Tips for establishing contacts locally

[WSKY398]

Hello Everyone! I am new to the world of radios and GMRS and I would like to know what everyone has for tips on expanding contacts within the local area, either it scanning and listening on every GMRS frequency or just using the forum, being able to establish a network in the world is a handy skill and I'd like to know what ideas you guys have to master it, I have heard that GMRS isn't really meant for contacts and its mostly for known groups/networks already, but if thats all you have, what would you do to reach out to others to build those networks in person?

[tcp2525]

21 minutes ago, WSKY398 said:

Hello Everyone! I am new to the world of radios and GMRS and I would like to know what everyone has for tips on expanding contacts within the local area, either it scanning and listening on every GMRS frequency or just using the forum, being able to establish a network in the world is a handy skill and I'd like to know what ideas you guys have to master it, I have heard that GMRS isn't really meant for contacts and its mostly for known groups/networks already, but if thats all you have, what would you do to reach out to others to build those networks in person?

Just transmit and ask for a radio check as there's no better way to break the ice. Someone will answer and you are off and running.

[gortex2]

SOmeone may answer. If I hear you I most likely wont. I use GMRS for specifically keeping track of family. On a off road event I would answer as thats the tool for the job. I use ham if I want social meda presence. 

[WRQI663]

I would respond to a radio check.....(if I hear you), and talk to you if you want -- why not?

[nokones]

Go out in the blind and ask for a radio check and after the response, strike up a conversation like, is my antenna too short or other radio related subject.

[WRZK526]

How about: WRZK 526 monitoring (repeater name) thank the owner for the use of the repeater and leaving it open. New to this area (or radio's) anyone on today? Listen for a response and repeat if none once. Try it at some other time of day. Be friendly and open and hell treat it like you are talking to someone you just met. Chances are there are people just like you out there waiting to talk. 

[WRTC928]

I usually respond to requests for a signal check. It's the only way for the requester to really know if his/her equipment is working and programmed correctly. Sometimes I'll have time to chat and sometimes I won't. I suspect most people are much the same way. That said, you need to be aware that many -- perhaps most -- GMRS users want to communicate with a known group of people for a specific purpose and may not really be interested in talking to a stranger. It's not rudeness; it's just that they bought the license and equipment for some purpose that doesn't include you. If you persist, you'll find some people to chat with.

[GreggInFL]

When you do your radio check ask if anyone has a scheduled net on a local repeater.

[WRUE951]

GMRS is basically a family/friend service. Here in the desert i hear a lot of traffic between desert off road dwellers, hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, vehicle traffic on hwy 395 and sometimes landscapers doing their job.   I seldom hear anyone hollering out for a contact.  Sometimes i hear someone asking for a radio check or a drunk boyfriend telling his girlfriend to pick up some more beer.   I think the best way to develop contacts on GMRS is encourage your friends to get a GMRS Radio and chat away.  That's my fest advice for making contacts on GMRS.  

[WRTC928]

2 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

I think the best way to develop contacts on GMRS is encourage your friends to get a GMRS Radio and chat away.  That's my fest advice for making contacts on GMRS.  

True, and if you and your friends start having chats, you may find that other people join in. Not in huge numbers like with ham nets, but usually you can spark some interest.

[WRUE951]

2 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

True, and if you and your friends start having chats, you may find that other people join in. Not in huge numbers like with ham nets, but usually you can spark some interest.

Not really.  Occasionally while RV traveling with friends someone will join into conversation to ask questions about their journey ..   Honestly, i never hear anyone 'CQ'ing for a contact on GMRS..  

[Davichko5650]

11 hours ago, WSKY398 said:

Hello Everyone! I am new to the world of radios and GMRS and I would like to know what everyone has for tips on expanding contacts within the local area, either it scanning and listening on every GMRS frequency or just using the forum, being able to establish a network in the world is a handy skill and I'd like to know what ideas you guys have to master it, I have heard that GMRS isn't really meant for contacts and its mostly for known groups/networks already, but if thats all you have, what would you do to reach out to others to build those networks in person?

For the most part I don't scan the GMRS channels, simplex or repeaters. I park on Ch. 19 for local contacts, mostly with friends and family I know and already talk to. We do hear an occasional caller asking for Radio Check or throwing their Callsign out "Listening" or "Monitoring" and I will respond. There's growing activity on this simplex channel in my neighborhood including a Net on Monday nights at 1900 local time.  I have one repeater on the dual watch in the mobile, and follow as above on that channel;  When I'm on either simplex or the repeater, I will also call out <MYCALL>  listening and will converse with whomever, if anyone, comes back to me.

[WRTC928]

4 hours ago, WRUE951 said:

Not really.  Occasionally while RV traveling with friends someone will join into conversation to ask questions about their journey ..   Honestly, i never hear anyone 'CQ'ing for a contact on GMRS..  

I haven't either, but there's at least one repeater in my area that has a fair amount of just "gabbing" and they usually don't mind if someone else chimes in. I mean, it's worth a try.

[WRUE951]

6 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I haven't either, but there's at least one repeater in my area that has a fair amount of just "gabbing" and they usually don't mind if someone else chimes in. I mean, it's worth a try.

Go for it..   

 

[WRTC928]

9 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

Go for it..   

 

I chime in with them occasionally, but I do most of my social radio usage on ham repeaters.

[nokones]

Join a GMRS Radio Club and meet new people. So when you hear them coming on the air and monitoring you can reach out and exchange your Heys and go from there.

[amaff]

On 1/16/2026 at 3:17 AM, WSKY398 said:

Hello Everyone! I am new to the world of radios and GMRS and I would like to know what everyone has for tips on expanding contacts within the local area

You hand a radio to your buddy you need to talk to. 

har har har

But actually, that's kind of it. If you want to make contacts, amateur radio may be what you're actually looking for. If there's active repeaters near you, those can often have concentrations of users (especially if they run weekly nets), but by and large, GMRS is useful if you want to make contacts with the kids playing radio on channel 1, the road crew squatting on 20, or the old drive-thru still using FRS frequencies for their drive through.

(or, where it's actually useful, when you need radios to fill a comms need in the furtherance of some other activity)

[amaff]

On 1/16/2026 at 4:34 AM, WRQI663 said:

I would respond to a radio check.....(if I hear you), and talk to you if you want -- why not?

Yeah, same. But I probably won't because I'm probably not listening to the channel you're on at the exact time you're transmitting.

[SteveShannon]

On 1/16/2026 at 3:17 AM, WSKY398 said:

Hello Everyone! I am new to the world of radios and GMRS and I would like to know what everyone has for tips on expanding contacts within the local area, either it scanning and listening on every GMRS frequency or just using the forum, being able to establish a network in the world is a handy skill and I'd like to know what ideas you guys have to master it, I have heard that GMRS isn't really meant for contacts and its mostly for known groups/networks already, but if thats all you have, what would you do to reach out to others to build those networks in person?

If you’re on a repeater, clubs sometimes have a “Net” which is a scheduled on-air meeting.  That was originally a ham thing also, but many GMRS clubs hold them as well. It’s a way to meet others and practice on-air etiquette, although nets are not necessarily great examples. Also, if there’s a nearby GMRS club they might have other kinds of social events.  Our ham club has breakfast every Saturday morning at a restaurant. Again, GMRS clubs often emulate what has worked for ham clubs. In a few cases ham clubs even spread their arms wide to welcome GMRS users in hopes of establishing a bigger tent, possibly doing some conversions.

[WSFN703]

Looks like the closest potential repeater is down in Morgantown. https://mygmrs.com/repeater/10130

Also found this, Join the Greater Pittsburgh Area GMRS Community! Connect with fellow radio enthusiasts, share your experiences, and stay updated on local events. https://www.facebook.com/groups/gmrspgh/

You might try hitting the repeater or getting in touch with the Pittsburg group.

[WSHT233]

I think it can really depend on the local culture/community as well.

Here in the Seattle area we have a terrific repeater that's open to all with daily banter and a host of regular contributors.

There's others with incredibly strict terms of service and etiquette expectations, and some that are public but put forth as solely emergency comms infrastructure.

If it's of interest to you, there may well be local volunteer teams organized around disaster/emergency preparedness (ARES, CERT, etc.) that are accepting new members. 

Scanning/monitoring is probably the best way to discover what traffic in your area sounds like, and if it's even something you want to engage with.

As others have mentioned, starting with a couple of local buddies within simplex range might be the most reliable option!

[WRZK526]

On 1/17/2026 at 4:40 AM, amaff said:

You hand a radio to your buddy you need to talk to. 

har har har

But actually, that's kind of it. If you want to make contacts, amateur radio may be what you're actually looking for. If there's active repeaters near you, those can often have concentrations of users (especially if they run weekly nets), but by and large, GMRS is useful if you want to make contacts with the kids playing radio on channel 1, the road crew squatting on 20, or the old drive-thru still using FRS frequencies for their drive through.

(or, where it's actually useful, when you need radios to fill a comms need in the furtherance of some other activity)

I have found several people on GMRS repeaters that I talk to all the time. Yes there is traffic on some of the non repeater channels but usually I just stay off those. I have noticed that a lot of hamsters use GMRS repeaters and have a GMRS license also, seems strange to me. If they don't like GMRS why bother to get a license and even listen? 

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, WRZK526 said:

I have found several people on GMRS repeaters that I talk to all the time. Yes there is traffic on some of the non repeater channels but usually I just stay off those. I have noticed that a lot of hamsters use GMRS repeaters and have a GMRS license also, seems strange to me. If they don't like GMRS why bother to get a license and even listen? 

Because the premise “if they don’t like GMRS” is not true for all hams. Based on my experience it’s not even true for most hams.

[WRTC928]

3 hours ago, WRZK526 said:

I have found several people on GMRS repeaters that I talk to all the time. Yes there is traffic on some of the non repeater channels but usually I just stay off those. I have noticed that a lot of hamsters use GMRS repeaters and have a GMRS license also, seems strange to me. If they don't like GMRS why bother to get a license and even listen? 

Well, personally, I have a GMRS license and GMRS radios in addition to an amateur license (KJ5JFG) because the two services do different things. Amateur radio has a much larger aspect of experimentation. The thing about "making contacts" is mostly about figuring out which band to use, making the right antenna, finding the right time when the band is "open", and then getting on the air to see if you got it right. It's not really about conversing; it's about overcoming the technical challenges. It's actually kind of exciting to talk to Guatemala with a 10 meter antenna you built yourself. There's a social aspect as well, and there are some practical uses like weather warning, but mostly it's a hobby for techno-nerds.

GMRS radio is much more oriented to everyday practical use in support of a business or hobby. Many people use it to keep in touch with family on a regular basis. I don't only because I don't have any family in the area. I'm plugged into the local prepper community and preppers use it quite a bit. One group even holds a weekly net to keep track of who's available in case of an emergency. I use a GMRS radio to communicate with people who have FRS radios at public events (horse shows, rodeos, etc.) The GMRS community isn't as formally organized for weather warning as the ham community, but there's definitely activity when severe weather occurs, and you can never have too much information in that event. GMRS is the obvious choice for people traveling on the highway in groups.

Yes, a lot of hams are hostile to GMRS, but that's a personal problem, as far as I'm concerned. The two services are actually complementary. There's no reason you can't use both.

[WRZK526]

3 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

Well, personally, I have a GMRS license and GMRS radios in addition to an amateur license (KJ5JFG) because the two services do different things. Amateur radio has a much larger aspect of experimentation. The thing about "making contacts" is mostly about figuring out which band to use, making the right antenna, finding the right time when the band is "open", and then getting on the air to see if you got it right. It's not really about conversing; it's about overcoming the technical challenges. It's actually kind of exciting to talk to Guatemala with a 10 meter antenna you built yourself. There's a social aspect as well, and there are some practical uses like weather warning, but mostly it's a hobby for techno-nerds.

GMRS radio is much more oriented to everyday practical use in support of a business or hobby. Many people use it to keep in touch with family on a regular basis. I don't only because I don't have any family in the area. I'm plugged into the local prepper community and preppers use it quite a bit. One group even holds a weekly net to keep track of who's available in case of an emergency. I use a GMRS radio to communicate with people who have FRS radios at public events (horse shows, rodeos, etc.) The GMRS community isn't as formally organized for weather warning as the ham community, but there's definitely activity when severe weather occurs, and you can never have too much information in that event. GMRS is the obvious choice for people traveling on the highway in groups.

Yes, a lot of hams are hostile to GMRS, but that's a personal problem, as far as I'm concerned. The two services are actually complementary. There's no reason you can't use both.

Sorry got a bit triggered when I read this one response. "but by and large, GMRS is useful if you want to make contacts with the kids playing radio on channel 1, the road crew squatting on 20, or the old drive-thru still using FRS frequencies for their drive through"

My take on it is if you don't like GMRS don't use it and stay out of sites like this dedicated to GMRS. Get a little tired of the "GMRS is for people too lazy to study for a HAM license" or calling us bubble pack radios. Heard both several times from HAM guys. But anyway I think I will do in here what I do when someone tries to access a repeater without a call sign. Ignore until they go away.