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.

[H8SPVMT]

First, Thank you for your service.  My Brother-In-Law was a CWO4 and I didn't hold it against him....

Just find a long pause in a conversation and ask your question or make a statement, as if you're  in the barracks talking to ole buddies.  When you're done and the conversation, be sure to ID yourself as you wrap it up.

Welcome to the forum. 

[WRTC928]

Be polite. Don't curse or engage in rancor. If someone says something that makes your blood boil, push the "up" or "down" button and change to another channel. 

Be considerate. Listen for a minute or so to be sure nobody else is using the frequency. This is especially important on a repeater. If your radio is capable of varying power levels, dial it down to the FCC-approved level. Those levels aren't arbitrary -- they were selected to limit the degree to which your transmission will interfere with someone else's signal. Unless your radio can limit transmit power to 0.5 watt (most GMRS-capable radios can't), just stay off channels 8-14 and let the kids with the "bubble pack" radios use them. It's pointless and inconsiderate to step on other people when you could simply change the channel. I program my radio to listen but not transmit on those channels. With most HTs you can quickly enable the transmit function if you hear someone screaming for help; mobiles are more variable.

Yes, the FCC does require you to ID yourself by callsign every 15 minutes and at the end of every conversation. There's nobody actually timing you and most people don't consider it a big deal, but it is the rule. I usually ID at the beginning and end of a conversation "just because". It's like introducing myself by name, kind of like what we used to do when we phoned someone and they didn't know who was calling. A lot of people don't, especially when conversing within a group, and I don't consider myself the callsign police. I don't think I've ever had a conversation on GMRS that lasted longer than 15 minutes, but that's probably because I don't have friends. Some repeater owners may be particular about it, so follow their rules.

I use phonetic spelling sometimes, typically when someone is having trouble understanding me. I have an unusual name and it's common for someone to be unable to understand me unless I spell it. Otherwise, I sometimes do it anyway just out of habit. Probably nobody will say much if you occasionally tell them to "take exit 14 bravo" or something like that. Just don't get butthurt if someone ribs you about it.

Remember that "privacy codes" don't make your conversation private. All they do is keep you from hearing anyone who doesn't have the same tone. Don't say anything with the PL engaged that you wouldn't say on a completely open channel. Conversely, don't automatically engage tones unless you need to. I sometimes hear people traveling in groups on the highway talking to one another about road conditions/hazards and I'm unable to add something useful to the conversation because they have the PL engaged, so consider the situation before you use it. If your radio will allow it, you can have one set of channels with no tones and another with tones. If you want to hear other people, use group A, if you don't want to hear other people, use group B. 

In general, just don't be a jackwagon. Treat other people as you want them to treat you, and you'll be fine.