SteveShannon

@JoCoBrian deserves full credit.  In response to a post decrying the apparent lost of a repeater, I asked the original poster (OP) why he had gotten a GMRS license in the first place.  JoCoBrian stepped up and gave a great answer and I realized this might be a good general interest question.
I’ve been fascinated with radio as long as I can remember. My parents had one of those tall wooden consoles with a radio and record player and before I was school age I took it apart. 
Then in the 60s I became interested in two way radios while watching The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  Every time a company came out with some kind of small walkie talkie I begged my folks for a set.
In eighth grade I became interested in ham radio but I never followed through (a trait I still have).
When I got into amateur rocketry a couple decades ago I noticed that people were carrying real radios. Eventually my mentor got a Garmin and I bought a less expensive Motorola Talkabout to talk to him. But neither of us were licensed. I signed up for an FRN in probably 2004 or 2005 but didn’t want to spend the money to buy the license. It took quite a few years but a few years ago (2021 I think) my conscience finally got the better of me. I got a license and started watching Notarubicon videos. Within a few months my interest in ham radio resurrected itself as well and in 2022, I took all three tests. But I still want a Man from U.N.C.L.E. communicator!
So, why did you get a GMRS license?

Great answer, and although (as you understood) was really asking the OP, I will take your hint that it might be a good general topic. I’ll start a new thread for it.

@JoCoBrian deserves full credit.  In response to a post decrying the apparent lost of a repeater, I asked the original poster (OP) why he had gotten a GMRS license in the first place.  JoCoBrian stepped up and gave a great answer and I realized this might be a good general interest question.
I’ve been fascinated with radio as long as I can remember. My parents had one of those tall wooden consoles with a radio and record player and before I was school age I took it apart. 
Then in the 60s I became interested in two way radios while watching The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  Every time a company came out with some kind of small walkie talkie I begged my folks for a set.
In eighth grade I became interested in ham radio but I never followed through (a trait I still have).
When I got into amateur rocketry a couple decades ago I noticed that people were carrying real radios. Eventually my mentor got a Garmin and I bought a less expensive Motorola Talkabout to talk to him. But neither of us were licensed. I signed up for an FRN in probably 2004 or 2005 but didn’t want to spend the money to buy the license. It took quite a few years but a few years ago (2021 I think) my conscience finally got the better of me. I got a license and started watching Notarubicon videos. Within a few months my interest in ham radio resurrected itself as well and in 2022, I took all three tests. But I still want a Man from U.N.C.L.E. communicator!
So, why did you get a GMRS license?

Great answer, and although (as you understood) was really asking the OP, I will take your hint that it might be a good general topic. I’ll start a new thread for it.

Steve this is a really good question.  I know you didn't ask me but here goes.  Curiosity.  I had no idea what to expect. Yes, I think it was my curiosity about GMRS.  I've been a licensed ham since 1988, and a full time QRP CW operator since 1998, and I am an Extra class licensee and POTA is my favorite amateur radio activity. 
In March 2020 my employer sent all us IT types home to work, pandemic and all, and then they sold our building and decided to leave us working from home...thing was I enjoyed listening to and participating in the local drive time 2m traffic...but...here we are with 20+2m repeaters and the largest majority of the day, they are dead.  Sometimes in the morning you can catch some conversations, sometimes in the drive home time but not always. 
So early last year I bought a pair of GM-30 Chinese wonder rigs for cheap, and taught my wife how to use them.  I was able to monitor GMRS traffic and stumbled on a couple repeaters I could hear but couldn't hit.  BUT when I go fishing at a pond a mile away, I can talk to my wife simplex.  When she goes out walking the neighborhood with her sister, she can talk simplex to me.  So really I got a GMRS license out of curiosity.  Thanks to local upgrades to the repeaters near me, and my slightly better antenna, I can talk on the two repeaters but frankly, I just listen.  
It beats Bob and Tom in the morning.  And there is more traffic on those two repeaters ALL DAY than 20 2m repeaters in the area.  I joined one of the local GMRS groups and gave them some financial support (very little actually) and I am enjoying their system.  When school is in session, I listen to the local maintenance guys on MURS as they have all the latest filthy jokes and they are a straight up hoot to listen to. 
I hope you had a good Field Day. 
 

Collapsed?
If one of my friends who worked for an enforcement group called me and gave me a heads up that might keep me out of an enforcement action, I would not argue. I would simply say “Thanks!” And take their advice. An early warning system is nice to have. Why argue with them?

This!
If a person only goes where there’s guaranteed cell service (that’s not overlanding!), and only wants to talk to one person at a time (possibly two) and doesn’t want the convenience of pushing one button, and doesn’t need to monitor others in the party, then cell phones are fine. 

Why did you get a GMRS license in the first place?

GMRS has historically been a utility, not a rag-chew hobby. While in very dense population areas there is a big social component, once you get outside population centers, it is very much still a utility.
 
If you are looking for social communications, I would recommend amateur radio. Specifically either a General or Extra class so you can use the most amount of HF voice spectrum. 

@SteveShannon
Understood. Just asked you because you were one of the very first to welcome me on here. I’ll keep my questions to the main forum.
Thank you for the info.

That’s usually an inadequate power supply. The voltage sags and the radio reboots. 

That’s usually an inadequate power supply. The voltage sags and the radio reboots. 

It’s purely speculative on my end, but this issue REALLY sounds like whatever power source you’re using cannot supply adequate amperage to the radio while keyed on high..

And you should have a number for an off-road towing & recovery company for the just-in-case you are within cellular coverage and know what GMRS repeaters that may be nearby.
If you are not in a group while off roading you should be scanning all 8 GMRS simplex channel or at least be monitoring Ch. 16.

I started going to Field Day with the Holmesburg Amateur Radlo Club K3FI nearly 20 years ago. Of course, I've several Field Days with Penn Wireless Association W3SK. For a while I haven't felt like doing anything in Amateur Radio. A lot of great friends of mine, both Amateur Radio Operators and non-hams have passed away. I realize I shouldn't allow myself to fall into a depression, but sometimes a break is necessary in order re-spark the interest to a hobby, whether it's in radio or model railroading.
73 to all! 

@WRUU653, @SteveShannon
 
thank you guys. I had To be schooled on call sign formats in order to sign up.
 

Welcome! 
Insert “At Last” song!

I can understand that, but it really is easy to get a technician license. Then the eight channel limit is a thing of the past.

I can understand that, but it really is easy to get a technician license. Then the eight channel limit is a thing of the past.

How are linked GMRS repeaters less cumbersome than ham radio? 
With eight repeater channels in total, and untrained users operating in panic mode on both the repeaters and on the eight simplex channels that share frequencies with those repeaters, linking GMRS repeaters, except on a prearranged published schedule like an amateur radio sked or net, could be useless.  You're better off using personal services for proximate communications and get your news from battery powered receivers capable of tuning HF and the broadcast bands.  

Yes

You’re wrong. 🙂

Nobody NEEDS some technology that could save them trouble. All you really need overlanding is a backpack full of water, map, compass, and some nonperishable food, along with good hiking boots so you can walk out for help.
As for GMRS vs cell, one will reach whoever is listening, which may be nobody, and one will reach the party you call if there's a cell tower in range. In both cases getting to high ground can help. GMRS isn't the only safety communication option, and in a given situation it may not even be the best option. But it has a lot of uses in group activities, and the added benefit of possibly allowing you to call for help.
 
Or you can try smoke signals.

No, it's a FRS radio not a GMRS radio

No I do not think so.  I believe those are FRS radios.  
 
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