WSAG780 Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 I just received my GMRS License about four days ago. Now, I am learning how to get on the air. Any tips and/or suggestions are welcomed. Quote
WRWE456 Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 Hello and welcome! Can you tell us what you are hoping to use the GMRS for? Do you have a radio yet? If so which one? Where do you live? Quote
WRUU653 Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 Welcome to the forum @WSAG780. Check out @marcspaz’s Intro to GMRS Video. WSAG780, WRWE456 and WSAW249 3 Quote
WSAG780 Posted January 27 Author Report Posted January 27 I have three Baofeng radios to get started with learning about radios. I have two UV-5Rs (Ham Radios) and one GM-5RH that is for GMRS communications. I intend to use them for recreational purposes with family and friends as well as for emergency situations. I am currently living in the Warner Robins, GA area. I do plan to get my Ham License before this year is out. Quote
WSAG780 Posted January 27 Author Report Posted January 27 Thanks for the welcome WRUU653! WRUU653 1 Quote
WSAG780 Posted January 27 Author Report Posted January 27 Thanks for recommending the video WRUU653. Great presentation! The information was easy to understand and was explained very well. This is a must watch for new GMRS licensed radio operators and learners. WRWE456 and WRUU653 2 Quote
WRUU653 Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 1 hour ago, WSAG780 said: Thanks for recommending the video WRUU653. Great presentation! The information was easy to understand and was explained very well. This is a must watch for new GMRS licensed radio operators and learners. I agree. I take no credit. It’s the fine work of one of our great members here @marcspaz. Lots of useful info and he does a nice job making it easy to follow. marcspaz, WSAH452 and SteveShannon 2 1 Quote
WSAH452 Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 3 hours ago, WSAG780 said: I have three Baofeng radios to get started with learning about radios. I have two UV-5Rs (Ham Radios) and one GM-5RH that is for GMRS communications. I intend to use them for recreational purposes with family and friends as well as for emergency situations. I am currently living in the Warner Robins, GA area. I do plan to get my Ham License before this year is out. I just got my license as well just last week I have two Baofeng radio's a BF-UV10R and a UV-5RA that were given to me for my birthday Back in November I'm just Learning to program the radios manually without Chirp Which I find out is the easiest and Fastest way to program these radios WRUU653 1 Quote
WSAG780 Posted January 27 Author Report Posted January 27 AWESOME! Congratulations on navigating the FCC site to obtain your license. I believe the Baofengs will serve its purpose until I decide to get a more expensive radio if I decide to do so. Baofengs are great radios to start on and stay on if the budget does not allow for more expensive radios. Quote
WSAG780 Posted January 27 Author Report Posted January 27 27 minutes ago, WSAH452 said: I just got my license as well just last week I have two Baofeng radio's a BF-UV10R and a UV-5RA that were given to me for my birthday Back in November I'm just Learning to program the radios manually without Chirp Which I find out is the easiest and Fastest way to program these radios AWESOME! Congratulations on navigating the FCC site to obtain your license. I believe the Baofengs will serve its purpose until I decide to get a more expensive radio if I decide to do so. Baofengs are great radios to start on and stay on if the budget does not allow for more expensive radios. Quote
WRUU653 Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 Welcome @WSAH452. I think that knowing how to program your radios via the front panel is valuable. WSAG780 and WRWE456 2 Quote
WSAH452 Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 4 hours ago, WRUU653 said: Welcome @WSAH452. I think that knowing how to program your radios via the front panel is valuable. I do too WSAG780 1 Quote
gortex2 Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 To bad neither radio is a GMRS radio. Both are ham radios and should be used for ham. WSAG780, Socalgmrs and AdmiralCochrane 1 1 1 Quote
WRXB215 Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 Welcome @WSAG780 and @WSAH452. GMRS is a great service and I know you will both enjoy it. As @gortex2 you should use type certified radios but don't sweat it. Half or more of the people I talk to on GMRS aren't using type certified radios and no one cares as long as they stick to all the rest of the regs. WSAH452 and WSAG780 2 Quote
AdmiralCochrane Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 9 hours ago, WRXB215 said: Welcome @WSAG780 and @WSAH452. GMRS is a great service and I know you will both enjoy it. As @gortex2 you should use type certified radios but don't sweat it. Half or more of the people I talk to on GMRS aren't using type certified radios and no one cares as long as they stick to all the rest of the regs. Probably more than half are using them without a license. Quote
SteveShannon Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 11 hours ago, AdmiralCochrane said: Probably more than half are using them without a license. More like 80% in my experience. WSAG780 and AdmiralCochrane 2 Quote
WSAI800 Posted January 31 Report Posted January 31 The GMRS license is pretty cheap, $35 for 10years and your entire family can use your license. I do believe the more that get their license will help us all protect keeping the GMRS frequencies available for our use...but I digress. WRYZ926 and WSAG780 2 Quote
WRYZ926 Posted January 31 Report Posted January 31 On 1/29/2024 at 5:36 PM, AdmiralCochrane said: Probably more than half are using them without a license. 13 hours ago, Sshannon said: More like 80% in my experience. I know a lot of people use the cheap blister pack GMRS radios from Walmart during deer season here in Missouri. Or they buy them for their kids to use. In either case, a majority don't bother to read the paperwork that comes with the radios or bother getting a license. AdmiralCochrane 1 Quote
wrci350 Posted February 14 Report Posted February 14 On 1/30/2024 at 8:06 PM, WRYZ926 said: I know a lot of people use the cheap blister pack GMRS radios from Walmart during deer season here in Missouri. Or they buy them for their kids to use. In either case, a majority don't bother to read the paperwork that comes with the radios or bother getting a license. The "cheap blister pack ... radios" were almost all reclassified as FRS in 2017, so no license is needed. You are correct that the reason for that reclassification was that very few people read the manual and got a license, but that's not an issue anymore. AdmiralCochrane 1 Quote
WSAG780 Posted February 17 Author Report Posted February 17 On 1/29/2024 at 9:03 AM, WRXB215 said: Welcome @WSAG780 and @WSAH452. GMRS is a great service and I know you will both enjoy it. As @gortex2 you should use type certified radios but don't sweat it. Half or more of the people I talk to on GMRS aren't using type certified radios and no one cares as long as they stick to all the rest of the regs. Thanks for the welcome WRXB215! Quote
WSAG780 Posted February 17 Author Report Posted February 17 On 1/30/2024 at 7:35 PM, WSAI800 said: The GMRS license is pretty cheap, $35 for 10years and your entire family can use your license. I do believe the more that get their license will help us all protect keeping the GMRS frequencies available for our use...but I digress. I totally agree with you WASI800! Operating legally is always the best route to take. WSAI800 1 Quote
WQAI363 Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 I have a problem, I have a hand full of GMRS repeaters, but only one of them I be leave is VoiP, but I can't really confirm that. I should be able to hit the repeater from where I live in Warminster Twp, since Richboro is only less 3 miles from Warminster. However, I'm unable that repeater, at least not with a Handheld. I know if had my mobile hooked to antenna, I would no trouble at all. Strange, there are several other 575 machines around the area that I have great line of site with, but I don't really know who the Control Ops are. Most of the repeaters I do have permission to use don't have VoiP connections. Quote
TacticalTodd Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 Congrats! I too recently got my license. I would get The Guerilla's Guide to the Baofeng. Lot of get info in there on programming and how to make your own antennas, etc. Some security stuff too, like how to do digital transmissions with your Android tablets. https://brushbeater.store/products/the-guerrillas-guide-to-the-baofeng-radio-authors-verison WSAW249 1 Quote
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