BoxCar Posted April 8 Report Posted April 8 3 minutes ago, nokones said: Webster defines Hobby as an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. Now, the Amateur Radio Service Operators (a.k.a. Ham Radio) was considered as hobby way before the evolution of GMRS. A majority of the HAM Radio Operators prefer to not associate themselves with GMRS users so there is a good reason for not calling GMRS a hobby since the Hams do not want recognize and/or want to associate with the GMRS users. So, let's not call GMRS a hobby since the Hams hobbyist already call their hobby a hobby. Ham radio hobbyist essentially don't get in involved in or support other hobby activities like GMRS users and groups do. GMRS Users and Gtoups are active people and always on the move and don't sit around. All Ham hobbyists prefer to do is sit around and talk on the radio during POTAs, Nets, and go to Hamfests, so those activities really can't be called a hobby. GMRS people use radios for their selected hobbys, such as hiking, trail riding I, and other outdoor hobbies, Ham radio hobbyist don't do that. GMRS radio people are users and/or groups and proud to be a GMRS User.. Caca de toro - or BS to those not understanding Tex-Mex. You can't make such a wild assertion without empirical truth to back up your WAG. Hams in my area are actively reaching out to GMRS users to the point where they have collocated GMRS repeaters at their stations. The clubs I belong to are talking to GMRS users and preppers actively helping them make the best use of the equipment they have. WRYZ926, WRUU653, CoffeeTime and 1 other 4 Quote
SteveShannon Posted April 8 Report Posted April 8 28 minutes ago, BoxCar said: Caca de toro - or BS to those not understanding Tex-Mex. You can't make such a wild assertion without empirical truth to back up your WAG. Hams in my area are actively reaching out to GMRS users to the point where they have collocated GMRS repeaters at their stations. The clubs I belong to are talking to GMRS users and preppers actively helping them make the best use of the equipment they have. This is my experience as well. Most hams are welcoming GMRS users. I’m sure some of that is motivated by a hope that people will want to expand into amateur radio. WRUE951, WRUU653 and CoffeeTime 3 Quote
AdmiralCochrane Posted April 8 Report Posted April 8 Hams in my area are completely friendly to GMRS. Maybe a reciprocity problem some places. WRUE951, WRUU653 and SteveShannon 3 Quote
WRYZ926 Posted April 9 Report Posted April 9 I have to agree with what @BoxCar, @SteveShannon, and @AdmiralCochrane said. My local club is quite friendly to GMRS users. We have our GMRS repeater setup at the same site as our 2m repeater and main 70cm repeater. We also encourage GMRS users that are not club members to use the repeater. We had a few naysayers when we started discussing GMRS. We sold the idea to them by letting them know that GMRS is another tool in the toolbox for emergency communications if/when needed. The other main reason we used is that GMRS is an easy way to get into two communications and some GMRS users might use it as a stepping stone to get their amateur license. And we don't have any problem if people that have their GMRS license never get their amateur license. A lot of the naysayers ended up getting their GMRS licenses after we put the GMRS repeater on the air. And they enjoy and use the GMRS repeater on a regular basis. SteveShannon, GrouserPad and WRUU653 3 Quote
Jaay Posted April 9 Report Posted April 9 2 hours ago, AdmiralCochrane said: Hams in my area are completely friendly to GMRS. Maybe a reciprocity problem some places. GMRS is another tool in the toolbox. Where some people might not have a ham license, the Gmrs license is good alternative. Even MURS is a good choice for people without Any license. WRUU653, Lscott, WRYZ926 and 1 other 3 1 Quote
WRUU653 Posted April 9 Report Posted April 9 Most of the hams I know are also GMRS users. It’s about fifty fifty on which license they got first. Some like me got their GMRS, got the bug and decided to expand. Others had their ham and I think saw value being inclusive for people in their own family, friends and community that aren’t interested in getting an amateur radio license. It isn’t two teams, it’s two tools. SteveShannon, WRYZ926 and AdmiralCochrane 2 1 Quote
WRTC928 Posted Wednesday at 10:45 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 10:45 PM Most of the hams I know also have a GMRS license. I couldn't say how much they use it because at present, there aren't any GMRS repeaters within range of where I live. I can use one when I'm close to Oklahoma City heard a guy I "know" from my favorite 2m repeater give his amateur radio call sign on the GMRS repeater a few days ago. He caught himself and corrected himself quickly, but I ribbed him anyway. When I'm near Oklahoma City, I usually have the 2m repeater on the left side and the GMRS repeater on the right side of the mobile, so I expect it's only a matter of time. But, no, I haven't noticed any actual hostility toward GMRS users, although a small number of the hams I've met apparently kind of think of GMRS users as "quitters" who gave up before getting an amateur license. It's more condescension than hostility. Quote
WRYZ926 Posted Wednesday at 10:49 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 10:49 PM 3 minutes ago, WRTC928 said: But, no, I haven't noticed any actual hostility toward GMRS users, although a small number of the hams I've met apparently kind of think of GMRS users as "quitters" who gave up before getting an amateur license. It's more condescension than hostility. Or they want to compare GMRS to how bad CB has become. WRTC928 1 Quote
MarkInTampa Posted Wednesday at 11:12 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 11:12 PM 20 hours ago, WRUU653 said: Most of the hams I know are also GMRS users. It’s about fifty fifty on which license they got first. Some like me got their GMRS, got the bug and decided to expand. Others had their ham and I think saw value being inclusive for people in their own family, friends and community that aren’t interested in getting an amateur radio license. It isn’t two teams, it’s two tools. A few of the guys around here I know of on GMRS, myself included, were hams 20+ years ago and for one reason or another let our licenses lapse. Moving, kids, work, life, whatever got in the way. We got into GMRS to get back into radio. We all got our ham licenses back after playing around with GMRS for awhile as well. Most of us hang still hang around on GMRS but a few disappeared into the depths of ham never to be heard on GMRS again. Every now and then there are also CB radio guys that get into GMRS I've heard around here. Usually one guy get into GMRS, 5 of his friends on CB will follow. They are big into GMRS for awhile but after 6 months or so only 2 of the 6 are still around. WRTC928 1 Quote
WSEZ864 Posted Thursday at 01:34 AM Report Posted Thursday at 01:34 AM On 4/8/2025 at 4:20 PM, nokones said: Webster defines Hobby as an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. Now, the Amateur Radio Service Operators (a.k.a. Ham Radio) was considered as hobby way before the evolution of GMRS[/quote]True.[quote]A majority of the HAM Radio Operators prefer to not associate themselves with GMRS users so there is a good reason for not calling GMRS a hobby since the Hams do not want recognize and/or want to associate with the GMRS users. So, let's not call GMRS a hobby since the Hams hobbyist already call their hobby a hobby. Ham radio hobbyist essentially don't get in involved in or support other hobby activities like GMRS users and groups do. GMRS Users and Gtoups are active people and always on the move and don't sit around. All Ham hobbyists prefer to do is sit around and talk on the radio during POTAs, Nets, and go to Hamfests, so those activities really can't be called a hobby. GMRS people use radios for their selected hobbys, such as hiking, trail riding, and other outdoor hobbies, Ham radio hobbyist don't do that. This part is probably the craziest thing I've read this week, and I spend a LOT of time reading. Tell us you know nothing about ham radio without saying that you know nothing about ham radio. On 4/8/2025 at 4:20 PM, nokones said: GMRS radio people are users and/or groups and proud to be a GMRS User.. Quote
WSEZ864 Posted Thursday at 02:47 AM Report Posted Thursday at 02:47 AM On 4/8/2025 at 4:20 PM, nokones said: Webster defines Hobby as an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. Now, the Amateur Radio Service Operators (a.k.a. Ham Radio) was considered as hobby way before the evolution of GMRS. A majority of the HAM Radio Operators prefer to not associate themselves with GMRS users so there is a good reason for not calling GMRS a hobby since the Hams do not want recognize and/or want to associate with the GMRS users. So, let's not call GMRS a hobby since the Hams hobbyist already call their hobby a hobby. Ham radio hobbyist essentially don't get in involved in or support other hobby activities like GMRS users and groups do. GMRS Users and Gtoups are active people and always on the move and don't sit around. All Ham hobbyists prefer to do is sit around and talk on the radio during POTAs, Nets, and go to Hamfests, so those activities really can't be called a hobby. GMRS people use radios for their selected hobbys, such as hiking, trail riding, and other outdoor hobbies, Ham radio hobbyist don't do that. GMRS radio people are users and/or groups and proud to be a GMRS User. As a lifetime avid outdoorsman; hiking, camping, hunting, rifle matches, fishing, boating, and other activities, even a little 'off road', holder of several commercial radio licenses, licensed GMRS operator, NWS spotter, an FCC Volunteer Examiner AND a relatively seasoned ham radio operator, my opinion is that your statements above are not a true picture of either "hobby". Learning more about ham radio may be of benefit...if nothing else, perhaps you would know what you were talking about. Ever notice all of the talk here on this GMRS forum about clubs and nets and linking repeaters and setting up repeaters? Those aspects of GMRS have "ham" written all over them. Not being critical at all, but simply pointing to the elephant in the room. I think they are more closely related than some care to admit. In spite of the denial, I believe a lot of members here DO look at GMRS as 'ham lite', a low-tech shortcut to radio commo - I think that's great, and if the interest persists and deepens, there is a lot that can be done if one decides to move on to amateur radio. Yeah, yeah, there's a test. So what? As a VE, I work with a small group that gives the exams and I assure you that it's not near as bad as rocket surgery...we have kids as young as 8 or 9 passing the Technician exam. I am new here, but even then have seen MANY people asking questions indicating they have bought the license and the equipment, and would like to use it to find active repeaters, some with nets and clubs, in order to make contacts with people outside their social circles and caravans. That approach in no way takes away from the fact that many, maybe even most, GMRS users use their radios during their other activities, or those users that simply want to stay in touch with family members while they're out and about. Perhaps unbelievably, ham operators also use their mobile radios during their activities and to chit chat with acquaintances while commuting. I will say that with ham radio, the equipment and technical knowledge actually IS the hobby. If one is interested in electronics, it can be quite interesting. Almost everything about ham radio is geared toward learning about radio operation, propagation, building your own antennas and other technical aspects, and the results are measured in contact quality and distances. I am a former radar repairman and also built and serviced surveillance receivers and test equipment for a manufacturer. This ham radio hobby is an extension of that and right up my alley. Like GMRS and CB, simply another face of the radio hobby. Electronics and radio science is not for everyone and I get the idea that many people just want to use the radio as a tool without having to learn any more than necessary. I know a lot of people like that and that is one factor that led me to setting up GMRS - this radio service allows me to talk with my brother and sister outside the infrastructure, neither of whom wish to be ham radio operators. Many members of my ham radio club are also GMRS operators. No one hides it and we simply look at it as another tool in the box. Sorta the same with CB, although most of us avoid CB due to it being a zoo here. That didn't stop me from installing a CB here at the house and wiring an antenna in my truck for when I want it on the road. Civil uses of ham radio include operating safety checkpoints for marathons, races and organized hikes, weather warning/monitoring like the National Weather Service's dependence on spotters to help calibrate equipment (radar sensitivity and resolution) and to provide instant warning of severe weather developments. There is overt emergency response via groups like RACES and ARES. Our county emergency services work with us and even sends the commo truck out for our field day events. Our repeater covers a tremendous footprint and in the event of an emergency or severe weather becomes dedicated to public service. It runs on a generator and then batteries when power drops out. Our club is one of several in the area and just between our members contacting members (we can just go simplex on the repeater input frequency), we can cover a tri-county area. The maligned "POTA", "SOTA" and other temporary activations like "Field Day" are as much about determining how to operate in austere conditions and how to make solid contacts under tough conditions. Oddly enough, I see some of the same goals with my fellow GMRS licensees, "portable ops", "emergency contacts" and other terms are interchanged between these closely related radio hobbies. Davichko5650, WRUU653 and WRYZ926 2 1 Quote
Lscott Posted Thursday at 03:12 AM Report Posted Thursday at 03:12 AM 9 minutes ago, WSEZ864 said: As a lifetime avid outdoorsman; hiking, camping, hunting, rifle matches, fishing, boating, and other activities, even a little 'off road', holder of several commercial radio licenses, licensed GMRS operator, NWS spotter, an FCC Volunteer Examiner AND a relatively seasoned ham radio operator, my opinion is that your statements above are not a true picture of either "hobby". Learning more about ham radio may be of benefit...if nothing else, perhaps you would know what you were talking about. Ever notice all of the talk here on this GMRS forum about clubs and nets and linking repeaters and setting up repeaters? Those aspects of GMRS have "ham" written all over them. Not being critical at all, but simply pointing to the elephant in the room. I think they are more closely related than some care to admit. In spite of the denial, I believe a lot of members here DO look at GMRS as 'ham lite', a low-tech shortcut to radio commo - I think that's great, and if the interest persists and deepens, there is a lot that can be done if one decides to move on to amateur radio. Yeah, yeah, there's a test. So what? As a VE, I work with a small group that gives the exams and I assure you that it's not near as bad as rocket surgery...we have kids as young as 8 or 9 passing the Technician exam. I am new here, but even then have seen MANY people asking questions indicating they have bought the license and the equipment, and would like to use it to find active repeaters, some with nets and clubs, in order to make contacts with people outside their social circles and caravans. That approach in no way takes away from the fact that many, maybe even most, GMRS users use their radios during their other activities, or those users that simply want to stay in touch with family members while they're out and about. Perhaps unbelievably, ham operators also use their mobile radios during their activities and to chit chat with acquaintances while commuting. I will say that with ham radio, the equipment and technical knowledge actually IS the hobby. If one is interested in electronics, it can be quite interesting. Almost everything about ham radio is geared toward learning about radio operation, propagation, building your own antennas and other technical aspects, and the results are measured in contact quality and distances. I am a former radar repairman and also built and serviced surveillance receivers and test equipment for a manufacturer. This ham radio hobby is an extension of that and right up my alley. Like GMRS and CB, simply another face of the radio hobby. Electronics and radio science is not for everyone and I get the idea that many people just want to use the radio as a tool without having to learn any more than necessary. I know a lot of people like that and that is one factor that led me to setting up GMRS - this radio service allows me to talk with my brother and sister outside the infrastructure, neither of whom wish to be ham radio operators. Many members of my ham radio club are also GMRS operators. No one hides it and we simply look at it as another tool in the box. Sorta the same with CB, although most of us avoid CB due to it being a zoo here. That didn't stop me from installing a CB here at the house and wiring an antenna in my truck for when I want it on the road. Civil uses of ham radio include operating safety checkpoints for marathons, races and organized hikes, weather warning/monitoring like the National Weather Service's dependence on spotters to help calibrate equipment (radar sensitivity and resolution) and to provide instant warning of severe weather developments. There is overt emergency response via groups like RACES and ARES. Our county emergency services work with us and even sends the commo truck out for our field day events. Our repeater covers a tremendous footprint and in the event of an emergency or severe weather becomes dedicated to public service. It runs on a generator and then batteries when power drops out. Our club is one of several in the area and just between our members contacting members (we can just go simplex on the repeater input frequency), we can cover a tri-county area. The maligned "POTA", "SOTA" and other temporary activations like "Field Day" are as much about determining how to operate in austere conditions and how to make solid contacts under tough conditions. Oddly enough, I see some of the same goals with my fellow GMRS licensees, "portable ops", "emergency contacts" and other terms are interchanged between these closely related radio hobbies. There is a class of hams, old and young, who feel the need to feel superior in some way because they had to pass a test. Since the exams are all multiple choice now, with all the possible questions published with the correct answers, it’s no big deal. Spend some time memorizing the questions and answers is not impressive, which is what many end up doing. In years past one had to draw schematics etc. and answer questions with no published answer guide. Im not diminishing what people who have passed the various ham exams accomplished. I’m encouraged by those who want to go beyond simply memorizing the questions and answers, but want to know the underlying theory. We get those people here on this forum. We should do everything we can to make them feel welcomed and politely answers the questions they have. Snarky attitudes should have no place here. SteveShannon, Davichko5650 and WRYZ926 1 2 Quote
WSEZ864 Posted Thursday at 03:29 AM Report Posted Thursday at 03:29 AM 3 minutes ago, Lscott said: There is a class of hams, old and young, who feel the need to feel superior in some way because they had to pass a test. Since the exams are all multiple choice now, with all the possible questions published with the correct answers, it’s no big deal. Spend some time memorizing the questions and answers is not impressive, which is what many end up doing. In years past one had to draw schematics etc. and answer questions with no published answer guide. Im not diminishing what people who have passed the various ham exams accomplished. I’m encouraged by those who want to go beyond simply memorizing the questions and answers, but want to know the underlying theory. We get those people here on this forum. We should do everything we can to make them feel welcomed and politely answers the questions they have. Snarky attitudes should have no place here. Draw schematics, answer unanticipated questions AND send/receive Morse code AND travel to the nearest FCC office to take the exam. I could have never done it. It is taken for granted that the exams these days, especially the first one, are essentially a "license to learn" and one really doesn't start really getting into it until they start working with it. I agree that memorizing the answers is really the most expedient way to get licensed. It's a large pool of questions and they are not the same on every exam. We have a least 4 exam versions for every license level, might be more. Studying the test questions actually does provide a bit of education. There are several online study sites with practice exams and flash cards, so studying now is easier than ever. To pass the Tech and General exams, one has to answer 26 our of 35 questions correctly. SteveShannon 1 Quote
nokones Posted Thursday at 12:49 PM Report Posted Thursday at 12:49 PM 9 hours ago, WSEZ864 said: (we can just go simplex on the repeater input frequency), That would be a direct violation of the rules and regulations. Quote
Lscott Posted Thursday at 01:14 PM Report Posted Thursday at 01:14 PM 14 hours ago, WRTC928 said: although a small number of the hams I've met apparently kind of think of GMRS users as "quitters" who gave up before getting an amateur license. It's more condescension than hostility. Which is a poor attitude to take. There are some significant differences between GMRS and Ham Radio. It's not just technical, more operational rules based. Its fine to conduct various business activities on GMRS, whereas on Ham its strictly forbidden, as one major example. Then the ability for an entire family to operate under one license is another. With Ham everyone must have their own individual license, no sharing allowed. And if one doesn't even want to apply for a GMRS license there is always the license free FRS radios, that communicate just fine with GMRS when adjust for the difference in bandwidth between the two services. Ham radio has nothing like this. Its examples of the kind above that people make a choice where Ham radio doesn't fit their usage requirements, thus getting a Ham license would be a waste of time, and something likely to never be used. Nothing to do with being a "quitter". On the topic of license free operation one should consider the average consumer has several choices, they can operate on HF (CB 11M), VHF (MURS) and on UHF (FRS). When thought about this way it's more like Ham Radio Lite without the license requirements. SteveShannon and WRUU653 1 1 Quote
SteveShannon Posted Thursday at 01:31 PM Report Posted Thursday at 01:31 PM 16 minutes ago, nokones said: That would be a direct violation of the rules and regulations. The context of the paragraph you copied and pasted @WSEZ864’s line above from was clearly referring to their ham radio repeater, but for GMRS, transmitting on the repeater input frequency is allowed for communication through a repeater, for brief testing, or by Fixed Stations according to the regulations: Quote 95.1763(c) 467 MHz main channels. Only mobile, hand-held portable, control and fixed stations may transmit on these 8 channels. Mobile, hand-held portable and control stations may transmit on these channels only when communicating through a repeater station or making brief test transmissions in accordance with § 95.319(c). The channel center frequencies are: 467.5500, 467.5750, 467.6000, 467.6250, 467.6500, 467.6750, 467.7000, and 467.7250 MHz. 10 hours ago, WSEZ864 said: Civil uses of ham radio include operating safety checkpoints for marathons, races and organized hikes, weather warning/monitoring like the National Weather Service's dependence on spotters to help calibrate equipment (radar sensitivity and resolution) and to provide instant warning of severe weather developments. There is overt emergency response via groups like RACES and ARES. Our county emergency services work with us and even sends the commo truck out for our field day events. Our repeater covers a tremendous footprint and in the event of an emergency or severe weather becomes dedicated to public service. It runs on a generator and then batteries when power drops out. Our club is one of several in the area and just between our members contacting members (we can just go simplex on the repeater input frequency), we can cover a tri-county area. Our ham radio club also goes simplex, especially now when the repeater is down, but we do so on the repeater output frequency. WRUU653 1 Quote
nokones Posted Thursday at 02:17 PM Report Posted Thursday at 02:17 PM 35 minutes ago, SteveShannon said: The context of the paragraph you copied and pasted @WSEZ864’s line above from was clearly referring to their ham radio repeater, but for GMRS, transmitting on the repeater input frequency is allowed for communication through a repeater, for brief testing, or by Fixed Stations according to the regulations: Our ham radio club also goes simplex, especially now when the repeater is down, but we do so on the repeater output frequency. Oops, on my part. I misread the subject paragraph and mistaken it as being related to GMRS. However, I do have a valid excuse, Android Cellphone Display Screens are way too small, and I have another excuse ready in my pocket just in case I need to whip out. SteveShannon 1 Quote
Lscott Posted Thursday at 04:35 PM Report Posted Thursday at 04:35 PM 2 hours ago, nokones said: I have another excuse ready in my pocket just in case I need to whip out. Please don't. Nobody wants to see that. Quote
WRTC928 Posted Thursday at 08:17 PM Report Posted Thursday at 08:17 PM On 4/8/2025 at 3:20 PM, nokones said: Ham radio hobbyist essentially don't get in involved in or support other hobby activities like GMRS users and groups do. GMRS Users and Gtoups are active people and always on the move and don't sit around. All Ham hobbyists prefer to do is sit around and talk on the radio during POTAs, Nets, and go to Hamfests, so those activities really can't be called a hobby. GMRS people use radios for their selected hobbys, such as hiking, trail riding, and other outdoor hobbies, Ham radio hobbyist don't do that. You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Hams can't use radios in exactly the same circumstances as GMRS because the test requirement is a barrier to entry for a lot of people -- which is why a lot of us have GMRS licenses/radios as well. Hams tend to be older, often somewhat debilitated, so we're not going to be using our radios while mountain biking, but by no means does that mean we just sit around and try to contact Italy. I participate in a stormwatch net, I monitor my city's emergency sirens and report how well they function, next week some of my club will be teamed with medical personnel to respond to emergencies at a marathon. Recently, during tornadoes and fires, members in the affected areas provided ongoing, real-time information on the events to emergency responders. It's not the same as running the marathon, but it's not endlessly calling CQ either. Next week, I'll be part of the staff of a regional cavalry competition. Guess what? I'll be pulling out the GMRS radio because many of the people who will be there are GMRS folks, and it also gives us the ability to talk to people with FRS radios, which some of the staff will be using. If you saw me there supporting that event, you'd think that was evidence that only GMRS people do that kind of stuff, but you'd be wrong. I go back and forth between the two modes as appropriate to the situation. A lot of us use radio to support hobbies, but also as a hobby in itself. There's a certain allure to the challenge of building an 80 meter antenna from scrap wire. It's true GMRS is most often an adjunct to some other hobby, but that doesn't mean there can't be a subset of GMRS users who want to build that antenna and a subset of hams who see the radio mostly as a means of supporting other activities. BoxCar, SteveShannon, AdmiralCochrane and 1 other 4 Quote
TDM827 Posted Friday at 03:04 PM Report Posted Friday at 03:04 PM 18 hours ago, WRTC928 said: You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Hams can't use radios in exactly the same circumstances as GMRS because the test requirement is a barrier to entry for a lot of people -- which is why a lot of us have GMRS licenses/radios as well. Hams tend to be older, often somewhat debilitated, so we're not going to be using our radios while mountain biking, but by no means does that mean we just sit around and try to contact Italy. I participate in a stormwatch net, I monitor my city's emergency sirens and report how well they function, next week some of my club will be teamed with medical personnel to respond to emergencies at a marathon. Recently, during tornadoes and fires, members in the affected areas provided ongoing, real-time information on the events to emergency responders. It's not the same as running the marathon, but it's not endlessly calling CQ either. Next week, I'll be part of the staff of a regional cavalry competition. Guess what? I'll be pulling out the GMRS radio because many of the people who will be there are GMRS folks, and it also gives us the ability to talk to people with FRS radios, which some of the staff will be using. If you saw me there supporting that event, you'd think that was evidence that only GMRS people do that kind of stuff, but you'd be wrong. I go back and forth between the two modes as appropriate to the situation. A lot of us use radio to support hobbies, but also as a hobby in itself. There's a certain allure to the challenge of building an 80 meter antenna from scrap wire. It's true GMRS is most often an adjunct to some other hobby, but that doesn't mean there can't be a subset of GMRS users who want to build that antenna and a subset of hams who see the radio mostly as a means of supporting other activities. Good points about Ham operators. I think it’s important for Hams and Gmsrs to occasionally debate things in the forums amongst each other. But when it comes to engaging the law makers and bureaucrats who really don’t understand the different services we present a somewhat united front. I think politically letting the less educated politicians sometimes seeing us a one big group of “radio people” and the numbers behind that, can be helpful. Of course each group could still advocate for the issues important to them. Long story short is we all (Hams & GMRS) approach radio from many perspectives and have different goals. But presenting ourselves as more united than divided can often help. WRYZ926 and SteveShannon 2 Quote
WRTC928 Posted Friday at 06:40 PM Report Posted Friday at 06:40 PM 3 hours ago, TDM827 said: Good points about Ham operators. I think it’s important for Hams and Gmsrs to occasionally debate things in the forums amongst each other. But when it comes to engaging the law makers and bureaucrats who really don’t understand the different services we present a somewhat united front. I think politically letting the less educated politicians sometimes seeing us a one big group of “radio people” and the numbers behind that, can be helpful. Of course each group could still advocate for the issues important to them. Long story short is we all (Hams & GMRS) approach radio from many perspectives and have different goals. But presenting ourselves as more united than divided can often help. Those are very valid points, especially that lawmakers and bureaucrats don't know the difference between us. In fact, from an outsider's perspective, we're more alike than we are different. Sending two different messages would create confusion and reduce the probability that either of us would get what we want. Quote
Lscott Posted Friday at 08:15 PM Report Posted Friday at 08:15 PM 1 hour ago, WRTC928 said: especially that lawmakers and bureaucrats don't know the difference between us You get a feel for that when dealing with the public at times. I had one of the counter help guys at the local gym I frequent ask "what kind of CB antenna" I had on my Jeep at the time. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/259-ca-2x4mb-jeepjpg/?context=new Duh?! Quote
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