Best GMRS channel to monitor for traffic

[Crabby]

22 hours ago, ULTRA2 said:

If you can't give a proper answer, then don't answer the question. I notice these kinds of comments are mostly directed to the new users. Joke or not new users don't think these comments are funny, and I agree with them.

How long does a user have to be here before they get a "Sense of Humor" badge and how many posts are you from getting yours?

[808Beachbum]

3 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Monitoring for traffic can have a couple connotations.  Radio traffic or highway traffic reports on the radio. When I first read the question I wasn’t sure which was being asked.

Gee, I would assume a licensed HAM would assume radio traffic, while a CB'er or GMRS'er would assume highway traffic. You know, because CB'ers and GMRS'ers aren't even "Amateur" yet...

[WQAI363]

On 11/15/2024 at 3:36 PM, WSEN722 said:

What is the best GMRS channel to monitor for traffic; I'm new & I've heard nothing on ch - 19.

Woh, back up here! If thinking that the General Mobile Radio Service like the Citizen Band Radio, I'm afraid you're not really getting the concept of what GMRS is. Don't get me wrong, GMRS is a valuable tool, but unless you're communicating with folks you know. You likely not going to get assistance from random strangers who maybe chit-chatting on a simplex channel or on an open repeater. 

Not like, Breaker 1-9 for Local Information or a Smokey Report. That's not likely to happen, at least not that hear such traffic. I do hear some traffic, but that usually small businesses or kids playing around.

 

Keep the Rubber Down and Shinny Side Up!

[WRQC527]

On 11/16/2024 at 5:00 PM, Socalgmrs said:

it’s seams  he is all inclusive.  
 

Actually if Grindr and Tinder were mentioned, now that would be all-inclusive.

[WRUU653]

 OP's statment he says monitor for traffic not talk to random men and he mentiond channel 19 which has been embraced as a highway channel partially do to Randy. So that's where I interpret the question to relate to vehicle traffic. I guess that's just where my mind goes. zoom zoom beep beep.

 "What is the best GMRS channel to monitor for traffic; I'm new & I've heard nothing on ch - 19."

 

[Willie]

So I think I'm beginning to see a trend here.

1) CB is for citizens to talk to other citizens whether they know each other or not.
2) GMRS is for co-workers / family / friends to talk to each other IF they know each other, but not to be mixed between the categories.
("Don't cross the streams." ~ Egon Spengler, PhD)
3) HAM is for talking to random strangers.

Is that about right? Give me a minute to grab a snack...

I've still got a lot to learn here.

[WSFN233]

On 11/19/2024 at 3:55 PM, WQAI363 said:

Woh, back up here! If thinking that the General Mobile Radio Service like the Citizen Band Radio, I'm afraid you're not really getting the concept of what GMRS is. Don't get me wrong, GMRS is a valuable tool, but unless you're communicating with folks you know. You likely not going to get assistance from random strangers who maybe chit-chatting on a simplex channel or on an open repeater. 

First post, and I've had my GMRS license about a month. My experience so far has been the opposite. I'm in the Washington DC area and driving in rush hour traffic I've been hearing random comms daily. Strangers asking for radio checks, discussing traffic or gear and distance/locations. Same thing at home where I can reach a local repeater. I, of course, also hear the kids, construction workers, parents, etc...but there is definitely a ham/cb vibe in our local GMRS.

[WRQI663]

Interesting, it was not like that in DC 10 years ago - I guess things have picked up since I left Arlington, VA

[nokones]

On 11/15/2024 at 1:36 PM, WSEN722 said:

What is the best GMRS channel to monitor for traffic; I'm new & I've heard nothing on ch - 19.

It would be best to scan channels 1-7 & 15-22 simultaneously as you travel. If you want to hear everything, don't run with any tone as most cheap GMRS radios do not have the ability of setting split tones.

[WRXB215]

14 hours ago, nokones said:

most cheap GMRS radios do not have the ability of setting split tones

How do you know, you don't have any cheap radios.

[nokones]

9 hours ago, WRXB215 said:

How do you know, you don't have any cheap radios.

I have helped a lot of people with their radio programming needs as an Ambassador for one of my radio clubs and I am the radio go-to guy for one of my Jeep clubs and they all bring me their Cheap Chinese Radios or their Midlands to program and/or for mobile installations. Occasionally, I do get real radios such as the Motorola and Kenwoods, but lately there have been a lot of vintage Motorolas like the HT1000, MT2000, and Visars that require RSS with a slow DOS computer, and early CPS version programming such as the MTS2000, MCS2000, HT1250, HT1550, and the CDM mobiles and Astro Sabers. It seems nobody has the ability to program the radios that require a RSS programming application. I have the computer, programs, and cables to get them programmed.

Just in the last couple or three weeks, I must have programmed at least a dozen VHF HT1000 radios for a few people and a MCS2000 for a guy in addition to a couple of Midland installs in Jeeps and one Retevis install, one KG1000G Plus, and several portable CCRs. 

Seems like there must have been a recent Firesale on the HT1000s and the new owners can't find anyone with the ability to program them.

You are absolutely right, I don't have any cheap radios and I never will, but I do know how to program them and I have the software and the cables to do the programming.  So, with that being said, I guess I sorta know.

 

[WRTC928]

On 11/29/2024 at 1:17 AM, WSFN233 said:

First post, and I've had my GMRS license about a month. My experience so far has been the opposite. I'm in the Washington DC area and driving in rush hour traffic I've been hearing random comms daily. Strangers asking for radio checks, discussing traffic or gear and distance/locations. Same thing at home where I can reach a local repeater. I, of course, also hear the kids, construction workers, parents, etc...but there is definitely a ham/cb vibe in our local GMRS.

It must depend upon where you are. Last month, I drove from Oklahoma City to San Antonio and the next day on to Port Aransas, TX. I monitored 19 and 16 the whole way thinking those were the most likely places to hear traffic reports. In Austin I heard a conversation between people who seemed to be trying to find some place in the city, but other than that, it was a very occasional signal from some business I was driving past. GMRS is useless for traffic information in Oklahoma and Texas, as far as I can determine. That's why I also have a CB in the truck; there's a lot of trash going on, but it's still the best place to find road reports. I'm not sure how practical it is to try to put two radios in my little car, though. 

[AdmiralCochrane]

8 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

It must depend upon where you are. Last month, I drove from Oklahoma City to San Antonio and the next day on to Port Aransas, TX. I monitored 19 and 16 the whole way thinking those were the most likely places to hear traffic reports. In Austin I heard a conversation between people who seemed to be trying to find some place in the city, but other than that, it was a very occasional signal from some business I was driving past. GMRS is useless for traffic information in Oklahoma and Texas, as far as I can determine. That's why I also have a CB in the truck; there's a lot of trash going on, but it's still the best place to find road reports. I'm not sure how practical it is to try to put two radios in my little car, though. 

GMRS is not intended for traffic reports

[WRTC928]

33 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

GMRS is not intended for traffic reports

I understand that. I was responding to @WSFN233 comment that he got useful traffic information in his area. When I took a long trip, I figured I'd leave it on just to see if anything of value came across. It didn't. Regardless of what anyone may think the service is "intended for," there's no reason people couldn't find it valuable for that purpose. In fact, that's actually the topic of the thread. Try to keep up.

[WSFN233]

5 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

I understand that. I was responding to @WSFN233 comment that he got useful traffic information in his area. When I took a long trip, I figured I'd leave it on just to see if anything of value came across. It didn't. Regardless of what anyone may think the service is "intended for," there's no reason people couldn't find it valuable for that purpose. In fact, that's actually the topic of the thread. Try to keep up.

I wouldn't say I'm hearing traffic updates consistently. There are some at times, mostly on a couple area repeaters I've been monitoring for months. My point was that I'm hearing general "banter" between gmrs users on an almost daily basis, especially during rush hour. Most of the time it's talking about their gear and determining reach.

[nokones]

The Arizona GMRS Repeater Club in the Phoenix Sun of the Valley, as a service to the GMRS community, provides traffic and weather information every weekday morning and afternoon commutes on the 462.550 repeater channel every 15 minutes between 0630-0900 & 1630-1830 hours.

More information is available at www.azgmrs.org