What do you use GMRS for?

[hockeyshrink]

My fellow GMRSers,

I got into GMRS to coordinate family activities and have some form of communications with my kids when needed - prior to them getting cell phones, of course. That is pretty much all I use it for, but around here (Metro NYC) there are folks who ragchew like amateur radio, volunteer fire and amublance corps, the Bluecomm guys, and at least one school near my house. REACT in Westchester used to use it, but they are defunct now.

Anyway, with all the talk about changes potentially coming down the road, I was wondering what other folks on RR use GMRS for...Who do you talk to? Is it really just high powered UHF CB, or was there some other intent behind it? I will admit that in the past I have had arguments with folks about the "appropriate" use of GMRS, but I have mellowed a bit (old age?) and now I'm just curious what others think.

TIA
'shrink

 

[N4KVE]

From time to time I'll call my GF to tell her I'm on the way home from work & to have dinner ready. A couple times a week maybe. She's too lazy to get her ticket. GARY N4KVE

 

[xts3000r]

well i ues it to talk to my friends that do have vhf p25 radios. i ues 6 xts3000 mod 2. i do have some of the ch in p25 mode.

 

[Pete43]

I live in a small town in Washington State and we use it in several events for communications between volunteers. Our cops also monitor if we need any help during an event. I also have a pair of triSquare radios for my wife and I when we go into town to a large mall,wal-mart,casino, or any area where it is hard to find someone.

 

[prat1051]

I do a lot of fishing and backpacking in the mtns of New York and my wife and I use 4W radios to keep connected if we decide to separate when we are out. My regional search and rescue team (using individual member licenses) also uses them as back-up radios during training and exercises.

Usually anytime we are in or near the woods they usually work better than cellphones.

 

[WA4VBC]

I use my repeater to communicate with family and used on trips when 2 vehicles are involved. Also used for 4 wheeling with family. I'm hoping the FCC leaves GMRS as is. Sid.

 

[b7spectra]

90% of the time it's to communicate (chat) with my best friend 531 (on the North Georgia GMRS system).

 

[motorola_otaku]

Initially my friends and I used it as sort of a "back channel" to the local CB group, but now it's our primary hang-out. A bunch of guys are legit radio hobbyists but aren't interested enough in the technical aspects (or are too lazy ;p) to take the ham test, so it fills a niche. Plus those of us who are ham-licensed get tired of the stuffy, uptight old-man ham repeater cliques and just want to cut up and have fun sometimes.

 

[b7spectra]

Amen!

 

[W9NES]

I hold a GMRS license and have a base and a mobile on a 462Mhz Repeater pair here in Indianapolis.We have a Repeater that we use for Severe Weather Operations and I also use it for support communications with our local REACT unit for Updated Weather Ops, Traffic Control for the Indy 500 as we patrol the interstates with Indiana State Police and The Indianapolis Metropolitian Police Department for people who are broke down along the side of the road who need a wrecker or a repair of a car problem, etc. We also have other listeners with scanners that like to keep updated with out local Severe Weather Coverage across our coverage area of Metro Indianapolis/Marion County,Central Indiana.

 

[DaveNF2G]

I use it as a backup to ham radio. Some of us have both licenses.

 

[hockeyshrink]

Thanks all for the posts on this thread. GMRS seems to run the gamut -- from family coordination to casual QSOs and emergency service stuff.

I appreciate that people using GMRS are generally "law abiding," meaning several either mentioned licenses or have their call signs in their signature.

Thanks again for participating!!

Hockeyshrink

PS: I also hope they leave it as it is!!

 

[N6RDT]

use of GMRS

I use GMRS for my companies TAC channel. I run a Towing and Recovery company. Our primary repeater is used for primary traffic and to tone out trucks on calls. On a major incident were we sent up incident command, all communications for that incident goes to TAC repeater on GMRS.

 

[mike_art03a]

Seeing as I'm a Canuck and we're limited to 2 watts (No license required), I tend to use my radios for work. I work security and have found that FRS generally sucks in buildings. The higher power GMRS channels tend to penetrate better, especially in the 14 floor office tower I work in.

I know that I could get a licensed pair of higher power radios for work purposes, being downtown and all (not to mention with the cabbies jamming up 4 channels constantly with their banter (and I'm sure illegal high power radios). However, I can't afford the price tag on a pair of radios ($250+) not to mention it seems that Industry Canada will not license radios for 'individual' use. Though the licenses themselves are only $24/yr per radio.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

What do you use GMRS for?

My wife and I are into cycling, but we ride at different speeds, so we use our radios to keep in touch when out for a ride. Same with walking/hiking.

 

[SCPD]

I use GMRS for my companies TAC channel. I run a Towing and Recovery company. Our primary repeater is used for primary traffic and to tone out trucks on calls. On a major incident were we sent up incident command, all communications for that incident goes to TAC repeater on GMRS.

Family owned business I presume with only your family using GMRS if not you are in violation unless you were grandfathered in.....just saying before someone else begins inquiring .

 

[DaveNF2G]

I use GMRS for my companies TAC channel. I run a Towing and Recovery company. Our primary repeater is used for primary traffic and to tone out trucks on calls. On a major incident were we sent up incident command, all communications for that incident goes to TAC repeater on GMRS.

Family owned business I presume with only your family using GMRS if not you are in violation unless you were grandfathered in.....just saying before someone else begins inquiring .

I missed this one before.

Tactical and Command channels for tow trucks? Incident command? Sounds sorta ham-sexy to me.

 

[SCPD]

I missed this one before.

Tactical and Command channels for tow trucks? Incident command? Sounds sorta ham-sexy to me.

Now this has me wondering to a tactical towing service/incident command and is GMRS being used here legally ?

 

[rescue161]

Now this has me wondering to a tactical towing service/incident command and is GMRS being used here legally ?

It must be legal, because he's a ham (N6RDT).

My wife and I used our repeater to keep in touch around town, but when we moved, I never put it back up. We've been using Nextel radios for years and they've been great. I've heard that Nextel is going away in the future and when it does, we will be ditching the cell-phone market. That will give me a reason to get off of my butt and put the repeater back on the air.

WQEN357

 

[SCPD]

It must be legal, because he's a ham (N6RDT).

My wife and I used our repeater to keep in touch around town, but when we moved, I never put it back up. We've been using Nextel radios for years and they've been great. I've heard that Nextel is going away in the future and when it does, we will be ditching the cell-phone market. That will give me a reason to get off of my butt and put the repeater back on the air.

WQEN357

Good One!!! but for some HAMS they think all frequencies belong to them,just like the question that is asked over and over.....does my HAM license cover me on GMRS???....I mean how stupid is that question common sense tells you HAM means HAM not a free ticket to use all services,bet he would be mad if a GMRS operator got on HAM using their call,same difference if a HAM gets on GMRS...DUH!!!