We have a similar system in the UK called PMR radio which is licence free, range is normally 3 Km for basic handheld sets but a lot more for up market handheld and base stations with proper antennas, I can talk into the Isle of Man from Northern Ireland from my low power base station with good reception and clarity much better than I can on legal UK CB radio, basic 16 channel handsets start at around £20 for a pair including extra plug in mike and earpiece, base charger , battery and antennas.
Amateur Radio has significantly more privileges. I would put it like this; a GMRS license grants access to a single band and mode of local communication, an amateur license (especially the General license), grants access to an entire world of bands and modes for anything from local to worldwide communication, using everything from voice, to CW (morse code), to digital modes, slow-scan TV, APRS, Mesh Networks, etc. If you just want to chat with your buddies around town, GMRS is perfectly adequate, if on the other hand, you are interested in wireless communication generally, an Amateur License is the way to go. I passed the General test without even studying, it isn't that difficult. The phrase "GMRS is a tool, Ham is a lifestyle" is a really accurate summary. Oh, also, amateur doesn't have the same content restrictions... for example, a lot of it is quite entertaining, politics abound (for better or worse), offering items for sale is allowed and common (has to be personal sales), etc. The main amateur content restriction is that we're not allowed to "broadcast," all transmitting must have the goal of two-way communication.
@@SilentGlovesI think that restriction is lifted during an emergency like hurricane or other natural disaster. Also non license people can communicate during an emergency. It's nice to have a back up plan for An emergency. Get a radio even if not licensed GRMS have free channels and you can also get a MURS radio that is free to transmit up to 2 miles. 73 KN4DUQ
This is a good video. Easy to understand. I do have a few additional points to mention if I may: GMRS is a "channelized" radio. That means it has channel 1,2,3 etc. One does not have to dial (or punch in) the frequencies like a Ham radio. For most people that is more convenient. Wattage: I am a ham radio operator. I can talk AROUND THE WORLD with 10 watts IF the bands are open (they come and go with weather and sun spot conditions). But that is on the HF (High Frequency bands). GMRS is in the UHF (Ultra High) band just above the ham bands. THAT area of the band is line of sight, as you mentioned. If 5 watts can't get you there, 100 watts wont either. That is just the way it is. Lower frequencies (HF) go much further than line of sight. HF stuff bounces off of the atmosphere and the ground, mountains tall buildings etc. UHF does not. The antenna is FAR MORE important than the wattage of the radio. Antennas need to be tuned to YOUR radio. Most GMRS stuff does not allow that, so if you have a fixed rubber antenna on a hand held, that is as good as it is going to get for you unless you can change it to a batter one. Some can, some cant. For folks who just want to talk to each other (some sort of gathering or function) GMRS is best for most people. HAM is more for people who are really into electronics, contesting, building their own equipment etc. Its not for everyone just like bowling, baseball or knitting is not for everyone. Enjoy your radio. 73. KI7QL (HAM) and WSCB898 (GMRS)
That isn't exactly true. Yes, the antenna is far more important than wattage, but the wattage does have an effect on the range. More power to the antenna means more range. That being said, you are correct in that increasing wattage won't necessarily increase range. Frequencies do play a big role in the range. And wattage isn't going to alter physics. In perfect conditions, the higher wattage transceiver will see an increased range over a lower wattage unit. There is far more to it though (hence why HAM gets so technical) but to say that wattage doesn't play a role whatsoever in range is misleading.
@@mikel9567 I think the point is that there's more of a wattage ceiling with UHF/VHF because at some point you're just blasting more RF into space since it won't wrap around the horizon.
@mikel9567 To further your point, isotropic scattering does indeed mean better range with higher wattage. If you hit a mountain but your transmission has enough mmph after cresting the mountain to begin scattering down the other side then your higher wattage just increased your range. I've seen it a million times when working with VRC-110s vs PRC-152s.
I am a HAM, and I really enjoy it. I am a veteran with Anxiety and PTSD so I rarely talk to people. But it is nice to have for those days when I do feel chatty. But I have watched some on GMRS as well and after seeing this video I am going to get my license for GMRS as well. For me it is a great hobby to work with the radios, the antennas, having Echolink. I also do some light offroading and feel that the GMRS is more practical for this.
As someone who has over 40 years in the radio industry this was a great introduction and you hit the mark very well. I'm also an Extra class Amateur license holder but for most people I recommend GMRS for most of the same points you listed. There are a lot of advantages to having Amateur privileges and equipment in the back country but the vast majority of people do not want to make the effort and, as you noted, they mostly don't need it. Also, thank you for emphasizing the proper use of the radio. Not for some some silly pedantic reason but for the same reasons we train industrial people in the proper usage, it just makes the system work better. If people use their call signs, use words such as "over" and "clear" etc., life is just better. People will not need to repeat things, there will be less of people talking over each other, and you will more likely understand what the conversation is about. Keep it short, clear, to the point, and get off the air so that others can have access.
This is a great explanation of gmrs! I’m a ham and was curious. I totally agree with you on that ham test. Most of it is for people that want to build or modify things which can be very boring and hard to focus on.
The nice thing about ham is you can talk about personal stuff for hours. NOT ON A GMRS REPEATER. Where I live I needed permission to get on the GMRS repeaters who are owned and installed to conduct business not idle chitchat. I visited Boston which is flooded with GMRS repeaters and you are not allowed on any of them. Ham radio has chit chat, emergency nets, people trying to contact over great distances or even to tell your spouse you are on the way home (Provided they are licensed also)
Thank you so much for this video. I recently retired, moved to the coast of SC, and was looking for a hobby and a way to communicate in the event of an emergency power outage or disaster. After talking to a few folks and watching a few reviews of GMRS I settled on the purchase of a handheld GMRS ..... without a clue to the basics. Your video answered many of my questions. Thanks for keeping it simple! Simple is all I understand 😁
Excellent and informative video. One point I’d like to correct you one that I believe is partially wrong… FRS radios you said are 1/2 watts, and that is correct on channels 8-14 (just like GMRS on those same channels) but on channels 1-7 and 15-22 they are legally able to transmit at 2 watts. Not trying to be a jerk, simply reporting the rules as I believe them to be. I have both FRS and GMRS radios and CLEARLY the GMRS handhelds blow the FRS handhelds away. Again great presentation and good advice for those of us with little experience using radios.
For most of your post you are correct, however, if you use a FRS/GMRS radio that has the 2 watt output without a GMRS license on the 2 watt channels, you are in violation of the rules for FRS and GMRS. The FCC can fine you for illegal use of a GMRS frequency with out a license. That said, it may be nearly impossible to enforce as the 2 watt channels do not extend the range very far depending on terrain.
@@dennisjones8991that's incorrect as of now. Starting some time in 2017 you are legally allowed to transmit up to 2W using an FRS certified radio www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/family-radio-service-frs
@@cathyrowling111 Hahahaha! My VALID counterpoint is NOT a deflection. I don't think you even understand the meaning of deflection. You seem unnecessarily angry and a little hostile. Maybe you should seek professional help. You obviously have issues that can't be addressed here. My point is that it is ridiculous for certain Fuddy sad hams to get their panties in a bunch over using dual band radios for GMRS or vise versa when there are actual laws that are commonly broken that actually endanger the public. Now excuse me while I go tailgate people at 80 mph while talking on GMRS with my ham radio...
@@cathyrowling111 @cathyrowling111 Hahahaha! My VALID counterpoint is NOT a deflection. I don't think you even understand the meaning of deflection. You seem unnecessarily angry and a little hostile. Maybe you should seek professional help. You obviously have issues that can't be addressed here. My point is that it is ridiculous for certain Fuddy sad hams to get their panties in a bunch over using dual band radios for GMRS or vise versa when there are actual laws that are commonly broken that actually endanger the public. Now excuse me while I go tailgate people at 80 mph while talking on GMRS with my ham radio...
Thanks for the well articulated explanation of GMRS. This is the first one I've seen that gives a clear, big picture overview of the system. Thanks for not depending on endless jump cuts to get through a complete thought!
I tend to agree with the above comment. However, there’s no need to be flip, demeaning, or derogatory in comments about other radio services. I’m watching the video and getting through it, but it’s going to be difficult for me to share given such mal-content.
I advise programming your radios to display your call sign on the screen. That ways, it's always there for anyone who needs it. Great video, sir. Cheers!
I was distracted for part of your great video, but one point on tones that is very easy to overlook is that if you are in an area with many repeaters, make sure you select a radio that supports multiple repeaters on the same frequency with different tones. Some of the more popular name-brand radios on the market still don’t support this.
A basic method is that your radio needs additional memories beyond about 30 or so you can store a frequency or channel of a repeater and the necessary tone in a memory “slot” and then put the same frequency and tone for a different repeater on the same channel in another memory slot. I believe that some Midlands only have 22 channels so you can only one tone for a repeater channel. This is fine if you don’t need to operate to more than one repeater on a channel.
This is fascinating. Thank you. I'm currently working on my HAM licenses. This gives me something to add to my list. Much appreciated from a proud American trucker! 🇺🇲
Great review of GMRS. I have my HAM radio license and taking the test is easy. My wife is not technically savvy at all, yet she passed with flying colors. Once you pass the license is good for 10 years and you can renew every ten years without cost. To pass the test, just take the online practice tests over and over and over again until you are able to pass it successfully and consistently. You'll find that when you go in to take the real test, it's just like the practice ones.
@@gammondog Yes it is. I read the books because I found them interesting, and I understood them. I have my degree in Engineering. My wife wanted to do HAM radio with me, so she just did the practices. She has a hard time understanding technical stuff so I knew there was no way I could explain Ohm's Law. Anyway, she passed the test first time through and even got the questions on Ohm's Law correct. My son and daughter and their spouses got their licenses the same way. Easy-Peasy.
Sorry I'm a little late to the party with this video. Quite helpful, and easy to understand. HAM is a bit too much for me as well, and I don't want to go through the process. I have a 40' galvanized tower outside my house, mainly for weather instruments. I assume there is a compatible antenna and cable that will allow me to mount it on top for better LOS. I'm glad you sympathize with those of us who just want emergency or "stay in touch" comms. Also, I live in the same state as you, near Denver. Thank you and much appreciated!
Thanks for the video. I used to dx on 11 meters many years (decades) ago worldwide on both AM and SSB. Talked to many foreign stations on just 5 watts. Did my own antenna tuning to achieve this. Antenna tuning is one of the most important aspects of any radio communications system. The better the antenna, the better chance of attaining the desired result. Again, thanks for the info. Getting back into radio after many decades and trying to learn the proper protocols.
This might be what I need for emergency comms with family about 50 miles away using a repeater. I have been looking for something simple that my mom can use without getting a ham license which she won't do. Still reading up on this stuff as I'm new to this. The family license definitely sounds like a better route for me. Thanks
I’m am licensed in GMRS & Ham. They have specific uses. We use both. For ourselves in the event of phone outages ham is our first choice bc it has far more options. GMRS is our second choice. Usually ham is used during disaster. Sir the power out is 2.0 on FRS now. Happy radio. Moreover, I’m not sure that the GMRS ppl would have the discipline to work together on air space.
I used to have a neighbor that had a CB with a 1000 watt linear amplifier that would bleed onto our telephone and any radio in the house. His next door neighbor said she could hear it on her radio when it was turned off. He wouldn't stop. I called the FCC. They didn't act like they even cared until I pointed out that his radio was within 1000 feet of the helicopter pad at the hospital up the street. They ended up giving him something like a 2500 dollar fine.
I had a very similar situation with a neighbor. As you said, the signal bled into everything with a speaker; on or off. I asked him politely to do something about it. He swore he was completely legal (which he wasn’t) & that the problem was mine to deal with. Nothing to do but contact FCC, who dealt with the problem quickly. A hefty fine & orders to shut down resulted. He was mad at me for years. He was using a ham radio, linear & moon raker 4 antenna, aimed directly over my house. He did finally get his ham license but I still had bleedover somewhat, and, he did move his antenna further back from the house.
Great video - thank you - will share it to my group. I am HAM and I have GMRS - our local ARES uses GMRS to communicate with county emergency services. Handlheld HAM (VHF/UHF) is primarily duplex - sends on one frequency and receives on a different frequency (offset) via a repeater. It can be programmed to transceive simplex (all on one frequency) but, that is not what it is intended for. GMRS has channels - preset frequencies - and operates simplex - transmitting and receiving on the same frequency. Both have their place and their advantages / disadvantages.
I’m totally unfamiliar with this whole subject. I’ll keep watching videos on the subject of emergency communication and hopefully I’ll understand more. Thank you for the video.
My wife bought me a pair of ham handhelds as a gift. For the life of me I can't figure out how to use them and I looked into getting a ham license and that's WAY beyond what I'm wanting to do. I'll just let these sit on the shelf gathering dust. I want a longer range handheld that can talk radio to radio primarily. If it has repeater capability that's fine, I can figure out how to use that later. It sounds like GMRS fits the bill. This video was very informative...another good beginner video would be to get a little deeper into the weeds on how to use the radios...setting frequencies, setting up the radios, a little deeper into getting us started using repeaters...etc. Thanks!
Another good Retevis is the RT-95 VHF/UHF ham radio, which can be switched to Mode02 (unlocked, if you will) to open up the bands and allow it to accept the GMRS fleet of freqs, power, and bandwidths. I put them into the first 30 channels so I can keep in touch with family on their GMRS radios if things go down again. One radio. Two purposes. It's a 25W radio.
I have a General ham license. I got a GMRS, hoping it would be less "formal". So far, my experience has been that it's just ham 2.0. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to listen to the traffic on the repeater channels and distinguish it from ham.
I like the video on the different radio's that are out there. The ham radio is just to many rules and tec. stuff, really not needed. GMRS is the way to go and is good for the average person. You can do a lot with these radio's. I personally have no need to talk to people from all over the place. my needs are for local hobby group of friends. I use it for several reasons. It works well for me and is an affordable radio at low cost that anyone can buy. I know a few ham radio guys who use GMRS, can't be to bad.
Great video! Thanks for educating me on this. I was very confused before I found this on what a GMRS truly is and how it works. Thank also on how to get started. You have taken a lot of the guess work out of this. Thanks again
Thank you for the information on GMRS radio the difference between Ham, CB, & GMRS. I'm in the process of renewal of FCC license for amateur radio the cores system is pain lol. Have had an FRN for the last 20 yrs. I will apply for a GMRS license when I renew ham radio license so they both renew at the same time. Awesome information and hope to here you on the air sometime keith H. kb7zpb Montana USA. 73s
Ham radio is best for those who actually want to be empowered through understanding radio, how it works, how to build and analyze (and just buy) the best and most efficient antenna for whatever given band and/or application. And to advance the state-of-the art as well as to provide an efficient public service, generally via ARES.
Great video, informative, very helpful and simple understanding. Already have a GMRS license and glad you clarified the pros and cons of Ham radio, as was debating. Have hit repeaters and wished more existed within the central Texas area outside and around Austin. For insight having a GMRS license I can communicate on all GMRS stations and FRS correct. Once again enjoyed the excellent video.
Been thinking about getting back to radio. In the '60s, my step father had a major ham rig, the radio shack and the works. We built Heathkit TVs, stereo systems, intercom systems and more in that room. He used to call up military units in service on deployment and set up phone patches with their parents. I built my first radio and got my novice license but never went on the ham because of the CB craze. It was so much easier and I was going through puberty so....I had other things on my mind. Its been 50 years so I now have more time on my hand for things like this, so to speak.
Per FCC, "family members" includes a spouse, children, stepchildren, parents, stepparents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and in-laws (see 47 CFR 95.179).
I've got all 3 gmrs ,ham and CB . I well say that a properly tuned CB (11 meter) and antenna will work better than the other 2 in a couple situations. That sed for most people are going to get a better out of the box experience with GMRS. If you have repeaters in your area you are also better off with gmrs .
Your tutorial has helped me tremendously. Not knowing anything about how two way radios work I don't know if there were things you didn't cover or if it falls into another category of information. Things like Dual Band, Side Band, 2 Meter.... I have seen tons of two way radios that are GMRS capable but what does everything else mean in terms of selecting which one to buy?
Great video for a beginner, which I definitely am lol. You explain things quite well, thank you. I also watched your video on privacy codes. I plan on using my BTECH V2s for hiking mostly. Is there anything else I need to know?
I'm sure gmrs radio has greatness, though I have talked to Tahiti from the coast of Maine using my CB radio. This was verified because we exchanged QSL cards. My point is that CB 27 mghz is not without it good points also.
Sure, I used to skip sideband and had a number of cards back in the day. The difference is that it isn't reliable nor is CB practical in other situations, and CB can't use repeaters. While there were times that I could talk with someone across the country, I couldn't talk to someone 20 miles away.
It sounds like gmrs would be good to keep in touch with neighbors and neighborhood watches where they may need to have someone call for help or call for backup directly as well as all of the other mentioned uses. Do you need a special meter to tune the antenna on the mobile unit? If so where do you find them at and does the antenna have adjustability like a CB antenna and does the same antenna work for frs and gmrs radio? Thanks for any information you can provide. I have been looking into gmrs radio's for a long time now, and I was never sure about how those things worked.
Absolutely correct, that is a perfect use case. You tune it like a CB antenna using an SWR meter. It is usually just a matter of adjusting the antenna up or down a little in its base. Since FRS and GMRS are using the same frequencies, you would use the same antenna.
I have a gmrs license, and I actually want to learn more about it. $35 is a hell of a lot cheaper than when it was $95 bad before the fcc went out of its way to drop the cost of the license.im actually glad I got my license too because now, I have a way other than cellular service or the internet to communicate with people. And the best thing is, gmrs covers the entire family where ham is individually licensed.im not dissing ham radio no, I’m just saying that gmrs is better for those who don’t have an interest in studying for a license. For me though, I’ve been into hf listening all my life and that’s what got me into the ham radio hobby. I just added gmrs so that family can use the service legally.
I just came across your channel and your presentation caught my attention. I bought a Baofeng hand held CB radio from Amazon. I studied for the exam, and I had everything down to the point where I know I could have passed the exam. However, this was during the Covid shutdown and I could only take the exam on-line with two cameras connected to the exam site. This not only turned me off, but I ended up spending money on a camera for my Computer but I also had to use my cell phone for a side view to make sure you are the person taking the exam. This had the profound effect of turning me off to taking the exam and my desire to get my Ham operators license died that day. Rapid forward to the present, i am excited with the possibility of getting a GMRS radio, moving forward. I think this makes more sense because as you, I like to go off-road with my Jeep and that was the sole purpose for me getting a Ham Radio.
Don’t let that experience keep you from getting your ham license. Lots of good study guides and it’s not the bar exam. You’ll be glad when you get your ham call sign.
Great video, thanks. ONE THING if antbody is still here- Using repeaters is it possible to reachaccross the country? Do they have a limit or as long as there is another repeater within range of the first repeater will it simply keep going until there is no repeater within range? Followup: Is there a time delay for repeaters? Is there a calculation for that - miles, nuber of repeaters being used etc. THANK YOU!
Repeaters are local only. We used to network them, but the FCC has said we can't do that on GMRS anymore. There is no delay, its is effectively real time.
Per the fcc immediate family members are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
I’ve already started the process to get my ham operators technician license. I fully intend to get all three licenses. However, I do believe I am going to work on. GMRS as well. Why limit yourself. I’ll have to check into the legalities of it. I don’t know if you can broadcast that way. I don’t see why not. As long as both licenses are possessed.
@@TrailTraveler it taken me eight times to pass the technician, and I been studying for the general then life happens, id study four months straight then things come up next you know it's been a year and five months I been studying for the general and I still do get confused. I still struggle to use my ft-817 mobile transceiver. I plan on using CB, GMRS, VHF/UHF, HF and a Scanner in my house and in my truck. I plan on playing chewing the rag, qrp, pota, sota and CW on HF. I don't trust the local radio club in my area, but I really should find a Elmer.
Thank you for this great explanation !! I’m a newbie looking for a SHTF radio. I just checked the website you mentioned, MYGMRS,and it appears that the FCC shut down some type of repeater ability in August 2024? What is the impact on the GMRS utility and community? Should I even bother getting a GMRS radio now?
The FCC clarified its rule that you cannot have internet-linked GMRS repeaters. If you were going to rely on the power grid and the internet to be available in a SHTF situation, then this might have an affect on you. For me and most of the GMRS community, this had zero impact. The question is, what do you want in a radio? GMRS is designed for short range communication, it isn't designed to go beyond line of sight. This might be what you are looking for, or it might not, I don't know your requirements.
Thank you!! Question: When you note that a GMRS license is good for you and your immediate family, is that because the immediate family is co-located at the same address as the licensee? Therefore, does the license really apply to that address? 2nd question: If, say, I get a GMRS license and then move 2 years later, is that license still valid? Or would I need to re-apply? 3rd question: What if I buy a second or third GMRS radio, does that license cover all GMRS radios that I own? Thanks for any clarification you can provide! As you can tell, I’m a newbie, having received my new GMRS Pro just yesterday.
1 & 2) No, a license is not bound to an address and all of the family members do not need to reside in the same location. 3) The license has nothing to do with the radios. You can switch between 100 radios if you want.
FRS and GMRS share 22 channels not just 15. The only channels FRS doesn't have are 23-30 or the repeater channels because FRS repeater use is not allowed. I know this and I've only been GMRS licensed since December 2023!
Correct, I misstated that. It should be that FRS is limited in wattage across all of the channels, and 1-14 are limited to lower power on GMRS and 50w on 15-22.
I'm VERY new to this just got my GMRS license and a radio and been doing research and playing around. I could be wrong but FRS is 22 channels, not 15 correct? GMRS allows us to transmit at higher wattage and bandwidth on SOME of those FRS frequencies, and in addition we have repeater access from channels 15-22. The major benefit is we can utilize CTCSS across all the GMRS frequencies - im not sure if FRS radios have that functionality.
I used to have a CB in my truck with a 102 inch antenna from radio shack. It had really good range. SWR was 1.1. It could reach 30 miles easily. One night in the 1990s I was catching skip. I keyed up and called for my friend to see if he had his radio on. Ten seconds later I heard my own voice coming back to me. I did have the squelch turned all the way down. I've been wondering ever since just how did my own signal come back to my radio 10 seconds later.
It could be as Terry Parker explained. It can be also due to a mysterious shortwave phenomenon called long delayed echoes. They have been heard in the earliest days of radio before the existence of equipment capable of recording and retransmitting the signal. I have only heard this twice in forty years.
Never had much of a problem finding a channel in Moab, at least on a non-holiday weekend. But, once we setup privacy codes, no more having to look around.
Nice job on your video. We are not off road persons. Just everyday city retired. Can you say why we might want grms radios when our iPhone seem so much better?
You might not, but if I am talking to friends during a road trip or something, its better than leaving a phone connection open the whole time. I really have no other purpose than when we are out somewhere and need to have communication with little to no cell service.
Very informative! Thanks. My question is, how do you decide which channel to use just for starting a conversation on a highway, for instance? Is there a common channel, like CB has a common road channel?
Great information, I'm just north of Denver as well! I had my HAM Technicians license, but it expired about 4 years ago. I'm considering getting a GMRS license instead of recertifying for the Technician license. Is there any information I need in regard to my former license to apply for the GMRS license?
Is the Denver repeater Metro 600? That repeater is ~46 miles from me and Buckhorn 700 is ~21 miles. Seems like I may be able to talk to buckhorn with a handheld based on your anecdote here..
The TECH license for Amateur radio is not as hard as you make out to be. It does help you to understand some of the "technical" stuff you need to know.
One may look at unfamiliar material as "hard" but time spent in a good learning process brings comfort as familiarity is gained. My career was teaching an extremely broad range of things to challenged learners on different levels. I have zero technical background but was highly motivated to learn after my introduction to radios via EmComm. I trained my mountain community disaster team using GMRS (admittedly on UVR-5's before that capability was eliminated, tho not an equipment choice I supported) and went on to attain Extra Class. It's not for everyone! but as a teacher I'll always support pursuing knowledge and improving credentials. Keeping learning methodology engaging, manageable and productive may require creative initiative in situations such as independent study for ham exams, but there's support and solutions aplenty waiting for the effort
Actually, Part 95 Subpart E Section 95.1705 does have a definition of "immediate family members:" "Immediate family members are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws." So, it's actually pretty generous, but for some reason it includes aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews but not cousins.
In an emergency I need to communicate with my kids who live about 30 miles away but in Arkansas where we live there are hills, mountains and a river. Lots of trees. So no line of site. We all have cellphones but I assume in a major emergency those may not work. What would you advise?
I’d say that if you’re a HAM operator, GMRS is a nice supplement. They’re separate things, sure, but as was stated, GMRS is a tool, and who doesn’t like another tool in their box?
Great video! Very informative. If I wanted to put a GMRS unit in my vehicle or set up a base station, are the antenna connections to the radio the same ones used for CB radios or are they proprietary to the GMRS radio? Simply, can I use a mobile CB antenna like a K35 or base station model like the Antron A99 or is it radio specific? Thank you.
FYI Privacy Tones only block other transmissions that are not on that tone. Anyone who is listening on that same channel can hear your transmission without using a Privacy Tone. Privacy tone allow you to hear someone else on that tone without hearing other people not on that tone. But again anyone can hear what you are talking about with or without a tone on.
CB radio is still the dominant choice in maritime province's in Canada and the eastern United States ,Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Delaware. I live in Toronto Ontario Canada 🍁 I listen to GMRS. Ch 16 privacy code 22 I listen to a group called the Alliance they usually go by their last three numbers I get more information on Monday nights when they do their net call we have a few I know there's one fella in the city of Mississauga another in Belleville Ontario I would like to see the service expand in Canada that would be awesome
I am in the market for a radio that will talk to friends town to town. Roughly 30 - 60 miles apart. I love to ease of GMRS but would you recommend a different radio for my goals?
There are a lot of unknowns to be able to answer that. If you are both setting up base stations with nice antennas, then GMRS would work well. If you want to communicate when on a mobile radio or walkie-talkies, then you would need to use local repeaters, if there are none in your area, then radio communication probably isn't a good option.
You're not going to get anywhere near that range from GMRS without ideal topography, expensive towers or repeaters. The GMRS community repeater I built sits on a ridge 300+ feet above average terrain, overlooking a valley, and covers just about 20 miles to its east. There is a higher ridge only 8 miles to the west and north of the repeater which is where coverage stops dead in that direction. Watts also makes no difference with UHF. While traveling through the very flat state of Florida we managed 5-6 miles reliably between 2 mobile mobile radios with good antennas. Range was identical on both low and high power(25w/40w). All that matters is that the antennas can 'see' each other.
I am on the fence as to what setup to get. I live at 7,500' in the rockies....IMy house is 7,500' I spend allot of time at 6,700'+/- guessing 1/3-1/2 mile from home. No direct line of site couple of big hills etc.my concern is buying this stuff and it won't work, no phone service at the lower elevation. I know I can't get my wife to do hamm test, so any ideas if this will work? Short range but lots of trees and a couple hills between.
"GMRS is a tool, HAM is a lifestyle" is the reason I stopped making an effort to really use GMRS. I have a license but, it seems that the people on GMRS are all people who really know each other. I don't know what HAM is like so maybe I'll try that some time. Nevertheless, GMRS is very useful, especially when you're out in the wilderness and need to summon help and communicate with others.
You talked an about having one license for your immediate family. Does that mean everyone in your immediate family has the same call sign or does each have a different call sign?
I’ve been trying to understand gmrs vs ham for the last 35 RUclipsrs but you are the first and best explaner and I understand it completely now
Thank you so much!
We have a similar system in the UK called PMR radio which is licence free, range is normally 3 Km for basic handheld sets but a lot more for up market handheld and base stations with proper antennas, I can talk into the Isle of Man from Northern Ireland from my low power base station with good reception and clarity much better than I can on legal UK CB radio, basic 16 channel handsets start at around £20 for a pair including extra plug in mike and earpiece, base charger , battery and antennas.
@@george-ev1dq hi, we also have GMRS, as I have a license issued by ofcom for £75 for five years. All the best.
Amateur Radio has significantly more privileges. I would put it like this; a GMRS license grants access to a single band and mode of local communication, an amateur license (especially the General license), grants access to an entire world of bands and modes for anything from local to worldwide communication, using everything from voice, to CW (morse code), to digital modes, slow-scan TV, APRS, Mesh Networks, etc. If you just want to chat with your buddies around town, GMRS is perfectly adequate, if on the other hand, you are interested in wireless communication generally, an Amateur License is the way to go. I passed the General test without even studying, it isn't that difficult. The phrase "GMRS is a tool, Ham is a lifestyle" is a really accurate summary. Oh, also, amateur doesn't have the same content restrictions... for example, a lot of it is quite entertaining, politics abound (for better or worse), offering items for sale is allowed and common (has to be personal sales), etc. The main amateur content restriction is that we're not allowed to "broadcast," all transmitting must have the goal of two-way communication.
@@SilentGlovesI think that restriction is lifted during an emergency like hurricane or other natural disaster. Also non license people can communicate during an emergency. It's nice to have a back up plan for An emergency. Get a radio even if not licensed GRMS have free channels and you can also get a MURS radio that is free to transmit up to 2 miles. 73 KN4DUQ
This is a good video. Easy to understand. I do have a few additional points to mention if I may: GMRS is a "channelized" radio. That means it has channel 1,2,3 etc. One does not have to dial (or punch in) the frequencies like a Ham radio. For most people that is more convenient. Wattage: I am a ham radio operator. I can talk AROUND THE WORLD with 10 watts IF the bands are open (they come and go with weather and sun spot conditions). But that is on the HF (High Frequency bands). GMRS is in the UHF (Ultra High) band just above the ham bands. THAT area of the band is line of sight, as you mentioned. If 5 watts can't get you there, 100 watts wont either. That is just the way it is. Lower frequencies (HF) go much further than line of sight. HF stuff bounces off of the atmosphere and the ground, mountains tall buildings etc. UHF does not. The antenna is FAR MORE important than the wattage of the radio. Antennas need to be tuned to YOUR radio. Most GMRS stuff does not allow that, so if you have a fixed rubber antenna on a hand held, that is as good as it is going to get for you unless you can change it to a batter one. Some can, some cant. For folks who just want to talk to each other (some sort of gathering or function) GMRS is best for most people. HAM is more for people who are really into electronics, contesting, building their own equipment etc. Its not for everyone just like bowling, baseball or knitting is not for everyone. Enjoy your radio. 73. KI7QL (HAM) and WSCB898 (GMRS)
Well said.. 73
That isn't exactly true. Yes, the antenna is far more important than wattage, but the wattage does have an effect on the range. More power to the antenna means more range. That being said, you are correct in that increasing wattage won't necessarily increase range. Frequencies do play a big role in the range. And wattage isn't going to alter physics. In perfect conditions, the higher wattage transceiver will see an increased range over a lower wattage unit. There is far more to it though (hence why HAM gets so technical) but to say that wattage doesn't play a role whatsoever in range is misleading.
@@mikel9567 More wattage only increases range if there is nothing in the way... like North Dakota. Its flat as a pancake. Colorado is not.
@@mikel9567 I think the point is that there's more of a wattage ceiling with UHF/VHF because at some point you're just blasting more RF into space since it won't wrap around the horizon.
@mikel9567 To further your point, isotropic scattering does indeed mean better range with higher wattage. If you hit a mountain but your transmission has enough mmph after cresting the mountain to begin scattering down the other side then your higher wattage just increased your range. I've seen it a million times when working with VRC-110s vs PRC-152s.
I am a HAM, and I really enjoy it. I am a veteran with Anxiety and PTSD so I rarely talk to people. But it is nice to have for those days when I do feel chatty. But I have watched some on GMRS as well and after seeing this video I am going to get my license for GMRS as well. For me it is a great hobby to work with the radios, the antennas, having Echolink. I also do some light offroading and feel that the GMRS is more practical for this.
Thank you for your service!
CB is still king of the road and way better for chatting than gmrs...but about the time I think gmrs as worthless it comes in handy....
You can also use GRMS as emergency support. I live in NH and heard people from Florida on I think was a series of repeaters
Great job! I’m a ham radio operator, awesome explanation.
As someone who has over 40 years in the radio industry this was a great introduction and you hit the mark very well. I'm also an Extra class Amateur license holder but for most people I recommend GMRS for most of the same points you listed. There are a lot of advantages to having Amateur privileges and equipment in the back country but the vast majority of people do not want to make the effort and, as you noted, they mostly don't need it.
Also, thank you for emphasizing the proper use of the radio. Not for some some silly pedantic reason but for the same reasons we train industrial people in the proper usage, it just makes the system work better. If people use their call signs, use words such as "over" and "clear" etc., life is just better. People will not need to repeat things, there will be less of people talking over each other, and you will more likely understand what the conversation is about. Keep it short, clear, to the point, and get off the air so that others can have access.
UK here, excellent video that explains a lot.
New to gmrs just got my gmrs license Monday trying to understand and this video made it simple 👍
did you program your radio to a tower???
This is a great explanation of gmrs! I’m a ham and was curious. I totally agree with you on that ham test. Most of it is for people that want to build or modify things which can be very boring and hard to focus on.
The nice thing about ham is you can talk about personal stuff for hours. NOT ON A GMRS REPEATER. Where I live I needed permission to get on the GMRS repeaters who are owned and installed to conduct business not idle chitchat. I visited Boston which is flooded with GMRS repeaters and you are not allowed on any of them. Ham radio has chit chat, emergency nets, people trying to contact over great distances or even to tell your spouse you are on the way home (Provided they are licensed also)
Our GMRS repeaters here are ONLY used for chit chat. I have never heard one business related conversation since they are run by the local GMRS club
Thank you so much for this video. I recently retired, moved to the coast of SC, and was looking for a hobby and a way to communicate in the event of an emergency power outage or disaster. After talking to a few folks and watching a few reviews of GMRS I settled on the purchase of a handheld GMRS ..... without a clue to the basics. Your video answered many of my questions. Thanks for keeping it simple! Simple is all I understand 😁
Excellent and informative video.
One point I’d like to correct you one that I believe is partially wrong…
FRS radios you said are 1/2 watts, and that is correct on channels 8-14 (just like GMRS on those same channels) but on channels 1-7 and 15-22 they are legally able to transmit at 2 watts.
Not trying to be a jerk, simply reporting the rules as I believe them to be.
I have both FRS and GMRS radios and CLEARLY the GMRS handhelds blow the FRS handhelds away.
Again great presentation and good advice for those of us with little experience using radios.
For most of your post you are correct, however, if you use a FRS/GMRS radio that has the 2 watt output without a GMRS license on the 2 watt channels, you are in violation of the rules for FRS and GMRS. The FCC can fine you for illegal use of a GMRS frequency with out a license. That said, it may be nearly impossible to enforce as the 2 watt channels do not extend the range very far depending on terrain.
@@dennisjones8991that's incorrect as of now. Starting some time in 2017 you are legally allowed to transmit up to 2W using an FRS certified radio www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/family-radio-service-frs
@@WraithBlackthorn Deflect much? This ids NOT ABOUT TRAFFIC or DRIVING HABITS. Its about FCC LAWS.
@@cathyrowling111 Hahahaha! My VALID counterpoint is NOT a deflection. I don't think you even understand the meaning of deflection. You seem unnecessarily angry and a little hostile. Maybe you should seek professional help. You obviously have issues that can't be addressed here.
My point is that it is ridiculous for certain Fuddy sad hams to get their panties in a bunch over using dual band radios for GMRS or vise versa when there are actual laws that are commonly broken that actually endanger the public. Now excuse me while I go tailgate people at 80 mph while talking on GMRS with my ham radio...
@@cathyrowling111 @cathyrowling111 Hahahaha! My VALID counterpoint is NOT a deflection. I don't think you even understand the meaning of deflection. You seem unnecessarily angry and a little hostile. Maybe you should seek professional help. You obviously have issues that can't be addressed here.
My point is that it is ridiculous for certain Fuddy sad hams to get their panties in a bunch over using dual band radios for GMRS or vise versa when there are actual laws that are commonly broken that actually endanger the public. Now excuse me while I go tailgate people at 80 mph while talking on GMRS with my ham radio...
Thanks for the well articulated explanation of GMRS. This is the first one I've seen that gives a clear, big picture overview of the system. Thanks for not depending on endless jump cuts to get through a complete thought!
I do my best. Thanks!
I tend to agree with the above comment. However, there’s no need to be flip, demeaning, or derogatory in comments about other radio services. I’m watching the video and getting through it, but it’s going to be difficult for me to share given such mal-content.
I advise programming your radios to display your call sign on the screen. That ways, it's always there for anyone who needs it. Great video, sir. Cheers!
I was distracted for part of your great video, but one point on tones that is very easy to overlook is that if you are in an area with many repeaters, make sure you select a radio that supports multiple repeaters on the same frequency with different tones. Some of the more popular name-brand radios on the market still don’t support this.
Excellent point
How do you figure that out? Is there a name for this repeater hopping feature?
@@SetitesTechAdventures split tones
A basic method is that your radio needs additional memories beyond about 30 or so you can store a frequency or channel of a repeater and the necessary tone in a memory “slot” and then put the same frequency and tone for a different repeater on the same channel in another memory slot.
I believe that some Midlands only have 22 channels so you can only one tone for a repeater channel. This is fine if you don’t need to operate to more than one repeater on a channel.
This is fascinating. Thank you. I'm currently working on my HAM licenses. This gives me something to add to my list. Much appreciated from a proud American trucker! 🇺🇲
Ham Extra here. Have my GMRS as well. Both have their uses for sure. Ham is just more fun!
@caroleemoreno8086 I've thought about getting my GMRS license but I'm also an Extra. Do you find you're making it worthwhile?
Great review of GMRS. I have my HAM radio license and taking the test is easy. My wife is not technically savvy at all, yet she passed with flying colors. Once you pass the license is good for 10 years and you can renew every ten years without cost. To pass the test, just take the online practice tests over and over and over again until you are able to pass it successfully and consistently. You'll find that when you go in to take the real test, it's just like the practice ones.
@@daverave3698 Sounds better than the old Bash books.
@@gammondog Yes it is. I read the books because I found them interesting, and I understood them. I have my degree in Engineering. My wife wanted to do HAM radio with me, so she just did the practices. She has a hard time understanding technical stuff so I knew there was no way I could explain Ohm's Law. Anyway, she passed the test first time through and even got the questions on Ohm's Law correct. My son and daughter and their spouses got their licenses the same way. Easy-Peasy.
Sorry I'm a little late to the party with this video. Quite helpful, and easy to understand. HAM is a bit too much for me as well, and I don't want to go through the process. I have a 40' galvanized tower outside my house, mainly for weather instruments. I assume there is a compatible antenna and cable that will allow me to mount it on top for better LOS. I'm glad you sympathize with those of us who just want emergency or "stay in touch" comms. Also, I live in the same state as you, near Denver. Thank you and much appreciated!
Thanks for the video. I used to dx on 11 meters many years (decades) ago worldwide on both AM and SSB. Talked to many foreign stations on just 5 watts. Did my own antenna tuning to achieve this. Antenna tuning is one of the most important aspects of any radio communications system. The better the antenna, the better chance of attaining the desired result. Again, thanks for the info. Getting back into radio after many decades and trying to learn the proper protocols.
The only thing I could add is when Galaxy Saturn put out its first radio it changed everything with split frequency functions.
Thank you! I am learning so much! My self esteem flat lined with ham radio technology and terms. It was more than i needed, too!
This might be what I need for emergency comms with family about 50 miles away using a repeater. I have been looking for something simple that my mom can use without getting a ham license which she won't do.
Still reading up on this stuff as I'm new to this. The family license definitely sounds like a better route for me.
Thanks
I’m am licensed in GMRS & Ham. They have specific uses. We use both. For ourselves in the event of phone outages ham is our first choice bc it has far more options. GMRS is our second choice. Usually ham is used during disaster. Sir the power out is 2.0 on FRS now. Happy radio. Moreover, I’m not sure that the GMRS ppl would have the discipline to work together on air space.
I used to have a neighbor that had a CB with a 1000 watt linear amplifier that would bleed onto our telephone and any radio in the house. His next door neighbor said she could hear it on her radio when it was turned off. He wouldn't stop. I called the FCC. They didn't act like they even cared until I pointed out that his radio was within 1000 feet of the helicopter pad at the hospital up the street. They ended up giving him something like a 2500 dollar fine.
I had a very similar situation with a neighbor. As you said, the signal bled into everything with a speaker; on or off. I asked him politely to do something about it. He swore he was completely legal (which he wasn’t) & that the problem was mine to deal with. Nothing to do but contact FCC, who dealt with the problem quickly. A hefty fine & orders to shut down resulted. He was mad at me for years. He was using a ham radio, linear & moon raker 4 antenna, aimed directly over my house. He did finally get his ham license but I still had bleedover somewhat, and, he did move his antenna further back from the house.
the hell with the FCC I ran 1000 watt linear amplifier for over 40 years in my car and NEVER had a problem with the dam FCC
Very good explanation on how to use it. Thanks
I changed the antenna socket on my handheld, to use longer antenna's. The range more than doubled. 😊
Great video - thank you - will share it to my group. I am HAM and I have GMRS - our local ARES uses GMRS to communicate with county emergency services. Handlheld HAM (VHF/UHF) is primarily duplex - sends on one frequency and receives on a different frequency (offset) via a repeater. It can be programmed to transceive simplex (all on one frequency) but, that is not what it is intended for. GMRS has channels - preset frequencies - and operates simplex - transmitting and receiving on the same frequency. Both have their place and their advantages / disadvantages.
GMRS has splits and repeaters... as far as simplex on VHF/UHF, there are other modes besides F3E...
I’m totally unfamiliar with this whole subject. I’ll keep watching videos on the subject of emergency communication and hopefully I’ll understand more. Thank you for the video.
@@dianevessels2632 we have another video coming soon to explain more advanced features like that
My wife bought me a pair of ham handhelds as a gift. For the life of me I can't figure out how to use them and I looked into getting a ham license and that's WAY beyond what I'm wanting to do. I'll just let these sit on the shelf gathering dust. I want a longer range handheld that can talk radio to radio primarily. If it has repeater capability that's fine, I can figure out how to use that later. It sounds like GMRS fits the bill. This video was very informative...another good beginner video would be to get a little deeper into the weeds on how to use the radios...setting frequencies, setting up the radios, a little deeper into getting us started using repeaters...etc. Thanks!
We are working on an "advanced guide to GMRS" right now
Another good Retevis is the RT-95 VHF/UHF ham radio, which can be switched to Mode02 (unlocked, if you will) to open up the bands and allow it to accept the GMRS fleet of freqs, power, and bandwidths. I put them into the first 30 channels so I can keep in touch with family on their GMRS radios if things go down again. One radio. Two purposes. It's a 25W radio.
I just ordered two hand helds and one base as per your Amazon links. Thank you for the info. Now for the license application.
I have a General ham license. I got a GMRS, hoping it would be less "formal". So far, my experience has been that it's just ham 2.0. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to listen to the traffic on the repeater channels and distinguish it from ham.
Dead on accurate there
Excellent video and information on GMRS. Thank You for not talking down to us, like alot of these videos do. Keep the videos coming
Clear as mud. Thanks for the intro video. Just paid for my GMRS today. I'm late to the dance. lol
I like the video on the different radio's that are out there. The ham radio is just to many rules and tec. stuff, really not needed. GMRS is the way to go and is good for the average person. You can do a lot with these radio's. I personally have no need to talk to people from all over the place. my needs are for local hobby group of friends. I use it for several reasons. It works well for me and is an affordable radio at low cost that anyone can buy. I know a few ham radio guys who use GMRS, can't be to bad.
Trail trave you do a awesome job at explaining how GRMS radios work my friend
This video shou.d be mandatory for all getting or wanting to getting thier license
Trail trave you are good at explaining about the Grms license my friend
Great video! Thanks for educating me on this. I was very confused before I found this on what a GMRS truly is and how it works. Thank also on how to get started. You have taken a lot of the guess work out of this.
Thanks again
Simply thank you! The video was well done and informative.
Thank you for the information on GMRS radio the difference between Ham, CB, & GMRS. I'm in the process of renewal of FCC license for amateur radio the cores system is pain lol. Have had an FRN for the last 20 yrs. I will apply for a GMRS license when I renew ham radio license so they both renew at the same time. Awesome information and hope to here you on the air sometime keith H. kb7zpb Montana USA. 73s
Ham radio is best for those who actually want to be empowered through understanding radio, how it works, how to build and analyze (and just buy) the best and most efficient antenna for whatever given band and/or application.
And to advance the state-of-the art as well as to provide an efficient public service, generally via ARES.
Great video, informative, very helpful and simple understanding. Already have a GMRS license and glad you clarified the pros and cons of Ham radio, as was debating. Have hit repeaters and wished more existed within the central Texas area outside and around Austin. For insight having a GMRS license I can communicate on all GMRS stations and FRS correct. Once again enjoyed the excellent video.
That is correct
Been thinking about getting back to radio. In the '60s, my step father had a major ham rig, the radio shack and the works. We built Heathkit TVs, stereo systems, intercom systems and more in that room. He used to call up military units in service on deployment and set up phone patches with their parents. I built my first radio and got my novice license but never went on the ham because of the CB craze. It was so much easier and I was going through puberty so....I had other things on my mind. Its been 50 years so I now have more time on my hand for things like this, so to speak.
Excellent video. Thank you!
Per FCC, "family members" includes a spouse, children, stepchildren, parents, stepparents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and in-laws (see 47 CFR 95.179).
I have been a ham since 1987 but I use GMRS by far the most nowadays
Great video thanks! I am an Extra Class Ham and I loved the comment that GMRS is a tool and Ham is a lifestyle lol.
Most excellent!!!! My question is - you spoke to channels for GMRS however what are the actual GMRS frequencies? Thanks to anyone that can answer!!!
wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FRS/GMRS_combined_channel_chart
I've got all 3 gmrs ,ham and CB . I well say that a properly tuned CB (11 meter) and antenna will work better than the other 2 in a couple situations. That sed for most people are going to get a better out of the box experience with GMRS. If you have repeaters in your area you are also better off with gmrs .
Your tutorial has helped me tremendously. Not knowing anything about how two way radios work I don't know if there were things you didn't cover or if it falls into another category of information. Things like Dual Band, Side Band, 2 Meter.... I have seen tons of two way radios that are GMRS capable but what does everything else mean in terms of selecting which one to buy?
Side band is available on some CB radios, not GMRS. Terms like 2 meter, 10 meter, etc are for HAM radios, not GMRS.
@@TrailTraveler oh ok, that simplifies things a bit. Thank you
Great video for a beginner, which I definitely am lol. You explain things quite well, thank you. I also watched your video on privacy codes. I plan on using my BTECH V2s for hiking mostly. Is there anything else I need to know?
Nope, that should work fine for your needs
Very helpful. Thank you!
Excellent presentation, thank you!
Great presentation my friend. Very informative.
Good Day. Excellent tutorial on GMRS. Interesting and clearly explained.
Thank You Very Much
& Best Regards. I just subscribed.
I'm sure gmrs radio has greatness, though I have talked to Tahiti from the coast of Maine using my CB radio. This was verified because we exchanged QSL cards. My point is that CB 27 mghz is not without it good points also.
Sure, I used to skip sideband and had a number of cards back in the day. The difference is that it isn't reliable nor is CB practical in other situations, and CB can't use repeaters. While there were times that I could talk with someone across the country, I couldn't talk to someone 20 miles away.
It sounds like gmrs would be good to keep in touch with neighbors and neighborhood watches where they may need to have someone call for help or call for backup directly as well as all of the other mentioned uses. Do you need a special meter to tune the antenna on the mobile unit? If so where do you find them at and does the antenna have adjustability like a CB antenna and does the same antenna work for frs and gmrs radio? Thanks for any information you can provide. I have been looking into gmrs radio's for a long time now, and I was never sure about how those things worked.
Absolutely correct, that is a perfect use case. You tune it like a CB antenna using an SWR meter. It is usually just a matter of adjusting the antenna up or down a little in its base. Since FRS and GMRS are using the same frequencies, you would use the same antenna.
I have a gmrs license, and I actually want to learn more about it. $35 is a hell of a lot cheaper than when it was $95 bad before the fcc went out of its way to drop the cost of the license.im actually glad I got my license too because now, I have a way other than cellular service or the internet to communicate with people. And the best thing is, gmrs covers the entire family where ham is individually licensed.im not dissing ham radio no, I’m just saying that gmrs is better for those who don’t have an interest in studying for a license. For me though, I’ve been into hf listening all my life and that’s what got me into the ham radio hobby. I just added gmrs so that family can use the service legally.
Helpful for me, thanks
Excellent presentation sir
Trail trave your RUclips videos are awesome my friend
I just came across your channel and your presentation caught my attention. I bought a Baofeng hand held CB radio from Amazon. I studied for the exam, and I had everything down to the point where I know I could have passed the exam. However, this was during the Covid shutdown and I could only take the exam on-line with two cameras connected to the exam site. This not only turned me off, but I ended up spending money on a camera for my Computer but I also had to use my cell phone for a side view to make sure you are the person taking the exam. This had the profound effect of turning me off to taking the exam and my desire to get my Ham operators license died that day. Rapid forward to the present, i am excited with the possibility of getting a GMRS radio, moving forward. I think this makes more sense because as you, I like to go off-road with my Jeep and that was the sole purpose for me getting a Ham Radio.
Don’t let that experience keep you from getting your ham license. Lots of good study guides and it’s not the bar exam. You’ll be glad when you get your ham call sign.
Second that encouragement for keeping open to the ham tier. GMRS is an excellent entry to radios and many expand interest from there
That's possibly the lamest excuse I've ever heard.
Great video, thanks. ONE THING if antbody is still here- Using repeaters is it possible to reachaccross the country? Do they have a limit or as long as there is another repeater within range of the first repeater will it simply keep going until there is no repeater within range? Followup: Is there a time delay for repeaters? Is there a calculation for that - miles, nuber of repeaters being used etc. THANK YOU!
Repeaters are local only. We used to network them, but the FCC has said we can't do that on GMRS anymore. There is no delay, its is effectively real time.
Per the fcc immediate family members are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
I’ve already started the process to get my ham operators technician license. I fully intend to get all three licenses. However, I do believe I am going to work on. GMRS as well. Why limit yourself. I’ll have to check into the legalities of it. I don’t know if you can broadcast that way. I don’t see why not. As long as both licenses are possessed.
Very informative. Great video
I used my P-Touch to put my call sign on the radio. I would never remember it otherwise :)
I wrote my call on medical white tape, stuck over speaker/ battery and ya can't go wrong
Cb has some really nice radios especially from president radios keep in mind.
I am just a amateur radio technician, will be upgrading to general and im also interested in GMRS radios.
Funny, I am the opposite. I have been using GMRS for several years and I just received my ham call sign today.
@@TrailTraveler it taken me eight times to pass the technician, and I been studying for the general then life happens, id study four months straight then things come up next you know it's been a year and five months I been studying for the general and I still do get confused. I still struggle to use my ft-817 mobile transceiver. I plan on using CB, GMRS, VHF/UHF, HF and a Scanner in my house and in my truck. I plan on playing chewing the rag, qrp, pota, sota and CW on HF. I don't trust the local radio club in my area, but I really should find a Elmer.
Thank you for this great explanation !! I’m a newbie looking for a SHTF radio. I just checked the website you mentioned, MYGMRS,and it appears that the FCC shut down some type of repeater ability in August 2024? What is the impact on the GMRS utility and community? Should I even bother getting a GMRS radio now?
The FCC clarified its rule that you cannot have internet-linked GMRS repeaters. If you were going to rely on the power grid and the internet to be available in a SHTF situation, then this might have an affect on you. For me and most of the GMRS community, this had zero impact.
The question is, what do you want in a radio? GMRS is designed for short range communication, it isn't designed to go beyond line of sight. This might be what you are looking for, or it might not, I don't know your requirements.
Thank you!! Question: When you note that a GMRS license is good for you and your immediate family, is that because the immediate family is co-located at the same address as the licensee? Therefore, does the license really apply to that address? 2nd question: If, say, I get a GMRS license and then move 2 years later, is that license still valid? Or would I need to re-apply? 3rd question: What if I buy a second or third GMRS radio, does that license cover all GMRS radios that I own? Thanks for any clarification you can provide! As you can tell, I’m a newbie, having received my new GMRS Pro just yesterday.
1 & 2) No, a license is not bound to an address and all of the family members do not need to reside in the same location. 3) The license has nothing to do with the radios. You can switch between 100 radios if you want.
@@TrailTraveler- Sweet! Even better-thank you!
FRS and GMRS share 22 channels not just 15. The only channels FRS doesn't have are 23-30 or the repeater channels because FRS repeater use is not allowed. I know this and I've only been GMRS licensed since December 2023!
Correct, I misstated that. It should be that FRS is limited in wattage across all of the channels, and 1-14 are limited to lower power on GMRS and 50w on 15-22.
I have an 11 meter that I have talked to Antarctica. How many repeaters are there in Antarctica .
I'm VERY new to this just got my GMRS license and a radio and been doing research and playing around. I could be wrong but FRS is 22 channels, not 15 correct? GMRS allows us to transmit at higher wattage and bandwidth on SOME of those FRS frequencies, and in addition we have repeater access from channels 15-22. The major benefit is we can utilize CTCSS across all the GMRS frequencies - im not sure if FRS radios have that functionality.
That is correct, I was using old information
Thanks for all the information.
I used to have a CB in my truck with a 102 inch antenna from radio shack. It had really good range. SWR was 1.1. It could reach 30 miles easily. One night in the 1990s I was catching skip. I keyed up and called for my friend to see if he had his radio on. Ten seconds later I heard my own voice coming back to me. I did have the squelch turned all the way down. I've been wondering ever since just how did my own signal come back to my radio 10 seconds later.
Someone just records it and plays it back. Very common. No mystery at all.
It could be as Terry Parker explained. It can be also due to a mysterious shortwave phenomenon called long delayed echoes. They have been heard in the earliest days of radio before the existence of equipment capable of recording and retransmitting the signal. I have only heard this twice in forty years.
Yes, GMRS is now very popular. Try getting an uncrowded channel in a popular area like Moab. Better lean to use codes.
Never had much of a problem finding a channel in Moab, at least on a non-holiday weekend. But, once we setup privacy codes, no more having to look around.
Nice job on your video. We are not off road persons. Just everyday city retired. Can you say why we might want grms radios when our iPhone seem so much better?
You might not, but if I am talking to friends during a road trip or something, its better than leaving a phone connection open the whole time. I really have no other purpose than when we are out somewhere and need to have communication with little to no cell service.
great program.
Very informative! Thanks. My question is, how do you decide which channel to use just for starting a conversation on a highway, for instance? Is there a common channel, like CB has a common road channel?
I will often just have my radio on Scan mode if I am by myself. There is no set channels for highway or emergency communication,
@@TrailTraveler Thank you.
Great information, I'm just north of Denver as well! I had my HAM Technicians license, but it expired about 4 years ago. I'm considering getting a GMRS license instead of recertifying for the Technician license. Is there any information I need in regard to my former license to apply for the GMRS license?
Nope, there is no test for GMRS
@@TrailTraveler Unless you consider navigating the FCC's website, and figuring out HOW to apply and pay for the GMRS license the test, perhaps?
Is the Denver repeater Metro 600? That repeater is ~46 miles from me and Buckhorn 700 is ~21 miles. Seems like I may be able to talk to buckhorn with a handheld based on your anecdote here..
How does your family use the radio with the call sign in your name?
Your immediate family all uses the same call sign
The TECH license for Amateur radio is not as hard as you make out to be. It does help you to understand some of the "technical" stuff you need to know.
Beg to differ. If you do t have an understanding of electronics, you will struggle with it
One may look at unfamiliar material as "hard" but time spent in a good learning process brings comfort as familiarity is gained. My career was teaching an extremely broad range of things to challenged learners on different levels.
I have zero technical background but was highly motivated to learn after my introduction to radios via EmComm. I trained my mountain community disaster team using GMRS (admittedly on UVR-5's before that capability was eliminated, tho not an equipment choice I supported) and went on to attain Extra Class. It's not for everyone! but as a teacher I'll always support pursuing knowledge and improving credentials.
Keeping learning methodology engaging, manageable and productive may require creative initiative in situations such as independent study for ham exams, but there's support and solutions aplenty waiting for the effort
That won't allow you to use GMRS. A separate license is required.
The license is not a license, its a tax. However your video is awesome.
The hardest part about getting the GMRS license is navigating the website.
Single sideband is legal. I run both CB on single sideband & GMRS.
It wasn't SSB that I meant to call out, it was that every single person I knew using SSB was using illegal amps.
Actually, Part 95 Subpart E Section 95.1705 does have a definition of "immediate family members:"
"Immediate family members are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws."
So, it's actually pretty generous, but for some reason it includes aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews but not cousins.
Thank you. It was very helpful.
In an emergency I need to communicate with my kids who live about 30 miles away but in Arkansas where we live there are hills, mountains and a river. Lots of trees. So no line of site. We all have cellphones but I assume in a major emergency those may not work. What would you advise?
a good plan that everyone is trained in.....there is a way to use repeaters with gmrs and close range comms all n all tho CB is still king of the road
I’d say that if you’re a HAM operator, GMRS is a nice supplement. They’re separate things, sure, but as was stated, GMRS is a tool, and who doesn’t like another tool in their box?
Great video! Very informative. If I wanted to put a GMRS unit in my vehicle or set up a base station, are the antenna connections to the radio the same ones used for CB radios or are they proprietary to the GMRS radio? Simply, can I use a mobile CB antenna like a K35 or base station model like the Antron A99 or is it radio specific? Thank you.
no.....
They use different antennas. You can get a GMRS base antenna.
FYI Privacy Tones only block other transmissions that are not on that tone. Anyone who is listening on that same channel can hear your transmission without using a Privacy Tone. Privacy tone allow you to hear someone else on that tone without hearing other people not on that tone. But again anyone can hear what you are talking about with or without a tone on.
CB radio is still the dominant choice in maritime province's in Canada and the eastern United States ,Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Delaware. I live in Toronto Ontario Canada 🍁 I listen to GMRS. Ch 16 privacy code 22 I listen to a group called the Alliance they usually go by their last three numbers I get more information on Monday nights when they do their net call we have a few I know there's one fella in the city of Mississauga another in Belleville Ontario I would like to see the service expand in Canada that would be awesome
I am in the market for a radio that will talk to friends town to town. Roughly 30 - 60 miles apart. I love to ease of GMRS but would you recommend a different radio for my goals?
There are a lot of unknowns to be able to answer that. If you are both setting up base stations with nice antennas, then GMRS would work well. If you want to communicate when on a mobile radio or walkie-talkies, then you would need to use local repeaters, if there are none in your area, then radio communication probably isn't a good option.
You're not going to get anywhere near that range from GMRS without ideal topography, expensive towers or repeaters. The GMRS community repeater I built sits on a ridge 300+ feet above average terrain, overlooking a valley, and covers just about 20 miles to its east. There is a higher ridge only 8 miles to the west and north of the repeater which is where coverage stops dead in that direction.
Watts also makes no difference with UHF. While traveling through the very flat state of Florida we managed 5-6 miles reliably between 2 mobile mobile radios with good antennas. Range was identical on both low and high power(25w/40w). All that matters is that the antennas can 'see' each other.
Thanks for making this video. 👍
This was very helpful, thank you.
I am on the fence as to what setup to get. I live at 7,500' in the rockies....IMy house is 7,500' I spend allot of time at 6,700'+/- guessing 1/3-1/2 mile from home. No direct line of site couple of big hills etc.my concern is buying this stuff and it won't work, no phone service at the lower elevation. I know I can't get my wife to do hamm test, so any ideas if this will work? Short range but lots of trees and a couple hills between.
"GMRS is a tool, HAM is a lifestyle" is the reason I stopped making an effort to really use GMRS. I have a license but, it seems that the people on GMRS are all people who really know each other. I don't know what HAM is like so maybe I'll try that some time. Nevertheless, GMRS is very useful, especially when you're out in the wilderness and need to summon help and communicate with others.
You talked an about having one license for your immediate family. Does that mean everyone in your immediate family has the same call sign or does each have a different call sign?