Explaining GMRS to your family since 2021.
Before keying up on any channel or repeater, listen for at least 30 seconds to make sure you're not stepping on an ongoing conversation. This is especially important on repeaters where you may not hear both sides of a conversation.
FCC rules require you to identify with your callsign at the beginning and end of each communication, and at least every 15 minutes during longer conversations. Say it using standard phonetics or just the letters. For example, "This is Whiskey X-ray Yankee Zulu One Two Three" or simply "WXYZ123."
Be concise and leave a pause between transmissions so others can break in if needed. GMRS channels and repeaters are shared resources, so long, rambling transmissions tie up the frequency for everyone.
Not all repeaters are open. Before transmitting on a repeater, check myGMRS.com to see if it's listed as open to all licensed users or if it requires permission from the owner first.
CTCSS tone 141.3 Hz on channel 19 (462.6500 MHz) is the unofficial GMRS "travel tone," a widely recognized calling frequency for travelers. Monitor this if you're on a road trip and want to connect with other GMRS users nearby.
"Kerchunking" means keying up and releasing without saying anything, just to see if you can hit a repeater. Doing this repeatedly is poor etiquette and may annoy other users. If you want to test your radio, identify yourself: "WXYZ123 testing."
If you hear an emergency communication on any channel, stop transmitting immediately and keep the frequency clear. Emergency traffic always takes priority over routine conversations.