as soon as possible.
If any users have a personal node they want listed in the 'Personal Community' section of our status page so others
can see your status page can now do this also. As with the hubs you must have ports opened for access. Just send
us a email with the link. We will use your node number as the description.
The GMRS Live Team
GMRS Live now has a Dynamic Nameserver
08/16/2021
Entering your node number followed by .node.gmrslive.com will send you to the ip address your node is connected to.
No more needing to register and configure a outside service.
Lets say your node 1234 and you setup supermon. All that would be needed is port forward (in your router) port 80 and
then in your browser go to..
1234.node.gmrslive.com (add /supermon at the end for your supermon page)
That's it. No setup required. No configuring client updaters. Your node will keep the server updated.
Do you have multiple nodes in multiple locations? No problem, this is on a 'per node' bases. Each node updates independently.
Move the node to a different place?? No problem.
This will work for other services you have in your home (or wherever the node is). If you happen to turn your node off
it will stop updating the ip but will retain the last ip it received, so you can continue to use it until your ip changes.
This free service is running and available now to ALL nodes on the GMRS Live System. No action is required by the user. Everything
seems stable but is still in the testing phase. When a node is connected to a new location or if your ip address changes it can
take up to 6 minutes (as in most services of this type) for the changes to be reflected on the server.
Thanks to Ian McBride (WRNC471) for his help on this project!
The GMRS Live Group
DNS Update Video
04/18/2021
DNS Update is going great. There is still a few users that need to update. April 30th is not to far away.
We would like to thank Chris Bloxsom for taking his valuable time to create this video. The video is posted on our Facebook page but below is a direct link to the YouTube video.
If after watching you have any question you can reach out on Facebook or you can always contact support via email or on the Zello Support Channel.
GMRS Live DNS Video
Emails are out! Updates Required
04/10/2021
All users should have been notified by email of the new secrets (passwords) for their nodes. Updates to node(s) must be completed by April 30th. The current system will be deactivated on that day. If the updates are not done then you WILL NOT be able to connect.
When entering the node and password don't make any other adjustments to your node until your sure the node is connecting to the new server. The only real way to know is from support. The register statement is very easy to change or configure but if you need help make sure to ask. Below is an example of the line.
Most users will not see any difference in the service. We have updated the image as mentioned before and we changed some timing. If you have a 'mobile' node and notice connection issues with how long it take to get a connection then the new image can help with that. If you just want the new timing without re-imaging you pi just drop us a email.
** Sample registration entries **
register => 5005:abc123@register.gmrslive.com
;register => xxxxx:yyyyyy@register.gmrslive.com
The first line has node 5005 with password abc123 set to register with the DNS Server (notice the colon between the node number and password)
The second line is remarked out ( has a semicolon at the beginning) and will not be used.
DNS Server Up and Running
04/06/2021
The GMRS Live image has been updated (v1.1.1). There was a few minor timing updates for the DNS and we upgraded the install/setup
routines. New installs should be much easier. When installing the image it is very important that when asked you answer
this is a 'PUBLIC' system. Also in this image we added some commands to help with shutdown and reboots. Below is a list
of commands that will work with the NEW image..
*910 = Reboot the system
*911 = Halt the system (linux total shutdown)
*912 = Say local IP to radio
*913 = Say Public IP to radio
*914 = Say Registration status
*915 = One time parrot
*916 = Restart Asterisk