Propper radio etiquette

[WSDA629]

While I have loads of military radio experience, I have little to no experience with GMRS. I have 2 GM-15Pro radios, as a start. I tried looking up this topic but nothing was found. So I'll ask the newbie questions. 

 

Where do I find(does it exist) a guide to radio etiquette?  I have some of the FCC rules downloaded. Will look those over tomorrow night at work. I guess the question that sticks out would be, when getting on the net what is generally accepted as the script? Obviously if I'm calling someone specific, it's by license. But what if I'm just seeing if anyone is hearing me?

[WRUE951]

8 minutes ago, WSDA629 said:

While I have loads of military radio experience, I have little to no experience with GMRS. I have 2 GM-15Pro radios, as a start. I tried looking up this topic but nothing was found. So I'll ask the newbie questions. 

 

Where do I find(does it exist) a guide to radio etiquette?  I have some of the FCC rules downloaded. Will look those over tomorrow night at work. I guess the question that sticks out would be, when getting on the net what is generally accepted as the script? Obviously if I'm calling someone specific, it's by license. But what if I'm just seeing if anyone is hearing me?

i don't think there's any 'etiquette' for operating on GMRS..  Get on the the ch your friends and family hangout. Say your call sign if you wish and talk.    Now if you hang out in a 'Club' then i guess you'll have to follow their 'etiquette', which is sometimes pretty comical.  

[OffRoaderX]

3 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

Get on the the ch your friends and family hangout. Say your call sign if you wish and talk.    Now if you hang out in a 'Club' then i guess you'll have to follow their 'etiquette',

This ^  .. the etiquette is, there is no etiquette..

[piggin]

4 minutes ago, WSDA629 said:

While I have loads of military radio experience, I have little to no experience with GMRS. I have 2 GM-15Pro radios, as a start. I tried looking up this topic but nothing was found. So I'll ask the newbie questions. 

 

Where do I find(does it exist) a guide to radio etiquette?  I have some of the FCC rules downloaded. Will look those over tomorrow night at work. I guess the question that sticks out would be, when getting on the net what is generally accepted as the script? Obviously if I'm calling someone specific, it's by license. But what if I'm just seeing if anyone is hearing me?

If you want to talk on repeaters listen for awhile and you will learn what is ok for that repeater. Otherwise just talk normally and you will be fine.

GMRS is designed for normal people so radio etiquette does not really apply. Remember that FRS (Family Radio Service) shares our channels so vulgar language is a no no. Kids playing in their yard don't need to hear that!

 I hope this helps. I am a ham and etiquette is a big deal in that service and even so it varies depending on who you are talking to. Using NATO phonetics and pro signs on GMRS will elicit various responses...most of them hilarious and filled with LOL and FAIL. FWIW

[OffRoaderX]

3 minutes ago, piggin said:

Using NATO phonetics and pro signs on GMRS will elicit various responses

yah, try that in this neck of the woods and we will berate you right off the channel - go try to impress people somewhere else.

[piggin]

1 minute ago, OffRoaderX said:

yah, try that in this neck of the woods and we will berate you right off the channel - go try to impress people somewhere else.

Exactly. YMMV but it's usually hilarious!

[tcp2525]

On the topic of proper GMRS etiquette, I was in a heated conversation with one of my friends and was overcome by a bad case of flatulence and had to let it rip during my train of thought. Fortunately, I had proper upbringing and was taught to extend my pinky on the hand holding the mic. It was a real tear jerker.

[WSDA629]

43 minutes ago, piggin said:

If you want to talk on repeaters listen for awhile and you will learn what is ok for that repeater. Otherwise just talk normally and you will be fine.

GMRS is designed for normal people so radio etiquette does not really apply. Remember that FRS (Family Radio Service) shares our channels so vulgar language is a no no. Kids playing in their yard don't need to hear that!

 I hope this helps. I am a ham and etiquette is a big deal in that service and even so it varies depending on who you are talking to. Using NATO phonetics and pro signs on GMRS will elicit various responses...most of them hilarious and filled with LOL and FAIL. FWIW

There are no repeaters near me. And I don't know anyone in the area who uses these freqs. So I'll just scan and monitor for now

[piggin]

4 minutes ago, WSDA629 said:

There are no repeaters near me. And I don't know anyone in the area who uses these freqs. So I'll just scan and monitor for now

Just talk. You will be fine!

[WRYZ926]

We keep things pretty simple on our repeater. We want you to ID as required and no cussing since we do have kids that do use the repeater. We aren't going to go after someone for forgetting to ID as often as they should.

Other than that, we don't want religion or politics discussed on any of our repeaters simply to keep conversations civil. No one likes listening to grown adults arguing like little kids.

[WSDA629]

6 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

We keep things pretty simple on our repeater. We want you to ID as required and no cussing since we do have kids that do use the repeater. We aren't going to go after someone for forgetting to ID as often as they should.

Other than that, we don't want religion or politics discussed on any of our repeaters simply to keep conversations civil. No one likes listening to grown adults arguing like little kids.

So the civilian version of what I'm used to. That was one of the other questions I had. How often to ID. I'll wing it and mimic what I hear till I have more experience. 

[amaff]

Generally speaking, the "don't be a dick" principle will get you about 98% of the way there.

 

Despite what you might run across on here...

[WSDA629]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

yah, try that in this neck of the woods and we will berate you right off the channel - go try to impress people somewhere else.

I stay away from Kaliphornia as much as possible. 

[WRYZ926]

35 minutes ago, WSDA629 said:

So the civilian version of what I'm used to. That was one of the other questions I had. How often to ID. I'll wing it and mimic what I hear till I have more experience. 

Pretty much. Now a couple of us that are veterans will occasionally use military radio protocols just to message with others. In reality, just talk like you would with people in the same room as you.

FCC regulations say to ID at the beginning of your conversation, and again at the end of your conversation. You also need to ID every 15 minutes if you are in a long conversation. This is standard procedures when using most repeaters. Most people don't worry about adhering to the ID requirements as much when talking on simplex channels.

34 minutes ago, amaff said:

Generally speaking, the "don't be a dick" principle will get you about 98% of the way there.

100% correct.

[Socalgmrs]

14 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

FCC regulations say to ID at the beginning of your conversation, and again at the end of your conversation. You also need to ID every 15 minutes if you are in a long conversation.

Might want to read the regs before making a statement that isn’t true.    Look it up and tell everyone why you’re wrong.   

[WRYZ926]

1 hour ago, Socalgmrs said:

Might want to read the regs before making a statement that isn’t true.    Look it up and tell everyone why you’re wrong.   

Well Negative Nancy, I will correct myself as far as needing to ID at the beginning of your transmission, That is not required. Everything else I stated IS correct.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E

Quote

§ 95.1751 GMRS station identification.

Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification.

(a) The GMRS station call sign must be transmitted:

(1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and,

(2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes.

 

That is directly from the FCC.

As you can clearly see I have absolutely no issues admitting to my mistakes and did post the correct information.

Now stop being such a negative asshat to everyone.

[TDM827]

2 hours ago, WSDA629 said:

While I have loads of military radio experience, I have little to no experience with GMRS. I have 2 GM-15Pro radios, as a start. I tried looking up this topic but nothing was found. So I'll ask the newbie questions. 

 

Where do I find(does it exist) a guide to radio etiquette?  I have some of the FCC rules downloaded. Will look those over tomorrow night at work. I guess the question that sticks out would be, when getting on the net what is generally accepted as the script? Obviously if I'm calling someone specific, it's by license. But what if I'm just seeing if anyone is hearing me?

GMRS is very very informal. If you expect find users talking like you are used to in the military and the associated protocols you will be disappointed and a bit surprised. Like others said. Do some monitoring on the repeaters to get a feel for the usual flow of communications on that repeater. Familiarize yourself with the requirements to self id and your responsibility if immediately family members are operating on your license and you will do fine. I would avoid being too military on the radio, or you will just be made fun of. I am retired military and LE, and really had to commit to just using plain language and continually remind myself not to sound like some overly tacticool individual. Now I can sound like some rag chewing old man like the best of them if I want to. LOL    

[WRYZ926]

9 minutes ago, TDM827 said:

I would avoid being too military on the radio, or you will just be made fun of. I am retired military and LE, and really had to commit to just using plain language and continually remind myself not to sound like some overly tacticool individual. Now I can sound like some rag chewing old man like the best of them if I want to. LOL    

Sometimes breaking old habits of using military/police protocols is hard to do.

Though I do say "read you Lima Charlie" to mess with people more than out of habit now days. 

[WSDA629]

2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Sometimes breaking old habits of using military/police protocols is hard to do.

Though I do say "read you Lima Charlie" to mess with people more than out of habit now days. 

After 22yrs of Army commo this might be a fun challenge for me.