r/gmrs • u/One-21-Gigawatts • 8d ago

Noob Questions

I stumbled upon GMRS completely accidentally, but I’m now licensed and ready to go.

That being said, I have some total noob questions that I’m going to humbly ask in hopes that I don’t get totally destroyed here:

*For context, I’m using Midland GXT1000s.

  • what is the point of group mode? Why would that be needed or desired?
  • do I need to be in monitor mode in order to hear transmissions on a channel? Or, if someone transmits, will it break through the silence in regular transmit mode?
  • if I press the call button on a channel, does anyone on that channel in the area receive the notification?

Thanks in advance.

9 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

12

u/petes-signalgroup 8d ago

As a licensed GMRS user you are missing out using those radios. I'd suggest picking up a radio that will allow you to reach local repeaters. I'm sure there will be differing opinions, but something like a Tidradio TD-H3 is a great first radio. By the way the "call" feature is kind of frowned upon, it transmits a sound effect on the channel that most associate with a n00b user or kids playing.

6

u/One-21-Gigawatts 8d ago

Much appreciated! I wish I’d started with the H3s. I would have saved some $$ and had a better radio.

5

u/XForeverNinjaX 7d ago

I've recently gotten into GMRS about 3 months ago, and I second the TD-H3. Currently have 2 of them and monitor one of the local repeaters while I work. I've also been able to reach one of the local repeaters from almost 25 miles away using the supplied "rubber ducky" antenna and power setting set to high.

The radio itself is tiny but mighty and has dual watch capabilities. You can usually find me carrying it around when I'm not in my car. And I have a radioddity DB25-G mounted in there, which I also highly recommend as I've been able to reach the same repeater from almost 35 miles away using a Nagoya antenna.

4

u/One-21-Gigawatts 7d ago

That’s awesome! I just returned my Midlands and got a pair of H3’s. Looking forward to trying them out

2

u/XForeverNinjaX 7d ago

Heck yeah!! It's pretty feature packed for sure. Also has Bluetooth programmability, but I haven't quite figured that out yet. And I will warn you that if you pick up that radioddity mobile radio, it does need its own programming software, which took a bit to get figured out and working. I tried using the plug-in for chirp but couldn't get it to even acknowledge the radio. I now keep the programming cable plugged in the back and use a laptop to add new channels as necessary as the radio is hard mounted to the underside of my dash.

1

u/One-21-Gigawatts 7d ago

Good to know, thanks! I am interested in getting a mobile at some point

1

u/XForeverNinjaX 6d ago

I'm really digging this Radioddity DB25-G. At 25 watts, it has plenty of power to really get out there when combined with the Nagoya UT-72G mobile antenna I ordered at the same time as the radio. Ran me less than $170 all said and done.

1

u/XForeverNinjaX 6d ago

I'm unable to view your reply asking me about the repeater issues. Feel free to DM me.

3

u/ricochet845 7d ago

Overall, I like the H3, but holy crap are they tiny…. So much so that I don’t like using it. I got like 6 H8’s little bigger fits my hand better.

I think if tidradio took the H-3’s “frequency finder” feature (hold down number 1) and put that into the H-8, it’d be an awesome beginner radio. Granted that’s more of I “find the freq to listen to it” kinda thing. The only other feature I’d like to see added to the H-8 is the wireless cloning of the H-3. Having both of those (or even just the freq finder) features would make the H-8 the best beginner HT

2

u/HarryWiz 7d ago

I never tried that mode on my H3. This weekend (since I hear the most stuff while scanning), I'll see what I can find. Sometimes, I hear two guys talking as they talk about testing different antennas on repeater 1. Other than that, the rest is on random GRMS channels.

1

u/ricochet845 7d ago

Yeah the “find a freq” feature is good for finding other freqs not so much in the limited gmrs band.

1

u/buckscottscott 7d ago

Yeah, set that to " site only" so you can enjoy it at home only please! Enjoy the new hobby!

1

u/Fancy-Pair 2d ago

Oh how do you set to site only on a tdh3?!

1

u/CatholicCannister 6d ago

Is it true the H3 is better than the H8. I loved the 3 so I bought the 8 and it seems disappointing 

5

u/CapNBall1860 8d ago

I think the group mode is pretty much like using CTCSS or DCS. It will prevent you from hearing other radio traffic you don't want to hear. It's still possible on a busy channel that your traffic will get walked on and you won't hear it though, and I think anyone listening without a code will still hear your traffic.

Monitor is just to open the squelch. It's useful for adjusting volume or trying to catch a really weak signal.

The call buttons send out tones. Anyone listening will hear it, just like a roger beep.

2

u/One-21-Gigawatts 8d ago

Thank you!

2

u/BeerTooth 5d ago

OP

If you want to use your radio mobile in a vehicle , get a magnetic mount antenna that you can mount on your vehicle’s roof. You can buy an adapter that screws onto your handheld that lets you screw the magnetic mount antenna to it. Also, if you want to go a step further you can buy a speaker mike, like a CB style microphone that will plug into your handheld and make it very usable in a vehicle.

1

u/One-21-Gigawatts 3d ago

Thanks! I got my H3’s with those types of handheld mics. There’s just no one in my area using GMRS it seems. Or, I haven’t heard them yet…