[Now What?]

If you want to talk to strangers you need a repeater-capable radio. But here is Bay Area repeaters are closed/private anyway, so maybe it's moot. Only open repeater I'm aware of is BARN-R1, and it's far and behind the mountain ridge. I can't open it from Livermore with handheld, although I can open it with my mobile radio, but signal reports are not great. Airwaives are busy, though, especially on weekends. Somebody always talking on GMRS around lake Del Valle, where there is no cell service. Rancher kids, hiking buddies, fishermen on water, etc. That's how I use my radios: family communications on camping/hiking trips. GMRS is mostly used as utility tool, and if you want to be able to make random contacts get your HAM ticket. There are number of popular busy HAM repeaters around this area.

Thank you axorlov. Will definitley look into it.

[Now What?]

HI! I'm a newbie too and I have the same question as Bmalone667. I just got my license approved yesterday. Now what? I feel like a deer in headlights.

I got it for CERT (newbie there too). Initially, we were told we didn't really need a license since we'll be using the frs channel. But in the long run, I decided to get one because you never know when it might come in handy. I got a motorola MT352R. 

 

I'm also studying to get a ham license. Like I said, it mght come in handy and at least it's there. Any recommendations for a ham radio as well would be appreciated. 

Thank you in advance and hope everyone is having a great day/evening.