Why GMRS Sucks - or Doesn't
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- Опубліковано 30 лис 2022
- In this video we'll take a look at some of the reasons some folks are disappointed in or frustrated with GMRS and how to avoid becoming one of them.
Be sure to check out "The New Operator's Guide to GMRS." My new book will answer a bunch of your questions regarding GMRS and how you might find using GMRS radios can help solve your communications problems. Whether just around town, around your business or as an important part of your Go-Bag or Prepper plans, "The New Operator's Guide to GMRS" is a great resource.
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Before my kids were given cell phones I gave them some inexpensive GMRS radios. I carried the license for my family and it enabled us to easily stay in contact. My kids are much older now, they travel out farther than GMRS will work in my area, but we still use them at the fair or when camping.
When my family reunion involved 2 vanloads travelling to Disneyland in a convoy, my GMRS radios were perfect for the job. We were able to chat the whole way, almost as if we were all together in one van, and our cell phones remained unencumbered. Yes, I have a ham license, but nobody else in the family does, so GMRS really fills that void.
Perfect video for those interested in GMRS comms. I have an HT and my GMRS license but in my area, GMRS is not used very much. There are very few repeaters here (mostly privately owned) and some of them require you first contact the person who has it and you may have to pay for the use. CB is very busy and if you want to chat without an FCC license, CB is another way to go. Yes, CB is relegated to 4 watts (legally), but side band skip is almost like Ham HF. I am now studying for my Ham Technician license as there are many repeaters and clubs in my area. Thanks for the video
Thanks for watching and commenting. Good luck on your test!
in amateur use, "skip" means the opposite.
Good explanation! As a veteran ham radio, I would suggest, if you enjoy spending time talking on a radio, go for Ham, CB, digital modes. If one mode is quiet, switch to another till you find a counterpart. Regards!
GMRS has ten fold more activity than all other ham repeaters combined in my city. It's also has the best coverage.
What city is this?
Same in my area
@@KH07734 it very easy to get their PL code. usually trial and error. some newer baofengs even have PL code scan. get a slim jim or base antenna on a mast or hung in a tree.
Lucky you. There is no GMRS activity in my area and the closest repeater is too far away with limited range. WRDN46Ø
@@wushock92 ehh the guys who run this repeater are like weirdo nazis though Ive come to find out. They want dues to be paid, they forbid "Q codes" and "73's" because "GMRS is not ham radio." They call or consider hams foul mouth CB'ers. They spend 50% of their time complaining about someone kerchunking and openly call people children or 3 year olds if they hit a DTMF tone or something. Pretend they have friends in the FCC out to hunt people down personally for them. I found out they control all 8 repeater channels in the city. they claim to be "fox hunting" daily in ther maniac meltdowns. When theyre in their tirades people have to key up and apologize for a roger beep or something they did wrong. They scream "id yourself NOW we are recording you 24/7." OH they also forbid or at least hate any radio to be used besides a motorola.
I thought this was a few isolated incidents I had overheard before. But ive been digging around and listening a lot more and found all this out by getting on mygmrs website.
Nice commentary. I also have a ham and a GMRS license. My shack includes a SSB CB radio too. Having lived through several semi-critical communications failures, I believe that we should all have an alternate method of communication when the broadband Internet goes down. We have fiber service to our home, so our land line goes through the same pipe as the Internet. In the event of a widespread failure of the digital backbone, the cell phones will be useless too. Don't kid yourself into thinking that all communications will be available at all times. Having alternative radio services will allow you to intercommunicate with the maximum number of neighbors.
Thanks for adding to the conversation. Cheers.
Thanks to your post I took will be adding a CB into the mix.
Excellent and informative help for deciding which route to go for my radio needs.
Gmrs was what I needed, I dont want to chat, I needed comms for the family for emergency purposes.
Very helpful in clarifying the differences. It really helped a lot!! Thank you!!👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
Our tiny rural community has a small (but growing) network of GMRS radios and uses GMRS as an off-the-grid emergency and neighborhood watch communication system between local neighbors. We have very little interest in idle chit-chat with strangers beyond our neighborhood. 🤠
Sounds like a good community service team. Cheers.
Very good explanation. I also find it very quiet on GMRS here at my home base. It is rocking and rolling in the southwest, especially Arizona. I knew that going into GMRS back in 2021. There have been more and more repeaters going up that allow public access. It will continue to grow. Your video should be very helpful for prospective GMRS users.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Great video on GMRS and HAM radio. I also have both a HAM and GMRS license and use GMRS for off-roading. I love my HAM radios and I participate in weekly "nets" in my area. But I must admit, the most fun I have is chatting to folks around the world on DMR using my HT and HotSpot. I have even combined my DMR use while on the road in my RV. My RV has a cell/Wi-Fi booster with a gimbaled directional antenna that pulls in cellular data signals (T-Mobile) while I'm driving and I connect my HotSpot to it. This gives my full worldwide comms while tooling down the road. There are a number of us that spend a few months a year RVing the US and we keep in touch with DMR.
Please keep the videos coming!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Sounds like a cool setup in your RV.
Well explained. I too have both licenses, but have family who don’t.
You're a great guy! Great video. Very informative.
GMRS is very active here in WA State. I also use Zello and connect to GMRS channels and repeater systems all across the country. Definitely does not suck.
Great info. Thanks for posting. I am new to radios overall but as a Army Brat of 22 years I know communications are essential. So as of today my journey into Coms started officially when I filed and paid for my first GMRS license. I followed up by purchasing 2 Baofang uv9g radios because they are waterproof and I do a lot of fishing here in Texas and it rains hard here at times. I also ordered 4 UV5R's for monitoring and just in case the shtf. It's better be have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. #ShootMoveCommunicate.
A very clear explaination of the uses for each serivice. Thanks a lot from a GMRS and Ham license holder
Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
We use our GMRS when we take the Jeep out. It's nice to have quiet channels. I have both a HAM and GMRS license. I have never owned a HAM Radio.
Nice. Lots of off roaders seem to enjoy GMRS radios. You're in good company. I take mine along camping.
Well said Sir. Your very articulate and informative, thanks you
My first FCC license was with CB back in the mid 1970's when I was in High School. I thought about getting a Ham license, but never did. I actually got more into Radio Scanner's for a long time. I have the SDS200 in my home & SDS100 in my car. Got a GMRS license in 2009 and then a General Ham License in 2021. GMRS is not that active in my area, I mostly hear businesses using GMRS, but they never seems to broadcast their call sign as required. I sometimes hear Families and their kids playing around on FRS. In spring I am going to try to put up a GMRS repeater.
Thanks ! Good analogy !
I have both Ham and GMRS licenses and use both for very different purposes. Ham is used for long distant communications primarily and Parks on the Air. We camp often, and a lot of time there is no cell service at these locations. An example was Cap Rock Canyon. My wife and son went on a 3 mile hike and I drove around to the other end of the trail to wait for them. I received a call from my wife via GMRS asking me if I could pick them up where I dropped them off. It seems a bison would not give up the trail and they could not go around it. GMRS paid for itself that day and made a believer out of my wife!
Nice story. Thanks for sharing.
I've never heard GMRS in my area, but the local ham nets are active.
I have a broad communications plan where CB, GMRS, MURS and Amateur services all have a function.
We used FRS in 2020to talk while sitting in cars outside of the local coffee shop, because you couldn't sit inside due to the virus "laws." I had the HTs because my car club used them in for caravanning.
Afterward, I found no one was interested, because " cell phones are better" and CB radio was "too complicated." They think any HT is a "toy for kids."
So now, GMRS is just not popular to common people, just like ham radio, but if you are prepping, you appreciate it for occasions when there is an emergency.
The bigger problem today is that all the repeaters in the area are private, or not open.
Thank you, Very Good Info
From my area of the Midwest, we have plenty of Amateur and GMRS repeaters with a ton of traffic with daily and weekly nets.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
You couldn't be more CORRECT on this. I was one of the suckers that where born every minute!! Thank god the radio was 20 something bucks. I don't have buyers remorse because in a SHTF situation these GMRS owners and some other radio enthusiast groups will come out of the woodwork. So I took all my GMRS antennas and gadgets and put them away in my doomsday closet.
And hope the day never comes when I have to use them. Your right, there is no HAM or CB spirit on the GMRS frequencies.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
A nice analysis. I have an Amateur Radio license. I often use Ham Radios for GMRS service type activities as several members of my family have ham licenses. I have 222 Mhz HT's that my wife and I use when we must be in different parts of the property. These and 70cm HT's have been used for Caravans on Road trips. Interestingly, D-Star radios in simplex communication (usually 70cm) are nearly private as there a few listeners.
Thanks for sharing!
I have GMRS as well as an Extra ham. Funny thing is I have only talked to other dual licensed hams on GMRS. All the local GMRS repeaters here are owned by hams.
I suspect that a lot of hams are licensed GMRS operators too; especially since the fees changed. Cheers.
I live in an area where the terrain makes repeaters a necessity to talk at any distance. The problem is, larger repeater owners basically ignore requests for permission, which in essence makes the prospect of utilizing GMRS a non-starter unless you use it for unit to unit communication over very short distances. Kind of a bummer because the thought of my family being able to talk on my license was attractive, but it seems like the concept will struggle to gain a foothold in non line-of-sight geography until more open repeaters are up and running.
"...utilizing GMRS...", oops utilize is not a fancy way of saying use. Rather than using the correct word use, using utilize comes across as pompous and self-ingratiating. Utilize indicates we are using something for other than what it was designed and intended for. Example a chair, it is designed for us to use it to sit upon. We utilize things/items for other than what they are designed for, such as utilizing a chair as a step stool. When you use utilize, it does not make one sound more educated. Hope this helps you and others.
@@ricdonato4328 Thanks for the comment, friend. Whatever you're mad at in life, there is help in the blood of Jesus Christ. He forgave me of more than I could ever ask, and he will forgive and help you, too. And I hope that happens for you like it did for me.
The primary technical issue with GMRS is that it’s entirely line of sight. If there’s any obstruction of note, you won’t close the link. It’s great for keeping the group together at a camp ground and the like. It’s fine for a caravan as long as the car train don’t stray behind the next rise.
Unless you’re bouncing through a hill top or similarly geographically privileged sited repeater, station to station GMRS is at most a mile on flat land.
My experience has been different. Line of sight transmissions is a characteristic of all VHF and UHF frequencies. If you know that going in, you can make an informed decision on whether this tool will meet your needs - or not. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
100% spot on. I have both a ham general and a GMRS license, and I have them for two totally different reasons. Ham radio has way more capability, but when I'm out hiking, or camping, or kayaking, or some other outdoor activity with my family, GMRS is the clear winner.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
My experience has been quite the opposite. There is a good local gmrs repeater and it is often so busy with people chatting it is not available to others who might want to maintain communications with friends or family.
Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to add to the conversation.
I had no idea some people buy GMRS for making qsos. I was so confused by the title of the video. I use my gmrs radios for communicating with my kids around the property or when out in the woods. They work great! I'm also a member of the local emergency group and frs/gmrs radios are used by 80 neighbourhood contacts throughout our community to talk to each other after a disaster. Each neighbourhood contact has about a dozen homes to check in on in person (there are about 2400 people in our little community). These 80 people with frs radios then report to a smaller group who also have higher powered VHF radios that can then talk to each other and with emergency response. So the frs/gmrs radios work perfectly in that niche roll. Everyone uses the same frs/gmrs channel, so having limited range is how we make sure the channel doesn't get clogged with traffic.
Great use case. Thanks for sharing.
here in my area (Northwest lower Michigan) we have more activity on GMRS repeaters than the Ham repeaters. to be truthful the GMRS guys are better people than the hams.
Incidentally, I'm in Canada where the rules are different. FRS is limited to 0.5W and GMRS radios are limited to 2W. There is no MURS in Canada (it was decided there weren't enough users so gave those frequencies over to private corporate channels). Also, FRS and GMRS radios are both required to have non-user-replaceable antennas (and the stock antennas are small - just a few inches). So something like a Baofeng GMRS-9R, with up to 5 watts tx and an antenna you can upgrade, or attached a mag-mount antenna to, wouldn't be legal here. Not that you'd likely be arrested for having one, I don't think that's ever happened, but you can't buy one in a store here and online stores won't ship to Canada. That might be a reason why the idea of trying to get QSOs just doesn't make sense here.
I didn’t expect that intro, it was very funny
I got a Ham license back when I was in Jr. High in the 1970's, home made radio, morse code only, it was a fun learning experience, but lost the thrill quickly. CB was sort of the same when I got a drivers license I had to have the CB radio of course, but chatting with strangers grew old quickly, so I pretty much only used it for Off roading which I have done a lot of my whole life. I switched over to GMRS for this purpose a few years ago simply because it tends to have less channels, and to work slightly better. For emergencies, I've carried a satellite commincator of one type or other with an INReach device being what I have used for about the last 10 years for that purpose. For me GMRS is a fantastic choice.
Thanks for commenting.
I’m also going to get my tech and general license. Also in my area there are a couple repeaters
Nice! I like Dave Casler's video study guides and the online question banks. Depending on your background, 20 dedicated hours of study time should get you both. I took the randomized online practice exams until consistently scoring in the 90s. Passed easily. ARRL license books are good if you like paper! Good Luck.
Some of of also like to have a radio portable or mobile for emergency needs . There are many places in my state which lack cell coverage. Especially if you are in a state forest. My only solution is to have long range communications which can summon somebody from out in the middle of nowhere and that is hame radio . ...
HAM is a good solution, but not necessarily the only one. Satellite phones are a good option.
GMRS has an important difference from Ham radio: You can use GMRS for business communications which are strictly forbidden on the Ham bands. The latest rules remove GMRS antenna restrictions so, like a ham repeater or base, you can put a GMRS repeater on a 1000 ft TV tower now.
Both are good points. Thanks for sharing.
My issue with GMRS in Canada is Industry Canada has neutered the radios to only being handheld with fixed antenna... pointless from a usability standpoint .
GMRS in Canada is virtually nonexistent because Industry Canada has not come into the 2010s. The lack of regulations, and the subsequent restrictions have made GMRS essentially equal to FRS in Canada....and without lobbying the government it will not change.
I’m not big on gmrs. My main problem being distance. I can literally talk three times farther on 2 meter simplex. Over here, gmrs is about the same traffic wise.
Well said and backed up
GMRS not having a lot of users in my area , that’s one reason I have chosen GMRS . Although I do wish there were at least a couple people in my area to test range and equipped with. I cannot seem to get any one interested in getting there own radio or license
I have GMRS WRPC715 and it is quiet in eastern NC, use it for trail riding and ORV at the outer banks. Usually just pair up with walkie talkies since it's easy and cheap. From what you said, just not enough radios out there to have a good GMRS network yet, hopefully that will change. I have a ham radio too for emergencies. Have had CBs for decades. GMRS is my favorite over CB for clarity and range.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
Yep. I like to explain the difference is talking to people you know vs talking to people you don’t know.
What kind of books or videos would you suggest for beginners to learn from . Some are so complicated it just makes you want to give up trying to figure out how to use them.
There are not many current books on GMRS. Those on Amazon were published before some big rule changes in 2017. I've got several "Intro" videos on my channel as well as some reviews of current entry level radios. Please check them out. It can be hard to sort through videos on UA-cam but some are quite good. Don't give up!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! More of an opinion piece than my usual videos. Cheers.
Due to the UHF frequencies of GMRS, there is an inherent limit of distance (discounting repeaters) which makes the service harder to find a following. It’s better used for a close knit group use. To chat with strangers without going through the hassle and cost of ham radio, CB radio is the better choice and the FCC now allows FM which reduces static and other interference.
Wish I had seen this Before I ordered a GMRS radio and If I can find a ham lic class near me I will check it out as I learn better in a class room then watching a video.
The ARRL technician license guide and the review questions on HamStudy.org should get you through the test fairly quickly. UA-camr Dave Casler has some intro videos for each section that are both quick and good.
Good explanation of GMRS. Everyone forgets that the radio system has to be measured an evaluated against the intended use you have for it. GMRS definitely has it's place, but that place in my view is limited. It is best suited to group communication over short distances like a hiking group or an off roading group especially when handheld devices are needed because operating on the frequencies it does, GMRS does not need long antennas. The short ones work fine making them less cumbersome. This aside, I really don't see much use for GMRS. ALL radios basically operate on line of sight unless repeaters are involved. Absent a repeater, GMRS is only good for short distances. The advertised distances of 36 miles is fantasy. There are only 750,000 licensed Ham users in the U.S and only 175,000 licensed GMRS users. This is relevant because it seems many people are buying Ham and GMRS for SHTF or doomsday scenarios thinking they will be able to communicate with people they don't know at extended ranges to determine the scope of the crisis or gather information. In such circumstances, repeaters are going to go down and you will be limited to line of sight. One well known UA-cam recently posted he sold all his Ham equipment because repeaters weren't easy to hit and nobody was on the air. A GMRS user would be in the same position. He came to the same conclusion I did. Like it or not, IF your need is for a SHTF scenario or obtaining traffic in formation, the only way to go is CB. There are over 5 million daily users in the U.S. and if you use an export radio you can get 12 watts instead of 4 and reach a good distance and you can add an amp. No one is looking for you because you exceeded 4 watts. And with skip, you can reach people hundreds if not thousands of miles away. In addition they are cheaper than any other radio and no license is needed. In fact, I use a handheld CB that has AM and FM when hiking on FM mode and I can get the same range as a GMRS if no repeater is hit. Hope this helps someone.
That is one of the reasons why I got a ham licence. CB and GMRS did not have as many options. Not very much traffic on thoes bands.
What do you consider the best short range, one on one communication method? I have a general license, my wife has none. I’m not interested in CB, and walkie talkie doesn’t cut it. VHF would be perfect if she got a license, but she’s not interested.
Steve, the GMRS channels are just above the 70cm ham band and GRMS HT performance is about the same as ham HTs, just channelized outputs. Since she's not interested in getting a ham ticket, GMRS is likely the best choice. If she's at one place or in a car and so are you, GMRS mobile rigs will give you more power and more range. Depending on where you live, there may also be GMRS repeaters that operate pretty much the same as ham repeaters so HTs will work if you're under the repeaters coverage area. Cheers. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Hi Steve. That is precisely why I first got my GMRS license. I have an Amateur Extra license and I was very active in the local EmComm activities. But my wife was not interested in ham radio. When we sail together, and I wander off from the marina, we use GMRS handhelds to talk to each other, leaving our cell phones free for incoming calls. In an urban area we get at least a half-mile of range from our 5-watt Baofeng radios, with excellent audio quality. My radios have upgraded antennas. My wife really enjoys using these radios.
Well, for me, the experience is pretty much the reverse. I amusing GMRS in our community for very specific communication needs in case of emergencies (wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes) in connection with our CERT/NTP group, as in most of such events, we will lose power, and hence Internet and cell phone service. But get always "interrupted" by some "sad HAMs", which for some time now seem to use GMRS as their means to talk shit in their little group or to strangers passing through the area. They don't (want to?) understand that people can have very different needs and just feel that we get in their way of chit-chatting.
There seems to be no shortage of jerks on both sides that seem to think everyone shares their need or use case. Sounds like your GMRS use is a valuable asset to your community. Thanks for watching and sharing.
Best way to put it:
FRS = Walkie Talkie ----- GMRS = SUPER Walkie Talkie ---- HAM = ULTRA Walkie Talkie
This is how I explain it to people.
Like this explanation form
Great video, GMRS is a GodSend in my opinion.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
Thank you for this video, it truly hit home for me, as I'm one of those disappointed users. I was big into CB dx back in the day, and recently felt the bug to re enter the radio hobby. I also had, and have again, a desire to get my ham license ( taking the Tech test later this month). I thought in the mean time that GMRS might be fun. Well, there's practically zero GMRS hobbyists in my area, so yeah, for me, right now, GMRS, as a hobby, kinda sucks. But that's no fault of the radio service, just that no one locally uses it for a hobby. Thanks for explaining things so clearly, I obviously chose the "wrong tool"! 😂
There’s generally no GMRS rag chew traffic because the UHF band doesn’t lend itself well to it. GMRS is almost entirely line of sight. Unless someone in your locale has a hill top public repeater, comms range will be no more than a few kilometers, station to station.
If you want to DX or reliably ragchew, get your general level ham license. The bands from 10m through 20m will let you work the world. If you’re after reliable local comms, 40m and 80m provides 100% consistent link closure, day or night out to ~400 miles radius.
Think about what a Walmart or large factory floor needs for on-site comms. If your use case is similar to those GMRS will work nicely for you.
@@RobertLeeAtYT I'm lucky in that I am in an area that has an AWESOME repeater with an estimated 90 mile range (Oly-Comm3) here in Western Washington. I hit that sucker from my house 44 miles away.
Thanks bud I like your channel.
I appreciate that! Cheers
I like your videos because you are kind, and polite. You don't insult users.
"FRS Radios" always output under two watts, and are currently deemed license free. The radios are supposed to be certified for use, not the user himself. GMRS radios run at closer to five watts, but have lower power settings to conserve batteries, as possible. All things being equal, power output limits determines which of the two services you are using.
Both FRS and GMRS radio types do not have "detachable antennas". Discourages linear amplifiers. Both FRS and GMRS types require minimal programming or setup by the user. Most transmit signal related controls, including frequency reassignment, are not user settings.
Includes those cute little bubble pack radios. License not necessary for those. Have at it.
How am I doing?
If your FRS radios have adjustable privacy tones on repeater input channels in the 467 range, you may have the ability to "open" very nearby GMRS repeaters. Just sayin'.
GMRS radios may have trouble outputting at only half a watt. That's why channels 8-14 are not available on many higher-wattage GMRS radios.
FRS radios generally include all 22 channels usable, but 8-14 are only half a watt output.
Technically speaking, GMRS radios are usually amateur HT's with a lot of functionality locked down. That's why radio hobbyists, accustomed to making their own communication plans, may dislike them.
Licensed Mobile and base GMRS users can use more power, because of more available supply current. Coax cable eats a lot of UHF. Plus, they're expected to power repeaters. All pretty-much plug and play except for those privacy tones.
Thanks for watching and commenting. There are a couple of points you may want to review. GMRS radios can have removable antennas. I have several. FRS radios don't transmit on GMRS repeater channels. Only channels 1 - 22. Last, GMRS mobile transceivers are not allowed to transmit on the interstitial channels by regulation, though adding that low power level to a higher capacity mobile would likely add cost.
@@GadgetTalk4U A "Three finger salute" makes channel 16 usable on my 888s. If a radio doesn't work, I use a UV5R,
@gadgetTalk4U. Absolutely right about removable GMRS antennas. Careless of me. I forget about GMRS repeater input frequencies, too, since there is only really good GMRS repeater around here. I'm a Hamster at ♥
Thinking of getting a Wouxun KG-1000G. I figure if I'm going to do GMRS, might as well have some power and capability. Handhelds are a dime a dozen and can be added later.
If anyone has other good ideas for a base unit, I'd love to hear them.
I've got a Kg 1000G plus here for review. I like it so far. I think you're on the right track.
@@GadgetTalk4U Thank you. It's good to get input from someone who isn't trying to sell you something. Base units get a little more involved as far as the right cable and antenna, but I need to be learning that stuff anyway. I do want to get my technician class HAM this year as well.
GMRS is not ham light; it is CB-leveled up. There isn't a light version of the ham license. Is the technician license simply because of what you intended to do with ham radio versus what you intended to do with GMSR.
GMRS is great especially if the people in your talk group actually pick up the mic and answer you back.
So true. Cheers
I came to realize that GMRS for me is only good talking talking one on one with a family or friend, other than that the airwaves are very quiet, I might bump into someone, mostly a tow truck driver or some kids on FRS channels. Most don't talk back if I try to talk so I use the CB if I'm trying to talk to random folks. There's no GMRS Repeaters close by and I really don't care about using Ham radios or wanting to get a license, I'll wait until I old a grumpy for that.
I think your experience is common. Check some ham UA-cam channels. There are several great channels run by young folks who are changing the "old grumpy" perception of hams.
The FCC now requires a Criminal Offender Record check for all radio services (No license needed Citizen band (CB) and Family Radio (FRS) & Multi-Use Radio service (MURS) those with criminal record must submit information about their record.
GMRS for seniors helping seniors
Too funny. You can teach an old dog new tricks! Cheers.
GMRS here in Texas is getting crazy. The old geezers are on all day even at 3 in the AM. Im like Geezers get some rest already.
I got both licenses GMRS And ham and I really do not talk on the radio I listen mostly
andy dufresne would like a word with you about small hammers
Hey, what happens behind Rita Hayworth is top secret.
Nailed it on the head.
As a ham myself, I scan 2 meter and 440 all day every day and find no activity anywhere on 2 or 440. I scan all day and not one conversation do I hear.
It can be pretty quiet here, too. The club I belong to runs two nets a day that are pretty well attended and usually last about an hour. At other times, I can usually get a response if I initiate a call asking a question or seeking help. Otherwise, mostly crickets. Better on DSTAR or DMR, but even those can be quiet at times, too.
Seems like GMRS is well-suited to its niche. If it were wide open like CB, it would be constantly bogged-down like CB gets with skip talk, with tool-bags dominating each channel with linear amplifiers and directional antennas, who only want to spit out their handles and catch phrases, never saying anything important (yes I also use CB and I like the CB concept but I think it's being abused due to lack of regulation). On the other hand, if you had to study 60 pages of test questions like any HAM test, it wouldn't be suitable for families or occasional hobbyists who use it as an accessory and not the main event.
I always had an interest in GMRS, as it exists in the US, unfortunately I live in Canada, the maximum legal is just 2 watts using little pocket handhelds little better than FRS. There are no repeaters here either, but I still monitor GMRS frequencies on my scanner which mostly consists of parents and kids talk, store and yard employee workers, and my favorites boaters, campers, party goers and hikers, 4x4 comms, public events, I even had brief chats on rare occasions with just a 1 watt handheld but I just have a pair of GMRS/FRS walkie talkies around as another extra communication tool along with my much better 156 MHz VHF marine and 27 MHz CB base (my main chatting radio) but overall I would say (in Canada) GMRS definitely "SUCKS" for its lack of power, repeaters and range.
How much better is gmrs than frs for hiking/road trips?
The dirty little secret to entry level and even some higher cost GMRS radios is that the actual power output is more like 3 to 3.5 watts on high, not the "up to 5 watts" that is advertised. FRS radios are hard to test because they're not allowed to have removeable antennas. I suspect that many of them actually output less than 1 watt. Now put that FRS radio in a car (a mobile Faraday box) and you've cut power actually leaving the car even more. Since GMRS radios can have a removeable antenna and a magnetic antenna mount can get the antenna outside the car or truck and connected to the HT via the coax, you've got potentially much better coverage.
Now add that GMRS licenses fees were recently cut in half and they cover your entire extended family, my choice would be GMRS.
@@GadgetTalk4U thank you, sir. You’re both a scholar and a gentleman. Is the baofeng gm15 pro still your top Gmrs pick for The aforementioned reasons you just gave?
@Alex At this price point, both the GM 15 Pro and GM 30 from Radioddity would be good choices.
Video at 1.5 speed. Be prepared to learn almost nothing. I suggest buying a 10w handheld off amazon and getting the cable to tweak channels. Set everything to high 10w for all 16 channels. I'm in Chicago works great
I Love GMRS and the challenge of making a simplex contacts, we have many GMRS users here in NE Ohio, but not many repeaters, so we build large antenna setups ( I have stacked 7 element Yagi's @ 50ft.) and talk with others 70+ miles away for fun, sure GMRS is not Ham radio but it's just as fun, I got tired of all the BS on Ham radio and left the hobby for good. If I want to talk around the world I use my CB radio station on SSB when Mother Nature permits and I have made many contacts and friends across the pond and many other country's also. To me, Ham Radio Sucks due to all the Sad Hams, All you have to do is listen to 7200 LSB for the Biggest Sad Hams in the country. What works in my area may not work in your area and maybe Ham radio would work better for you if you like to be told how to run your station by old men that has no clue about your station or equipment, That's not for me anymore. What ever radio service you decide to use be Kind to others, Don't be a Sad operator, help out when asked for info and Please don't tell others how to run their stations, that's a Big turn off and ruins the hobbies for all. 73's DE 2DX189 (WRPG***)
GMRS guys around here are like sad hams x1,000. All they do is talk about having FCC fox hunting because someone made a fart sound on their repeater.
And I can assure you the FCC is not.
@@blairsmith201 lol 😂 of course
I like this old white man . He sold me on HAM radio too
I am 72 I grew up with sw and ham radio receivers and have a vintage radio shop.there is no way I would ever get a ham liance..they are the most uninteresting people I can imagine talking to by the time the get tuned up and loaded q so over.
Not much GMRS going on in Massachusetts….
GMRS gets referred to as HAM without the test, and we know that is not correct. If people would use more than the one source that gave them the answer they wanted, they would figure this out and get the right radio for their needs and wants.
The right tool for the right job. What a concept - right? Cheers.
I just want the thing to work with the other one it came with without needing a rocket science degree.
I feel your pain. Unfortunately, it seems 'more features' evil twin is 'more complexity. Good luck.
this is starting out as a Sad HAM video
As I mentioned to another commenter, leave the sad ham stuff to Randy. He's a professional. This video is about solving problems, not advocacy of one thing or another. Check back, I have reviews upcoming on two very nice GMRS radios soon.
Tell us about it lil dude. 😎
It's been a long time since anyone called me lil, wow.
The Amateur Radio Service bands weren't allocated by the FCC to be a chat room, either (see 97.113 a, 5). The FCC doesn't fund the Amateur Radio Service so that bored people can have a "hobby". I enjoyed your video, but don't agree with you on everything. I have a GMRS repeater system, and also enjoy using GMRS for a specific purpose (not chit-chatting).
You're right about Ham radio not being set up as only a chat room hobby. There are strong e-comm, community service, and technology advancement components, too. Within the context of this video, chatting was the relevant aspect. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@GadgetTalk4U I just want to clarify my original comment. The FCC hasn't allocated any portion of the American Amateur Radio Service as a "hobby" or "chat room". The U.S. Government doesn't spend taxpayer funds on FCC hobbies and chat rooms. If they did, it would be clearly spelled out in their regulations. It's the very profitable ARRL who likes to claim that the Amateur Radio Service is a hobby (for great monetary gain). Thanks for your reply.
Here is a question I have: I know HAM is far more varied and superior compared to GMRS. Why does it seem like most of the traffic on my local GMRS repeaters are Amateurs talking about their Ham equipment?
I got into GMRS because I am the Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. I patrolled my neighborhood with neighbors in the aftermath of George Floyd while the Blackhawks flew overhead for two weeks. I thought radios would have been a good safety item. I'm looking into connecting FRS/GMRS with the neighborhood watch.
What you say about "chatting' makes HAM sound like CB radio . I was KEC0500 in the '70s. I worked at UPS during college and talked to the drivers on CB.
Sounds like your Neighborhood watch project made a good choice with GMRS. Good for you in working to make your neighborhood safe. Ham radio is about chatting and so much more. There are lots of niches for hobbyists of all interests. Thanks for watching a commenting.
GMRS definitely has its place. The only ones who don't believe that are the old fart hammers. They hate everything and everyone that's not them and ham. LMAO
Ham radio, get on HF and don't worry about VHF/UHF because most of it is dead. GMRS like a lot of hams, have those radio cops who think they are all that. Does it suck, well it does now but with more people getting on since the FCC lowered the cost of the license maybe it will get better. My opinion.
This sounds like another recruitment video from a "sad ham". In my area GMRS traffic is very high. Lots of repeaters and "strangers" to talk to if that's what you want to call it. Sad Hams just need to quit with the recruitment crap.... MIC DROP!
Did the mic drop hurt your toe? Give me a break. Read the other comments about GMRS dead zones. Leave the sad ham stuff to Randy.
GMRS is just like the 2 meter band and 440 on ham bands. Nobody there.
I allway laugh at the advertised range of frs and gmrs radios. Frs 1mile in open areas not 7miles. Gmrs 2 to 3 miles. Not 30. Cb 1/4 to 1/2 mile
The perfect condition range is often MUCH different from everyday use range as you rightly point out. Thanks for commenting.
I realize people think that gmrs users out number ham, but that is utterly false. Ham users outnumber gmrs by at least 80 percent
Last time I checked, GMRS 195,000. Ham 765.000. You're close. Cheers.
The non stop throwing of your hand up into our faces is very distracting and makes this video unwatchable.
While I appreciate the effort you put into this videos, why do you and "the other" GMRS guy talk to your audience like they're children? I know your goal is to explain AND YOU ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS CONDESCENDING as "the other guy"! You do a decent job but he is _truly_ nauseating.
And thanks for the decent plug for amateur radio.
72/73 de k6whp
dit dit
WP, since this was an opinion piece, the tone was a bit different. I try to give some thought to who my targeted viewer will be and adjust accordingly. This video was targeted at folks just deciding if GMRS would work for them. For some the videos are too basic and others too complicated. Thanks for the reminder to keep the audience in mind. Cheers and 73.
I'm sorry, I went on a long rant...
The short version:
Make FRS GMRS (license by rule, or paid license Ala the current GMRS license covering families)
Make an entry level HAM license (no test, only able to use low power, handheld or pre-built systems with fixed antennas (mag mount, pole mount) restricted set of channels in 2m/70cm, allow DMR but no other advanced modes).
If we're not going to change anything, then allow the current GMRS to use DMR even if you have to restrict it to specific channels.
Give MURS DMR whether all channels, or just the wideband channels.
My rant below if anyone cares to read...
Here is my issue.... My brain is not as good as it used to be. I KNOW most of what I would ever need for MY ham needs... But for thr life of me I cannot pass the test, and I don't have the attention span to study up for it.
I also believe that GMRS is "misclassified."
No it's not Ham Lite, but it should be.
The "Family Radio Service" is really what GMRS is now... When you consider that you get a license that is usable by... Your family.
The GMRS service doesn't live up to it's "General" name.
I believe that GMRS should still be a licensed service, but it should be opened up to a broader range, even to overlap with 2m/70cm.
There are a lot of people, like me, that don't need or even want to know all of the technical side of radio.
We just want to be able to hop on and chat with our out of box radios... Either HT's or mobile/base radios with short, fixed antennas at a marginally low wattage and maybe on a narrower spectrum.
Make the Technician Class a higher license for using experimental or home built radios and things like TV, Microwave, Satellites, high wattage radios with 100ft tower antennas that does require testing.
But make the entry level amateur license "test free."
Invariably someone will get on and say "without the test you'll get people on the air that don't know what they're doing, or are over their power limits or on channels they don't belong on."
But I'll counter with: There's nothing that is stopping those people NOW, do you really think it'll make that big a difference?
However, as GMRS currently is I DO believe it should have DMR. I live in an area where EVERY business has FRS radios, and some... Like a nearby apartment complex, use 5-6 channels and almost none of them use any PL tones... So even if *I* do, my conversations with my kids is going to be broadcast to everyone listening CSQ.
I have resorted to using ISM band for peace and quiet and privacy. But I'd rather GMRS...Even simple digital simplex will squelch all the noise around me and give me a LITTLE privacy over the bubble pack Mafia....
Is it rude to DMR on a channel people are analog talking on?
Yes... But if you're company radios are CSQ maybe you deserve an earful of digital, and maybe you'll stop using no tone channels to tell thr janitor he needs to bring a bucket to the 3rd floor bathroom because "Jimmy done it again!"
Or even reserve a couple channels for digital.
This goes for MURS as well, but for the exact opposite reason. Like around here, MURS is dead, except on channel 3 someone has an automated telemetry system of some sort.
There's no reason to NOT allow digital... Or if you want to restrict it just make 4 and 5 (the wideband channels) digital.
Good ideas. Every band should have 3-5 channels unlicensed. It let's people play with HF and real radios.
@@adlucem9845 Decent, non-CB HF would be nice to see in a license free band.
@@greyshadow9498 80m has 3 channels, 40m 3, 20m 3 channels, 6 and 2m get 3. Or whatever. 1 even.
No changes needed. Want dmr? Get the tech license. Want HF- get the tech license. Want to talk to far off lands or a few states over? Get a tech license. Its not hard- put your head in the books and take the test.
@@W1SRR why? Just pick a call sign.
i ready like and subscribe. good video like always👍👍👍👍👍👍
San Antonio TX the gmrs are more active than ham they and open to anyone with licenses
@@geobloxmodels1186 wrpl603 san antonio tx san antonio and Houston new Braunfels have there repeaters linked together have a net many hamradio Operators getting in to gmrs in San Antonio
Why does ham radio suck why you can hear the conversation the background noise is horrible people talking over each other compared to GMRS & HAM Radio GMRS WIN'S HAND'S DOWN FOR SOUND QUALITY.
My intent is not to advocate for one service over another. Rather, to help folks make a good choice to solve their communications need. For many it will be GMRS. It sounds like you are comparing ham radio HF ops with GMRS UHF operations. If so, you're correct, but they are two different animals. GMRS and 70 cm ham operations are identical in terms of sound quality. Many ham and GMRS radios are the same hardware with different firmware to limit transmitter frequencies to meet GMRS restrictions.