The GMRS Radio Thread

spaggyroe

Man Flu Survivor
Location
Lehi
I'm no GMRS radio expert, but I'm learning. This thread is to discuss all things GMRS. :D


This is somewhat of a spin-off from The Ham Radio Thread.

After looking into communications options for my land cruiser, I realized that GMRS is a great option for 4x4 groups. Much more power is available than a CB and you don't need to pass a test like Ham. A $35 license from the FCC covers you and your immediate family for 10 years.

I recently picked up a Midland MXT575 50 watt that will be going in my Land Cruiser.

Who else on here runs GMRS?
 

spaggyroe

Man Flu Survivor
Location
Lehi
I have been running the hand held beofeng gmrs this year and love them.

I think we have 5 beofeng's in the family that we use for hunting trips. You can't beat the value of those! $20-$25 and they smoke the bubble pack talkabout style FRS radio's you can get at the big box stores.
 

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
If all you want to do is communicate among your group of trail rigs, I think GMRS is a fantastic solution.

Even though I'm already running ham radio, the growing popularity of GMRS makes it inevitable that I'll need to install one of those in my Jeep as well. I'm already eyeing the Midland MTX115.
 

spaggyroe

Man Flu Survivor
Location
Lehi
If all you want to do is communicate among your group of trail rigs, I think GMRS is a fantastic solution.
This.
My exact motivation for going GMRS. :cool:
I studied for the Ham test but it felt more like a hobbyist thing to me.
All I want to do is chat with wheeling buddies, and family while hunting.
I don't want to talk to the I.S.S. or some person in another state.
 

Kevin B.

Big hippy
Moderator
Location
Vehicular limbo
Wait... what are we talking about?? :D
Exactly. Too many folks talking about it and the FCC is going to find a way to take it away. Or just lump the GMRS freqs under the ham license.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, CB is for peasants and GMRS is for people who are scared of studying for a couple hours and spending $15 for a ham license. That's literally all it is, $15 and a couple hours of studying at hamstudy.org and you've got your license and can legally access 50w or more of transmit goodness that kicks GMRS into next week. You don't need to nerd out, you don't ever have to access a repeater if you don't want to, and it's easy as pie.

K, I'll shut up now.
 

Hickey

Burn-barrel enthusiast
Supporting Member
Exactly. Too many folks talking about it and the FCC is going to find a way to take it away. Or just lump the GMRS freqs under the ham license.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, CB is for peasants and GMRS is for people who are scared of studying for a couple hours and spending $15 for a ham license. That's literally all it is, $15 and a couple hours of studying at hamstudy.org and you've got your license and can legally access 50w or more of transmit goodness that kicks GMRS into next week. You don't need to nerd out, you don't ever have to access a repeater if you don't want to, and it's easy as pie.

K, I'll shut up now.
GMRS is for people who don’t care about HAM people who care about a stupid test and constantly berate you and call you scared or poor or stupid or whatever because you don’t care about their beloved test.

Also, you can legally transmit 50w on GMRS.
 

spaggyroe

Man Flu Survivor
Location
Lehi
I mean…. I started going down the Ham path, studied, passed the practice tests, and still went GMRS. It cost me a little more to get a GMRS license than to take the ham test, so I don’t think I was being cheap. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Having studied enough to pass the ham test, I don’t think I was being lazy. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The GMRS radio I bought is 50W.
 
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