Using the same call sign between family members

[WSET665]

I have a newbie question about call signs. If I am talking to a family member, covered under my GMRS license, do we both use the same call sign to sign on and off?

[ULTRA2]

You can but I would use unit designations like unit 1 or 2 to minimize any confusion to whoever you're talking to.

3 minutes ago, WSET665 said:

. If I am talking to a family member, covered under my GMRS license,

And to your second question the answer is yes

 

4 minutes ago, WSET665 said:

do we both use the same call sign to sign on and off?

 

[Socalgmrs]

As far as the fcc rules you only give your call sign once every 15min and at the end of a conversation.   
now some repeaters require every one to id with an extra id such as a,b,c or unit 2,3,4 ext.  other then that do what you want.  I will never ever call a child by name on the radio. Just basic safety. 

[WRDJ205]

We use “mobile” and “base” to differentiate.   

[marcspaz]

On 10/8/2024 at 7:35 PM, WSET665 said:

I have a newbie question about call signs. If I am talking to a family member, covered under my GMRS license, do we both use the same call sign to sign on and off?

 

The legal requirement is yes, you all use the exact same call sign.  You do not need anything except for that.

 

Some clarifications...

1.) There is zero obligation to start your communications with your call sign.  The rules state once every 15 minutes and at the end of the conversation. 

2.) Your call sign does not need to the the last thing you say.  I hear this happen a lot, where people end up saying their call sign 2, 3 or more times in 60 seconds or less.  An example, if you ID thinking you are done talking and a family member asks you a brief question, like what time will you be home. Unless you engage in an obvious continuation of the conversation, you do not need to ID again.  Meaning if you say something like "Around 4:30".  That's it... you are still covered.

3.) There is zero need to append anything to your call sign to differentiate between multiple stations.  However, many people do add what is commonly referred to as a tactical call sign to eliminate confusion among the group.  For example, if I am convoying and my son is in another car, if I want to call him, ahead of time we can workout that I am Mobile 1 and he is Mobile 2.  So, if I call him, I can say "Mobile 2, this is mobile 1. Do you copy?"  and that is perfectly fine.  When we ID, I can (but not required to) ID with my FCC call sign followed by my 'tactical call sign'.  An example would be "WABC123 Mobile 1".

 

Hope all that make sense and helps.

[LeeBo]

Ok, I need to add to the "newbie question", because I don't know the answer.

Do the additional family members need to be listed on your GMRS license on the FCC website?

[WRXB215]

3 minutes ago, LeeBo said:

Do the additional family members need to be listed on your GMRS license on the FCC website?

No.

[amaff]

4 minutes ago, LeeBo said:

Ok, I need to add to the "newbie question", because I don't know the answer.

Do the additional family members need to be listed on your GMRS license on the FCC website?

No

[WRXB215]

To add to what @marcspaz said, you may want to think about how family members sound on the radio. My father has passed away but while he was alive, he and I sounded exactly the same on the radio, phone, intercom etc. The same was true with my mom and my sisters. The additional unit number or whatever you want to use can be helpful in cases like that.

[LeeBo]

2 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

No.

 

2 minutes ago, amaff said:

No

Excellent, thanks. I have a TID H8 in GMRS mode that I've programmed with the local GMRS repeaters and started showing my wife how to use it.

[SteveShannon]

48 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

No.

It’s not even possible.  They are not licensees.  You are authorizing them to use your stations and you are required to have them identify according to the rules Marc mentioned earlier.  You are entirely liable for them following the rules.