“Suggested” Channel Usage…

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, WRUE951 said:

I be using 10-32 in real emergency. 

I'm not familiar with that term.

[WSIF574]

4 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I'm not familiar with that term.

10-32 =pew pew

[WRTC928]

3 minutes ago, WSIF574 said:

10-32 =pew pew

Ah. That option is also in my bag of tricks. However, resorting to 10-32 and calling for help are not mutually exclusive. TBH, a GMRS or ham radio would be pretty much my last choice for communication in the event of a real emergency. That said, I do keep in mind that it is an option and it's part of my contingency plan.

[WSKK363]

Stoked to hear you have a plan. It all depends on the situation. Currently there's better options than GMRS for emergency. If something happens, shtf, power outage, riots, etc, you should have your comms planned before that. My group has our own plan. Everyone monitors channel A incase someone needs a hand while using channel B, C, D, for whatever other needs. 

[GreggInFL]

On 12/3/2025 at 12:58 PM, kirk5056 said:

I would like to have a channel, similar to Marine Ch 16 or the aviation guard channels, that one can stand by on waiting to be called then move to a chat channel to the long boring conversations about nothing.

I've never understood why the use of marine channels are limited to waterways. How much damage can one do to port operations or USCG operation if they are in, say, Wyoming? Anyone aware of any land-based frequencies that might conflict?

[GreggInFL]

On 12/3/2025 at 12:58 PM, kirk5056 said:

 

Double post.

[GreggInFL]

On 12/3/2025 at 12:58 PM, kirk5056 said:

I would like to have a channel, similar to Marine Ch 16 or the aviation guard channels, that one can stand by on waiting to be called then move to a chat channel to the long boring conversations about nothing.

I've never understood why the use of marine channels are limited to waterways. How much damage can one do to port operations or USCG operation if they are in, say, Wyoming? Anyone aware of any land-based frequencies that might conflict?

[AdmiralCochrane]

I occasionally hear some railroad traffic on some of the obscure marine channels.  IDK if it is direct or harmonic.

[WRTC928]

4 hours ago, WSKK363 said:

Stoked to hear you have a plan. It all depends on the situation. Currently there's better options than GMRS for emergency. If something happens, shtf, power outage, riots, etc, you should have your comms planned before that. My group has our own plan. Everyone monitors channel A incase someone needs a hand while using channel B, C, D, for whatever other needs. 

Kinda similar to what I have with my friends. I need to get my repeater back online, but I'm going to need help putting up the mast. Also, I'm going to be as busy as a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest until the second week of January.

[WRUE951]

5 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

Ah. That option is also in my bag of tricks. However, resorting to 10-32 and calling for help are not mutually exclusive. TBH, a GMRS or ham radio would be pretty much my last choice for communication in the event of a real emergency. That said, I do keep in mind that it is an option and it's part of my contingency plan.

Now imagine this scenario,   you 10-32 someone breaking into your house..  The guy cut your phone line and the Cell Tower just took a lighting strike..  You have 25 GMRS/HAM HtT's on your charge shelve in the garage..  I guess you'll have to decide it you grab the GMRS HT or the HAM HT to call the police for a 10-45..   I'll probably grab the GMRS HT cause it's more busy in my area.  

[WRTC928]

43 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

Now imagine this scenario,   you 10-32 someone breaking into your house..  The guy cut your phone line and the Cell Tower just took a lighting strike..  You have 25 GMRS/HAM HtT's on your charge shelve in the garage..  I guess you'll have to decide it you grab the GMRS HT or the HAM HT to call the police for a 10-45..   I'll probably grab the GMRS HT cause it's more busy in my area.  

Where I live, the most reliably-monitored frequency is a ham repeater about 20 miles from my house. That's what I'd go to.

[Northcutt114]

12 hours ago, gortex2 said:

I guess I meant for any type of monitoring as an emergency channel. When .675 was a suito emergency channel our REACT team monitored it 24/7 365 from multiple locations. Now its hard to monitor between hunters, kids, grocery stores, ham light guys and every other gagle of FRS/GMRS user. No emergency center is going to monitor this stuff. And lastly the FRS GMRS merger did kill the way GMRS was used in the past as a family service. 

Alot more users are on GMRS/FRS than 10 years ago and while thats a good thing I also see it bad as in at some point it will be no different than CB (pretty much is in many areas) with people just doing what they want on it. When it was a service with limited channels, limited equipment it wasn't as "easy" for folks to use it and made it a cleaner band. 

Change is what we have on all fronts. In the end thats why I dont see any standard getting setup as its already too much of a mess. 

I appreciate the clarification. Thanks! I guess I'm fairly fortunate to live in an area where GMRS, outside of some local repeaters, is very, very quiet.

 

[NCJeb]

6 hours ago, GreggInFL said:

I've never understood why the use of marine channels are limited to waterways. How much damage can one do to port operations or USCG operation if they are in, say, Wyoming? Anyone aware of any land-based frequencies that might conflict?

Marine is also designated for inland lakes, albeit not necessarily monitored in Wyoming etc.

You'd be surprised where it IS monitored by Coast guard though: Chattanooga isn't exactly known as being "marine," but they do have their Rescue 21 system deployed there, and even in such far flung places as Oklahoma, West Virginia, inland Oregon and Washington, Nebraska, and more... (see below)

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/rescue-21-distress-system-coverage

[gortex2]

Pretty much any waterway is acceptable for marine use. Many lakes have local CG Auxilaries on the lake to monitor CH16 as well as assist USCG with incidents. 

[OffRoaderX]

6 hours ago, gortex2 said:

Pretty much any waterway is acceptable for marine use.

To stay legal I only use my Marine radios when I'm in the bathtub...

[AdmiralCochrane]

18 hours ago, WRUE951 said:

Now imagine this scenario,   you 10-32 someone breaking into your house..  The guy cut your phone line and the Cell Tower just took a lighting strike..  You have 25 GMRS/HAM HtT's on your charge shelve in the garage..  I guess you'll have to decide it you grab the GMRS HT or the HAM HT to call the police for a 10-45..   I'll probably grab the GMRS HT cause it's more busy in my area.  

I'd use a low RF output device that has a quick burst high infrared signature.  The chances of anyone hearing and reacting to a  GMRS or ham call are minimal. Police don't monitor GMRS or ham in my area.

[WRUE951]

31 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

I'd use a low RF output device that has a quick burst high infrared signature.  The chances of anyone hearing and reacting to a  GMRS or ham call are minimal. Police don't monitor GMRS or ham in my area.

but you only have Ham or GMRS radios on your HT Shelf 

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

To steal legal I only use my Marine radios when I'm in the bathtub...

don't forget the rubber ducky. 

[AdmiralCochrane]

2 hours ago, WRUE951 said:

but you only have Ham or GMRS radios on your HT Shelf 

You haven't seen my HT shelf

[nokones]

3 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

To stay legal I only use my Marine radios when I'm in the bathtub...

Pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 80, Subpart A,  Section 80.5, I don't believe a rectangle hydro receptacle/container, a.k.a. a "Bath Tub" would qualify as an Inland Waterway, River, or a Great Lake for use of any Marine Band channel, unless there is a formal rule exemption for a Specific Royalty Party.

Unless that particular "Bath Tub" is in transport as a Ship or Vessel on a specific and defined Open Sea, Inland Waterway, River, or Great Lake, that may be within the scope of the rule.

Any use of the subject "Marine Band" channels that are operated outside the scope of the said rules and regs would just piss-off the FCC Overlords.

[NCJeb]

1 minute ago, nokones said:

Pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 80, Subpart A,  Section 80.5, I don't believe a rectangle hydro receptacle, a.k.a. a "Bath Tub" would qualify as an Inland Waterway, River, or a Great Lake for use of any Marine Band channel, unless there is a formal rule exemption for a Specific Royalty Party.

Unless that particular "Bath Tub" is in transport as a Ship or Vessel on a specific and defined Open Sea, Inland Waterway, River, or Great Lake, that may be within the scope of the rule.

Any use of the subject "Marine Band" channels that are operated outside the scope of the said rules and regs would just piss-off the FCC Overlords.

And Randy @OffRoaderX says I need to go outside? Nice going @nokones--no sarcasm, I mean it, that's a masterpiece of writing right there

[OffRoaderX]

58 minutes ago, nokones said:

Pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 80, Subpart A,  Section 80.5, I don't believe a rectangle hydro receptacle/container, a.k.a. a "Bath Tub" would qualify as an Inland Waterway, River, or a Great Lake for use of any Marine Band channel, unless there is a formal rule exemption for a Specific Royalty Party.

Unless that particular "Bath Tub" is in transport as a Ship or Vessel on a specific and defined Open Sea, Inland Waterway, River, or Great Lake, that may be within the scope of the rule.

Any use of the subject "Marine Band" channels that are operated outside the scope of the said rules and regs would just piss-off the FCC Overlords.

They'll have to pry my radio from my cold, wet, soapy hands.

[WRUE951]

2 hours ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

You haven't seen my HT shelf

but, but, but,  ..  that was my scenario.    

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

They'll have to pry my radio from my cold, wet, soapy hands.

no worries, they'll send you a letter first.   

[WRUU653]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

They'll have to pry my radio from my cold, wet, soapy hands.

…Um no, that’s not an antenna and it certainly isn’t removable. IP67??? At least.