I think GMRS is a good choice for most people who just want to have an alternative means of communication. I'm from WNC and after Helene, all communications were down in my area for several days, and cell coverage was spotty at best for several weeks. I had a boofwang and so did several of my buddies nearby, but we had no idea how to use them. I went ahead and got my GMRS license. Your channel taught me everything I needed to know to find a few radios, and program all of the simplex and local repeater channels I needed. I also programmed all of my friend's radios too so we can communicate in the event of an emergency. Keep up the good work, your channel is super helpful 👍
I had a similar path into amature radio. I got turned around on a hike in AZ in 2014 and found myself with no cell service and it really shook me. I quickly realized how unprepared and irresponsible it was of me to let that happen. In my quest to never let it happen again and while researching alternatives to sat phones I came across a forum post about 2m repeaters and backcountry rescue. Here I am 10 years later, this year I started operating CW an just recently passed my extra. This rabbit hole that is radio is deep and wide. Thanks for the videos!
FRS was great for the family at county fairs and campgrounds. GMRS is great now that my family is grown up. COMs for the whole group when SHTF. Highly recommended service.
I really appreciate your videos. Of my immediate group I’m the comms guy. I can point to your videos and by then you’ve answered 90% of their questions. GMRS is overlooked because it’s basic, but I think that’s what should make it a staple in everyone’s kit.
Fantastic overview. After realizing I wasn't going to get my family on ham I also got into GMRS. Our use case is area emergency coms and atv riding. I can still do the longer range, nerd coms on ham. One thing I would add is support your local repeaters.
Similar story to mine. I am often in places with no cell service with family and friends. I also have a thorough emergency comms plan in case cell service is not available. With that said, I have since gone down the entire rabbit hole for comms as each system has its positives and negatives as well as things it excels at or is capable of. For GMRS, I am currently using a Wouxun KG-UV9GX, and I am very happy with it. I use GMRS more than anything else.
Your channel is now at the top of the heap for radio content. Your focus on the products and theories is highly appreciated - thank you! Many other radio content creators think that they need to be entertaining, or have poor speaking skills, or simply don't know as much as they think that they do.
Great rundown. To clarify the identification rules, you need to identify at the end of a transmission OR series of transmissions or every 15 minutes if the transmissions are ongoing. I wouldn't want anyone to think they have to give their callsign at the end of every transmission. Interestingly, while researching the rules for this comment, I found that repeaters do not need to identify so long as they are only repeating transmissions from the licensee and the licensee follows proper identification processes. That simplifies the build requirements of repeaters if it only serves your family.
The reason for the A and C lines is that in Canada, GMRS repeaters are not allowed. On the one hand Canada gives in that there is no GMRS license required, but they take back and not allow repeaters. Which, IHMO, greatly limits their usefulness.
Im new new to grms radios. Your chart really help me understand. I got my radios working on .5w and 5w. Now I just need to program the repeaters near me and see if I can reach them. I do have a question though. Can you hop multiple repeaters for extended range? I am very green. Lol
First of all, I would like to say thank you Evan extremely helpful. I am new to this I have been following you for the last month and I like the way you explain radios, etc. you don’t talk over nobody’s head so with that being said I really enjoy the videos you put out so with that being said, I would like your opinion on GMRS radios I do have my license and Khole sign because this is where I want to start out I ordered two different types of Baofeng the first one is GMRS-9R in the second one is UV - 5G plus These radios have not shown up yet so I can return them with no problem. I would like to stay in that $40-$50 range for I would appreciate very much your opinion thank you as always God bless Frank
Both of those radios will absolutely do the job. The 9R is water resistant, which is a good thing. The UV-5G is basically a GMRS UV 5R so all of the standard Baofeng batteries, etc will work with it. I'd say start with those radios, and if down the road you want something nicer take a look at the Wouxun stuff. They're more expensive, but worth it. The Radioddity radios are nice as well, and more in your price range. Either way, start with what you've got coming and go from there.
Frs has some channel with a 2w limit and some with a half a watt. MURS is also an option. When i go out i tende to hand off murs radios because must people i go with don’t have a license
I have a set of both of the radios you mentioned, both have been excellent radios for me. I can chat through the sticks with a buddy that lives around three miles away or easily hit the local repeater that's about seven miles away that's up on a tower.
Although I was a good little citizen and got the GMRS and Tech licenses, I wasn't thrilled to see that people can do a simple click on your call sign and see your name, home address, and even an overhead satellite view of your house. Big Brother much?
@EvanK2EJT I wasn't aware that was an option. Thank you for that bit of info. BTW, thanks for the easy to understand video. Forwarded to a friend who was asking me all the same stuff earlier this morning.
Don’t want the cheapest but not the most expensive. I just need something for emergencies. Based on what happened in NC I’ve been thinking of getting something more reliable. We have the regular FRS radios for our church and have a couple at home when we travel but would like something for real emergencies
@@maverickmig211 If you're in the under $100 range, there are several Radioddity and Btech radios that fit the bill. If you can swing between $100 and $150, the Wouxun radios are what I'd go with. They have the best receivers from what I've found.
I think GMRS is a good choice for most people who just want to have an alternative means of communication. I'm from WNC and after Helene, all communications were down in my area for several days, and cell coverage was spotty at best for several weeks. I had a boofwang and so did several of my buddies nearby, but we had no idea how to use them. I went ahead and got my GMRS license. Your channel taught me everything I needed to know to find a few radios, and program all of the simplex and local repeater channels I needed. I also programmed all of my friend's radios too so we can communicate in the event of an emergency. Keep up the good work, your channel is super helpful 👍
Awesome! I'm glad I was able to be of help! Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for watching.
I had a similar path into amature radio. I got turned around on a hike in AZ in 2014 and found myself with no cell service and it really shook me. I quickly realized how unprepared and irresponsible it was of me to let that happen. In my quest to never let it happen again and while researching alternatives to sat phones I came across a forum post about 2m repeaters and backcountry rescue. Here I am 10 years later, this year I started operating CW an just recently passed my extra. This rabbit hole that is radio is deep and wide. Thanks for the videos!
FRS was great for the family at county fairs and campgrounds. GMRS is great now that my family is grown up. COMs for the whole group when SHTF. Highly recommended service.
I really appreciate your videos. Of my immediate group I’m the comms guy. I can point to your videos and by then you’ve answered 90% of their questions. GMRS is overlooked because it’s basic, but I think that’s what should make it a staple in everyone’s kit.
Thank you! Yeah, I agree, GMRS should be in everyone's toolbox
Fantastic overview. After realizing I wasn't going to get my family on ham I also got into GMRS. Our use case is area emergency coms and atv riding. I can still do the longer range, nerd coms on ham. One thing I would add is support your local repeaters.
Similar story to mine. I am often in places with no cell service with family and friends. I also have a thorough emergency comms plan in case cell service is not available. With that said, I have since gone down the entire rabbit hole for comms as each system has its positives and negatives as well as things it excels at or is capable of. For GMRS, I am currently using a Wouxun KG-UV9GX, and I am very happy with it. I use GMRS more than anything else.
Your channel is now at the top of the heap for radio content. Your focus on the products and theories is highly appreciated - thank you! Many other radio content creators think that they need to be entertaining, or have poor speaking skills, or simply don't know as much as they think that they do.
Thank you for the feedback! I really appreciate it
Excellent keep em rolling
Great rundown. To clarify the identification rules, you need to identify at the end of a transmission OR series of transmissions or every 15 minutes if the transmissions are ongoing. I wouldn't want anyone to think they have to give their callsign at the end of every transmission. Interestingly, while researching the rules for this comment, I found that repeaters do not need to identify so long as they are only repeating transmissions from the licensee and the licensee follows proper identification processes. That simplifies the build requirements of repeaters if it only serves your family.
You are correct. I should have been more specific. Thanks!
Your videos are always packed with great info. Thank you I'm learning so much!
Thanks for watching!
Excellent explanation! Well worth the time for this newbie! 🇺🇸👍
Lots of good info there. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Very Well Done
Thanks Evan
GMRS is best to start off.
Agreed
Can I admit I came for the t-shirt but stayed for the content... Lol
😂😂😂
The reason for the A and C lines is that in Canada, GMRS repeaters are not allowed. On the one hand Canada gives in that there is no GMRS license required, but they take back and not allow repeaters. Which, IHMO, greatly limits their usefulness.
Ah! Thank you for filling in the gap in my knowledge. I appreciate it!
Also limited to 2W!
Im new new to grms radios. Your chart really help me understand. I got my radios working on .5w and 5w. Now I just need to program the repeaters near me and see if I can reach them. I do have a question though. Can you hop multiple repeaters for extended range? I am very green. Lol
No. It's a single repeater. GMRS repeaters can't be linked (they used to, but not anymore). Ham repeaters can be linked though.
Liked and Subscribed!
First of all, I would like to say thank you Evan extremely helpful. I am new to this I have been following you for the last month and I like the way you explain radios, etc. you don’t talk over nobody’s head so with that being said I really enjoy the videos you put out so with that being said, I would like your opinion on GMRS radios I do have my license and Khole sign because this is where I want to start out I ordered two different types of Baofeng the first one is GMRS-9R in the second one is UV - 5G plus These radios have not shown up yet so I can return them with no problem. I would like to stay in that $40-$50 range for I would appreciate very much your opinion thank you as always God bless Frank
Both of those radios will absolutely do the job. The 9R is water resistant, which is a good thing. The UV-5G is basically a GMRS UV 5R so all of the standard Baofeng batteries, etc will work with it. I'd say start with those radios, and if down the road you want something nicer take a look at the Wouxun stuff. They're more expensive, but worth it. The Radioddity radios are nice as well, and more in your price range. Either way, start with what you've got coming and go from there.
@@EvanK2EJT thank you very much and I already did order quarter inch wave smiley antenna thank you again, Frank
Frs has some channel with a 2w limit and some with a half a watt. MURS is also an option. When i go out i tende to hand off murs radios because must people i go with don’t have a license
I have a set of both of the radios you mentioned, both have been excellent radios for me. I can chat through the sticks with a buddy that lives around three miles away or easily hit the local repeater that's about seven miles away that's up on a tower.
@@reloader7sixtwo thank you I appreciate the info
Can your next video explain how to "front keyboard " tones for privacy and repeaters?
I can definitely include that in my next radio programming video!
Although I was a good little citizen and got the GMRS and Tech licenses, I wasn't thrilled to see that people can do a simple click on your call sign and see your name, home address, and even an overhead satellite view of your house. Big Brother much?
Yeah, the only real way to fix that is to get a PO box and use that for your license
@EvanK2EJT I wasn't aware that was an option. Thank you for that bit of info.
BTW, thanks for the easy to understand video. Forwarded to a friend who was asking me all the same stuff earlier this morning.
Milo buys a radio 🤘
YES! 😂
This is great content. So what radio you suggest for a beginner?
That depends on your budget and needs. How much do you want to spend, and are there any features you'd like on the radio?
Don’t want the cheapest but not the most expensive. I just need something for emergencies. Based on what happened in NC I’ve been thinking of getting something more reliable. We have the regular FRS radios for our church and have a couple at home when we travel but would like something for real emergencies
@@maverickmig211 If you're in the under $100 range, there are several Radioddity and Btech radios that fit the bill. If you can swing between $100 and $150, the Wouxun radios are what I'd go with. They have the best receivers from what I've found.