I’m planning to hard wire a HAM with the MARS mod eventually due to how much I enjoy and better understand the GMRS, that’s on the medium list. For now - the GMRS handhelds are pretty handy!
I haven’t installed the GMRS radio yet, I will soon though. I’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff.
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.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.
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.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?
It was a Radiodity GM-30 part 95E compliant HT, the unit in the Jeep is as well, (Midland MXT-275). I have my license, but I don't think that matters much if you are communicating in simplex.Was the HT a GMRS compliant radio @bobthetj03 !?
GMRS is an open topic wireless communication tool.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”).
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?
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.Sure, but my question is about why GMRS when we already have Ham.
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?@Zorba , I think you have all three, right? What are your thoughts?
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.... 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.
Yea - 10 meters seems to be "real Ham" to me.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.
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.
Don't google "Wouxan KG-1000" thenI agree, but I wanted the highest powered one I could get. That was my reason behind buying that one at least.
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.