Clark County GMRS?

[ScottishStNick]

Greetings I am trying to get a bead of any GMRS regular users in the Clark County ohio area. I Moved here last year and curious what frequencies are worth exploring for daily chatting?

 

[W8UU]

There are a couple of GMRS repeaters in my area that are starting to sound like Amateur Radio. CW ID every 15 minutes around the clock and controlled traffic nets, et al. They're openly soliciting communications with anyone who hears them and wants to play along.

With that said, my experience has been that most GMRS users didn't buy the radios to chat with random people. They use the radios for camping, hiking, outdoor pursuits, off-road ATV operations, farming, small family business communication, and personal comms between family members. GMRS has never been used like CB radio -- but I'm not sure if that's not slowly changing.

Check the FCC database at: License Search - GMRS License Search. Search by city name or Zip Code and see who has an active license. You can also monitor the 22 GMRS frequencies and try to communicate with them. www.myGMRS.com is a database of GMRS repeaters across the country. Lots of information there including contact info for the owner, cost sharing, and if open communication is acceptable there.

You might want to post something in the GMRS/FRS section of this forum. You might find some locals there.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[ScottishStNick]

I'm just running a 20 Watt QYT GS800D GMRS in my truck with my CB. I drive allot for work and also a retired continental 48 state long haul trucker. Trips are less boring when you can ragchew.

 

[W8UU]

I get it. I've just never found most GMRS users wanting to have random conversations with unknown people. They almost want you off "their" channel. It's more of a friends and family radio service. But maybe that's a just local thing here. Your mileage may vary. Have fun!

 

[Hans13]

I get it. I've just never found most GMRS users wanting to have random conversations with unknown people. They almost want you off "their" channel. It's more of a friends and family radio service. But maybe that's a just local thing here. Your mileage may vary. Have fun!

It can be a local thing. In my area, we are very welcoming of strangers on GMRS and talk daily on local open repeaters and simplex.

ScottishStNick, I spoke with a friend of mine this evening on a local GMRS repeater about your message. He is near your area and should be replying to you here within a few days.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm just running a 20 Watt QYT GS800D GMRS in my truck with my CB. I drive allot for work and also a retired continental 48 state long haul trucker. Trips are less boring when you can ragchew.

Most of your GMRS users are families or small groups, and running PL tones is pretty common. Even many of the radios come with PL's set straight out of the box. That makes random contacts kind of difficult. Not impossible, but difficult.

Your best bet is to surf the repeater listings over on mygmrs.com and see what repeaters are listed as "open". Program those in and give a shout.

If you really want random ragchewing, consider getting your ham license. Much more common over there.

 

[ScottishStNick]

I had a Ham license back when I served in the 90s however I let it lapse and due to health and some memory issues I have not been able to do the basic license for years. Chronic pain since 2000s and a few concussions later I gave up ham recertification and figured I'll stick to my cb and gmrs.

 

[Hans13]

Most of your GMRS users are families or small groups, and running PL tones is pretty common. Even many of the radios come with PL's set straight out of the box. That makes random contacts kind of difficult. Not impossible, but difficult.

Your best bet is to surf the repeater listings over on mygmrs.com and see what repeaters are listed as "open". Program those in and give a shout.

If you really want random ragchewing, consider getting your ham license. Much more common over there.

Pretty much this; the repeaters are where it's at. However, in our area it seems a little reversed regarding ham in that the rag chew is done more on GMRS and the amateur stuff seems a bit silent. Many of us here hold amateur radio licenses and also partake of 11 meter but seems to gravitate towards GMRS more for meeting new folks.

 

[k8zdr]

I don't know of a current GMRS repeater operating in Clark County. The Dayton 700 repeater has wide area coverage. The Tipp City 625 repeater also may hit a good chunk of Clark County.