Disaster Preparedness - GMRS

[ReelFaster]

Noob here and first time posting so please go easy on me. Very limited knowledge and experience with radios, however I own a cheap Midland GXT GMRS radio to communicate with family in the area should there be some type of emergency.

We do regular check ins every few months to make sure everything is working order. We are only 1.8 miles away from each other and my question is would upgrading the radio to something that a has a bit more wattage improve the clarity? I get conflicting information but appears this radio model is 2.8 watts on high power.

We are in typical suburbia with trees and one story business buildings in the line of sight. Just looking to improve the quality of the transmission.

Thanks in advance for your time and help!

 

[pb_lonny]

Higher aerial / higher gain would help more than more power.

 

[prcguy]

Higher aerial / higher gain would help more than more power.

Yes, upgrading your antenna usually gives the best improvement for the lowest $$. A modest base antenna or a mag mount for the car will increase range more than doubling your power.

 

[mmckenna]

Thanks in advance for your time and help!

Remember, it's TWO way radio. Increasing transmitter power output only improves in one direction. You need to improve your reception also.

As suggested above:
Get your GMRS license.
Get a proper GMRS radio that allows the connection of an external antenna. Put a decent GMRS antenna on your home.
Get a proper GMRS radio and install it in your vehicle with a good external antenna.

The improvement in performance will likely blow your socks off. It's all about the antenna. This ain't CB….

 

[ecps92]

Noob here and first time posting so please go easy on me. Very limited knowledge and experience with radios, however I own a cheap Midland GXT GMRS radio to communicate with family in the area should there be some type of emergency.

We do regular check ins every few months to make sure everything is working order. We are only 1.8 miles away from each other and my question is would upgrading the radio to something that a has a bit more wattage improve the clarity? I get conflicting information but appears this radio model is 2.8 watts on high power.

We are in typical suburbia with trees and one story business buildings in the line of sight. Just looking to improve the quality of the transmission.

Thanks in advance for your time and help!

If really planning for the Big One, I would not plan on a Base Station (You would need Power)
Portables provide a movable asset vs the fixed base (Disassemble, reassemble if you bug out)

You might want to look into (if the radio has a removable antenna) putting up an outside Antenna and connecting it to the portable
for the extended range, that would be simple/cheap/reliable for 1-5 mi on the GMRS channels - if licensed

 

[ReelFaster]

Outstanding information everyone cannot thank you enough for time and advice!

This little radio is a fixed antenna unfortunately but being radios are fairly affordable might be time to upgrade so I can add a better antenna. I like the mobile route.....just in case! Thanks again!

 

[mmckenna]

Outstanding information everyone cannot thank you enough for time and advice!

This little radio is a fixed antenna unfortunately but being radios are fairly affordable might be time to upgrade so I can add a better antenna. I like the mobile route.....just in case! Thanks again!

If your existing radio does not have a removable antenna, it's possibly an FRS radio. FRS and GMRS share the same frequencies, but there's some technical differences. A purpose built GMRS radio with a good external antenna will really be worth the effort.

Don't forget, GMRS requires an FCC issued license. the nice thing about that is that it's $35 for 10 years, and covers your entire family. You can apply online.

 

[ReelFaster]

If your existing radio does not have a removable antenna, it's possibly an FRS radio. FRS and GMRS share the same frequencies, but there's some technical differences. A purpose built GMRS radio with a good external antenna will really be worth the effort.

Don't forget, GMRS requires an FCC issued license. the nice thing about that is that it's $35 for 10 years, and covers your entire family. You can apply online.

Thank you! It advertises "Works with all FRS & GMRS Two-Way Radios".

https://a.co/d/2JVpht7

Again I don't know much about the radio community but I understand some Baofeng GMRS radios are pretty solid for the money.

I realize GMRS requires an FCC issues license and I don't mean to offend or be controversial but in a SHTF situation I am not going to worried about having a license to push a button. I do not use or talk on the radio, only for a very brief comms check, I respect the community.

Please nobody take any offense to that and again I say that with all due respect to the radio community. FCC controlling the airways of a so called free country just irritates me regardless of how inexpensive it is. Again I say that with all due respect and hope I did not alienate myself.

 

[mmckenna]

Thank you! It advertises "Works with all FRS & GMRS Two-Way Radios".

https://a.co/d/2JVpht7

OK, those are GMRS radios, but the lack of removable antenna is going to prevent connecting them to an external antenna.

Again I don't know much about the radio community but I understand some Baofeng GMRS radios are pretty solid for the money.

No, they aren't. Baofeng is the stuff you find under the scum left on the bottom of the barrel after it has been emptied. They are what we refer to as "CCR's", Cheap Chinese Radios. Many of them are not legal to use in this country other than on the amateur radio bands.

Since you have Midland portables, Midland makes some GMRS mobiles that will do the trick and have a much easier learning curve since you already own their portables. Learning curve is important.

I realize GMRS requires an FCC issues license and I don't mean to offend or be controversial but in a SHTF situation I am not going to worried about having a license to push a button. I do not use or talk on the radio, only for a very brief comms check, I respect the community.

SHTF or not, the rules are there. The real folks in the GMRS community won't take kindly, especially if you want to use their repeaters. $35 for 10 years works out to less than 1¢ per day.
And once you have decent radios, you'll find all kinds of good uses for them beyond the imaginary SHTF scenarios.

Please nobody take any offense to that and again I say that with all due respect to the radio community. FCC controlling the airways of a so called free country just irritates me regardless of how inexpensive it is. Again I say that with all due respect and hope I did not alienate myself.

Sounds like you belong over on CB. That's the place for this sort of attitude. The GMRS community in most places protect the resource pretty well.

 

[hill]

realize GMRS requires an FCC issues license and I don't mean to offend or be controversial but in a SHTF situation I am not going to worried about having a license to push a button. I do not use or talk on the radio, only for a very brief comms check, I respect the community.

I have to agree with Mckenna.

I have been a ham, since 2008 and only got a GMRS license in the last days of December 2023.

The users of my local GMRS repeater are very professional on the radio and all users transmit their callsigns and they would quick to call out someone without license/callsign.

This repeater covers an very large geographic area and most likely works better than 99% of the ham repeaters. Whoever owns and set it up did a great job.

Many of users are also hams and many have a lot of communication experience.

 

[MTS2000des]

Those who paid dearly to put up and maintain infrastructure don't take kindly to scofflaws and pirates. Any bum can buy garbage pail radios. What makes them work well over wide areas are multi-thousand dollar repeater systems implemented by those who actually know what they are doing, have access to costly test gear, the skill set to use it, and unless they live on a mountain, they are renting site on a tower or rooftop and paying dearly for it.

The same way AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile don't give away service, repeater owners are under zero obligation to share their systems with anyone, especially unlicensed pirates with attitudes. Better to go buy some Rapid Radios...because according to them they work when cell system don't....

 

[mmckenna]

These two statements don't go very well together:

Very limited knowledge and experience with radios,

FCC controlling the airways of a so called free country just irritates me regardless of how inexpensive it is.

Look, we get it, you don't like rules, or whatever. Not liking the rules doesn't change the reason they exist.

GMRS isn't the place for this attitude. If you want to run higher than 5 watts of power, you are going to be using one of the 8 available primary channels. GMRS -only- has 8 of these, no matter where you are in the country. Those same 8 primary channels are also the repeater outputs.

So, a limited amount of resources. Playing the "I don't want to abide by the requirements" card doesn't work well with limited channels. As has been suggested, the people that invest good money in their GMRS system, whether or not you use the repeater, aren't going to be welcoming to someone who doesn't want to cooperate. Limited resource + attitude doesn't last long. People that use GMRS are protective of the radio service.

So, here is a much better option for you. Citizens Band.
Yeah, I know, you are probably thinking of 1980's CB. But you shouldn't be. A few years back the way was cleared to allow the use of FM on CB. That gives you better audio. You can even run a coded squelch system that will block out other users unless they are set up identically to you. That gives you a radio option that will give you the range you want, decent audio, and less chance of causing issues if you don't want to abide by rules. CB is full of people like that.
Plus, if the imaginary S does HTF, you'll not only have a good radio setup, but the possibility to switch over to the AM side and talk to like minded individuals, or if you spring for the higher price radios, use Single Side Band that will give you a lot more range.

And no one will care what you think about rules.

Seriously, GMRS isn't the place for these kinds of games. CB is, and the option to run FM gives you want you want. Leave the limited resources of GMRS to those that are serious and will play nicely together. It's not the right place for you.

Trust me, you will be much happier there.

 

[KF0NYL]

I have to agree with everyone , spend the $35 and get your GMRS license. It is good for 10 years and also covers your immediate family.

I help maintain all of the repeaters for my club to include our GMRS repeater. We will definitely tell an unlicensed person to stay off the repeaters. And if that doesn't work then we can and will use direction finding to locate the person and then send them a formal cease and desist letter. After that they get reported to the FCC.

Granted, we won't say much and will do our best to help in a real life or death emergency. But don't get on the repeater if it is NOT an emergency unless you are properly licensed.

And don't kerchunk the repeaters to test either. Kerchunking is when you key up your radio without saying anything.

To be honest, it does sound like CB would be a better fit for you.

PS: sorry to be a grump but we did take the time to get our licenses and it does take a lot of time, money, and effort to setup and maintain repeaters.

PSS: you won't get much sympathy on any of the different forums with that kind of attitude.

 

[prcguy]

"FCC controlling the airways of a so called free country just irritates me regardless of how inexpensive it is".

So if the OP would kindly send me his address I'll just come and poach his new radios and maybe his car too. See, it just irritates me that the police control crime in this so called free country.

 

[ReelFaster]

As mentioned it's not about the cost. Also as mentioned I would not be using a repeater, I only need to communicate within a mile or two as mentioned!!

I tried to be respectful as possible! I did not insult anyone and simply expressed how I felt. Not sure it really warranted the angry replies. Perhaps a little lee way as I mentioned I am very new to all this and a first time poster and everyone wants to jump down my dam throat. How about enlighten me vs. trying to insult or post passive threats.

@prcguy you can come TRY and poach what you want but this property is also protected. But am not looking to get into a pissing match with folks honestly! That kind of comment is just ridiculous.

@KF0NYL thanks for the respectful reply, I appreciate that.

@mmckenna I appreciate the posts, there is a mix of some good helpful information for someone new and limited knowledge. Directing to me CB is great, thank you. I only stumbled upon GMRS for possible longer range. Google can lead you down a rabbit hole looking stuff up. However there constant reference to attitude. There is no attitude, I am not trying to offend. I just stated how I felt, for someone who SOLEY wanted to have a GMRS radio to speak to a few family and friends in a "Imaginary" SHTF situation.

Again thanks all for the information, truly!

Over and out!

 

[W8UU]

I realize GMRS requires an FCC issues license and I don't mean to offend or be controversial but in a SHTF situation I am not going to worried about having a license to push a button. I do not use or talk on the radio, only for a very brief comms check, I respect the community.

Please nobody take any offense to that and again I say that with all due respect to the radio community. FCC controlling the airways of a so called free country just irritates me regardless of how inexpensive it is. Again I say that with all due respect and hope I did not alienate myself.

Stick with CB and FRS. Both are unlicensed "anything goes" wastelands. No one cares and (almost) nothing is enforced there.

The GMRS community strives to maintain a licensed and structured radio service that is informal yet professional for individual licensees and their families. Legal equipment and legal operation are end goals for most of us.

You may want to see if CB or FRS will work for you.

 

[wx2watch]

Angry replies?? You ain't seen angry, yet....

 

[dkcorlfla]

Please nobody take any offense to that and again I say that with all due respect to the radio community. FCC controlling the airways of a so called free country just irritates me regardless of how inexpensive it is. Again I say that with all due respect and hope I did not alienate myself.

Perhaps with no due understanding not respect. Without the FCC controlling the airways how would your cell phone work, your WIFI, Aircraft radios, on and on. The FCC job is police the very limited radio spectrum so every thing that uses radio will work as intended and without harmful interference.

 

[mmckenna]

I tried to be respectful as possible! I did not insult anyone and simply expressed how I felt. Not sure it really warranted the angry replies. Perhaps a little lee way as I mentioned I am very new to all this and a first time poster and everyone wants to jump down my dam throat. How about enlighten me vs. trying to insult or post passive threats.

People are trying to. Some are a bit rough around the edges, but they are giving you correct information.

Remember, some of us have been doing this a long time, and we've heard just about everything. GMRS isn't the place for those that don't want to be licensed or follow the requirements.

@mmckenna I appreciate the posts, there is a mix of some good helpful information for someone new and limited knowledge. Directing to me CB is great, thank you. I only stumbled upon GMRS for possible longer range. Google can lead you down a rabbit hole looking stuff up.

Yeah, Google can lead you to a lot of bad info, unfortunately.

Honestly, FM on CB would be the way to go. It's relatively new and is under utilized for this sort of application. The lower frequencies used by CB can give you some more range. Plus the ability to do AM and SSB has some benefits.

Good luck….

 

[KF0NYL]

I am still going to suggest spending the $35 and get your GMRS license. It opens up so much more opportunities for you. A GMRS license is good for 10 years and voters your immediate family all under one single license. Plus GMRS opens up more opportunities for you such as the ability to have more powerful radios (up to 50 watts) and also the ability to use repeaters.

We recently had a teenager get a hold of his grampa's 2m radio and he was playing on the repeater without a license. He went as far as even making up call signs. We found out who his grampa was and sent him a nice email explaining the situation and even offered to help the grandson get his amateur license. Needless to say, we have not heard the teenager on the radio after sending his grampa an email. I bet grampa is probably helping him get his amateur license.

Part of why we are protective of GMRS in general and especially our repeaters is that we took the time to get licensed and we spend our own money to setup and maintain our repeaters. More importantly, we don't want GMRS or amateur radio to turn into a wild free for all mess like CB has become.

So either stick with CB or FRS radios that do not require a license or spend the $35 for your GMRS license.

How CB is will happen to the other bands if we did not have the FCC trying to enforce rules and regulations. As mentioned, with no regulations then everything from cell phones to TV and other wireless devices would be a total wreck and unusable.