GMRS Radio

I haven’t installed the GMRS radio yet, I will soon though. I’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff.

Gotcha. I hope all's well. I'll be eager to hear your thoughts, as I'm reluctant to invest in a third radio—both in terms of equipment and licensing, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris
Thanks for this post. Found it while trying to read up on the trend toward GMRS, which still bothers me a little bit. Seems like a lot of change (equipment, etc.) for these benefits, which are also all true of Ham radio. Would you agree? Not trying to argue, just wanting to understand the appeal of GMRS. Thanks again.
I understand! I've pushed back against GMRS for a long time and frankly didn't have a use for it...until TJ Fest. Now I get it and I will be pulling the CB out of the Jeep. I have loaner handhelds to lend out and I'll be encouraging my friends to get it. My ham radio friends will just use converted dual band radios. The antenna of choice if you do have a ham radio license is the Comet CA-2x4SRNMO because it covers the ham radio bands, the VHF race frequencies, and the FRS/GMRS bands all in one antenna. I've been running this antenna for years at KOH, but just started using it for GMRS.

GMRS is just UHF CB, except you still need a license to be legal. I haven't heard one callsign all week so I suspect most people don't have a license anyway. I encourage everyone to get one though. You can also run VHF MURS with no license.

Ham radio is for people who love radio or have a higher priority of communication needs. MURS, FRS, and GMRS use the same frequency bands as ham radio (VHF/UHF) and good for people who just want to communicate on a trail. IMHO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MichaelGH
I understand! I've pushed back against GMRS for a long time and frankly didn't have a use for it...until TJ Fest. Now I get it and I will be pulling the CB out of the Jeep. I have loaner handhelds to lend out and I'll be encouraging my friends to get it. My ham radio friends will just use converted dual band radios. The antenna of choice if you do have a ham radio license is the Comet CA-2x4SRNMO because it covers the ham radio bands, the VHF race frequencies, and the FRS/GMRS bands all in one antenna. I've been running this antenna for years at KOH, but just started using it for GMRS.

GMRS is just UHF CB, except you still need a license to be legal. I haven't heard one callsign all week so I suspect most people don't have a license anyway. I encourage everyone to get one though. You can also run VHF MURS with no license.

Ham radio is for people who love radio or have a higher priority of communication needs. MURS, FRS, and GMRS use the same frequency bands as ham radio (VHF/UHF) and good for people who just want to communicate on a trail. IMHO.

Hey, thanks for the antenna tip.

I guess my question remains, which is just "why?". What made you go to GMRS after holding back, and why do you think everyone is so attracted to it? You made a great outline of the benefits over CB in your original post, but those all seem to be true (if not more true, e.g. repeaters) for Ham radio, which has been around forever. It seems as if everyone is finally discovering the benefits of Ham radio, and is re-creating it with new equipment and new licenses, which is all a little overpriced anyway.

So please tell me what I'm missing! I don't want to be a Ham curmudgeon, but I don't get it yet.

@Zorba , I think you have all three, right? What are your thoughts?
 
Hey, thanks for the antenna tip.

I guess my question remains, which is just "why?". What made you go to GMRS after holding back, and why do you think everyone is so attracted to it? You made a great outline of the benefits over CB in your original post, but those all seem to be true (if not more true, e.g. repeaters) for Ham radio, which has been around forever. It seems as if everyone is finally discovering the benefits of Ham radio, and is re-creating it with new equipment and new licenses, which is all a little overpriced anyway.

So please tell me what I'm missing! I don't want to be a Ham curmudgeon, but I don't get it yet.

@Zorba , I think you have all three, right? What are your thoughts?
I have all three, and I’d say it’s the barrier to entry + audio quality. CB is buy/go, HAM is pay/test/buy/go, GMRS is pay/buy/go. CB is hard to understand, and doesn’t carry very far (even around a few trees). So the next lowest denominator is GMRS.

GMRS has predefined “channels” so it’s simple like CB but has many advantages (sound quality, privacy codes, TX power). HAM is still better all around, but it’s got a much higher barrier to entry since all the conveniences are removed (there’s no “HAM 1-22”).
 
  • Like
Reactions: SkylinesSuck
We were at the top of one of the mesas on Steel Bender. I was able to talk to my wife at the RV park in town. She had a 5 watt HT and I had a 15 watt unit in the Jeep. Try to do that, legally, with a CB.
 
Hey, thanks for the antenna tip.

I guess my question remains, which is just "why?". What made you go to GMRS after holding back, and why do you think everyone is so attracted to it? You made a great outline of the benefits over CB in your original post, but those all seem to be true (if not more true, e.g. repeaters) for Ham radio, which has been around forever. It seems as if everyone is finally discovering the benefits of Ham radio, and is re-creating it with new equipment and new licenses, which is all a little overpriced anyway.

So please tell me what I'm missing! I don't want to be a Ham curmudgeon, but I don't get it yet.

@Zorba , I think you have all three, right? What are your thoughts?
GMRS is an open topic wireless communication tool.
GMRS can be used by a commercial enterprise
Ham is alot more technical and has topics that are unlawful to discuss.

It comes down to what and who is eligible to use the given frequency and at what hardware restrictions.
 
I have all three, and I’d say it’s the barrier to entry + audio quality. CB is buy/go, HAM is pay/test/buy/go, GMRS is pay/buy/go. CB is hard to understand, and doesn’t carry very far (even around a few trees). So the next lowest denominator is GMRS.

GMRS has predefined “channels” so it’s simple like CB but has many advantages (sound quality, privacy codes, TX power). HAM is still better all around, but it’s got a much higher barrier to entry since all the conveniences are removed (there’s no “HAM 1-22”).

That’s helpful. I get that it’s simpler, and has no test. I dislike that everyone else’s aversion to those two things might force me to invest in a third radio system with no other benefits.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rasband
We were at the top of one of the mesas on Steel Bender. I was able to talk to my wife at the RV park in town. She had a 5 watt HT and I had a 15 watt unit in the Jeep. Try to do that, legally, with a CB.

Sure, but my question is about why GMRS when we already have Ham.
 
Do you know the difference?

To me this still just boils down to "barrier to entry".

GMRS: Radio + Paid License = communicate
HAM: Radio + Test + Paid License = communicate

But GMRS is still simpler based on "channels" vs just a large range of available frequencies of HAM.

In your experience, what is causing people any hang up between the two?
 
Sure, but my question is about why GMRS when we already have Ham.
That is very very simple. Its because offroaders will never, ever, adopt Ham en masse like they did with CB. Its just too much of a pain in the ass between the test and the tech and the self appointed Ham police nerds (who BTW really don't want every single Jeeper and SxS noob chattering there anyhow). The vast majority of offroaders just want to select a channel, push a button, and talk. So if you only want to communicate with your five Ham buddies it's a perfect solution for you. If a sixth person or more is with you then its perfect shit.
 
@Zorba , I think you have all three, right? What are your thoughts?
Honestly? I'm still too much of a noob to both GMRS and Ham to have a meaningful opinion. I figured the radios were cheap enough, the licenses were easy enough to get, so why not be prepared?

I do have to say that I'm a bit disappointed in both CB and the VHF/UHF Ham scene here locally. Not much traffic on either. I used to love to listen to the truckers on 19, and occasionally talk to them as well. They don't seem to be there anymore, although I hear that varies by locality. Only over-amplified idiots with power mics on linears with echo circuits and obnoxious EOT tones yelling "AUUDDIIIIOOOOOOOO!" Whatever the Hell that's supposed to mean...

As far as Ham goes, we have several nice VHF/UHF repeaters locally, that are mostly empty. There is a once a week net out of Titusville that unfortunately occurs exactly when I have a dance class - although the Hams up that way do seem to be a bit more active. I think I need a 10 meter rig to get out of this apparent "Ham hole" I'm in here - I'm still looking and figuring it all out.

But none of this has any bearing on trail use - if I ever manage to actually go on a trail ride with others, I'll be prepared with whatever radio they may have. I just have a sticker on or by each radio with the appropriate call sign so I don't screw it up! I have a pair of cheapie FRS walkie-talkies so I can talk to anybody that needs to spot or otherwise be out of the Jeep.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MichaelGH
The FCC should just open the GMRS frequencies to hams, and still allow people to get just the GMRS license. This would eliminate the need for two radios for ham operators since it is basically the same thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: D M and Zorba
10 meters is fun, I've
... As far as Ham goes, we have several nice VHF/UHF repeaters locally, that are mostly empty. There is a once a week net out of Titusville that unfortunately occurs exactly when I have a dance class - although the Hams up that way do seem to be a bit more active. I think I need a 10 meter rig to get out of this apparent "Ham hole" I'm in here - I'm still looking and figuring it all out.
10 meters can be really fun, HF is where the real fun is and is more what ham radio is based on IMHO. The ability to talk around the world world on less than 100 watts and a very simple and inexpensive wire dipole antenna. I've talked to Pitcairn Island, Tasmania, Vladivostok, Japan, Australia, and much of the US with just my old Kenwood TS-850 160-10 meter radio and dipole antenna. The only thing about 10 meters is that it is cyclical and is either great to talk around the world on or you're lucky to talk with anyone. That's why I got my General license to open more of the bands up than are allowed with the Technician license.

Try 10 meters and you'll probably get hooked on HF.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zorba
10 meters is fun, I've 10 meters can be really fun. HF is where the fun is and is more what ham radio is based on IMHO. The ability to talk around the world world on less than 100 watts and a very simple and inexpensive wire dipole antenna. I've talked to Pitcairn Island, Tasmania, Vladivostok, Japan, Australia, and much of the US with just my old Kenwood TS-850 160-10 meter radio and dipole antenna. The only thing about 10 meters is that it is cyclical and is either great to talk around the world on or you're lucky to talk with anyone. That's why I got my General license to open more of the bands up than are allowed with the Technician license.

Try 10 meters and you'll probably get hooked on HF.
Yea - 10 meters seems to be "real Ham" to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jerry Bransford
That is very very simple. Its because offroaders will never, ever, adopt Ham en masse like they did with CB. Its just too much of a pain in the ass between the test and the tech and the self appointed Ham police nerds (who BTW really don't want every single Jeeper and SxS noob chattering there anyhow). The vast majority of offroaders just want to select a channel, push a button, and talk. So if you only want to communicate with your five Ham buddies it's a perfect solution for you. If a sixth person or more is with you then its perfect shit.

Ok, that’s helpful too. Again, it’s coming down to the ‘difficulty’ of the test and the ‘difficulty’ of programming one’s own channels. I just wish my fellow Jeepers weren’t so averse, because now I gotta spend the time and money on a third radio system. But that’s my problem for being the outlier in this case, I guess.
 
  • Like
Reactions: D M
I agree, but I wanted the highest powered one I could get. That was my reason behind buying that one at least.
Don't google "Wouxan KG-1000" then 😉
That is very very simple. Its because offroaders will never, ever, adopt Ham en masse like they did with CB. Its just too much of a pain in the ass between the test and the tech and the self appointed Ham police nerds (who BTW really don't want every single Jeeper and SxS noob chattering there anyhow). The vast majority of offroaders just want to select a channel, push a button, and talk. So if you only want to communicate with your five Ham buddies it's a perfect solution for you. If a sixth person or more is with you then its perfect shit.

This. And even if you can overcome this relatively small barrier yourself, the majority of people waiting to talk to you on are ham people with ham hobbies, not Jeep guys. So you are back to the question of do you want to do this to get into radios, or do you want to be able to communicate with people on the trail (plus a little radio nerding if you want to boot).

GMRS has much better clarity, better range on simplex (atmospheric skips aside), and the ability to utilize repeaters, so it trumps CB easily. And the bar to play is much lower than ham which means easier plus more novice non-radio type people to have the ability to talk to. Sure, ham is "better," but to what end? What do you actually plan to do with your new found comms?