So who here uses GMRS properly?

[Lscott]

Other than a few friends I rarely talk to random people. Most of the time I just monitor. The exception is usually somebody calling for a radio check on one of the local repeaters. If nobody else responds I'll try to give them a radio check. At least they ID and don't kur-chuck dozens of times testing their radio programming or new mic.

[Davichko5650]

1 hour ago, Lscott said:

Other than a few friends I rarely talk to random people. Most of the time I just monitor. The exception is usually somebody calling for a radio check on one of the local repeaters. If nobody else responds I'll try to give them a radio check. At least they ID and don't kur-chuck dozens of times testing their radio programming or new mic.

I scan while mobile, but mostly hear the FRS users around me.  I have never actually heard anyone on the local repeaters calling out a radio check, but I would respond were I to hear one.  4 locals I talk to a few times a week on CH 19, 2 of whom are also Amateurs, but I spend the bulk of my time on HF for that, and they being Tech's I can only get them on 10m as they don't do CW...

[TDM827]

If by "properly" you mean communicating with my immediate family on simplex or sometimes repeater then yes. "Properly" means a lot of things to different people, preppers, off-roaders, campers, hikers, and road trippers. And unless they are breaking the rules they are probably using GMRS "properly."

Now as as personal note, I prefer not to hear rag chewers and contact junkies, but they have as much right to the frequencies as I do! 

[73blazer]

"Properly" = I have a GMRS license and I push the PTT button on a part 95 radio. Ok...well...

[TrikeRadio]

I use GRMS "properly" I ID with my call-sign every 15 minutes during transmissions and at the conclusion of my conversations. I use a part 95 GMRS radio and adhere (because it is built in) to the channelized frequencies in the way they are intended to be used, with the proper wattage on those channels. I also do not use my radio to cause jamming or intentional interference for other users and repeaters. I talk to friends i know and new friends I have met in the repeater club that I have come to know through conversation, even if I have never met them face to face. So... is that what you mean?  

[SteveShannon]

Some people say they only use GMRS radio for communications while pursuing their hobbies. 
What if their hobby is talking to random strangers?  

[Lscott]

9 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Some people say they only use GMRS radio for communications while pursuing their hobbies. 
What if their hobby is talking to random strangers?  

Nothing prohibits it. Some people dislike the idea of GMRS turning into a sort of "Ham Lite" service, but if nobody is breaking the rules so who really cares?

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, Lscott said:

Nothing prohibits it. Some people dislike the idea of GMRS turning into a sort of "Ham Lite" service, but if nobody is breaking the rules so who really cares?

Exactly my point!   

[WRWM359]

Although I have an expensive smartphone that can (supposedly) do lots of amazing things, there is zero cell reception out this way. Once you get away from the WiFi signal. Texts or calls, forget it…It’s pretty rural, easy as pie to get off road and out in to areas where you’d unlikely see anyone else for considerable amounts of time. Lots of wilderness. So, GMRS covers the several square miles of turf, around home, going in all directions, “down the road”, or just out in the neighborhood, so to speak. 

[dosw]

Well, I use it for keeping track of each other skiing, communicating with friends and family back on land when out of cell tower range sailing (marine VHF doesn't really have repeaters in my area), hiking, camping, and even quick things like backing up to the trailer with someone guiding me back. But it doesn't really bother me that there are those who like to chat with strangers. Diverse use cases is probably what "general" means in GMRS.

[amaff]

On 2/9/2025 at 8:26 PM, amaff said:

I'll try to avoid doing too much off roading

(not that it'd be the first time...)

Update: I did not succeed

[Linus]

My wife and I use them for sport activities. We have a headset that we use for bicycling and skiing. GMRS has been invaluable for those reasons. I used a repeater once while on my bicycle with my wife when I was to get our car while she stayed behind waiting (big hill between us). It is easier than cell phones. 

[WSGV972]

Well last year I bought some Baofengs and BTECH UHF/D Amps to bump the transmit power and several styles and types of antennas and tested simplex mode range within the City of NY from our base of operations and we have been able to reach about 7 Miles from base to where we want to be able to reach in the event cell service / internet goes down.  We joined a club to get access to a greater range repeater system but since we are able to run comms within areas we need to hit immediately, the only person that interfaces with the club community is me and I mainly only jump on the repeater if they change access tones and to participate in the net.  Other than that GMRS is a tool for the shtf which is presently more likely.  After I get the 1st ticket, then the HF tools will come in even more handy.

[TrikeRadio]

I always use GMRS properly. I Never, never never put the antenna in my mouth when I push the transmit button.

[amaff]

33 minutes ago, TrikeRadio said:

I always use GMRS properly. I Never, never never put the antenna in my mouth when I push the transmit button.

I bite down on the radio to press the button with my teeth. Gets my mouth NIIIICE and close to the mic.

[H8SPVMT]

On 2/17/2025 at 10:35 PM, SteveShannon said:

Some people say they only use GMRS radio for communications while pursuing their hobbies. 
What if their hobby is talking to random strangers?  

I scan while mobile, and talk to complete strangers, riding off road with my very expensive Midland MXT400.  Just bouncing along hardly ever using call signs on the FRS channels like a bunch of rich kids with no regard for authority. 

But on the open road, yea we follow the rules as best we can talking to people we "think" we know but haven't met yet!

 

[WSGZ436]

GMRS is General Mobile Radio Service. Its not just for family. It over laps on the FRS but that is just incidental. I hear schools, hospitals, and businesses when I scan the band. I don't believe "rag chewing" is misuse. Get on the air and meet people!

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, WSGZ436 said:

I don't believe "rag chewing" is misuse. Get on the air and meet people!

Those are both mis-uses of GMRS.. If you want to meet and chat with anonymous men, try H.A.M.s radios or the Grindr app on your phone.

[SteveShannon]

9 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Those are both mis-uses of GMRS.. If you want to meet and chat with anonymous men, try H.A.M.s radios or the Grindr app on your phone.

But I call “cq xyl only”

[Socalgmrs]

1 hour ago, WSGZ436 said:

GMRS is General Mobile Radio Service. Its not just for family. It over laps on the FRS but that is just incidental. I hear schools, hospitals, and businesses when I scan the band. I don't believe "rag chewing" is misuse. Get on the air and meet people!

What you believe has no bearing on reality.  In reality rag chew is not what gmrs is for.  It is for communication while doing an activity.  Gmrs is not the activity like ham is.  Ham is the activity gmrs is a tool to use while doing something.   Rag chew on ham or chat rooms.  You can meet people on chat rooms.  

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

What you believe has no bearing on reality.

Well, you’re right about that. 
 

@WSGZ436 go ahead and chat. Dipshit has no authority. 

[CaptainSarcastic]

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing that searching for the PL so you can notify the workers at Tidal Wave Car Wash that the vacuum is out of order (when in reality it probably isn't) is not proper use of GMRS...

[amaff]

11 minutes ago, CaptainSarcastic said:

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing that searching for the PL so you can notify the workers at Tidal Wave Car Wash that the vacuum is out of order (when in reality it probably isn't) is not proper use of GMRS...

[Lscott]

22 minutes ago, CaptainSarcastic said:

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing that searching for the PL so you can notify the workers at Tidal Wave Car Wash that the vacuum is out of order (when in reality it probably isn't) is not proper use of GMRS...

No, but telling everyone you found a $100 bill under the driver's seat should motivate the minimum wage employees to do a better job of cleaning out the interior of the cars as an extra service.

[WSHH887]

Well, I'm a newbie to GMRS. I started using radios in the military. Fairly strict radio discipline there. 
 

When CB's started to get popular I joined REACT but that pretty much died when CB became so popular the airwaves became worse than crowded L A freeways. So I quit except for off roading. 

Decided after seeing how cellphones became useless after a disaster to get back into radio. Heck, even without repeaters a message could be handed of from users to user and passed a long way. Did some of that with REACT.