New to everything

[Billz]

I've become a member on so many forums that I know this post is going to seem redundant to most here on this forum.  However, at the risk of aggravating a lot of people...

I'm new in a way that is almost embarrassing.  I say almost embarrassing because my newbie status combined with my chronological age makes we ask "what, why and how" a lot and I no longer worry about feeling stupid.  I did a quick search around here didn't find any "new guy" stuff so I just gotta ask, where do I go from here?

Specifically, there are so many acronyms being used that it's overwhelming.  I don't see a page on the forum for people to read about the extremely basic stuff, sooo...I'm here saying I don't know what to do next.  I have my GMRS license because I can pay the fee but someday getting a ham license seems out of reach for me.  I've studied a few times but I just am not absorbing all the technical stuff so it looks like I'll never get there.  My idea was to start with GMRS because it may enable me to garner experience in a general sense while being exposed to other concepts onto which I can stack lessons.

In any case, I need help with the super basic stuff.  I completed a search on Amazon for books but even that seems to present so many choices that it is tough to know which way to go next.  Repeaters, handhelds, base station and mobiles, etc all get pretty overwhelming when the technical information reads like Greek or foreign language.  I find myself wishing that there were a "basics" section in this forum for new people that would be judgement free and assist with learning new terms, mechanical concepts and stuff.

I know that I can turn my Midland handheld on and have heard people talking, but their conversations are obviously private and it seems wrong to even just listen besides the fact that it doesn't really help to listen to someone else talk.  That's like eavesdropping on someone's table-talk at McDonald's; useless for learning how to use my radio correctly.  Sure, I can push the button to talk but wonder what are the basic rules, etc.

Any suggestions for how to proceed for the brand new participants?

[SteveShannon]

18 minutes ago, Billz said:

I've become a member on so many forums that I know this post is going to seem redundant to most here on this forum.  However, at the risk of aggravating a lot of people...

I'm new in a way that is almost embarrassing.  I say almost embarrassing because my newbie status combined with my chronological age makes we ask "what, why and how" a lot and I no longer worry about feeling stupid.  I did a quick search around here didn't find any "new guy" stuff so I just gotta ask, where do I go from here?

Specifically, there are so many acronyms being used that it's overwhelming.  I don't see a page on the forum for people to read about the extremely basic stuff, sooo...I'm here saying I don't know what to do next.  I have my GMRS license because I can pay the fee but someday getting a ham license seems out of reach for me.  I've studied a few times but I just am not absorbing all the technical stuff so it looks like I'll never get there.  My idea was to start with GMRS because it may enable me to garner experience in a general sense while being exposed to other concepts onto which I can stack lessons.

In any case, I need help with the super basic stuff.  I completed a search on Amazon for books but even that seems to present so many choices that it is tough to know which way to go next.  Repeaters, handhelds, base station and mobiles, etc all get pretty overwhelming when the technical information reads like Greek or foreign language.  I find myself wishing that there were a "basics" section in this forum for new people that would be judgement free and assist with learning new terms, mechanical concepts and stuff.

I know that I can turn my Midland handheld on and have heard people talking, but their conversations are obviously private and it seems wrong to even just listen besides the fact that it doesn't really help to listen to someone else talk.  That's like eavesdropping on someone's table-talk at McDonald's; useless for learning how to use my radio correctly.  Sure, I can push the button to talk but wonder what are the basic rules, etc.

Any suggestions for how to proceed for the brand new participants?

Welcome to the forum.  There are a lot of us here who got started at a later age.

If you enjoy watching videos there’s a YouTube channel called Notarubicon that has a lot of basic GMRS knowledge videos. There’s also an excellent video on this forum by @marcspaz that’s an introductory level. I’ll see if I can find a link. Here:

If and when you decide you would like to learn more about ham radio the concepts you learn here will help.  I can also recommend an online study site that’s free (although you can buy their app for your phone for less than the cost of a beer at a local bar.) It’s called HamStudy.org.

But most of all feel free to ask questions.  There’s one guy who tends to scold some people for asking questions but he is definitely unlike anyone else here and it’s easy to add him to your ignore list. And sometimes he surprises me and offers good advice.

Again, welcome!

[WRUU653]

Welcome @Billz to the forum. I’m basically going to parrot what @SteveShannon has said and recommends. 
@marcspaz’s video is an excellent place to start. Also I think you will find starting with GMRS was a good choice. You will learn about the basics that will help you understand things better if you decide to get your amateur license. If you do decide to do that the HamStudy app that Steve also recommended is a great tool.  
I think you’ll find you are not alone with the starting at a later age. I resemble that statement and did it the same way. 
As mentioned there are some that haven’t figured out the reason for an on line forum is to ask questions and exchange ideas. They will be easy to spot and ignore. 
So yeah, I haven’t really added anything other than to support what Steve has already said. I may think of something else once I have had my coffee ️

[WRXB215]

@Billz Welcome to myGMRS.com. Lots of good people here who are knowledgeable and helpful. As @SteveShannon said @marcspaz video is a good one to start with.

If you prefer the info in written form you might give this page a shot.

I will also second @WRUU653 on HamStudy.org. That is what I used for my tech and general and I'm using it to study for the extra.

P.S. I've been kicking around the idea of writing a PDF of GMRS basics and FAQ. Maybe I'll go ahead and dive into that. It would be something good to have.

[SteveShannon]

Also, @Billz, many beginner level questions have been asked in the Guest forum.  In fact I wrote this post as a bit of an effort to help people who are new to the forum and asking some of the more common questions: 

 

[WRXB215]

4 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

In fact I wrote this post as a bit of an effort to help people who are new to the forum and asking some of the more common questions:

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I need to plagiarize that. 

[dosw]

2 hours ago, Billz said:

I've become a member on so many forums that I know this post is going to seem redundant to most here on this forum.  However, at the risk of aggravating a lot of people...

I'm new in a way that is almost embarrassing.  I say almost embarrassing because my newbie status combined with my chronological age makes we ask "what, why and how" a lot and I no longer worry about feeling stupid.  I did a quick search around here didn't find any "new guy" stuff so I just gotta ask, where do I go from here?

Specifically, there are so many acronyms being used that it's overwhelming.  I don't see a page on the forum for people to read about the extremely basic stuff, sooo...I'm here saying I don't know what to do next.  I have my GMRS license because I can pay the fee but someday getting a ham license seems out of reach for me.  I've studied a few times but I just am not absorbing all the technical stuff so it looks like I'll never get there.  My idea was to start with GMRS because it may enable me to garner experience in a general sense while being exposed to other concepts onto which I can stack lessons.

In any case, I need help with the super basic stuff.  I completed a search on Amazon for books but even that seems to present so many choices that it is tough to know which way to go next.  Repeaters, handhelds, base station and mobiles, etc all get pretty overwhelming when the technical information reads like Greek or foreign language.  I find myself wishing that there were a "basics" section in this forum for new people that would be judgement free and assist with learning new terms, mechanical concepts and stuff.

I know that I can turn my Midland handheld on and have heard people talking, but their conversations are obviously private and it seems wrong to even just listen besides the fact that it doesn't really help to listen to someone else talk.  That's like eavesdropping on someone's table-talk at McDonald's; useless for learning how to use my radio correctly.  Sure, I can push the button to talk but wonder what are the basic rules, etc.

Any suggestions for how to proceed for the brand new participants?

There is nothing illegal or immoral about listening to anything people transmit over GMRS or FRS. There is no reasonable expectation of privacy for unencrypted radio transmissions.

What is creepy is hearing some random road crew using FRS and you choosing to key up to say hi. Or a father and his kindergarten/preschool kids playing walkie talkie, then you pushing that talk button and chiming in with "Hey friendo, this is Anton." People generally keep to themselves on GMRS / FRS *except* for people who use open repeaters. If your equipment is capable of working repeaters, and if it is set up to work with an open repeater, you're welcome to key up and say "ABCD123 monitoring" (which usually means you're bored and looking to talk to random people over the radio) or "ABCD123, radio check; I'm looking for a signal report." If there's someone else listening in on that repeater who is also willing to participate in this exchange, they'll key up and respond. And it's considered perfectly normal within "radio people" circles to do this.

I don't know of any GMRS books that really lay it all out. You kind of have to start by listening, and by asking questions here.

[Willie]

2 hours ago, WRXB215 said:

@Billz

 

P.S. I've been kicking around the idea of writing a PDF of GMRS basics and FAQ. Maybe I'll go ahead and dive into that. It would be something good to have.

And it should be a sticky at the top of the main page so it's easily found. IMHO.

[Willie]

4 hours ago, Billz said:

Specifically, there are so many acronyms being used that it's overwhelming.

<-----------snip------------->

Any suggestions for how to proceed for the brand new participants?

Amateur radio (HAM) is where you will get buried in acronyms. GMRS follows more of a KISS (keep it simple stupid) methodology. There is a bit of it when it comes to the technical stuff but no where near as much as HAM. GMRS is just more "chill". At least in my novice opinion.  

[OffRoaderX]

Welcome to the forum!

• GMRS is for talking with your friends while off-roading, hiking, etc. in a very easy, UNcomplicated way
• H.A.M. is for chatting with anonymous men in the most complicated way possible while trying to show everyone how smart you think you are at the same time

Never confuse the two and you will do just fine.

[WQAI363]

I've become a member on so many forums that I know this post is going to seem redundant to most here on this forum.  However, at the risk of aggravating a lot of people...

Don't worry about aggravating people on a forum about radios or just about anything. The one simple fact, we all have a right to our own opinions. Some people act like know it all's, but the majority us just enjoy shooting the breeze about certain topic. Heck, we could be talking about the of Manufacture of Two-Way Radio.

My personal favorite list:

1.  MOTOROLA
2. KENWOOD
3. VERTEX / YAESU
4. ICOM
5. MIDLAND
6. UNIDEN

 Then there will be some folk who will ask me, why isn't ICOM or KENWOOD #1?

True, Motorola doesn't have compatible line of radios that work with the IDAS/NXDN systems, but they do have the corner on the DMR. Kenwood along with Vertex Standard also have made the venture in the DMR world. 

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of 2-way Radios!

73 DE ADAM 

[808Beachbum]

7 hours ago, Willie said:

And it should be a sticky at the top of the main page so it's easily found. IMHO.

As if it would be read...

[WRXB215]

13 hours ago, 808Beachbum said:

As if it would be read...

Maybe that's why I haven't put any real effort into it yet. 

[Willie]

14 hours ago, 808Beachbum said:

As if it would be read...

Just like many will never read an owners manual for a product they've purchased. But they are still provided one none the less on the off chance that someone who cares enough to truly search for answers will be able to find them there. Otherwise you end up with 100% of the newbies asking the same questions over and over again and that aggravates "some people". Either someone is willing to help, or they're not. And that includes the person asking the questions. If you aren't willing to make an effort to try to help yourself, then don't waste other peoples time asking them to do it for you. ($0.02)

[Billz]

I've read the manual for my radio as well as working my way through the Guerrilla's Guide To The Baofeng Radio and I've been working with CHIRP to learn that stuff.  Still, I feel somewhat lost.  I've received a private message from someone offering to help guide me but no reply to my response, so...I'm using YouTube and my books to as much advantage as I can leverage.

Quote

 

 

[Willie]

If you say what part it is that you are feeling lost about the most, it would help others to point you in the right direction. Nobody learns everything at once. As far as getting a response from a PM, you have to realize that not everyone on the forums checks in every single day to get messages and what not. I'm just a novice myself so all I can recommend is to concentrate on the basics. Don't even think about repeaters until you get simplex down pat first. And I make a lousy teacher so take anything I have to say with a large grain of salt.

[SteveShannon]

On 11/19/2024 at 10:40 AM, OffRoaderX said:

H.A.M. is for chatting with anonymous men in the most complicated way possible while trying to show everyone how smart you think you are at the same time

It’s a little known fact that H.A.M. is an acronym for “Hounding Anonymous Men.”
 

No, that’s wrong!  It isn’t an acronym at all.