Please share this on all of your social media; it would really help.

This fundraiser is for a new GMRS radio repeater to replace an aging system in use by over 100 Disabled Veterans and other community members in Hampton Virginia. This TOTALLY FREE TO USE system was put in place by GMRS licensee Doug Hall, FCC call sign WSEV-713, also a Disabled Veteran, who runs the system for the Tidewater Virginia area Disabled Veterans. THERE IS NO COST TO ANYONE TO USE THE REPEATER, however users must be licensed. This provides a means of communication for those Vets who do not want to communicate face-to-face, and it is working. It has been in use since late 2024.

It will allow licensed Disabled Veterans to communicate with their immediate families via two-way radio when there is no power or cell service. For Vets with PTSD this is a game changer.

The repeater is named "The Hampton West GMRS Repeater", it's frequency is 462.575, the PL tone is 203.5 and it is searchable on Google. Our group also has a new website; tidewatergmrs.com , which was implemented by Luke, a GMRS operator with a call sign WSAV-705, who is an Air Force veteran. In 2 months, the website now has around 60 registered repeater users; those who only recently registered.

The group also holds radio nets (on-air meetings and talk groups) the first and third Mondays of the month at 6:45 PM, and the first and third Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. The frequency is 462.575 and the PL access tone is 203.5. The repeater is located at Bethel Tower, on Big Bethel Road in Hampton Virginia, and serves over 100 disabled veterans, military retirees, other vets and the general public with the GMRS hobby. The repeater is listed on mygmrs.com .

The current system consists of the repeater unit itself, a duplexer and an antenna. The antenna height is at 255 feet on the Bethel Tower. This covers most of the area. Many GMRS users have helped make this idea happen, either by building the website ( tidewatergmrs.com ), providing technical assistance or parts and labor to get it done.

A system upgrade will vastly improve the reach, power output and overall clarity of the system, allowing users using walkie talkies to communicate within the entire area and into North Carolina. The current repeater that Doug purchased is an older system.

Radio equipment is not cheap, but the impact the current GMRS system has brought to the community is substantial. We simply want to harden it for many years of use with new equipment.

The new repeater will cost between $2050 and $2900 on eBay, a good commercial UHF duplexer is around $1900, and an upgraded high gain antenna, lightening arrestors and other necessary accessories for continued support will cost an additional $2700. An exceptional local man, whom we will refer to as "FOB", has generously donated the use of the 319 foot radio tower for its cause and that of the local Amateur Radio Team. Both the GMRS and Amateur radio folks work hand in hand during disasters and other events.

This equipment will remain at the radio tower sight until it breaks or is unusable. This system has battery backup power and is also used for emergency weather and civil events in the Hampton Roads area. Many of the users utilize it when volunteering to help their neighbors during these events.

Please consider making a donation to show your support for our mission and the many Disabled Veterans here in the coastal Seven Cities area of Southeastern Virginia.

Any leftover funds will be donated to the Hampton Public Service Team, a local Non-Profit network of Amateur Radio operators in Hampton Virginia.