Why Your Transmit Volume Is Low On Your GMRS or Ham Radio - The CORRECT Way To Transmit On HAM/ GMRS

In this video I explain why your transmitting volume may be low when using your ham radio or GMRS radio - In other words, why people can't hear what you're saying even though you are transmitting a strong signal. This is a comment problem with people new to amateur radio and GMRS radios.
TL;DR: How to make sure everyone can hear what you say when you transmit on a ham radio, GMRS radio, CB radio, or even a child's walkie-talkie.
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Music by Stern Beats - You can find him here:

[janetusa]

Thank you for all the basics for us newbies. I think you might keep more appreciative viewers by wearing a different shirt than the one you wore here though.

[bpchristensen]

Awesome video. Tip number 9 (holds up 5 fingers): hit the PTT button a second BEFORE you start talking, not after you've already opened your noise hole and are making noise.

[ajax]

Randy's units of measurements:
Distance: Fars
Volume: Louds
Speed: Bald eagles per freedom

[leewaddell]

I did not know the effect of wide and narrow band...thanks so much.

[etusuku]

As having over 50 years of experience in being at this side of the flat blue globe I can tell your viedos are better than sleeping pills at the night. Br, Eeli

[Aegisltd]

This video was worth watching for the T-shirt alone. Everything else was just an educational and entertainment bonus. 👍

[inchy_squeezums]

My transmit volume greatly increased as soon as I attached the included wrist strap. The nominal impedance of the radio is decreased because of the static electricity within your body. This allows the radio to transmit at full wattage, making your voice louder.

[brianrydzeski]

Putting the coffee cup down. Clicking play... "granite" he-he-he Keep on zinging Randy. I enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[KaL_Terow]

Midland! Please tell Midland to allow a choice between narrow and wideband, Randolpho!

[AZREDFERN]

Motorola APXs can work some real magic with their auto gain and noise cancellation. But they can only do so much. Three things that drive me crazy at work is people who mumble into the radio at arms length, people who try to use the radio next to a running jet engine, even though they’re been told to use it in the cab dozens of times before, and people who start talking before they key up the radio.

On a GMRS note, some radios like the TidRadio H8 have a “mic gain” option. However, max level 32 is normal on mine, and anything less causes buzzing issues on the receiving end by being too quiet somehow. It’s best to test all your radios at home with headphones or an earpiece on a monitoring radio.

[shannonstone]

If you were going to suggest only one handheld transceiver, regardless of price or licensing requirements, particularly for distance, which one would be your first choice. Lol, by the way, never change, I've loved every video I've ever seen of yours, and it's usually the ancillary things that really get me, like your shirt this time, or your app selection is different every time, and never stop the attacking of "SOME PEOPLE". Again, thanks for any suggestions and keep up the great work of a YouTube legend and superstar!

[brassmanbart]

Closives; accurate description of a problem. Thanks for helping us solve a real problem!

[tnewdad]

The TIDradio TD-H8 had a known issue with low mic gain…the 2nd generation has a firmware workaround in the menu allowing users to manually change the mic gain for more ‘louds’. Seems to work, but you really have to ratchet it up!

[larryberry]

Ah yes, I was called out recently for low-louds. Normally, I use a Boofwang to call into the weekly ham net. As the battery was dead on said Boofwang, I tried my new and expensive Kenwoods radio and the sad-ham net controller told me that he could not hear me. 2-other people relayed me in as they could hear me just fine. Later, I contacted one of the gents that relayed me in and he said that it sounded as if I was too far away from the microphone and the net controller was just being a jerk. I held the radios the same distance away from my noise emitter, but the Kenwoods radio mic is not as sensitive as the inferior Chinese radio.

[defend]

Informative.... Thank you! The puzzle is an important responsibility.

[JohnAdams-orxw]

Keep up the good work Randy love the videos always a good chuckle involved with watching.

[RussellNelson]

The cause of low louds is that people fail to hold the radio by the antenna as you are doing now. By holding the antenna, you turn your whole body into an antenna, which increases your signal strength. To make sure you have a ground plane, stand on the roof of your car, or any other large metal surface.

[willdrumforfood]

I've also heard if the radio is turned off it also effects how many louds and fars you can transmit... ;-P

[VideosOffRoad]

4:05 As a proudly unlicensed HAM radio operator for over 250 years, I can say with expert authority that it's "HAM" and not "H.A.M."
😉🙃😂🤣

[Redbaron]

Another great video Randy, LMAO. I've been a HAM so long that my license is on papyrus, and I advise buying a power mic and crank up that modulation. Make sure it's loud and distorted with a roger beep---the beep is just in case you turn the mic gain down by mistake.