He causes me to have belly laughs with his sarcasm!
1 Like
What’s the purpose of using the CTCSS tone if you want to have an open channel?
2 Likes
to stop the local chit chat being heard - only people using the calling channel will be heard, and not the local kids, shops or club groups who will transmit on any empty channel
1 Like
…and you’d be wrong. Many repeaters traditionally have the “travel tone” set and on “channel 20”
1 Like
As others have mentioned Ch 20 is the defacto nationwide calling frequency for GMRS… The reason Ch 19 would not work is because it’s use is prohibited within a certain proximity to the Canadian border.
3 Likes
Only that its not CB its GMRS and not HAM so…I am good with 19 only that GMRS is closer to modern CB than Ham.
1 Like
From Lexington,Tn. WSBN351 or KQ4SPY–Keep’em straight there in Memphis. Thats where all my family is from. I grew up going to family reunions there. Lived there from 2009 to 2012 as a truck driver. Always liked talking on CB’s thats why i like Ham and GMRS,
2 Likes
Would I put the pl tone for the travel channel on tx or rx??? Thanks in advance!
I would put the tone on TX only. That way your transmission would be heard by folks listening on that 20 with tone but you would be able to hear any traffic on 20. YMMV
1 Like
Hi Tom,
New on the forum and be GMRS radio license holder. Are there any GMRS clubs or associations in the Memphis area or West TN?
Thanks
WSFF507
Welcome to this forum👍 I’m sorry that I hadn’t responded sooner but I guess I missed the notification. I don’t think there are any “GMRS radio clubs” here in the Memphis West Tennessee area. I could be wrong however. I would be as interested in having one as you seem to be.
I have invested a LOT of money in this GMRS hobby, I guess you’d call it. Disappointment is probably an understatement. Apparently my expectations were quite different than the harsh reality. It seems to have caught on with employees of companies and contractors doing outdoor work. Other than that, the FRS channels have some children talking on them, occasionally.
I think those of us who envisioned it becoming a Citizens Band or Amateur Radio place for chit chat have become disappointed. In my particular area of North Bartlett, most channels are quiet most of the time.
I have a Midland MXT500, and 400 base stations. One upstairs and one downstairs + a 575 mobile, etc. A number of MXTA26 six db antennas.
Not bragging, just admitting that I greatly over invested in GMRS with some regret.
Hopefully you haven’t made the same mistakes that I have. Maybe we can communicate via GMRS, depending on your exact location.
Best wishes,
Tom WRQE346
1 Like
Thank you Tom,
Your response is enlightening and disappointing. I am only in for a few handsets, no major expense yet. I am in the eastern area of Memphis. One goal for GMRS was for family radio communications. Lacking a GMRS repeater near by, that goal is a longshot . Given the flatter terrain in west TN, as opposed to middle and eastern TN, one might think that amateur radio, both Ham and GMRS would be more popular.
2 Likes
Glad to hear that @Tom4278, I’m over in Jonesboro, Ar. Wish someone would put up a repeater that I could hit.
1 Like
Just curious but how much GMRS radio traffic are you hearing in Eastern Arkansas?
I’m becoming more disappointed here in the Memphis, TN area. It seems what little traffic I hear is just outdoor workers communicating with each other on a job.
I’m wondering if CB radio might be the cause, especially since FM has been made available by the FCC now?
I thought 50 watts on GMRS would really make it take off! Apparently not.
Glad hearing from you, across the river😀
Tom WRQE346
2 Likes
@Tom4278 unfortunately I don’t hear much of anything where I’m at. Some kids on FRS radios I get to scare every now and then but for the most part it’s silent. I don’t have a home base setup, although I do run SDR off some rabbit ears. I plan on setting a pole and putting up a discone at some point. I’m a truck driver and gone for 1-2 months at a time so its hard to plan stuff like that but eventually I will get there.
Jordan WSGC223
2 Likes
Jordan, thanks for the info. Since you’re in the trucking business, how is CB traffic? I’ve read that truckers are switching over to GMRS. Is there any truth to that? Now that CB can do FM, I’m wondering if that’s catching on?
Nice hearing from you. Stay safe out there 
Tom WRQE346
1 Like
CB traffic has gone to garbage. Lots of guys shooting skip all throughout the day, I just turn mine off and only turn it on when I’m in big cities, traffice jams, or if my escort only has a CB then we will have to swap channels every 15 minutes to get away from the trash. I use CB, VHF,UHF,GMRS, just depending on what my escorts have. As far as running FM on CB, I haven’t tried it. I run Anytone 6666 Pro for CB, Icom 2730a with Mars Mod for VHF/UHF/GMRS. Then I have HT for everything as well, lol. President Randy II for CB, Icom V86 for VHF/UHF, Wouxon KG Q10H and Q10G (coming in the mail soon). And the assortment of cheap Baofengs, UV-5RM and AR-5RM.
1 Like
Really appreciate the info. I guess 27 MHz will always be there for”skip” traffic. Those channels work so well for it. Take care and be careful. More crazies on the highways than ever before!
Tom WRQE346
1 Like
You’re telling me! This new generation of drivers really make it difficult to be careful out there. Hope you had a good holiday and maybe I’ll catch you out there in gmrs land when I come through Memphis, what channel do you monitor?
1 Like
Getting more popular around the Grand Rapids Michigan area.There are two repeaters in the area. One south of town and one north of town. I live in Greenville 35 miles away and can hear each repeater load and clear. Currently i can’t reach either of these with my transmitter but I am in the process of putting up a tower for ham and am adding a hi gain 2 meter antenna so I should be able to reach them soon. Becoming popular because of the ease of obtaining a license.
1 Like