How do we get more women and responsible young adults interested in GMRS

[WRZK526]

Need some idea's on how to get more varied people interested in GMRS. My wife would probably get more involved if it wasn't mostly men talking on the repeaters. I think we need to find a way to welcome more people if we want to grow the GMRS community. 

More that just a bunch of old farts discussing the weather. 

[Davichko5650]

36 minutes ago, WRZK526 said:

Need some idea's on how to get more varied people interested in GMRS. My wife would probably get more involved if it wasn't mostly men talking on the repeaters. I think we need to find a way to welcome more people if we want to grow the GMRS community. 

More that just a bunch of old farts discussing the weather. 

Are you talking in specifics? I.e. interesting people you personally know in GMRS?  Or in general, trying to interest people overall in the Service as a hobby endeavor?  I really myself, don't see a  need to work on getting more people involved in GMRS. My family besides myself use it on occasion when we're doing things, much in the way the Service was intended to be. Beyond that, they've no interest in GMRS as a hobby.  I also don't use GMRS beyond the family, on Off-Road group trips and a smattering of friends that are on Simplex. I don't chat about the weather or any other topic on repeaters.

But if you are looking to expand people's interest, one way is what a friend of mine does;  He has a very well made Info Table that he brings to local radio outings and Hamfests detailing GMRS, MURS, CBRS, Marine and Amateur radio and the various frequencies and usages for each service. He also has info on Air Band receiving and SW Listening.  Being conversant in GMRS, etc., being able to explain what it is and how it's used in a way non-technically minded folks can grasp also would help.  At our monthly "Hams in the Park" (non POTA, btw) outings hereabouts, he will have this table set up and it garners a lot of attention as to what radio is all about.

 

[gortex2]

My wife uses GMRS on all our jeep events. Ever think many dont really care and use the radio as a tool ? My parent have GMRS and use our family repeater. Contrary to popular belif GMRS is not ham lite even though more and more want it to be. 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WRZK526 said:

Need some idea's on how to get more varied people interested in GMRS. My wife would probably get more involved if it wasn't mostly men talking on the repeaters. I think we need to find a way to welcome more people if we want to grow the GMRS community. 

More that just a bunch of old farts discussing the weather. 

What does your wife say when you ask her what would get her more involved?

[WRHS218]

My family and a few friends use GMRS for family communication in various circumstances. None of them go looking for strangers to talk to. I got my HAM permission slip decades ago. I use it all wrong because I use it as a tool and not as a social network. I think most people treat GMRS as a use specific device. YMMV

[SteveShannon]

1 minute ago, WRHS218 said:

My family and a few friends use GMRS for family communication in various circumstances. None of them go looking for strangers to talk to. I got my HAM permission slip decades ago. I use it all wrong because I use it as a tool and not as a social network. I think most people treat GMRS as a use specific device. YMMV

I think this is key.  When GMRS is used like ham radio, where talking on the radio is the primary activity, such as social networking organized around a repeater, it will be attractive only to people who are primarily looking to talk on the radio. When it’s used as a communication tool while involved in an activity, everyone involved in that activity will use GMRS.  If it’s a family activity, the entire family will be involved. So I think the way to get more people involved in GMRS cannot be centered primarily around talking on the radio, but rather around activities that are attractive to more people.

However, I also interested in finding ways to get more people interested in talking on the radio because that’s key to growing ham radio as well as GMRS.

[Lscott]

More schools are banning cell phones. Since they haven't done anything about FRS/GMRS/Ham radios they could fill in the gap. Parents give their kids the cell phone "just in case" something happens at the school. The radio might work better in an emergency since more people are likely monitoring the frequencies compared to a person-to-person phone call. And with local repeaters in the area the range is very likely good.

Example:

https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-01-14/michigan-house-passes-school-cell-phone-ban-names-other-early-2026-priorities

 

[tweiss3]

Free Starbucks/Timmies/Dunkin with every transmission? 

In all seriousness, why? My wife has found that the radios are helpful in some situations, and she isn't afraid to use them, but she has no interest to talking to anyone else out there.

[amaff]

From the "Project Longhaul" thread last year:

On 11/17/2025 at 7:30 AM, amaff said:

Is "more people talking on GMRS" necessarily a good thing? Seems it would needlessly tie the limited channels we have up for people who are actually out using GMRS to do stuff other than talk on the radio. 

If you want to play radio, there's a whole space (several, even) for that. I mean, it's allowed on GMRS, it's not breaking any rules. But in more congested areas where all 8 high power channels are tied up with long winded rag chews about nothing, it starts really limiting how useful the service is for those of us actually using them to fill a comms need for other activities.

Head to an OHV park or national park on a weekend if you want to hear 'more people talking on GMRS'. You'll have an ear full on every channel. Getting more people on for the sake of having more people talking isn't exactly something I'm looking for.

"How do we get women interested in a hobby" is a whole other question, and one that's probably better asked to your target demographic. And, you know, not a forum chock full o' dudes 

[RoadApple]

Seems to me that, if radio serves a purpose for them (utility), they will use it, but when radio is the purpose (hobby), most have no interest and that's okay.  I have to agree with @amaff that I'm not sure getting more people randomly chit-chatting on GMRS is necessarily a good thing. 

[OffRoaderX]

11 hours ago, WRZK526 said:

think we need to find a way to welcome more people if we want to grow the GMRS community. 

GMRS is not a "community".  If you want a "community" and/or have the urge to chat with anonymous men, try H.A.M. radio or get the Grindr app for your phone.

[LeoG]

My wife will use the radio to talk with me.  On rare occasions she'll talk with others.  Especially when a net is going.  She really just likes listening.  You know... gossip.

[WRZK526]

5 hours ago, Lscott said:

More schools are banning cell phones. Since they haven't done anything about FRS/GMRS/Ham radios they could fill in the gap. Parents give their kids the cell phone "just in case" something happens at the school. The radio might work better in an emergency since more people are likely monitoring the frequencies compared to a person-to-person phone call. And with local repeaters in the area the range is very likely good.

Example:

https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-01-14/michigan-house-passes-school-cell-phone-ban-names-other-early-2026-priorities

 

A lot of schools in this area use radio's for on site communications, teachers all have one with them all the time. First and foremost I consider all radio's primary purpose is emergency communications. 

[LeoG]

Between my wife and I the radio is usually the primary communication source.  Use cell phones when I can't hit a repeater.

[WRZK526]

10 hours ago, LeoG said:

Between my wife and I the radio is usually the primary communication source.  Use cell phones when I can't hit a repeater.

You should use your radio in anyway you want as long as you don't violate the FCC rules. People will try and tell you this is for that use, this is for this use. Do with your GMRS radio what you want and enjoy. Their are "experts" that try and control, ignore them. 

[WRTC928]

16 hours ago, LeoG said:

My wife will use the radio to talk with me.  On rare occasions she'll talk with others.  Especially when a net is going.  She really just likes listening.  You know... gossip.

I participate in a net on a local 2m repeater that's actually named the "Gossip Net". 

[WSKY396]

On 1/30/2026 at 12:02 PM, OffRoaderX said:

GMRS is not a "community".  If you want a "community" and/or have the urge to chat with anonymous men, try H.A.M. radio or get the Grindr app for your phone.

This is always hilarious.
Because of your videos I bought three uv5r’s, four uv5g’s and I am studying for the technician exam. The radios are in my wife and kids cars, preprogrammed for real emergency use and family use as is allowed by our FCC overlords.

[WSKY396]

On 1/30/2026 at 5:52 AM, WRZK526 said:

Need some idea's on how to get more varied people interested in GMRS. My wife would probably get more involved if it wasn't mostly men talking on the repeaters. I think we need to find a way to welcome more people if we want to grow the GMRS community. 

More that just a bunch of old farts discussing the weather. 

After reflecting on my late night beer induced comment and consulting Xenu I knew I had to edit it.  Some people do want to make chopping it up part of their radio use. I keep hearing people up north from my location and started talking to them from time to time. I believe they are in semi rural area’s. They talk to each other off and on most days probably. They started a weekly net and several people in my area ended up being on it. 

[WRZK526]

1 hour ago, WSKY396 said:

After reflecting on my late night beer induced comment and consulting Xenu I knew I had to edit it.  Some people do want to make chopping it up part of their radio use. I keep hearing people up north from my location and started talking to them from time to time. I believe they are in semi rural area’s. They talk to each other off and on most days probably. They started a weekly net and several people in my area ended up being on it. 

I think these radio's are whatever you want to use them for. If a bunch of people want to get on and talk or use them for emergency or off road. We have one net check in weekly that has probably 20 or 30 people and that is not the only one. Another checks in twice daily probably only to keep it open just in case and check on friends. 

And I hate it when someone makes up rules of what you can and can't do. 

[WRUE951]

On 1/30/2026 at 7:20 AM, SteveShannon said:

What does your wife say when you ask her what would get her more involved?

Mines just throws me the bottle of Viagra 

[WSIF574]

Got my kid using GMRS when he is running around all over the neighborhood. I rather him loose a uv5g mini over an expensive phone. My wife didn’t start using it until we moved into our new home a few months ago. We have very poor cell signal at home and not much better around town. GMRS works better for local stuff as long as I’m still in the vehicle. Not going to be some weird guy walking around Walmart with my radio on hip. 

[LeoG]

I don't walk around with my radio in Walmart on my hip either.  I use my back pocket.

[WRZK526]

1 hour ago, WSIF574 said:

Got my kid using GMRS when he is running around all over the neighborhood. I rather him loose a uv5g mini over an expensive phone. My wife didn’t start using it until we moved into our new home a few months ago. We have very poor cell signal at home and not much better around town. GMRS works better for local stuff as long as I’m still in the vehicle. Not going to be some weird guy walking around Walmart with my radio on hip. 

Worried about looking weird in Wal Mart? Have you seen the pictures of people in there? I put mine on the police scanner when I am walking to my car. 

[WRZK526]

1 hour ago, LeoG said:

I don't walk around with my radio in Walmart on my hip either.  I use my back pocket.

Or go concealed radio carry. 

[LeoG]

Radio is concealed.  Just the Nagoya 771G sticking out my back pocket.