WRUU653

Actually, no, the rule is that GMRS communications may not be placed onto a network. That extrapolated into not linking repeaters. 

A better antenna, mounted as high above your roof as possible (and the same on their end) might work. 

Sven, I think you’ve lost your marbles,
That’s exactly why we have call signs and why we’re required to use them: to identify ourselves to others and have a way to look them up when we engage in the personal or business activities of “making contact”.   
Although it’s not explicitly encouraged like ham radio it’s absolutely not discouraged in any way, explicitly or implicitly. 

"Making contacts" with anonymous men certainly counts as a personal activity... Very.. very personal..

That is correct. There are several other threads that started with someone pontificating about how others use GMRS incorrectly. None of them settled anything. This is one place where GMRS is similar to ham radio; someone thinks their way is “the only right way” even though the regulations don’t support that. 

That's why I made my comment about people needing to eat a Snickers Bar as they seem to be very hangry over stuff that doe not matter.
In the end it doesn't really matter how you use GMRS as long as you follow the FCC regulations and guidelines. Same goes for amateur radio too.

That’s a tee shirt right there! 😂

Welcome!

Indeed.  Our group is 100% open to GMRS users...and nearly half of our group has GMRS licenses.  We also maintain a GMRS repeater (SARC 650).  It's used every day.

When I'm conducting tests (on air and not into dummy loads) I announce my call sign and "Testing" and when done, my call sign and "Clear". That way if I'm interfering with someone they can specifically refer to me by call sign to get my attention.

If I hear a request for a radio check I'll reply with my call sign "copies you 5 by 5" or whatever reception quality I think I'm receiving.

There's a couple of guys who rag-chew for several hours on .700 simplex every evening without ever IDing. Most boring conversation imaginable.

My repeater ID's every 15 minutes if continually up, then 15 minutes after the last transmission and then goes silent until somebody keys it up again. There are some near me that ID every 15 minutes in both Morse and voice and announce the (incorrect) time regardless of traffic (and I've never heard any traffic other than the automated announcements).

 

That’s a tee shirt right there! 😂

That’s a tee shirt right there! 😂

This doesn’t sound “utilitarian”.  In fact it sounds pretty social. 

§ 95.1731 Permissible GMRS uses.
The operator of a GMRS station may use that station for two-way plain language voice communications with other GMRS stations and with FRS units concerning personal or business activities.
 

Unless the output tone is different from the input tone …
😁
Which can be remedied by setting your radio to receive on the repeater input frequency and scanning tones. 

Im often mistaken for an adult because of my age.

Thank God you have zero authority over who can or cannot use GMRS. There are many people who use it for many different reasons.  Neither you nor I have the authority to say they don’t belong.

I just say let them do what they want.  It hurts no one.  If it annoys you maybe you should work on that.  It a style, a personality.  Now it they start demanding you do the same then maybe it's them with the problem.
If this is their "fun" why should they need to stop.
Just sitting here now and someone came on with their phonetic call sign just to say they were on the repeater.  Not talking to anyone.  Didn't bother me.

I agree. Use of the phonetic alphabet important for hams in order to accurately discern call signs for all the reasons you listed. Unlike GMRS logging calls in amateur radio is important. 
Almost nobody logs calls in GMRS. I would say nobody but there have been a very few people on this forum who have expressed a desire to log calls. 
But I find it very easy to ignore people using their call signs frequently or using the phonetic alphabet.  
 

@OffRoaderX went far beyond sharing an opinion. 😆 I genuinely cannot imagine why anyone would be annoyed by use of the phonetic alphabet unless it's because "some people" think it's a symptom of trying to be a ham in a GMRS community. 
I think part of the reason hams use the phonetic alphabet so much is that amateur radio is international. It can be pretty hard to understand someone whose first language is not the same as your own, especially the pronunciation of some letters. Just think of how much "B" and "V" sound alike in Spanish. GMRS users almost never talk to someone in another country, so being understood is not as much of a challenge (unless you're in California). Furthermore, shorter wavelengths have higher frequencies, which typically improves clarity in voice signals. Even the difference between 70cm and 2m can sometimes be discernible. If you're playing around on 80 meters, you're going to repeat yourself quite a bit. GMRS, being at the higher end of the spectrum, rarely suffers from poor quality of voice signals. For the most part, if you can punch the signal through, you'll be understood. Simply put, GMRS users don't use the phonetic alphabet because we don't need to. It's easier for me to say "WRTC" than "Whiskey Romeo Tango Charlie", but sometimes I'm going to use the phonetic anyway. I have 33 years of using the phonetic alphabet in uniformed service and I also participate in amateur radio. It happens. I just don't understand why anyone gets their undies in a wad over it.

Sure...keep telling yourself that...while you're literally complaining about something that matters less than the color of your socks. 😂 

Everyone does things a little different. Go with what works for you and your repeater.

I don't have a GM15 Pro, but I found this reddit thread - looks like it's a second set of repeater channels you can set up for different tones.

This…if you need a second set of repeater channels.  Start slow and learn about setting up repeaters near you using the first set of “repeater channels”.  Welcome!!

Hello all! New to GMRS, new to radio in general! I've got a couple of Baoefeng UV5G (PRO and PLUS) that I'm having fun learning how to use. Been working on pinging the repeaters for signal checks, but haven't heard back from the ether yet! I'll get there. Looking forward to learning this new mode of communication.
 

Hello all, I have been in here for about a year. I enjoy all the discussions. Many have help greatly while others have left me in amazement. To clarify (not justify), this is a hobby and a tool at the same time. I interject humor because there far more things in this world to worry about. Therefore "don't sweat the small stuff". this is not a place to die on the cross. Sit back enjoy the conversations and learn a little along the way. I am as excited today as I was on 8/31/24 when I joined. Yeap, new to ya'll but not jaded yet but I do not believe I will become that way as a sense of humor wins. I ask that if you see a post from me which isn't polarized or even doesn't make sense, I would hope you would take a second to reevaluate your passion for the topic and learn what to let go....Justa sayin'
WSEL330 - Former Jarhead