BTECH GMRS-V2 - Page 5

CAG Btech V2 Radio Usage/GMRS Page 5 of 6
Some Basic Radio Procedures (paraphrased from the AGRC documents).
Every user must use their designated FCC Call Sign at intervals prescribed by the FCC. For GMRS
licensees, that is at the end of any conversation and every 15 minutes during longer conversations.
Use of the full call sign at the beginning of a conversation is not necessary since that is not an FCC
requirement. HOWEVER, we do require that stations identify at the beginning of the conversation with
their suffix (the numerical part of their FCC call sign) and if no contact, then sign off with their full call
sign. How that works is something like this example:
“714 this is 903” (In this case, I am calling fictional user WQIV714.) If there is no answer I might
repeat it a couple times: “714 this is 903. Are you there, Bill?” If no answer, then I would sign off
saying: “No Contact WQRV903 clear”, or “Negative contact WQRV903 clear and monitoring.” Or, just
“Nothing heard WQRV903 clear.” This lets everyone on the air know who I am and that I am done
trying to reach “Bill”. The channel is now open for use by others. Each user has their own variation on
this protocol, but everyone should use this protocol or an equivalent of it especially when using
repeaters.
Family members may use unit numbers or tactical IDs (like “base”, “mobile 1”, “mobile 2”, etc) when
calling other units under the same license. However, at a minimum of every 15 minutes and at the end
of the conversation, all units in a conversation MUST identify with their full FCC call sign and unit
number. If a family member is communicating with a station not on the same license, then all parties
must also use their full call sign and unit number, if any.
If you transmit for a brief period of time, for testing, to check if you can hit or “kerchunk” a repeater, or
for any other reason, you are always required to identify with your full call sign. This is a courtesy to
others and a requirement of FCC regulations.