How to use GMRS license with family?

[SteveShannon]

2 minutes ago, WSGC746 said:

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but are you saying that this isn't a legal radio?
https://www.grainger.com/product/MIDLAND-Handheld-Two-Way-Radio-X-Talker-49VZ80?opr=HPRVP

I don’t know what the regulatory status is of that. Look on the Midland website to see if it’s still produced. And make yourself familiar with the FCC regulations here:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E

[WSGC746]

So, I found this post on mygmrs from 2023. It says that the hybrid FRS/GMRS radios are now FRS radios (that seems to indicate that the ones I mentioned are FRS radios, despite advertising blunders). Does that mean that an unlicensed person who used their Midland T70 yesterday as FRS, but got their GMRS license today, isn't required to ID if they're using that radio?
 

 

[WSGC746]

9 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

I don’t know what the regulatory status is of that. Look on the Midland website to see if it’s still produced. And make yourself familiar with the FCC regulations here:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E

They're still being produced and sold, by more than Midland. Cobra makes/sells.

[SteveShannon]

Just now, WSGC746 said:

So, I found this post on mygmrs from 2023. It says that the hybrid FRS/GMRS radios are now FRS radios (that seems to indicate that the ones I mentioned are FRS radios, despite advertising blunders) does that mean that an unlicensed person who used their Midland T70 yesterday, but got their GMRS license today, isn't required to ID if they're using that radio?
 

 

If they’re now considered FRS radios then you don’t need to ID, even though you have a license. And you can communicate with someone who has a GMRS radio and they are required to ID but you don’t have to as long as you’re using an FRS radio. 

[WSGC746]

Just now, SteveShannon said:

If they’re now considered FRS radios then you don’t need to ID, even though you have a license. And you can communicate with someone who has a GMRS radio and they are required to ID but you don’t have to as long as you’re using an FRS radio. 

I think that's what I was looking for.

[WSKZ408]

I want to ask a quick question on this, not about the rules but about the "norms". 

Is it acceptable to have nicknames/handles to differentiate between users under the same license? 

Example:

"WSKZ408/Lion 1, this is Lion 2. We are packing up the ice fishing stuff and heading home shortly. What's for dinner?"

"Lion 2, this is Lion 1. Sounds good. Spaghetti is for dinner." 

"Copy, WSKZ408 out" 

I'm asking because I'm a nerd, and I taught my wife army radio etiquette back in the day. (Yes, I was that guy rolling down the interstate and talking like this on CB with my wife). 

Would this be abnormal and/or cringy to hear on GMRS, or does anyone really care that much? I just don't want to annoy everyone in my area (assuming there are any) with my army smooth brain shenanigans on day one. 

 

Thanks in advance for the input!

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, WSKZ408 said:

I want to ask a quick question on this, not about the rules but about the "norms". 

Is it acceptable to have nicknames/handles to differentiate between users under the same license? 

Example:

"WSKZ408/Lion 1, this is Lion 2. We are packing up the ice fishing stuff and heading home shortly. What's for dinner?"

"Lion 2, this is Lion 1. Sounds good. Spaghetti is for dinner." 

"Copy, WSKZ408 out" 

I'm asking because I'm a nerd, and I taught my wife army radio etiquette back in the day. (Yes, I was that guy rolling down the interstate and talking like this on CB with my wife). 

Would this be abnormal and/or cringy to hear on GMRS, or does anyone really care that much? I just don't want to annoy everyone in my area (assuming there are any) with my army smooth brain shenanigans on day one. 

 

Thanks in advance for the input!

Absolutely!  Or even just first names. 

[WSHT233]

My wife and I share our GMRS callsign occasionally, and it usually parses as:

"ABCD123 remote to ABCD123 base/local/home..."

"123 base, copy."

"123 base, confirm signal check at main street, over"

"You're loud but fuzzy, 123 remote, over"

"Copy, will try top of the hill at Pine Street, closer to home - ABCD123 remote clear"

I think a combination of full callsigns and numeric suffix abbreviations with unique sub IDs works pretty well.

If you had a family group operating in a given area they could be ...123 Pine, 123 Mom, 123 Toyota, 123 Advance, etc. 

Anything that makes sense within your inter-user group while bracketing the exchange with a full callsign seems to be a reasonable practice.

(Besides simplex/personal comms, I see variations of this protocol in the active repeaters in the Seattle area as well).

 

[SteveShannon]

3 hours ago, WSHT233 said:

My wife and I share our GMRS callsign occasionally, and it usually parses as:

"ABCD123 remote to ABCD123 base/local/home..."

"123 base, copy."

"123 base, confirm signal check at main street, over"

"You're loud but fuzzy, 123 remote, over"

"Copy, will try top of the hill at Pine Street, closer to home - ABCD123 remote clear"

I think a combination of full callsigns and numeric suffix abbreviations with unique sub IDs works pretty well.

If you had a family group operating in a given area they could be ...123 Pine, 123 Mom, 123 Toyota, 123 Advance, etc. 

Anything that makes sense within your inter-user group while bracketing the exchange with a full callsign seems to be a reasonable practice.

(Besides simplex/personal comms, I see variations of this protocol in the active repeaters in the Seattle area as well).

 

Also, keep in mind you don’t need to ID each time you push the PTT.  Once every 15 minutes and when you’re done talking is all that’s required.

[LeoG]

On 12/7/2024 at 9:56 PM, SteveShannon said:

1. Technically, each person using a GMRS station is required to ID.

2. FRS and GMRS share all of the frequencies. There are no FRS frequencies. Again, technically, each person using a GMRS station is required to ID. 

My wife almost never IDs.  I usually say the ID is for both of us when we stop communication.  Whether within the regulation or not, it's what happens.

Here's another questions sorta based on that.  Both of us use my repeater which morse codes the ID after 25 seconds of silence.  I rarely ID because my repeater is doing it for me.  Should I be?

[OffRoaderX]

12 minutes ago, LeoG said:

I rarely ID because my repeater is doing it for me.  Should I be?

Only if you are willing to risk a $10,000 fine and stiff jail time!  I know this will happen if you dont properly ID because a licensed ham radio operator for over 45 years posted it on this forum.  He has a license, so it must be true, so dont risk it!

[LeoG]

Three hots and a cot.  Good deal.

[Northcutt114]

On 1/13/2026 at 3:58 AM, SteveShannon said:

Also, keep in mind you don’t need to ID each time you push the PTT.  Once every 15 minutes and when you’re done talking is all that’s required.

I'm just quoting this in case others missed it. Oh Mylanta! The people that unnecessarily ID drive me bonkers. I listened to an exchange between two guys the other night. ALL OF THEM know each other on a first name basis. ALL OF THEM. But they kept using their callsigns and about every third transmission was "and just for station identification this is...." Maddening. 

[SteveShannon]

35 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

I'm just quoting this in case others missed it. Oh Mylanta! The people that unnecessarily ID drive me bonkers. I listened to an exchange between two guys the other night. ALL OF THEM know each other on a first name basis. ALL OF THEM. But they kept using their callsigns and about every third transmission was "and just for station identification this is...." Maddening. 

We really hear that with new hams but the reality is that there’s nobody out there waiting to ticket you if you never ID. GMRS is intended for friends and family; just talk on it like your phone with an occasional ID if you feel guilty. 

[Northcutt114]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

We really hear that with new hams but the reality is that there’s nobody out there waiting to ticket you if you never ID. GMRS is intended for friends and family; just talk on it like your phone with an occasional ID if you feel guilty. 

Sometimes i feel like I'm listening to 10m. And I'm just over here going "His name is Tim. Yours is Bob. You live 5 miles from each other. Come on!" 

 

[SteveShannon]

5 hours ago, LeoG said:

My wife almost never IDs.  I usually say the ID is for both of us when we stop communication.  Whether within the regulation or not, it's what happens.

Here's another questions sorta based on that.  Both of us use my repeater which morse codes the ID after 25 seconds of silence.  I rarely ID because my repeater is doing it for me.  Should I be?

Pedantically and technically users are required to ID.  The repeater doesn’t have to if the only users on it are using the same ID as the owner/operator. 

So that is the rule, but if I were you I would not do a thing differently. Anyone listening hears the repeater ID; it’s the same as your ID; it would sound stupid for you, your bride, and your repeater to repeat your call sign three times every 15 minutes. Not one person could possibly cite you for it. Sometimes strict adherence to the letter of the rules is bizarre. 
 

[LeoG]

It's what I figured.  I am the repeater.  At least by call sign.  And I also know that saying it in Phonetic, Letters or Morse Code is acceptable by the eff sea seas.

[WSLA574]

I also just use unit numbers for my family members.  I'm unit 1, wife is 2, and so on...

It works really well.  I need to tell them they just need to identify once.  When we are done I close it out for all of us by saying "[call sign], all units clear" so there's not a bunch of call signs flying around unnecessarily.  

Several guys on the repeater that I've gotten to know reply later how cool it is that my fam is on and they are trying to get their's on as well.  Recently with the Verizon tower fail, everybody saw the importance of having backup family comms!

[WRZK526]

45 minutes ago, WSLA574 said:

I also just use unit numbers for my family members.  I'm unit 1, wife is 2, and so on...

It works really well.  I need to tell them they just need to identify once.  When we are done I close it out for all of us by saying "[call sign], all units clear" so there's not a bunch of call signs flying around unnecessarily.  

Several guys on the repeater that I've gotten to know reply later how cool it is that my fam is on and they are trying to get their's on as well.  Recently with the Verizon tower fail, everybody saw the importance of having backup family comms!

 

We have a lot of repeaters in our area but the ones that talk are usually men. I am sure if more women got on and talked my wife would jump in. I don't blame her, if there was only women talking I probably wouldn't join in on the conversations either. I have suggested they have a weekly check in for women only but have no idea how that would be arraigned. I think we need to find a way to get more women and responsible young adults interested in GMRS. 

[LeoG]

If there was only women on you wouldn't be able to get a word in edgewise.

[WSLA574]

4 hours ago, WRZK526 said:

 

We have a lot of repeaters in our area but the ones that talk are usually men. I am sure if more women got on and talked my wife would jump in. I don't blame her, if there was only women talking I probably wouldn't join in on the conversations either. I have suggested they have a weekly check in for women only but have no idea how that would be arraigned. I think we need to find a way to get more women and responsible young adults interested in GMRS. 

Yeah, it's def mostly men on ours as well.  I think when my wife or daughters get on everybody perks up because it is so different to hear a female voice.  But the guys are great and welcoming.