As an unlicensed H.A.M. radio operator for over 40 years I approve this message. You have to listen to what I say because I started my comment with how many years i've been unlicensed.
To all my Hams. Please tell me you studied so freaking hard, took your drivers license test, driving test, twice, passed, got your license bought a cheap Pontiac fiero aaaaaaaand.... drove that thing the exact speed limit and abided absolutely all traffic signs and signals.... anyone?
I just bought a Ford F150 with all kinds of driver assist so I set the speed limit and it drives exactly the speed limit, keeps itself in the lane (hands free on the highway)... but it still expects me to tell it about signs and signals. My next buy will be a completely self driving Tesla and I will sit in the back seat (I expect them to improve the back seat comfort by then.)
Let me tell you sunny boy I walked up2 mountains to take my ham test and we had to use a hammer and chisel to write out the answers then I had to walk up 2 mountains to get back home in the snow while carrying my pet dinosaur then I had to wait for the pony Express to bring me my license 12 years later You whipper snappers don't know how good you have it now
With MURS, I've heard someone say they take a radio to their local walmart and listen for what channel they use. Then at random days/times when they are in the area they get on and say something like "Adam, someone took a dump in aisle 6" and will often get a response like "Again?!" Wow.
CB radio was so fun in the 90's!!!! Started to get my ham license back then but life happened. Started studying for my Technician license a few days ago. I'd love to have the General license.
Excellent video Josh! Cant explain it any better. I just learned that I don’t have to apply for another GMRS license for my wife in case she needs to use a radio to talk to me one day. Thanks!
Thanks for doing this. I’m a licensed ham, and I’m sure the training material went over this, but it was a cursory view at best. I’ve wondered about these licenses/radios but never really dug deep into it. You made a nice, short video that really laid it out.
What I dislike is the FCC makes you take a test, and all this stuff, seeming to have nothing to do with getting on a device to talk to people, and stuff that is difficult for someone on the spectrum, to get. Then it is impossible to find a test site within a reasonable distance of where you live, then, they publish your name and contact information and can personally identify you. A call sign should only list if it belongs to a private individual, or a business, and it should be the business name. For example KMG 365 LA County Fire. Not to Tom Smith . I purchased a 2 Meters radio back in the good ole days or Radio Shack. Never had a license. It was my intention to get a license, but never did, because of the reasons stated here. The FCC needs to make changes and if they would, they would likely have more money, because more people would be desirous to have unlimited communications with people around the world.
GMRS is very much like 2 meter or 70 cm in as much as the antennas are short, modulation is FM so it is quieter, and it is not as widely used as CB. GMRS has repeaters which, to me, was the amazing thing about 2 meters. Having a very small footprint in power and antenna and be able to talk 10 to 30 miles to someone else running the same small footprint of equipment. As a HAM if you have ever tried to get a family member to learn and take a test to get their HAM license, you have learned that getting them on GMRS is much more likely to happen. :D We, the show, tell our listeners to get GMRS for going off road in their Jeeps. It's just too simple, small, and inexpensive. Talking on the trail, is handy, fun, and could be lifesaving.
I totally agree. My off road club uses GMRS for trail runs. A few of us also have ham radio setups in our vehicles giving the whole group a broader reach if needed for safety purposes. Both serve an important purpose.
@@Jeeptalkshow the test isn't all that bad to study for, for either Technician or General. Be glad you don't have to learn Morse Code anymore. When I first got my license I passed sending and receiving 13 wpm of code and got my Advanced Class license (1 class higher than General but is no more). If you study for General, you can pass it. The radios are higher priced and I had 5 to 6 of them amounting to over $3500.
Got my Novice in 1961, then Technician - then it expired. Decades later I got back in and attained my General which I still have but haven't been active. Need to learn what's changed in thirty years :) Still narrow band FM on uhf/vhf? Still am and ssb on low bands? What is digital mode?
If you have a radio like an Icom IC-7100 with a MARS CAP frequency modification, allowing the radio to use both CB, GM, and MU radio services, are you good to use those channels with that radio, even if it's at the right transmitting power?
I find these little radios fascinating, I like buttons and radio communications, but the reality is... I have no friends to talk to who are into radio and in a prepper situation, you're too busy cleaning up and doing things to bother with any radios at all. I mean, if your house is about to be swept away by a flood and you're stacking sand bags, do you really have time to try to get anyone out there to respond to your pTT on a handheld radio. No, in a real prepper situation you need a way to boil hot water for a shower in the morning and stay warm at night. Even in an ice storm that effected the whole region, I turned on my radio during my downtime, but there was no useful information out there on the radio stations. You end up switching to music stations.
I dont have a license. Looking for a small radio like a cell phone abilities. gold spot price is going threw the roof. The dollar could just be not worth any thing. When that happens want a back up. wife and I to communicate. Cuz cell payments for service might go? So sending messages to the wife, would be a must. have any idea which would be best?
I tried to renew my GMRS license on the FCC website. It won’t let me for some stupid reason. I am therefore a pirate for maybe a day every 3 years or so. Why won’t the FCC take my money?
Josh...good points. I too am a ham radio operator. We have twice weekly nets in our area, and there is the "fantasy" of providing services to the state and local govs...but I do it for myself, for my family, for disaster preparedness. There are very specific instances where ham radio is NOT desirable and most of those involve radio direction finding and jamming in an overtly hostile environment by hostile forces...so in Ukraine currently...here in the USA, not very likely. Carrington events are underrated in the instance of damage to power infrastructure, and over rated as far as ham radio goes. High Energy Electromagnetic Pulse from highaltitude nuclear explosions is a much greater threat to small electronics and modern ham radio equipment...again, war time scenario. Good overall prepping for the more likely natural disasters makes the most sense, with a robust ham radio as a backup adjunct to that prepping. So having independent solar power, batteries, and a backup generator with appropriate fuel stores for reasonable outages seems like the most viable path forward
You are correct on GMRS, at least for new users/licenses. The FCC personal radio services page describes GMRS as a "5-25 mile range Citizen Band service for family use in their neighborhood or during group outings". While their GMRS page states that "The GMRS is available to an individual (one man or one woman) for short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members. ... The rules for GMRS limit eligibility for new GMRS system licenses to individuals in order to make the service available to personal users. (Some previously licensed non-individual systems are allowed to continue using GMRS)". That that last part is where some business use is still grandfathered in. 47 C.F.R. § 95.1703 defines a "grandfathered GMRS license" as a GMRS license held by a non-individual person (i.e., a partnership, corporation, association or governmental unit) as a result of renewals of a GMRS license issued prior to July 31, 1987. Therefore, it sounds like they would still be able to use GMRS for business.
But then again, 47 C.F.R. § 95.503 defines FRS as "A short-distance two-way voice communication service, with limited data applications, between low power hand-held radios, for facilitating individual, family, group, recreational and business activities". And the FRS and GMRS frequencies overlap, so... maybe there is some ongoing business use that's authorized?
@@ryanv7075 They way I'm reading it is that business can use CB, MURS and FRS. GMRS (except very limited and distant businesses that previously had the license from 1987 and before) is limited to personal use of the service exclusively. While it's true that the radio frequencies overlap the FRS and GMRS service, the radio themselves are different and the power levels are different. In use, business would be limited to 1/2 and 2 watt radios on the FRS/GMRS bands while those with a GMRS licenses (excludes business specifically) can use the higher powers and they will have access to the 8 repeater channels.
Great coverage as always! What I am getting out of this is, each of these services have its value, Amateur Radio is the best! haha! As it definitely is!
General class, and I absolutely prefer GMRS. @TheNotaRubicon fan here. Ham is boring, really really boring. Exchange calls and location, then move on. No community. What a waste of time. GMRS, has great communities.
Is it okay if I use gmrs around my private property without a license? I don't think I'll be interfering with something and I would love to pay the 35 dollars but the website doesn't work. So on private property I'm not gonna be bothering anybody or anything right?
Don't take this the wrong way, but if you find this too complicated, or that you're not willing to learn much more about, go with GMRS. That is literally why it exists, a simple method for two-way communication.
Modifying the radio was not what I read in that FCC enforcement action. He was being a big, class-A prick. Continuous transmissions, continuously "broadcasting" music, or other noises. Big, big difference to running an amp, exceeding the power output. I know of several people that ran " foot warmers", or had their boxes beefed up... 😊 The FCC didn't care, so long has you didn't act like a butt, and upset people.
Happy Ham here. I enjoy all radio services equally. Each have thier place. GMRS for around the farm and outdoors with the family. Murs for the jobsite, CB for the highways. Amateur HF for round the world contacts. VHF/UHF repeaters for emergency comms when no cell service in the wildlife areas while hunting.
I have my GMRS license and I have my Ham license. I also have a CB radio. Each service has its own place and application. I use what is appropriate for what I am doing.
Can someone elaborate on why CB is only good during the day and certain solar cycles? this noob isn't understanding why time of day impacts the lower CB radio frequency?
@WR3ND Hams that buy their radios rather than build their own from parts are derided by some and called appliance operators. Personally, I build antennas but won't tackle radios.
Oh. I see. Thanks. I was thinking food in the microwave oven was the "antenna." And using the programming "code" to set the time and power levels.😅 Cheers.
Nice explanation Josh. One point I would like to mention is the FCC eliminated the 250 kilometer rule in 2017 (the same document that restructured GMRS/FRS, FCC 17-57 I believe) and skywave is now permitted on CB. I think of sideband CB as the gateway to a tech license and 10 meters (was for me), and GMRS the gateway to 2 meters and 70 CM.
I chose to not get a ham license because the sad ones at the front door that unfortunately represent their community.. I am a licensed GMRS user instead because of the community.. they are more like family and brothers than the hams I listened to.. and have been monitoring for years on both. Recently I have decided to study for my ham license.. your video just told me why I need my ham license also.. I have other hobbies that involve rf that brought me to radio in the first place. The end of this video was my light bulb moment, and your not a sad ham.. I enjoy your videos, thank you. 73s
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I think it would be nice to see more hams calling the bad apples out.. If your in some GMRS facebook groups like here in Wa, you would see how crazy it is from both sides.. where hams are belittling GMRS users.. because we couldnt get all of our family a ham license for our family trip or other family use, we must be too stupid to take the test and assume were not capable of knwowing otherwise.. and its places like that that I call the front door in which people represent the community for many new or inquiring people.. it would be great to hear more respectable and respectful people speak out about it. I havnt seen all your videos.. they end up in my searches but you seem like a real legit decent guy.. and I think others feel the same way and would probably take what you have to say to heart over most others that represent a community.
@@ericmoore86 My preference is to just ignore them. Starting a fight seldom yields the results you're looking for. If you find a jerk, ignore the jerk and stick with people that are not jerks.
The sad bitches. I mean sad hams are like the real girls named Karen. All ha get a bad name but most are cool as fuck I've had my license since June 2024 and I have not met any sad hams. But I don't care if you have a license or not so long as you have the common sense to be a decent human and not try to talk on the air band and emergency frequencies that's what worries me about the unlicensed people
CBRS is the HF band for Free radio. MURS is the Free 2 meter equivalent and FRS is the Free 70cm equivalent. You don't have to hold a license to have fun with radio.
Josh, nice explanation of the various services. One of the reasons I’ve been fascinated with amateur radio all these years is the multiple modes available to us that aren’t available to other services. AM, FM, SSB, CW, APRS, Packet, plus the many and yet to be digital modes. I’ve spent many years in the hobby and still haven’t tried them all. We have satellites, EME, meteor scatter, all sorts of VHF, UHF, SHF specialties.There’s literally something for anyone willing to take the time to learn.
You seem very knowledgeable in this realm of radios:communication. I am not but it is something that has been weighing on me the last few years. Through in some significant health changes that has taken place for my wife and son and I am very eager to learn. I am unlicensed but would like to be certified to use HAM radios. In the meantime, being able to use GMRS for my family sounds like a good plan. Not afraid to spend some $$$ to make sure I have high quality handheld GMRS radios, could you recommend a make a model I purchase? I’d like something made of good material, offers the most power output and range. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
@@Briathos1CBs also have hand held radios and can span at least a mile with the 4 or 5 watts allowed. The mobile and station radios can extend that range significantly, especially on sideband, which is also authorized. CBs stopped registering radios in the early 2000s. Most use a handle and some use first names: your choice. CBs are affordable and there is an emergency calling channel and that is channel 9. You can squelch the static out and only the loudest stations will break that squelch but a lot of people will listen for calls with the squelch open. I have held an Advanced Amateur license but have let it lapse and still have ham radios if I wish to renew. Although my old call letters have lapsed they are still registered to me. I built my own antennas for both ham and CB and have talked to Europe from the Midwest on ham and over 450 miles direct with only 4 watts out of the finals on CB (and it was legal). Both radios had personally designed antennas attached to them. You are not kept from using high gain antennas on CB so long as there is no amplifier between the radio and antenna. Power is only measured coming out of the finals of the radio on a CB and not out of the antenna.
Hi , from Malaysia here. Recently I took amature radio exam here and I passed. Even so, I couldnt explain the different between GMRS/FRS/CB and amature frequency. Thanks for your vids
The FCC gives most frequencies to those who can make money with them, and swing power. Those of us in pro audio have been feeling the squeeze for wireless gear for years. We don't swing big power.
TV shop I worked for got into the Directv dish install business when they first came out. Nobody made a signal strength meter so we had to rely on the on screen meter... shouting out a window got old so we got licensed and got a pair of the red dot radios... since we traveled over a wide region(100 mile radius!) we ran into other users, some who thought they owned the frequency(gee that sounds familiar...) and would try jamming us. Wouldn't work since we were 100 feet apart at most and using 5 watt radios. More than once we had to explain that the color dot frequencies are open to ALL licensed businesses to use for handhelds...
There are many GMRS 'ers that are perfectly satisfied with GMRS and are not wannabe hams. I've been a ham for many years and I much prefer GMRS now. Ham radio has lost much of its glitter.
i find it funny that the people who dont want to study for there ham lic are the first to admit there to lazy to study. lol well well have fun poopy britch`s..
I guess the host has been in this business for so long that forgot that beginners can’t follow him through his fast talking style without using a “blackboard” so we can follow his presentation. Normal people can’t just memorize in 5’ minutes every acronym- too bad. Nice guy though
Hey Josh I am looking for radios to use to talk to family members during an emergency or if something goes down. Looking for hand held but want long range as well. What do you recommend
GMRS is the unholy lovechild conceived between Citizen's Band Radio and Amateur Radio. But it gets even stranger. MURS is the product of a bizarre love triangle created by the sinful union of Citizen's Band, GMRS, and the bastardised 49Mhz low power FM band. Yes, you read correctly, Citizen's Band, the father of GMRS, copulated with GMRS in a bizarre love triangle with 49Mhz FM! The grotesque family secret gets even worse. GMRS found 49Mhz really cute also. They laid an egg that hatched into the abomination FRS radio service, genetically nearly identical to its mum GMRS. Not wanting to be left out of the inbred carnal desires of antennas, radio waves, and analogue modes, amateur radio then started fantasising with CB radio again, but wanted a three way also. Amateur radio created another bizarre love triangle with CB radio and 49Mhz. 49Mhz only altering the makeup of amateur radio and CB just a tiny bit, but still contributing to the disgusting desires, gave birth to the hideous abomination known as Freeband radio. It is a fruitation of all of the various radio services creating a disgusting sump of various band DNAs creating a radio band that is not amateur radio, not Citizen's Band, not MURS, not FRS, not GMRS, not 49MHz. It is a band between amateur radio and CB radio bands, it is ran by amateur radio operators and CB radio operators. It is an alien undiscovered country where many come to meet, but should not. All analogue modes, all digital modes, even the original mode, CW, can be heard in the undiscovered land of Freeband. It is strangely civil, yet officially anarchy. I have even heard there are radios marketed for the clandestine band. Though, I can not verify I having seen one. It is a good thing it is not illegal to listen to it. I find myself scanning it often. Though the, "Freeband," seems to have legitimate service segments mapped for many nations, I have never heard any legitimate communications transpiring. I have heard amateur radio operators helping citizen band operators over the airwaves, from over a thousand kilometers away, on how to set up their station better, and make a better antenna.
Baby monitors and the early McDonalds drive-up window headsets. was 49.000 MHz. 45 MHz to 47 MHz was early cordless phones. They were fun to listen to with a dish cone antenna.
@@2148aa Do not let the days of old pass you by. There are room monitors, baby monitors, cordless headsets for outdoor teams, and cheap wireless microphones that are needing to be listened to urgently. You will need a longer antenna since there are a lot less 49Mhz users. I made quite a few long distance calls on the telephones of neighbours, when I was a kid using an old handset without a base, and an amable yagi antenna that I looked up how to make in the library. I made it out of galvanised cloth hangers. I had that antenna for over 10 years. Then I lost interest in the radio hobby. With as expensive as things are today, the radio hobby is about the only affordable thing I can possibly take as a hobby again. I have already found an old RadioShack Pro-93 scanner, a broken Antron 99 antenna, a spool of RG-58a coaxial cable, some ends, a soldering gun, an Archer 15 ampere power supply, a Kraco 40 channel CB radio, a Galaxy CB radio with sideband, three antenna mounts, and a magnetic CB antenna, in dad's attic that he probably put there when I moved out long ago. I will be putting a junk station together for myself to play.
very good Josh. Thank you for supporting all of radio. video's like this help answer the question WHICH RADIO DO I GET ? knowing what is out their and the difference gives needed information to make a better discission on what to get. their is more out their as well. like the 49 MHz band. no new radios in years . Radio shack had 49 MHz walkie talkers .I have one. 73's
What I want is an under $100 HAM 2-3 band HAM radio that is a) water/downpour resistant or waterproof b) can receive CB channels c) can receive GMRS channels d) receive FRS and allow locking down to use only Marine VHF channels for use on the water. Sinc CB is under 28 Mhz I would expect it to also receive the 10 meter band (connect to tent poles as the antena?). A scan function is necessary. An under $200 version should have a switch that changes it between each fully functional (Rx/Tx) mode. Of course, the $300 version should add all the digital communications support. Bonus points for Bluetooth connectivity to your ear buds or modern car stereo. Add a RAM mount screw hole for mounting on a motorcycle/boat rail. A display that changes color or font to show the currently active display row / frequency is also a big bonus for the elderly. As an explanation for why they cornucopia desire: The CB functionality would be ideal for someone who got a Technician license, is not sure they will actually get into the hobby but would love to hear truckers report road conditions so would actually have the radio on hand instead of at home in a drawer (me). Marine VHF channels are in the 156-161 Mhz range so should work with HAM sets. Locking the set to only use the Marine channels allows other crew to use the unit without violating FCC rules. Marine VHF does NOT require a license but is limited to use on the water (not allowed on land for chatting). Yes, I sail on occasion. I'm not sure I will ever go off road with a group to use GMRS (F150 Lightning, not lifted). BTW, 2023 F150 are aluminum - my old magnetic mount CB antena won't stick to the (glass) roof. I'm not ready for a permanent mount. Handheld CB is a definite Maybe.
What happens if you buy a GRMS radio and do not pay for the license. Is the license connected to an actual radio device, or to an individual person? How do they know if you have a GRMS license.
I’ve become a radio hobbyist over the last couple of years, thanks in part to a colleague of mine at work (we’re computer parts salespersons), and this is a nice concise definition between the radio services. I’ve been using my own radio to listen and learn about this stuff (absolutely NO transmission, I remain silent), and it’s neat how these things work. I’m studying more about HAM radios and find this all to be really interesting and helpful. Thank you for this! Edit: Update, I’m an Amateur Extra, now!
12:50 FCC Letter 202332010002 Dated May 30th 2023 (shown above), was NOT for Modified equipment, it was for breaking the Rules of "Having a one way communication, non verbal, music, or intelligible sounds, and "willing fully causing interference". Nothing in that letter was due to any modifications to any equipment. and anyone can find said letter by searching for it NAL/Acct. No listed in the shown letter above.
So, if I have a Technician license, I would still need a GMRS license to operate GMRS radios? Seems like that would be covered by the Technician license.
I just got my first GMRS radios and as of this writing I'm waiting on my license to be approved. I was playing around with the radios and wow I have to admit I'm impressed. I've been studying off and on for years to get my Ham (just haven't taken the test yet) and use radios in my work. So I consider myself at least having a basic understanding of how they work and the physics behind them. While I was playing with the radios I was picking up people 30 miles away and listening to their conversations. I don't know about transmit ability since I haven't received my license yet but I think a big advantage of GMRS is its an excellent and simple way for people to get into Ham.
I just love radio so yes I have a ham license, gmrs license and a CB radio. Thinking about getting a Murs! I agree with the comments that many are making they all have their place in different roles. I love hopping on the 2-meter and seeing if I can get a ham work in the VHF and UHF and or the gmrs repeaters. I've got my first high frequency coming so I'm excited to jump on at 10 and 20 m when I get that set up and I often just have a CB on in the background when I'm working because I just like to hear everybody talking to each other and pick up the skip
Absolutely, no educational video should ever have background noise (music). I think the creators layer on music post production, then never actually listen to their entire video with that additional distraction.
I have a question about licensing for GMRS that I can’t find an answer for. I work for a traffic control company and we have a flagging division. I’m assuming that the radios we have are FRS but they’re not very good for certain locations or distances so I was thinking about upgrading to GMRS. It says that it extends to family but what about licenses attached to a business which extend to all employees of the business? Do I need to purchase a license for every employee?
To my understanding it's not allowed that you conduct business under personal license GMRS. The best solution would be to either try MURS radios, upgrade your radios to two watt radios for FRS Like the Wuxon KG805F.
Can anybody tell me why using a ham radio on gmrs channels/frequencies is illegal? Is it because of power output? If so, would it be okay if the power output could be set to be the same?
Without going into a bunch of details. GMRS/FRS as a service was designed to be simple for families and friends to communicate over short distances with handheld radios. Amateur radio is intended to do the same but also encourage the growth and education of radio technologies and the art of radio operation. Amateur radios has very little limits placed upon it to foster all of those endeavours and all it takes a measly little test.
Excellent summary, thanks, but US-centric. Although it would not make sense to cover each and every country, it would be nice to learn more on how things are elsewhere for the two biggest contenders: ham and CB radio 😉
I have had my ham license (Advanced Class) altho now expired. As a truck driver (now retired) I had both ham and CB on the truck. With ham I could talk to NY and to Hawaii in my truck, talking to fellow truck drivers. With CB the range was about 1 to 2 miles and slightly farther on sideband. Some of us drivers used sideband and could talk for 5 to 10 miles at times. I designed my own antennas for use at the house and could talk to Europe on ham and 450 miles on a legally powered CB. My ham radios cost me collectively (5 of them) over $3,000 and my cb cost was either $50 or $150 each. So choose wisely or go ahead and test out for Ham radio. I first tested in Ham radio when you had to pass Morse code, and I finally got up to 13 wpm sending and receiving to get my Advanced Class. There is no code or Advance Class anymore but General Class license will let you talk to the world: just study for it.
Canada is somewhat similar to the US, but tends to be less restrictive. CB rules are similar. No licence is required for GMRS, but otherwise, GMRS/FRS are similar. Ham licences are for life and don't require renewing. The licence types and what can be done with them are different. Also, there is no band plan in Canada currently, but there is talk of one. There is a reciprocal agreement between Canada and the US allowing licenced citizens of each to operate in the other (still required to follow the country specific rules). When I was in Seattle a few years ago, I took radios with me and didn't have to do anything special other than append "/W7" to my callsign, basically identifying myself as a Canadian operating in the W7 area.
Sorry Newbie question. DMR and Ham? If I get registered for DMR can I use it to also TX/RX on GMRS? Do I even need a DMR radio? Wanting to use it for Hiking, Jeeping and to have it in case of a SHTF scenario. Or would I be better going with a ham license and buy a multifunction Radio that could TX/RX on GMRS, or is that even legal if I have a Ham License? UGH...sorry
DMR is a type of radio and mode of operation used in Amateur radio. You don’t need a DMR radio, a traditional analog radio will do fine for you in all the examples you listed above.
I have gmrs murs ham and cb in my home base station with good antennas on a 35ft tower. I live in northwest Missouri, a hilly area so i guess it really depends on where you live unless you get into the extremely low frequencies. I can only get down to 25mhz and up to 950mhz. My town is about 10 miles in diameter and i can talk from my house to my truck and to all of my friends with base and mobile CBs. I cannot do that with any other service. Even the ham guys that have a repeater in town have issues talking to each others mobiles using the repeater thats on our local news tower. I can hit a gmrs repeater that allows me to reach most of the kansas city area into part of Eastern KS. Now i do play around and listen to what i can on all of what i have but for my basic needs AM FM SSB CB at the legal 4 and 12 watts still beats them all. It hurts me to say that but it is what it is. Before anyone gets into any area of radio they need to know whats available that people use in their area and their terrain. Also what they want to spend. Just my $.02
I remember years ago my cousin talked to Jamaica(not Queens) with his Ranger radio and a pair of marine antennas on his van. We were sitting in Harlem talking on skip from the cloud coverage that night.
Then it's fun to build my own antennas and see how far I can get my radio to go. Just today I was able to use my 10-watt ht with my Homebrew 35 ft PVC Tower as I call it and I picked it up 13 mi away in the next town. Granted I live in a place that's perfect for this is just flat farmland so normally that would be way out of range on the other side of town I can only go about a mile and a half because of the obstructions but still I was pretty impressed I had a little GMRS antenna on top of my truck and my 10 w ht and at home I had a 5 watt that my wife was listening on hooked up to my my tower as I call it when I called in and told my wife where I was she was shocked and to be fair so was I I didn't think it would go that far I use PVC pipe and speaker wire😂
Josh, One thing you failed to mention is that repeaters give GMRS range that isn't possible with the other non-ham services. Also, while you aren't suppose to build your own radios to transmit on, you can experiment with every other aspect. You can use modified and make modified radios you don't transmit on. You can listen between the set channels. I learn from ham videos about antennas and have been having fun making 11 meter antenna. I am also a solar energy and EV buff. I have multiple ways of powering my electrical equipment. Also, skip DX is working more than "a couple years." We are in an upswing for sunspot activity that will peak in 2025. 99.9% of my radio time is listening. Not too interested in talking to strangers. I study ham books and other sources on the web. I don't have a compelling reason to get licensed. I know ham folks are worried about their declining numbers and are afraid of loosing spectrum. I wish there was some way to help. Text on the internet is my prefered means of communication rather than voice. Also, video.
I didn’t mention ham repeaters either. Like all videos. I could exponentially increase its size by adding more related points. Had a draw a line somewhere.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Most of the simplex I hear on 11meter is FRS not GMRS. In my area, it is Bubble pack kids and businesses . Repeaters are where you hear GMRS traffic. The interesting thing is, you mostly hear ham folks there, except for network days. They have the wherewithal to put a repeater up, like the University ham club.
This Saturday morning, I am listening to a local repeater that is a part of the Midwest GMRS network. The conversation is about warning a guy in his apartment with a magmount on his file cabinet 4 feet from his desk pushing 50watts. Folks from Michigan, Indiana, , Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin are chiming in. Many of them HAM operators talking on GMRS (you know so, because they share their credentials with their advice.) Josh, I know one of the reasons Hams dominate on the GMRS repeaters in my area (Minneapolis) is because they are the ones who have the tower and wherewithall to put a repeater up. Also out of "the goodness of their heart" ( I totally appreciated folks in the Ham hobby.) I am just wondering, is it also so Ham operators can keep in touch with unlicensed family member? Repeaters seem to be what makes GMRS relevant. I only hear kids on bubblepack radios, fast food restaurants, Aldi, the hardware and yard work people on simplex GMRS. Without repeaters, I'd probably just do 11 meter SSB. I'm enjoying making my own antennas and using a an antenna tuner for that band. Josh, I get much of my info for my experiments from Hams like you. Thanks!
13:34 where you said gmrs users still have to use a type accepted radio. Could someone who has a gmrs license, but not a ham license, use a ham radio if they only transmit using the power and frequencies allowed for gmrs use?
