Propper radio etiquette

[WSDA629]

18 hours ago, wilhelm said:

WSDA629, I'm one state over, near Saratoga, NY... I'm pretty sure there isn't an east overshoe vt.  Wherebouts are you in VT?  In my area I have only found one repeater that I can use, out of Troy.  My son and I use it sometimes, just for the thrill of being miles from each other and can talk, which just means we're still kids using two tin cans with a string.  We also play with fire and laugh when someone says Lake Titicaca.

It's a tiny town near Smugglers Notch 

[Davichko5650]

On 4/27/2025 at 8:09 PM, WSDA629 said:

 That was one of the other questions I had. How often to ID. 

Every 15 minutes and at the end of your conversation. 

 

As far as the other etiquette issues, pretty much what the previous replies have noted. As far as calling other users, Callsign or name or nickname, whatever gets their attention if they're listening.  Some areas have active simplex and repeaters in use, but for the most part GMRS is a "bring your own" type of service. In my case it's my wife and son using it when up north away from cell phone service, around the large city lot at home and with a small number of friends near home we chat with occasionally. I rarely use repeaters.

Have fun however you use it, and don't overthink it or take too much umbrage if some self appointed radio cop gives you grief if you do "something wrong."

[Davichko5650]

On 4/27/2025 at 7:03 PM, OffRoaderX said:

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

GMRS etiquette - almost as prevalent as FCC enforcement!

[WRTC928]

21 hours ago, Davichko5650 said:

GMRS etiquette - almost as prevalent as FCC enforcement!

TBH, in my area, most GMRS users are very polite and respectful.

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

TBH, in my area, most GMRS users are very polite and respectful.

That’s how they are here as well, but there are only a handful of us who actually have licenses.  The vast majority of GMRS just buy the radios and use them miles away from populated areas. Honestly, that doesn’t bother me a bit.  Maybe there shouldn’t be GMRS licensing for handheld use or lower than some wattage level.  

[WRUE951]

26 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

TBH, in my area, most GMRS users are very polite and respectful.

for the most part and in most areas i agree, GMRS users are generally polite, however in the areas if have traveled in in the last two three years (in this order) i find Los Angles, Sacramento, Dallas, parts of Arizona and parts of Washington to be complete jerks.  Los Angeles i just turn the radio off..   

[WRTC928]

25 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Maybe there shouldn’t be GMRS licensing for handheld use or lower than some wattage level.  

I think that's called FRS. 

[SteveShannon]

2 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I think that's called FRS. 

Ha!  Except they’re using GMRS radios.  

[Davichko5650]

2 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

TBH, in my area, most GMRS users are very polite and respectful.

Pretty much how it is here. Of course since it's mostly me and mine, how can it not be?  Other than a small group of friends nearby that I talk with occasionally at home, I don't use GMRS unless I'm out of town up where there's no cell service.

[WSFN703]

We have an active, polite, and helpful, GMRS community and there are a couple of nets each week on the main repeater.  We sort of, kind of, tend to encourage folks to use phonetics when first transmitting their callsign but don't chastise anyone if they don't.  We may ask them to use phonetics if we can't understand them because they are talking too fast (or our ears are too slow) or the transmission isn't clear.  Other than that there aren't many "rules" or etiquette for general conversation.  We have some folks that talk conversationally, others that use more military-type jargon, and the occasional user that sound like they're Smokey and the Bandit. We don't get too bent out of shape and just roll with it.  Usually it is an acceptable combination of all three.  

The advice given in previous posts is good.  Don't be a jerk, keep your language clean, and be polite.  If you have a repeater you can get on, listen in to see how the users converse.  After a while you will start recognizing call signs and voices and how the flow of the repeater works.  

Most of our repeater traffic goes something like this.

-Listen for traffic, if none heard-

"WSFN703 Monitoring (or standing by or listening)" - if you're not looking for anyone in particular but open for conversation.  You may strike up a conversation with someone.  If someone is driving they may say "Mobile" instead of "Monitoring".  This can let folks know that you may lose TX/RX due to terrain, buildings, or distance.  It also tends to imply that you may not be active on the radio for very long, i.e. you reach your destination.  

"WXXX123, WSFN703, Fred are you out there?" - if you're looking for someone specific.  If they answer, you go on with your conversation.  If you know they are listening,  just call them by name.  

"WSFN703, Radio Check" - if you want to see if your radio/antenna is working and how well.  Someone will chime in with their evaluation of your signal. 

 

If there is traffic and you want to say something, be it a comment on the topic being discussed or a question for one of the participants, maybe an emergency call, or to contact someone else (and then move to another freq. or repeater);

-Listen for a break in the conversation-

"WSFN703 Break (or Comment/Question)" - Wait a second or two for the other stations to acknowledge your break, then proceed with your comment.  

"WSFN703 Emergency, Emergency, Emergency" - State your emergency and vital information.  9-1-1 should be used first but there may be cases where cell phone coverage is not available and GMRS is all you have.  

 

After your conversation, however brief or extended, is ended.

"WSFN703 Clear" - usually means you are signing off but may mean you are done with the repeater and may still be listening but not actively looking for a conversation.  The context of the conversation can provide the meaning.  "Well, I've made it to work.  Good talking to you.  WSFN703 is clear."

"WSFN703 Monitoring" - I'm done talking but still listening if someone else wants me for something.

This is not any kind of official script we follow.  It's just how most of us talk when we're on the repeater.  It helps keep things manageable.  If we are on a net, we let the net controller set the rules.  

Simplex may be similar but generally it's just you and a friend or two on a channel so it's whatever etiquette you wish to follow.  Profanity and vulgarities are still generally frowned upon since children may be listening but I don't know anyone that polices it.    

 

[nokones]

On 4/28/2025 at 10:28 AM, LeoG said:

The eff sea seas says every 15 minutes if you are conversing that long.  Otherwise when you plan on not talking anymore call out your ID.

eff sea seas = Frank Charles Charles or Foxtrot Charlie Charlie

[nokones]

On 4/30/2025 at 8:43 AM, Davichko5650 said:

GMRS etiquette - almost as prevalent as FCC enforcement!

I have a feeling there will be a major deregulation with most FCC Rules and regs in the very near future that will have an impact on most personal and amateur radio services because of the current administrations policies, insofar as enforcement and licensing requirements, and how the aforementioned radio services will be used. Most amateur radio operators feel that their world won't change and will be untouched and not impacted.

Personally, I have no direct insight on this subject, I guess we'll see, but I think any subject that has a direct affect on the lives of the citizens is on the deregulation table.

[nokones]

On 5/1/2025 at 7:01 AM, WRUE951 said:

for the most part and in most areas i agree, GMRS users are generally polite, however in the areas if have traveled in in the last two three years (in this order) i find Los Angles, Sacramento, Dallas, parts of Arizona and parts of Washington to be complete jerks.  Los Angeles i just turn the radio off..   

Please elaborate on how in these areas the GMRS users are complete jerks, especially in certain parts of Arizona and which parts are you referring to in Arizona?

I routinely travel the said areas and I monitor all the GMRS channels except the 467 Meg Interstitial channels and I don't find anyone being perks. As for Arizona, that is not the case, although there is one individual that has a thing with one repeater owner and is trying to create havoc on a couple of his repeaters, but everyone just ignores him like he doesn't exist.

So, let us know how users in those areas are being jerks. It could be very well, that no one wants to talk to you because you have that certain  reputation/personality that precedes you.

[WSCG921]

I live in Arizona, and yes, they are just kinda annoying. Probably due to the influx of commiefornians.

[nokones]

9 minutes ago, WSCG921 said:

I live in Arizona, and yes, they are just kinda annoying. Probably due to the influx of commiefornians.

They very well could be "Sad Hams" with their sour attitudes that have a GMRS license spilling over from the Amateur radio freqs because there is essentially no one using the 2 Meter and 70 cm repeaters anymore to listen to them except for the occasional boring subjects being discussed during the mornings on the Sun City West 2 meter repeater.

[WRUE951]

12 minutes ago, nokones said:

Please elaborate on how in these areas the GMRS users are complete jerks, especially in certain parts of Arizona and which parts are you referring to in Arizona?

I routinely travel the said areas and I monitor all the GMRS channels except the 467 Meg Interstitial channels and I don't find anyone being perks. As for Arizona, that is not the case, although there is one individual that has a thing with one repeater owner and is trying to create havoc on a couple of his repeaters, but everyone just ignores him like he doesn't exist.

So, let us know how users in those areas are being jerks. It could be very well, that no one wants to talk to you because you have that certain  reputation/personality that precedes you.

I traveled thru said areas on vacation runs and telling you my experience.   I often travel to the Las Angeles areas both from the East to West and visa versa and that area is a mad house on every channel.  I honestly can't recall a single time not getting interrupted on a radio call by someone being a jerk.  I'm not necessary referring to repeater traffic but more of simplex communications in both FRS and GMRS frequencies.  I have had some problems on repeater frequencies but seldom.. When we travel in groups we always use simplex channels because there is no need to tie up a repeater frequency..  However, the stuff i hear on the repeaters channels may not be annoying but for the most part comical.  I swear, when i travel to L.A. i hear the same guy hollering out for radio checks on practically every repeater i have programed like a broken record..  No, i dont want to talk to that guy,  it's not you by any chance is it ...    

[tcp2525]

4 minutes ago, nokones said:

They very well could be "Sad Hams" with their sour attitudes that have a GMRS license spilling over from the Amateur radio freqs because there is essentially no one using the 2 Meter and 70 cm repeaters anymore to listen to them except for the occasional boring subjects being discussed during the mornings on the Sun City West 2 meter repeater.

That problem is easily remedied by talking politics on the air. You're guaranteed to wake up at least 50% of the lurkers.

[tcp2525]

3 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

I swear, when i travel to L.A. i hear the same guy hollering out for radio checks on practically every repeater i have programed like a broken record..  No, i dont want to talk to that guy,  it's not you by any chance is it ...    

I easily resolve that issue by saying this establishment only accepts checks. Seems GMRS has more of that issue than the ham bands.