[Over use of call sign announcements on GMRS]

With me, and I'm not sure how guilty I may be, but if I do it's habit.  

A habit, because it's required on my work radio.

It's only natural that some of those habits follow me.  In my case, I'm usually checking for warrants.

  CCSD -Britt

[Call Sign Use w/Family Members]

Okay.  I think I'll be Covey Leader and Raven.  .  From Rambo.

[Do you talk to the --- unlicensed?]

If I hear any kind of chatter, I go to another GMRS channel.  I have only set up privacy codes on two channels, One CTCSS and the other DCS.  These were for my own education.  I haven't really tried repeaters yet and try using FRS first, then GMRS.  And all this is deep in the Cherokee National Forest.  So I've heard nothing.  It's not that I'm unfriendly.  I just don't want everyone to know where my stands and game cameras are.

[Very new to the GMRS World]

They have arrived 

[Very new to the GMRS World]

Thanks folks 

[Very new to the GMRS World]

Hello All,

I just recently received my call sign, (WSJE500), and my two new Boafeng G11S radios should hopefully arrive today, or maybe tomorrow.  I have zero experience with GMRS.  The catalyst for embarking on this endeavour, was a hunting trip that I take annually.  Cell phones do not work in that area, and my cheap FRS radios, sound like I'm talking to a deranged popcorn popper.  In addition, I find this subject interesting.  

• I understand that the G11S isn't waterproof, but I very rarely hunt in inclement weather and always carry a good supply of ziplock bags.  
• I know it is only 3W, but they were only $40. 

Anyway, we will see where this takes me.  It'll be me and my two adult sons, all on the same side of a ridge.  The only available repeater is 15 miles away on the opposite side on an adjacent ridge.  We will be down in the hollow.  I have very low hopes of ever being able to hit that repeater.   I will be ordering two additional radios, four total.  These additional two will also be G11S as long as I am happy with the first two.  This decision in based on the simplicity of the radios and the lack of experience that anyone in this party had with radios.

One quick question:

• If I am using one of the FRS channels, do I really need to announce my call sign every 15 minutes?  It appears that channels 1-7 are all FRS/GMRS and 5-watt, of which I only have 3 watts available.

WSJE500 in Manchester, Tennessee - Out.  :)