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I wonder what people do out here when they encounter the unlicensed. Assuming it is an adult on the other end, do you ever just have a chat -- say hello? I am not talking about unlicensed users on a repeater. Those people do not have permission from the owner. My question revolves around the simplex users who transmit on the GMRS only frequencies and not he shared GMRS/FRS channels. I know that they also do not have permission from the FCC to talk simplex either, but I wonder what people here do when the unlicensed start a conversation with you. I do not have much of a history with this. Please note, I am not stating here that we should encourage unlicensed users to continue without a proper license. We paid for our licenses and follow the rules, other people should also abide by the same rules too. In the amateur world, the only unlicensed users (abusers) that I have come across have been caused harmful and intentional disruption. I have ignored them, and in severe cases just turn off the radio. Fortune has it, those cases are very rare. In the GMRS arena I once let a business know they were accidentally on a GMRS frequency. The business manager was reasonable and thankful for the information and moved to FRS. Since I have had my license, I have never actually carried on a conversation (except a briefly with business unknowingly on the wrong channel) who is unlicensed on a GMRS only channel. I have my scanner on all day and the GMRS/FRS channels are almost completely clear and unused here. Occasionally I hear someone on FRS. It might be once a week if I am really lucky. The last GMRS call sign I heard over the air was in 2001 while riding in the car with someone in Wisconsin. My use of the spectrum is pretty much me and my family. I have occasionally loaned out some older FRS radios to others and spoken to them on my GMRS radio. Very few people I know out here in the Seattle suburbs has ever heard of GMRS. Personally I tend to ignore unlicensed users because there are many other channels that sit unused here. Other than a lack of a call sign identification, I can usually tell they are not licensed because they use that really annoying roger beep and the equally dreadful call button. I do not sit around for 10 minutes waiting for the other user to ID. For others, I am certain there is a really serious issue of unlicensed users. It must be worse in a larger city especially if a repeater is involved. Most users who are not licensed probably never realized they need a license in the first place because they do not read the manual. I draw from an analogy. They are like people who have overstayed their visa or not bothered to get one in the first place. They are around, but not legally.

Thanks will check the site out. I have gotten hold of some study guide from KB6NU Dan Romanchik and installed the android app called ARRL Ham Test Prep app from the Play Store, which works like a flash card test.

radio1, I am using "HamTestOnline" https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com which is an interesting and effective way to prepare but only if you are a self motivated and have regimental study habits. pfactor