WRZK526 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 11 hours ago, WSIF574 said: For me it’s GMRS will do everything I need. My father is a Ham and I used to sit and listen to him talk all around the world on his set up. Antenna stretching from one side of the yard to another and a 70ft tower in the back yard ,whole room of the house full of equipment. I live in a HOA so it’s not possible for me to have those things. Any thing I could set up here would give me the same fars as GMRS. And I don’t need to talk to people I know in other states. He did to save long distance charges back when that was still a thing Can you get away with a mobile antennae for the top of your house. Run it to a mobile inside connected to a power supply. If you can't get away with a whip how about a 3db ghost antennae, no one could probably even notice that. WSLH454 1 Quote
Lscott Posted January 28 Posted January 28 12 hours ago, WSIF574 said: I live in a HOA so it’s not possible for me to have those things. Some people have good luck installing a short base antenna, or a mobile whip, in their attic space. Nothing to see. Quote
amaff Posted January 28 Posted January 28 12 hours ago, WSIF574 said: For me it’s GMRS will do everything I need. That's it. Close the thread WSIF574 1 Quote
WRYZ926 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 The main thing to look out for when installing an antenna in your attic is electrical wires and metal duct work. Both can affect the antenna and tuning. This will effect HF antennas more but still a concern with VHF and UHF antennas. All of the duct work and a bunch of electrical wires are in my attic so putting any type of antenna there is out for me. Lscott 1 Quote
WRUE951 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 36 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said: The main thing to look out for when installing an antenna in your attic is electrical wires and metal duct work. Both can affect the antenna and tuning. This will effect HF antennas more but still a concern with VHF and UHF antennas. All of the duct work and a bunch of electrical wires are in my attic so putting any type of antenna there is out for me. One of my buddies in a Del Webb community has an approved flag pole on his property for over the last two years and he has a hidden multi band antenna imbedded inside the flag pole. . He was telling me that the word has gotten out about his hidden antenna and he is starting to catch flak about the pole. I think it's funny that someone can go over two years with a flag pole then once they learn of the hidden antenna they go bat $hit crazy. Nothing to do with the antenna, it's all about control. He is getting ready to pack up to leave Calif and Texas bound. Quote
amaff Posted January 28 Posted January 28 Apropos of nothing, I'm heading out with family to look at a piece of property. We have different things to do this afternoon so we're traveling in separate cars. I just checked the battery level on a couple of radios so we can talk without needing phones out in the middle of nowhere. Comms need: filled. The other family members who don't care about radio don't need a license. Job done. WSIF574 1 Quote
WSIF574 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 3 hours ago, WRZK526 said: Can you get away with a mobile antennae for the top of your house. Run it to a mobile inside connected to a power supply. If you can't get away with a whip how about a 3db ghost antennae, no one could probably even notice that. I have a wip antenna mounted on the backside of the house going to my repeater. Gets me the radius I need for anywhere in town my family maybe ( cell service stinks at my house). I can hit a ham repeater on south mountain with no problem on a hand held at 20miles but that would require my wife and I to be licensed Quote
WSIF574 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 2 hours ago, Lscott said: Some people have good luck installing a short base antenna, or a mobile whip, in their attic space. Nothing to see. I live in Az my roof is 2 inch thick concrete tiles. Got a 6db wip mounted to the backside with lmr400 painted to match the house Lscott 1 Quote
Jaay Posted January 28 Posted January 28 21 hours ago, OffRoaderX said: I have often wondered this myself - especially after seeing/hearing all the "licensed ham operators" bash GMRS and GMRS users and preach to us how horrible GMRS is and how much better life would be if we would just "get our ticket" and use a "real radio".. Of course, when we try to point out that GMRS does exactly what we need, they respond with something along the lines of "oh, you're just too stupid to take the test"... Then we have to listen to them tell us the stories of how they got their H.A.M.s license when they were only 9 years old and didnt even have to study. OTOH, I have also heard and read about "licensed ham operators" slumming on GMRS just so they could quote regulations, complain about spurious RF emissions, and failure to use GMRS callsigns - as if they are some kind of self appointed radio-police.. Basically, it seems that many (of course not all) are just sad, broken, sociallyretarded losers, trying their best to try and let everyone know how smart and powerful they think they are. To think You and Josh got along so well, too ... Glad I didn't pee in your cheerios ! Quote
WSKZ989 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 I recently became obsessed with the idea of getting in to ham radio. I had never heard of GMRS, but when I started talking about HAM, a friend of mine started talking about GMRS. My interest in ham was partially I wanted a radio where I could talk to people on the other side of the planet, and get information in emergencies without cellular or internet or electricity. When I found out I could get GMRS without a test and that using a repeater I could talk to my friend who is 60 miles away using a $20 handheld radio, I was in. I am still studying for my ham, but I don't want to just pass the test. I want to actually understand the material- I am fascinated that I may actually grasp how radios work. So the studying is taking time but in the meantime, I am using the GMRS. GMRS really fits my concern about emergency comms with my immediate family. The best part about GMRS from my perspective is that my licesne covers my family, so I don't have to convince them to take a test. My spouse and son are not interested in this hobby- but all I have to do is give them a radio, have a sticker on it with the call sign to use and the channels to use, and if the SHTF they know how to get ahold of me. GMRS is exactly what I need for my immediate family in an emergency. Ham is what I need to bounce a signal off the international space station to my nephew on the other side of the planet, for funsies. Ham is also where I will (hopefully) learn a lot about how radios work, and how to do cool stuff like bounce radio waves off the atmosphere, and how to meet people in other countries. So I guess if I were a "Ham" who hasn't officially become a ham, why I want a GMRS is to be in contact with family. BUT ALSO- i think wtih GMRS being more accessible, more people are involved and I do actually Really adore listening to people talk on the repeaters- at least my local repeater is all very sweet people and I learn a lot about radios, events, and just what good people they are. WRTC928 and WSLH454 2 Quote
Davichko5650 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 19 hours ago, WRYZ926 said: The last radios I bought were a pair of Baofeng UV-5R Minis for $37 during the Black Friday sales. They actually work pretty good. I bought the Baofeng MP-11's not even on sale and they were a whopping $22 for 2. A radio even my wife can use! Quote
Lscott Posted January 28 Posted January 28 1 hour ago, WSKZ989 said: GMRS really fits my concern about emergency comms with my immediate family. The best part about GMRS from my perspective is that my licesne covers my family, so I don't have to convince them to take a test. My spouse and son are not interested in this hobby- but all I have to do is give them a radio, have a sticker on it with the call sign to use and the channels to use, and if the SHTF they know how to get ahold of me. That's the case with many people. However you can't exactly hand somebody a radio, that's never used one before, and expect them to use it effectively. I would schedule some practice sessions so your family members feel comfortable using the radio, AND how to use it! It's really infuriating when people can't even speak properly into the radio. They hold the mic a foot way and the audio is almost non existent, or hold it so close it sounds like a wind storm when they breath etc. Some have even tried talking into the back side!! WSLH454 1 Quote
OffRoaderX Posted January 29 Posted January 29 3 hours ago, Lscott said: It's really infuriating when people can't even speak properly into the radio. They hold the mic a foot way and the audio is almost non existent, or hold it so close it sounds like a wind storm when they breath etc. ...or they dont hit the transmit trigger until 1-2 seconds AFTER they start talking... WRUE951, WSIF574 and PRadio 3 Quote
WRUE951 Posted January 29 Posted January 29 7 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said: ...or they dont hit the transmit trigger until 1-2 seconds AFTER they start talking... Yup Lscott 1 Quote
Northcutt114 Posted January 29 Posted January 29 12 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said: ...or they dont hit the transmit trigger until 1-2 seconds AFTER they start talking... I have long held that the button should be called "Push Then Talk" rather than "Push To Talk" as I think it would help people understand that they need to depress it prior to talking. Lscott and OffRoaderX 2 Quote
dosw Posted January 29 Posted January 29 16 hours ago, OffRoaderX said: ...or they dont hit the transmit trigger until 1-2 seconds AFTER they start talking... .....rigger until 1-2 seconds AFTER they start tal.... SteveShannon and WSHT233 2 Quote
SteveShannon Posted January 29 Posted January 29 18 minutes ago, dosw said: .....rigger until 1-2 seconds AFTER they start tal.... at’s ri<beep> Northcutt114 and WSHT233 2 Quote
WRYT601 Posted January 29 Posted January 29 My answer to the thread title: It's radio. Radio enthusiasts often enjoy having access to as many bands as they can. Why limit yourself to talking to only those with similar licenses? Its about radio, not license status. There are hams who feel more important than others because of their easily obtainable license, but aside from those people, I think the real question should be: Why wouldn't hams get GMRS? AdmiralCochrane, SteveShannon and WRCZ387 3 Quote
dosw Posted January 29 Posted January 29 1 hour ago, WRYT601 said: My answer to the thread title: It's radio. Radio enthusiasts often enjoy having access to as many bands as they can. Why limit yourself to talking to only those with similar licenses? Its about radio, not license status. There are hams who feel more important than others because of their easily obtainable license, but aside from those people, I think the real question should be: Why wouldn't hams get GMRS? There's truth to that, too. Like, if you have 2m why would you want 70cm? ...truthfully their propagation is similar enough that there's some redundancy, right? If you have 10m why do you need 20? and then you get into a whole world of other possibilities. If you have a truck why would you also want a sedan? Quote
Bogieboy01 Posted January 29 Posted January 29 On 1/28/2026 at 7:05 AM, WRZK526 said: Can you get away with a mobile antennae for the top of your house. Run it to a mobile inside connected to a power supply. If you can't get away with a whip how about a 3db ghost antennae, no one could probably even notice that. I dont have any hoa concerns as i am in the middle of nowhere, but i have had great luck so far with a "6db" multiband whip with a geound plane added... had it just above the roofline of my apartment in ny, and no at the peak of my shed in TN, and get many fars with my anytone at5888uv. You can also see my cobbled cb 11m whip on a magmount on the roof going ro pick up a big boy cb 10/11/15m antenna tonight though, grabbing an Antron-99 from about 45 min away tonight for $35... then the tower is gonna get built.... because i dont care what the neighbors think.... RoadApple, SteveShannon and Lscott 1 2 Quote
nokones Posted January 29 Posted January 29 My repeater station antenna in my Del Webb community. SteveShannon and WRUE951 2 Quote
tcp2525 Posted January 30 Posted January 30 11 hours ago, nokones said: My repeater station antenna in my Del Webb community. If the neighborhood Nazis didn't excommunicate you for that "eyesore" there's no reason you couldn't sneak in a Stationmaster and 30' of Rohn 25G. Oh and don't forget to feed it with 7/8" Heliax.. Quote
nokones Posted January 30 Posted January 30 14 hours ago, tcp2525 said: If the neighborhood Nazis didn't excommunicate you for that "eyesore" there's no reason you couldn't sneak in a Stationmaster and 30' of Rohn 25G. Oh and don't forget to feed it with 7/8" Heliax.. The CC&Rs don't prohibit the erection of antennae providing it is erected in accordance with the FCC and the County ordinances and that there is no interference with the neighbors' TV reception. Quote
Radioactive Posted January 30 Posted January 30 Umm, access to more repeaters, its all radio, I enjoy 2 way radio. Not everyone wants to be a ham, GMRS has a smaller set of standard frequencies so when you travel its easier to find repeaters along the travel route to use. Its like asking why would someone want a screwdriver if the "already have" a hammer. Different tools for different tasks. WRTC928 1 Quote
WRUE951 Posted January 30 Posted January 30 3 hours ago, tcp2525 said: If the neighborhood Nazis didn't excommunicate you for that "eyesore" there's no reason you couldn't sneak in a Stationmaster and 30' of Rohn 25G. Oh and don't forget to feed it with 7/8" Heliax.. If you are in the Lincoln Del Web, you might run into a problem with the antenna police. tcp2525 1 Quote
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