Have You Heard GMRS Users on HAM RADIO Repeaters? 

I am both a Ham and a GMRS'er. I own a local GMRS repeater and hold weekly nets for the GMRS community. I always end the net with " be a good steward of GMRS" and "GMRS is your gateway to HAM radio". If you are a fellow HAM be a leader and a good role model for our hobby.

Most polite rant I have ever heard. LOL😂

Never heard NotaRubicon say anything like a GMRS user can talk on a ham repeater.

I don't recall Randy ever saying that it was OK for GMRS to TX on 70cm.

I own a ham repeater and honestly, I don’t care who uses it. Everyone is welcome. If they don’t give a call sign or give a GMRS one, it’s just an opportunity to help them get into ham radio. And sad ham is still very funny.

I remember this one time a ham radio operator showed up on our local GMRS repeater. Threw out his ham callsign. Our GMRS folks are super nice. They didn't get mad or anything. Apparently, the guy thought his ham license covered him for GMRS as well. Well, our GMRS guys just explained to him how to get a GMRS license. Actually, I think they were happy to have an opportunity to do so:) And that was it.

Just got my GMRS call sign and I 100% agree with this video. I am currently studying for my HAM Technicians license. I would like to put a Repeater or two on my property if needed so I can help others who may need it. I think GMRS and HAM both have their place in todays world and people should be encouraged to learn the rules and follow them.

I'm guilty of accidentally giving out my GMRS callsign on a ham repeater. The ham who responded was not salty about it. I just replied with a sorry and said my ham callsign.

I was running a net on a 2 meter repeater and a guy came in with a GMRS call sign. I politely told him that the repeater was a ham repeater and he apologized and left.

I have complained about laziness for years....lol. So glad I am not alone

All good points and well said. 👍

Notarubicon Randy would call the person who wrote he said it was okay to broadcast on ham frequencies a “sad ham” because Randy never said that.

"This is a ham frequency and not a GMRS frequency. You need to have a Technician's license to transit. However, don't let that statement scare you away. We want you in the hobby, but we want you to be legal."

I think you are calling the right shots on this subject.

If you work for something and that thing has a set of rights or privileges then that should be respected and not intruded. Innocent mistakes need to be corrected politely and not eye gouged. It’s a big hobby, radio. There’s room for more good folks. Good to encourage that.

Good job. I like how you got around to mentioning being a good ambassador for amateur radio and getting the GMRS users there ham license.

Thank you for sharing. The rules are clear. I learned more while studying for my General and am pleased.

Wonderful video, Jason! Couldn't agree more with everything you said. Well done!

I just got my GMRS license and im currently studying to got my Ham license. I have both type of radios and have been monitoring to learn the lingo and i cant wait to dive in on ham but for now im getting my chops wet on GMRS and loving it

I believe the “information” argument is about the public access to info with a call sign, some bad actor can look up an address with a call sign, not the government having that info. I use a PO Box but I can understand the concern.

As for a repeater operator (rules might have changed).... But I thought they were legally require to ensure he proper operation of the repeater. Example, if someone used the f-bomb on the repeater, you would need to say knock it of or report them if need be.

“We should be nice to THOSE people”. Thank you for letting all of us really know how you feel.

I started on GMRS by accidentally catching Randy @ notarubicon on youtube. Thanks to Randy i started following both Josh @ HRCC and your Channel . I am now a technician class Ham studying for my General license. Thanks to all of you ABC the APE lol. I will say though i have come across a couple uppity "sad" hams. Joined a club and now well on my way.

Notarubicon never said it's ok to talk on ham frequencies without a license. He talks a lot about the sad hams who get butthurt about issues that don't involve them, but that's about it.

This is why I love, and sub to HR2.0!!!!! Nothing but the honest truth. Thanks for all you do Jason!!! 73.

VERY WELL SAID THANK YOU ,..........................

Also, while correcting GMRS or and others while on ham freq's, take a moment and not only correct, but let these folks know that once they get their Ham license they would be more than welcome to return, and that you hope to hear their Ham call sign in the future. People that screw up today may be the folks that carry Amateur Radio into the future ;)

Jason for Amateur Radio & GMRS President 2024! You are always the voice of reason and willing to view both sides of topic. Thanks for sharing. KC3UEE

I've heard it several times in California. Most of them are cool and understand when they are told. Some cursed us out and continued to use it for a few weeks. We just wouldn't let them talk to each other.

Firstly, I follow your channel because you always have good radio content, mostly ham, but none-the-less, good content. WRUN578 here and wanted to thank you for posting this. Be a responsible radio operator, no matter the band. If you just want to mouth off to hear yourself, get a cobra and play on 27.025 😀

One night we had one check into a net and confuse the heck out of all the OMs. After the net there was like 20 minutes of discussion on the call sign cause they were all so confused 😂😂

I think we as ham radio operators should be inviting the GMRS people to come and take a look at what ham radio is all about. There is also a opportunity for us ham radio operators to Elmer the GMRS side so they become better operators.

If a person starts to use my GMRS repeater, with out permission I would not care as long as they are being behaving and not hogging it from other people to use.

I learned this weekend that this has been the case in the Midland/Odessa area. I have heard a GMRS operator on the 2M calling frequency in my town, after meeting with them I explained what was wrong. The folks at the Odessa club reportedly have been working to convert the GMRS users to amateur operators which is a model that some folks in the Midland club are discussing.

Before I had any license or knowledge about radios I had a baofeng and a Bluetooth programmer that would automatically load all the repeater info in for you. So I loaded a local repeater in and it worked! For weeks I never heard anyone on it. Then one day my life changed. A ham by the name of Jim came on and talked to me. Told me what I was doing was wrong but he wasn’t going to turn me in but if I was wanting an “in” then come to the club meetings. I went to their very next meeting. That was last year, now I’m a licensed ham and GMRS user. (This was all allegedly btw)

I have not personally heard any GMRS users on any of our local HAM repeaters. BUT, a lot of GMRS people say they don't care, and will cross the line, when ever they want to. Almost having the CB'r attitude, of damn the law! So...?

I too am licensed on both and thankfully, we have active repeaters on both services. In fact, we just activated a new 70cm and a new 1.25m repeater along with our two 2m repeaters in Lexington KY. I use them all if not every day, every other day. The ham community here is very respectful to even those who should not be on amateur radio bands. And the GMRS repeater is owned by the owner of the state's premium public safety communications installer (who is also a ham) and I have yet to hear anything out of order on his repeater. I guess that we are just in a lucky area where everyone helps each other in each radio service as well as encouraging folks to explore the "other" service.

I heard a Ham callsign on FRS and I was like "errr...buddy?" and he snapped out of it, LOL!

One day freak of weather or something a ham in mexico was on a local repeater was able to talk for a few minutes

I hold a license for both HAM and GMRS. 3 months ago I became an Amateur Extra. Can't wait to start using the HF freqs. First I need a radio and antenna,

I have a Baofeng UV5G plus GMRS radio that I put a ham frequency on for listening only. It won't allow me to transmit on ham frequencies.

With the price of ham and gmrs radios becoming more affordable, more people area getting into this great hobby. Everyone has a starting point and not everyone is familiar with the regs or the importance of following them so everyone can enjoy this fun hobby. I think this is an opportunity for older and more experienced hams to kindly inform the unauthorized user of the regs and encourage them to your local club website to join or attend a meeting and study for their Technician license. This can be an opportunity not to scold the individual and be a unauthorized regulatory "enforcement" officer, but to kindly inform and encourage to get their ham certs. This can be a way to turn a potentially negative encounter into a positive one. I think this will also prevent people from intentionally "yrolling" or "jamming up" frequencies. We should try to be a guide and encourage those in the right direction before going to the negative. I think many that do this, do it out of not knowing the regs or understanding the importance of it. The more you start by encouraging, the better results you will get!

I have both licenses. My personal experience is that ham got way more Karen's who tend to make a storm in a tea cup.

I agree with most of what you said. One thing I would add to the "Sad Ham"" part. If you are a licensed ham and you are going to tell someone what the "rules are", please actually know what the hell you are talking about before you run your mouth. I am embarrassed by many of my fellow licensed hams spouting off false information like they actually have a clue.

I'm a numb nut but a General class. If I can achieve it, any one can.

I’m a GMRS license holder and working on getting my Technician license. People who would use a ham radio without a license are just ignorant and lazy !! I’m glad you dropped this video!

You are absolutely right. Good Video.

I agree with the laziness part. I'm far from the sharpest tool in the shed, and I was able to get both my technician and General.

Jason funny you posted this today we had 2 the past month on our multi club 2 meter nets one this past week!!

Amen!!! Awesome video!!!! Yes, be nice. It's not the end of the world. We talk to them and explain the ham license. We even had them in a Net a few times. All good. We run the net and call them during the net. Talk to them about a ham license. Roll with it. They will usual be cool and leave nicely once they know. Elmer the community. If it's a net, then let them know about net logger. They can use the AIM window to ask questions. They can put NOCALL in the licenses spot. 😎

This was a fun an informative video. Thanks

Being new to GMRS but being a HAM for 22 years I KNOW I'll make the call sign mistake a time or three - putting my GMRS call on the radio should help - it'll be as much for me as my family but for different reasons. I think it should be pretty obvious though who is making the mistake and who is out of band.

Great video. Thank you for being honest about your mistakes and for the advice of being polite. That's what a man does!

Yes we need to all do this and yes I have thrown out my Ham callsign on GRMS also

I'm both Ham and GMRS licensed. I wish we had a GMRS repeater here. GMRS folks should understand that if they are tossing out their call sign (same as with a Ham call sign) is that they can be looked up on FCC license search. Another reason to be careful where you are transmitting is that here in rural SW Texas is some LE and some Business licensed activity that when close enough on UHF and VHF that it tosses some noise when they are close that it trips the repeaters with some major static for a moment. Since I have a Uniden SDS100 going at the same time as my GMRS and Ham Radios (monitoring 2 Meter and 70cm) going and can tell when an LEO really close by the tower keys up and triggers the repeater. Just because they are on P25 doesn't mean analog signals can't interfere with them either. We actually have our repeater in the same building and tower as the Sheriff's department. Just using whatever frequency you happen to pick might be a good way to get unwanted LE attention if you are interferring with their comes. Not to mention that down this way the cartels and smugglers are using some GMRS and hijacking some ham and business coms here and there. We had to swap our primary GMRS channel when out at a ranch because illegal smugglers were using it so much. It was deep in a valley and no UHF signals got over those ridges. You had to be in there to have signal and theirs was strong. I do have a few of those in a grey hair GMRS simplex net I run that "Don't want the gov't..." That's why they have HTs and I did the programming on them allowing listening on some other freqs, but no TX. We do have another there who is also ham licensed. So their radio can do both. Like you said, the gov't already has your info and they aren't going to go rounding up everyone with a GMRS license when it's easier to simply jam and/or monitor those freqs. Play nice people. The allocations are there so you don't have such a mess that no one can communicate when they need too. Maybe more clubs need to start fox hunting again to have those skills when needed.

This is absolutely a great video

Amen, Jason. Let's be nice and maybe they will get the Ham license because we are good people.

Well stated. It's not at all unlikely that some people just don't know. And you're right that every user has an obligation to know what frequencies they can and cannot use. TBH, I don't really see any significant downside to getting a GMRS license. It averages out to $3.50/yr and for that, you can use GMRS repeaters without incurring the wrath of the owners. TBH, the reason I bought a "full spectrum" radio was so that I could put both GRS and MURS on the same radio. Turns out, I don't use MURS anyway.I don't even program any HAM frequencies. It's really just about good manners.

How does the complainer know its an inexpensive radio?

Well said Jason. I have both ham and GMRS licenses. I have made the mistake of saying the wrong callsign on both, it happens. I'm guilty of that myself. It's very easy to forget which radio service your using at times. Sometimes I catch myself. But, well said video. 73s. Still waiting for your review on the Ailunce hd2 as well.

I agree 100% with your video...

Xenu said it was ok

Some may also disagree, but I feel once you pass the amateur radio licensing, you should get access to all the amateur radio bands off one license, like how people who are licensed for gmrs who just pay a fee an go. But I dont make the rules, sometimes with all the studying i feel like it's useless to upgrade my technician to general even extra. With life i keep studying, then life happens so i keep putting the general on hold, then get back to studying again a week later. Kq4hcu

I haven't even heard ham radio operators on my local ham repeaters. 💀

I agree with you, the only obstacle to get a license is the individual. No science here.

Great video. I have my gmrs license and I'm studying now for my ham license. It's not easy for me and it's hard for me to comprehend. So I have respect for people who have a ham license

I also have both licenses. I don't hear cross overs locally but I do hear people doing simplex on GMRS repeater channels. They weren't talking English so I couldn't "educate."

I have both GMRS and Ham, love talking on both. Jason well said and thank you.

Great video! Very well stated!!

Josh, I used your video from approx 1 year ago Technician with KB6NU - GREAT INSTRUCTIONAL !!! Passed Tech (12 min. Total ) missed a couple questions used your video & online practice exams yesterday & today!! THANK YOU so Much for making this type content. Taking General end of next week. But NEED some videos about Big motorized extendable Tower & the BEST antennas, coax, etc etc etc The MRS. has authorized, so need to move while the coals are Hot! And again THANK YOU for providing videos like this- Also. KB6NU is Great.

nice video. have not herd any GMRS users using HAM repeaters in my area. I have herd wrong call being used and corrected. I have even done that. when you have more then 1 call you can invertedly use the wrong call. been a lot or repeater keys with nothing said around me. both GMRS and HAM but not done to interfere with anyone. I have not herd much repeater jamming around me. but not all ways listing. I do get a lot of kids with FRS radio's messing around. 73's

Amen brother !

AWESOME video Jason! SPOT ON!

That's interesting.... I've not heard this issue in my area, but we've had a few seasoned Hams use my GMRS repeaters without a GMRS license with the attitude that their amateur license overrides GMRS.

Jason, I’m a little mixed on this one. While yes it is my repeater, I’m using a public frequency at no cost. I didn’t purchase that spectrum for exclusive use. It’s like a mass transit bus, yes my tax dollars paid for the bus and the road, but it’s a public road. Yes you paid for the infrastructure, but it’s a public frequency. If you want a private repeater that only your club can use, go digital. I run two repeaters and that’s how I did it.

Well said! I've been calling out on my local repeaters regularly since you mentioned it sometime last year. Not always successful.

Great insight Jason. I would strongly agree with you.

Bring back the Haltom repeater!

I do NOT have a HAM license,... I called out on a HAM Repeater for a Radio Check,... I told the old Fella that I did NOT have a License but wanted to do a Radio & Antenna check IN CASE OF EMERGENCY which I CAN do (in case of emergency) & old dude appreciated my honesty & confirmed my Radio Check :)

Very Well Said Thank You

Ok so I'm interested in becoming a ham I have been listening to my local 2 meter repertors there is no one on them (every or at least I have never cot anyone using them ) and not having a license I can't talk on them But the ham study guide says you are supposed to listen and then only talk after you hear someone else do talking !!! So who is the Lord and savior who gets to talk first if you can't talk until you hear someone else talking first ??? I know this sounds stupid but that's the ham rules

We get this all the time in central CA. We kindly tell people they are in the wrong place.

It's funny I have heard Hams using GMRS Repeaters....ending with there Call sign.... interesting

Good Job Jason! Education and Encouragement is correct way for the HAMS to behave.

Good one . Go get em.

I have both, I have accidently used my Ham callsign on my own GMRS repeater before.

Excellent take. I agree 100%

Randy has never said its okay for people to use amateur radio without a license. He has shown that the FCC isn't enforcing their rules which is a fact and other ham radio channels such as ham radio crash course have also pointed that out. There are a lot of sad hams (very appropriate term) out there that hate this guy and really just love talking about rules and regulations. I've only been a ham for a year but I've constantly seen these old grumpy bastards put words in his mouth. He's very entertaining and keeps the topic of radio practical and understandable for the common man. Not to be mean, but this is something sorely lacking in nearly all ham radio youtube channels.

I'm guilty of crossing my GMRS and ham call signs at times, especially if I used one all week then go use the other. Oh well, I'm human, I make mistakes. In Randy's defense, of all the videos I've watched of his, he has never spoken of GMRS being able to talk on ham frequencies. He actually got me and helped me into GMRS which led to my ham. GMRS is the gateway "drug". My first radios I got for GMRS were "Open" but I did my research to made sure I stayed in my lane and that any programmed ham frequency had the PTT locked out.

Aloha Jason, as the net control of a large linked repeater system here in Hawaii, I have not seen any GMRS license holders get on our ham radio repeaters yet. On the other hand, I have gotten onto one GMRS repeater owned by a good friend of mine and have used WH6DWF, like you said. This was also after I spent 20 minutes looking up my own GMRS license, which is basically a mile long, which I shouldn’t need to use since my Ham license exceeds any GMRS License. I really believe if the FCC is going to be relevant in the future, they really need to get a license and get on the air themselves to see all the stupid things that they do on a regular basis. It really should be like an endorsement like for your drivers license. Example, if folks can use their FCC Call Sign on GMRS Repeaters, than those that only paid for a GMRS license would hear what a real license sounds like and would want to upgrade to Amateur radio license. It’s really that simple. We should be promoting Amateur radio, not segregating it. 😢

Well said! Love your videos! N2HAM!

I got my GMRS license a little while ago after having spent some time reading up and trying to get an understanding. Now I am kind of getting interested in getting a ham license. I agree with you, know before you key...

That right there was a Southern Hospitality Rant! LOL 😂 Well said and delivered.

I’ve heard Hammer 🔨 been Jamming Gmrs Repeaters too near SanDiego . Too

I have been a licensed ham since 1969. I learned electronics in High School (back when schools actually taught useful topics). The very first thing I did was to build my own receiver (in a cigar box) and my own transmitter from a $5 kit. My antenna was made from coat hanger wire. I was 16 years old. It was fun. I talked to all sorts of people all over the place. Today, the FCC has eliminated the requirement to learn Morris Code. That’s a good thing as that is not for everyone. SO... my 2 cents worth here is that those folks who haven't bothered looking into obtaining their ham license more likely than not have had no formal education in electronics. That is not really those peoples fault. I blame this on the school districts. Electronics SEEMS very complicated and the math can be intimidating, but so are many other things. In my day we DID NOT have calculators (today that is not a problem) we ciphered all those circuits by hand with a pencil, but I digress. However, once someone gets a taste of Ham, especially DXing and speaking to people in far off lands, they will NEVER go back to GMRS, CB or other such things. Try bouncing a signal off of the moon and talking to someone in France with your GMRS radio. BUT ONE THING I REALLY MISS is the ability to buy a kit of some kind and build a new transmitter, tune it, test it and listen to someone on the other side of the world with my home-made cigar box receiver. That to me is what ham is all about. Today it seems like it is about lots of money. I don’t blame people for starting out small to see if they like it. But, if the bug bites, keep going. As far as those “Karen” hams out there, well… where did YOU start?

Ohhh boyyyy Jason, I agree with you, however you invoked HIS name, now the Swifties of GMRS will be all over this! :)

I heard this issue on a local repeater. A GMRS user used the repeater and gave his GMRS call sign. No other conversations were going on at the time. One of the, my guess, club users came on yelling at this operator. It was a bit sad as maybe this user made a mistake and, in the future, could become a Ham user, but this experience was so negative. I was thinking about attending and checking out the local club that ran the repeater, I have second thoughts if this is how they treat new and maybe future operators. That's no how you invite someone to check out your hobby.

I have not tested for my General yet. Still learning at this time.

I end up using a GMRS radio to talk to FRS radios I have handed out at events or convoys and if I identify on air, the others on FRS start going, "What did you say?" I just quit doing it. No one else cares on GMRS/FRS anyway. I haven't heard anyone call out anyone on GMRS repeater either, come to think of it, but it takes a deliberate action to cross over to ham repeaters and frequencies. It should not be happening, though I haven't heard it happen either way. It's like CB talking to AIR. It would stand out like the proverbial sore thumb. I've had to learn at least four different languages to talk on all these radios over the decades 😂.

The Repeaters ARE OUR PROPERTY, The Amateur Radio Club's and Amateur Radio Licensed Operator's PROPERTY. So...First thing We do around here is to politely engage with those that don't have a callsign etc and INVITE them to Come to our Club Meeting and Encourage them To Join the Hobby! Then explain to them Why they Shouldn't be Operating on the Repeaters "illegally". We don't want to run them off, we want to pull them into the fold!. Usually, that's the end of the issue and we get new hams!