Family Use of Radios

[jerm8832]

I am fairly new to the GMRS world, new to the radio world in general. I got my license earlier this year. I picked up a few Baofeng GMRS V1 radios along with several Nagoya NA-701C antennas. There is a very good GMRS repeater in my area. I've talked on it a few times. From my understanding my family is also able to use this as well? It would be legal for me to give my wife and 15 year old daughter a radio? My wife would keep it in her car, my daughter would keep it in her backpack. How would we identify to each other since only my call sign would be used? Any help, tips, suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!

[Jones]

Absolutely. Your license covers your extended family, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

 

You all would use the same callsign, (yours) and just use your names, or you can assign unit numbers.... as in my family, I am unit 1, wife is unit 2, sons in order of birth are units 3, 4, and 5.  If you have a big extended family get together, say at a lake, and everyone is using radios, just using your names is easier, but you all are under the same family callsign.

 

If your wife was calling you on the radio, she would say: "WRAU978 Unit 2 to Unit 1, Jeremy, can you hear me?".  Simple as that.

[jerm8832]

Thank you for your reply! If we were to communicate via simplex, do we still need to identify with the call sign?

[berkinet]

[...] If we were to communicate via simplex, do we still need to identify with the call sign?

Yes. You must identify according to the rules defined in part 95. However, the use of optional unit numbers or other modifiers is not required. If you wanted, all three family members could identify using exactly the same call sign. Unlike ham radio, where people usually call other stations using the call sign of the desired station, GMRS users typically just identify and then call someone by name. As in: “WQYR510. jerm, are you on?”

[jerm8832]

Thank you guys for the help. I will share this with my family members so they know what to do.