GMRS license covers my family? And etiquette for family chat?

[HamsterDancer]

Just looking for a point of clarification, I recently got my GMRS liscence and call sign and it's my understanding that only one person in a group needs a license so when I go camping with my family I can give them all radios and they covered by my license? 

Also looking for some clarification on etiquette via using GMRS/FRS for family communication. I would assume we should stick to the low power channels, obviously avoid a channel someone else is using but if I find an empty channel I'm free to use it for basic chit chat with my family or is that frowned upon and it's polite to stick to short check ins only? Do they need to use my call sign when signing off or anything? 

Just trying to use the radios in a friendly matter and not be annoying. 

 

Thanks in advance! 

Bill WSJQ725

[SteveShannon]

9 minutes ago, HamsterDancer said:

Just looking for a point of clarification, I recently got my GMRS liscence and call sign and it's my understanding that only one person in a group needs a license so when I go camping with my family I can give them all radios and they covered by my license? 

Also looking for some clarification on etiquette via using GMRS/FRS for family communication. I would assume we should stick to the low power channels, obviously avoid a channel someone else is using but if I find an empty channel I'm free to use it for basic chit chat with my family or is that frowned upon and it's polite to stick to short check ins only? Do they need to use my call sign when signing off or anything? 

Just trying to use the radios in a friendly matter and not be annoying. 

 

Thanks in advance! 

Bill WSJQ725

You’re right about everything, although you don’t have to stick to the lower power channels if you need the higher power. Welcome!

[WRTC928]

3 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

You’re right about everything, although you don’t have to stick to the lower power channels if you need the higher power. Welcome!

Just to expand a little on what @SteveShannon said, it's considered good manners to use the lowest power that will accomplish the mission. If you only need 0.5 watt, use that, but you're not going to be raided by the FCC Police if you use 5 watts. Also, just because you're on one of the higher-power channels, you don't have to use the full power.

[OffRoaderX]

2 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

it's considered good manners to use the lowest power that will accomplish the mission.

No REAL (meaning not H.A.M.s disguised as GMRS users) GMRS users think this or do this..or care.. Please do not drag your H.A.M.s radios dogma into GMRS

[WRTC928]

8 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

No REAL (meaning not H.A.M.s disguised as GMRS users) GMRS users think this or do this..or care.. Please do not drag your H.A.M.s radios dogma into GMRS

Using the lowest power that will do the job goes all the way back to my military and law enforcement careers a good 40 years before I got a ham license. 

[OffRoaderX]

17 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

Using the lowest power that will do the job goes all the way back to my military and law enforcement careers a good 40 years before I got a ham license. 

Allow me to rephrase:  Please do not try to make GMRS something that it is not, nor is intended to be.

[hxpx]

11 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Allow me to rephrase:  Please do not try to make GMRS something that it is not, nor is intended to be.

If God the FCC gave us 50 watt channels, I'm gonna use all 50 watts.

Edit: Theoretically. All I have are a bunch of 5W handhelds. But I would if I could!