[Can I use GMRS if i'm close to CANADA]

Also, just as an FYI, don't forget at if you are North of Line A or East of Line C you cannot contact a foreign station unless as noted in the CFR I would imagine that would include any foreign repeaters.

 

§95.1733   Prohibited GMRS uses.

(9) Messages (except emergency messages) to any station in the Amateur Radio Service, to any unauthorized station, or to any foreign station;

[What I Wish I Knew When I First Started With GMRS]

We GMRS people are putting the onus on outsiders to sift through thousands of painfully esoteric webpages with a winnowing fork, separating useful info from useless, poorly written, or incomplete info..

 

I wish a GMRS expert—presumably a manufacturer—would just come out and say exactly what a total newbie needs at each stage of their involvement or level of need. Two-way radio manufacturers should stop wasting time trying to sell, and start marketing and branding, which means educating the public about the 5 W's (Who, What, Where, When, Why [+how, +how much]) without trying to sell to them.

 

Most new users don't know what they need because they don't know what's possible.

 

Seems to me that problems like these led to the development of organizations like ARRL that popped up back in the day for the Amateur Radio Service. The question of the day is if that’s necessary for GMRS. I personally think that there would be some merit to an organization that focused on GMRS voice and very limited data communication methods and teach basic radio operation. Amateur Radio is pretty beyond basic when you think about it. A basic service like GMRS is pretty nice, and could be even better with a little more organization.

 

It’s worth noting that when the FCC makes rule changes they take organizational input very seriously. MYGMRS.com input was mentioned as justification for rule changes (and for keeping certain things) In the FCC’s last round of rule making for the GMRS Service, right up there with Garmin.

 

Professional and hobby organizations serve a huge purpose and there are probably quite a few users of the service who would be interested in such a thing, and there are probably just as many who don’t give a dang either - but that’s kind of the beauty of it, you don’t have to be an electrical genius to just jump in feet first. GMRS meets many different needs. To those who find it a hobby there are just as many who find it a tool on their farm or a way to call home from the parking lot.

[Well, this is exciting.]

These are pretty cool. Do they work with the mygmrs.com Repeater Linking Bundle? https://shop.mygmrs.com/collections/repeaters-and-accessories/products/repeater-linking-bundle

[What's missing from myGMRS.com?]

I think the ability to bookmark people, repeaters and networks on the website would add greatly to how functional it is.