Source
r/gmrs•
indawoops

Any tips? Just got my radio.

So I got a uv5r about a year ago. Has been collecting dust on the shelf as I didn’t know where to start. Recently have been much more interested in the whole hobby. I bought a “for dummies” book on ham radio and will eventually get my technician license. For the time being, I wanted something easier to use and also use when camping. So I picked up a Midland GXT handheld and paid for my GMRS license on the FCC site. Am I immediately “licensed” now- or do I wait until the FCC send me something to confirm? I saw my payment confirmation but no email or anything.

Also, am I good to go now? I.e just pick any channel and start using it to talk to another buddy while camping/driving in an off road caravan. Or is there some kind of etiquette/rules for what channel I should use and how to talk-or does none of that apply for GMRS?

Posted Nov 11, 2020, 4:05 PM UTC

319
retka•

Just throwing it out there too to come join us at mygmrs.com once you get your callsign. There's a great little community there, and I got connected with a few local people on there. Plus the listing of the repeaters is quite handy, especially when traveling! The forums have some nice people too, and the weekly radio net is a cool little thing to listen in on if ur nearby, or stream it online.

6
indawoopsOP•

Great thanks for this, will check it out!!

1
K0NDH•

Make sure you don’t use that UV5R to transmit on GMRS.

EDIT: Added clarification about transmit.

5
retka•

Not wrong, BUT, program all the local GMRS channels and repeaters into it and use it as a glorified scanner. My GMRS radio doesn't have a scanning feature, so I use my UV5R to listen in and find traffic. Can also use it as a cheap radio test method - broadcast on the legal one and listen on the UV5R. Still plenty of uses for it!

4
indawoopsOP•

That’s what I was planning. Just wanted to scan and listen. Unfortunately my MacBook Air from 2014 cannot update to latest and therefore I cannot run chirp. So I’m out of luck with the uv5r till I get a new laptop I guess.

1
witchofthewind•

you can run chirp on Linux.

4
indawoopsOP•

Yep I have read all about that.

2
TheOGClyde•

Do you have any good recommendations for an HT for GMRS. I'd like the 5 watts and removable antenna and the only options I can find are the wouxun kg-805 g and the baofeng GMRSv1. Everywhere I've looked those are the only 2 options I've found. Id also like to be able to listen to NOAA.

Edit: a word.

1
RonDiaz•

I like the Baofeng GMRS-v1, vs bubble pack radios or other cheap UHF radios like the BF-88a.

3
TheOGClyde•

That's my problem. The GMRS v1 has a duty cycle of 3 minutes per hour. And if you go over that it basically shits the bed. And if your transmitting and receiving for closer to 30 minutes of an hour it will brick it.

I'm looking for a radio of Icom or Yaesu qaulity that can hit repeaters and actually have conversations without my signal going crazy while sitting in one spot not moving. Which has happened more than once with a gmrs v1.

1
RonDiaz•

I will admit I have not pushed mine that hard.

1
retka•

Check out the Retevis RT76. Not sure what the duty cycle on it is, but I've had no issues with mine and it Tx/Rx decently to local repeaters, even some as far as 20 miles away. Your other option is to get an old business class (type 90) radio like a Kenwood. I'm not up to date on the models, but certain ones made before a certain date that were type 90 are grandfathered in to the new type 95 rules. Beyond that, I'd search the forums for more info. Plenty of the radios on eBay for around $50 or so.

Edit: Just realized other comment said removable antenna and 5 watts. In that case, go the old Kenwood route. Leaving the info about the RT76 anyway in case it's helpful.

1
goldandlead•

Need to wait until you receive your license/call sign via email. Usually takes no more than 24hours if you’re not a felon. Really no etiquette other than be civil and use clean and clear language as it’s a family oriented service. Need to ID with your call sign every 15min. GMRS is not as up tight as Amateur radio and it’s not to be vulgar like CB.

4
indawoopsOP•

I just re-checked my email and I did get it! “Radio station authorization”. I have a call number in there too. Awesome.. Question. Since this covers immediate family- do my immediate family also use this same call sign? Is there a reference sheet or site that explains anything else I should know? You mentioned “need to ID with call sign every 15 min..” - how would I know that unless you told me for example. Appreciate the help. Just trying to learn.

3
Elfnet_Gaming•

Your family can use the call asl well but it may be a good idea to create an sub ID like "yourcall - 01" and so on. The call id every 15 minutes would mostly be applicable if you have a repeater with CWID or are actually on the air talking for that long. If you are listening or even out camping and have the radios on it is not necessary to stop yo day to announce your call every 15 minutes. Only when a conversation is going or when you are calling out to another person not he channel. Most conversations are not lasting 15 minutes or more though anyways so an opening and closing call id would suffice per conversation.

3
Elfnet_Gaming•

How clean the conversation is widely depends on how clean that family is. I have heard some stuff on GMRS that would put CB to shame... Some people just don't care while others do so yeah there are morons out there that think their ham radio license permits them to transmit on GMRS with ham equipment and there are people out there (usually businesses on FRS or MURS) that think they OWN a channel or all 22 channels and will even call the police to back them up and have your trespass. Walmart is notorious for this on MURS and despite what you KNOW the cops will always side with the store manager. Then of course you will have kids on FRS that will irritate you with the call button and cuss you out profusely and their parents will ALWAYS back their "little angels" up if you confront them. GMRS is not perfect, neither is ham or business bands... We do what we can to keep things civil but idiots will exist.

3
7K60FXD•

First of all, if you are interested in radio, get yourself a mobile Yaesu or Icom radio and a base antenna. Do yourself a favor and throw that Baofeng in the garbage

GMRS is and has been pretty dead, and for some reason for the past few years manufactures have been trying to revive it, with a very inactive community of users

Just do ham radio dude, you will enjoy it way more and there ARE people talking on repeaters that DO GET USED

-2
ugsmtr•

Here in the PNW, I would say that GMRS is growing in popularity. I have been licensed for about a decade for amateur radio, and about 6 years for GMRS, and I participate in weekly nets on both.

The great thing about GMRS is that you can take a few radios hiking with you, and the kids can use them.

Ham radio is a fantastic hobby, and most of my ham radio friends, like myself, are licensed for both. Definitely consider getting into amateur radio, but there is nothing wrong with getting into GMRS too. Go to mygmrs.com and you might discover some nets and/or repeaters in your area. If not, maybe consider starting one. :)

3
porty1119•

GMRS is quite active in the Southwest, two new repeaters were put up near me just in the past couple of months.

1