5 Key Points To GMRS Radio Etiquette | 4K

While a major part of the GMRS Radio appeal over other bands is its lack of formality versus HAM radio, there are some unwritten rules you should know that will keep GMRS from devolving into the Wild West.
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00:00 Introduction
00:58 Point 1
02:34 Point 2
04:25 Point 3
05:59 Point 5
07:43 Soapbox Rant

[@kellydiver]

As a military retiree and long-time ham, it’s gonna be hard for me to avoid using normal radio etiquette. But I’ll try my best!

[@jeffcooke9026]

This is the absolute best, well thought-out, and most comprehensive GMRS guide I have ever heard! I have always enjoyed your rough-and-tumble reviews and spontaneous thoughtful reports before. Keep up the good work, and thank you!

[@MattKester]

Thank you and I'm glad you're enjoying this content. I've definitely enjoyed making these kind of a videos a lot lately!

[@DePalma.]

That old World War II movie had Archie Bunker, Seinfeld’s uncle and Clint Eastwood all in the same scene😂

[@MattKester]

You know it! Kelly's Heroes is one of my all time favorites. I can't keep a straight face watching Donald Sutherland as Oddball!

[@MikeEss1000]

Great video, I am new to GMRS, this has been very helpful.

[@keithgabel755]

Thanks! You finally explained how to use my call sign to close out a conversation. I thought I needed to use my call sign every time I stopped transmitting during the conversation. Intuitively I knew that was not the case but you confirmed it. Thanks!

[@Thegrandlandon]

I at one time worked in a rail yard where we used radios for communication, i never thought saying “over” or “out” to be nerdy. I found it to be rather convenient… HOLY CRAP I enjoy organized and efficient radio communication. I think I’m a nerd. I probably should start watching ham radio videos. No but really I’m just learning about GMRS because I’m into off-roading ( I guess jeeps and radios go together…) half the GMRS videos are explaining how they are the cooler than ham people. But really “don’t say over”… Only one person can talk at a time. Your going to be walking over each other.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

We have a guy on our Repeater that says uhh umm yeah yeah ehhh every 5 seconds throughout his entire conversation drives me mad because he Drags it on for 5 plus minutes at a time before others can talk and he does it for hours

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Great etiquette video @Matt Kester

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

What a great Video At love the Addins 😂 @Matt Kester

[@ewicky]

100% The annoying thing with "don't talk about politics" these days is everything is so often turned political, instantly. Installing a mobile in your car? What kinda car? Boom, you get the Jeep vs Tesla battle, charging stations this, oil oil oil, OPEC, Russia, embodied energy, mining vs drilling, Elon, fires, autopilot, etc so on so forth. Think you're immune by talking about small talk like "the weather"? Nope, climate change this, forest management that, urban vs farmers vs water rights vs deforestation vs oceans vs etc. Quickly escalates out of control. Want to battery backup your radio? An argument about solar vs gas generator, lead vs lithium, ensues. God forbid someone (innocently) asks what type of "disaster" the battery backup is supposed to serve during... Every day I hear a political argument, even when the arguers make no mention of a person in politics or any law or regulation. It is still, very clearly, talking about politics. I'm not sure who's really at fault, party politics that disagree on everything, or so many of us being incapable of understanding someone else's viewpoint enough to just let it go.

[@MattKester]

Thanks, Erik! Yeah, I don't know where or when it happened, but it's really hard to talk to someone without them showing you their political ass anymore, and certainly not in a manner that might respect the fact you see the world completely different than they do. I have a B.S. In Political Science and there is no topic I want less to do with than politics!

[@RyanKassel]

Thanks, I needed to hear someone making sense today!

[@libbyd1001]

Regarding clarity, holding the microphone close enough for it to pick up your voice well is good, as you mention in the video. I would add to hold it closely but just off to the side so you talk across the microphone not directly AT the microphone. There's a local ham who speaks right at it and every "T" and "P" causes loud air pops that quickly becomes annoying.

[@1990westfalia]

Thanks. Since I’m a newbie, I’m searching for and example of how to start. A step by step would be helpful, but I’ll take an video of an simulated conversation. Please help. Skillet

[@fredc3543]

I did GMRS for a few years, then stopped. Back in the day I never heard a "call sign." Never had or heard of any conflict. Hopefully it won't turn into the CB stuff of old.

[@thebugg333]

One thing (mainly a *few* from Indiana) GMRS operators do is key up, call out saying their monitoring looking to have a "random" conversation and ignore people they don't know or sound like they are from a northern state. I have heard operators respond, then when they hear they are from IL or WI they just stop talking. Does it happen often, no but it's noticed knowing there's more people who monitor than talk and part of the reason why the midwest GMRS network had to unlink other midwest states than join. There are a few who don't want to be on a linked network, but still use the repeater...same people who don't want others to join an ongoing conversation on a larger linked network everyone can hear. Sad hams vs Sad GMRS....who's worse?

[@rarpcprinter1641]

0:41 I see what you did there :)

[@andrelemalle]

My call sign ends in 1-0. Do I say "One Zero" or can I say "ten".Does it matter?

[@MattKester]

It wouldn’t matter to me. I know a guy out here who’s last three are 920. He says nine-twenty and no one has ever said anything to the contrary. I fact, we all use nine-twenty when we reach out to him.

[@EthosAtheos]

Part 95 only requires English for station identification and only if you are not using Morse code for station identification. It is under § 95.1751 GMRS station identification. paragraph C. Otherwise you can communicate in any language you want. People using the FRS channels that overlap GMRS have no such restriction for station identification. Use whatever language you want to as long as you are not speaking in code. Obfuscation and encryption are prohibited. I hear people speaking English, Spanish, and French regularly where I am. Other languages won't hurt you to hear. I checked and as far as I can tell the FCC has never brought an action against a GMRS station for violation of Obscene, Profane and Indecent Broadcasts. Could they? maybe, but what you said would have to be way out of free speech range and really shocking. An F-bomb on an FRS or GRMS frequency probably wont get any traction with the FCC. That said it is good practice to remember there are families with small kids using these channels to.

[@MattKester]

Actually, subsection b of Part 95.1751 clearly states your identification must be in English. Here's the exact wording, "(b) The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone." Yes, there is not particular statutory restriction limiting what language is being spoken, however, don't expect to get a warm welcome at the next GMRS net if you try check in speaking anything else. Will the FCC police language, no, case in point is what CB radio has become. That being said, most repeater owners will tell you to kindly GTFO if your frequency of expletives reaches 1980's Eddie Murphy stand up levels.

[@EthosAtheos]

​@@MattKester As I said GMRS has no language restrictions. Beyond station identification. No one should care what language you choose. Policing on repeaters is much better than just radios. Although almost no one in my area uses repeaters. Other than the sporadic radio test I never hear anyone on them. In my area 99 percent of GMRS traffic is 2 hand sets talking to each other. With a lot of road crews, schools, big box stores and people in public housing using them. GMRS doesn't have a lot of HAM like CQ traffic where I am. CB is a dumpster fire.

[@DorkPrince]

@@EthosAtheos at least where you live CB is alive. May be my antenna, but aside from a single convo locally one chance evening, all I ever hear is "motormouth mall" and a few other regulars on channel 6 "getting down" and repeating themselves a lot. I remember when it was much more active and back then yes it was absolutely a dumpster fire. As for the families using GMRS and FRS, I've discovered those cheap one-channel toy walkie talkies shaped like GI Joe gear or Barbie or your favorite Pokemon use FRS channels... Makes sense, since they're unlicensed. Usually FRS-5. So if you happen to be on one of the FRS ones it would be good to watch your words regardless. Of course, those kids have probably heard worse from any number of people, but it doesn't mean we have to be among them, right? It's just polite... We should always used good manners around strangers, never mind the non-policed regulations.

[@chriscutrara6313]

Same as ham radio. Ah, common sense, folks!

[@RebellionFreedom]

“Without coming off as an uptight HAM” …interesting. In your area!!!! be like the others. Follow their protocol. If there is a group doing checks, leave them alone. Especially at low power 10 mile transmissions. The purpose of GMRS is not to satisfy HAM rules and regulations. Radio etiquette is learned, adopted and UNREGULATED! Radio rules are few in GMRS. On the HAM side we have plenty of them. If you love to control and listen to other people who love rules, come to HAM, otherwise, have fun in GMRS with the few rules in your application/license agreement/contract. BRING your sermons to HAM!

[@martyisabeliever]

Free speech.... except for here on the free air...

[@supamild573]

Religion, politics and race is all people talk about in bars 😂

[@jesuspompa1473]

It would be a ham dude pushing their standards when no one asked. Ham is not GMRS, stop putting up repeaters to make contact with randos. Thanks for the good laugh.

[@radiohobbyist13]

Hillbilly CB talk and people saying over or go ahead at the end of their transmission. 👎

[@arthurpineapplepen5209]

There’s a guy on the local ham repeater that purposely knarls his voice to the point he is unintelligible ……..

[@MattKester]

Is it like the trucker-twang, or more Wolfman Jack?