GMRS FRS MURS PMR Marine Weather Programming CSV File

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RadioFreeq

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We have updated a complete GMRS FRS MURS PMR Weather Marine HAM VHF/UHF Programming File, and it is available for download as a CSV file for fill use in various suitable radios with Chirp or similar programming software.
Here is a chart of the channels included in the file.
frs_gmrs_pmr_murs_bus_marine_wx_ham_2013d_print.png

DOWNLOAD

The file, as presented, was mainly developed for SHTF emergency situations. No guarantee as to the suitability for any particular radio, but it has been tested and works well. Cut and paste parts of it into a new CSV file, or mix and match it with other files for programming your scanner or other radio.

No information or advice is given about licensing, governmental authorizations, radio rules, or transmitting legalities concerning radio frequencies in various jurisdictions of the world. Please see other parts of this forum for greater focus and guidelines on such issues, ad infinitum.

-RadioFreeq
 
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nd5y

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88.5 tone on all the ham, marine and weather channels?
141.3 tone on all the GMRS repeaters?
Since when is 446.03 a common ham frequency?
Several frequencies should be FMN instead of FM.
Nice list of misinformation. I hope it wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
 
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rapidcharger

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I wouldn't say it's complete misinformation but I too am puzzled by the 446.03. That doesn't even follow the 25 khz channel spacing that most regional repeater coordinators have adopted in their band plan. That doesn't mean one has to use that of course, but I have never heard of 446.03 and doing a search online for the frequency hasn't turned up anything to suggest that is some kind of standard frequency for anything.

I'm assuming that is not a complete list because it is missing a lot of the simplex frequencies in the 2m ham band and it is also missing some marine channels and a number of itinerant part 90 frequencies too.
 
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Rudester

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For that matter, where are the corresponding GMRS "T" channels? For example, the table shows GMRS15R, but where is GMRS15T ?
 

Thunderknight

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And why are the 440 ham freqs listed as PMR446? Sounds like either non-US or pirate activity.
Anyone know how widespread (meaning other countries) the 440 ham band is?
 

nd5y

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PMR 446 is the European version of FRS. It isn't a ham band over there.
The 70 cm world wide amateur allocation is 430-440 MHz.
There are only a few countries where hams can use 420-430 and/or 440-450 MHz.
 
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RadioFreeq

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Update FRS_GMRS_PMR_MURS_BUS_MARINE_WX_HAM_2013E.csv

An updated CSV file is available for download.
File name: FRS_GMRS_PMR_MURS_BUS_MARINE_WX_HAM_2013E.csv

Printable Chart
frs_gmrs_pmr_murs_bus_marine_wx_ham_2013e2_print.png


Many thanks to those who have pointed out errors in the printed chart and given feedback, on things like NFM vs FM on some channels. The file has been updated, and some notes from the original article have been pasted here for clarity.

Here are some notes from the main article about this release:

LIMITATIONS
The design objective of this programming file is to maximize interoperability with common radio services in less than 99 channels, in order that it can be used within the memory limitations of inexpensive radios. This has led to a small compromise somewhat, by not including some less common business itinerant channels and marine duplex radiotelephone channels. An additional larger channel list programming file will be posted on the RadioMaster Reports site for download, when updated later.

GMRS
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a local distance radio system in the same UHF band as FRS. GMRS radios can be capable of longer distance range and greater dependability than FRS. GMRS is becoming more popular as bubble pack walkie talkies (HT) include both GMRS and FRS channels. GMRS-specific frequencies are FM simplex or duplex with 8 channels at 462 MHz and 8 channels at 467 MHz in the UHF band. The maximum power level of a GMRS is limited to 50 Watts. The most common GMRS mobile, base, or repeater radios use external gain antennas. GMRS walkie talkie handheld transceivers (HT) have only 5 Watts or less, commonly with a ducky antenna. Full duplex repeaters can be used with GMRS. GMRS Repeaters have their input channel at 467 MHz, and their output at 462 MHz. The offset is exactly 5 MHz. For repeater use, the field units transmit on 467 Mhz and receive on 462 MHz. Most bubble pack GMRS radios are simplex-only, so they do not function through a repeater. They operate only on the repeater output frequency (GMRS Channels 15 through 22). In a GMRS radio, the GMRS channel number is often the same for simplex and duplex, but a secondary (programmable) feature of the channel controls whether it transmits duplex +5MHz split or simplex. The GMRS simplex and duplex (repeater) channels are included in this list and programming file. In the Channel Name, they are programmed and identified separately; the repeater channel has an R in the channel name. For example as GMR 20 is the simplex channel, and GMR20R is the repeater duplex channel. PL tones vary among different repeaters in various geographic areas. The default PL tone for GMRS is 141.3 Hz, but it can be changed in the user’s radio programming to another PL tone frequency as required to hit specific repeaters.

PMR446
Personal Mobile Radio (PMR or PMR446) is a low power, short range, radio system similar to FRS. It is very common in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Walkie talkie bubble pack PMR radios are sold cheaply. PMR radios are limited to a half-watt of output power (500 milliWatts). So, the normal range of PMR walkie talkies in a suburban environment is about a mile or less. PMR frequencies are commonly FM simplex, 8 channels at 446 MHz in the UHF band. An additional 14 digital channels are available for PMR446, but are less common. In USA and many other places, the 446 MHz band is assigned to Amateur Radio Service (Ham) so, all the PMR channels and radios can be used by hams in those areas. The PMR Prepper channel (PMR 3) (446.03125 MHz) is somewhat interoperable with the Ham UHF Prepper channel (HAM U3) (446.030 MHz).

HAM
Amateur Radio Service, widely known as Ham Radio, is an internationally allocated radio service for non-commercial radio communications. It has frequency bands in all areas of the spectrum. The ham radio frequencies in this list are only a few of the most common VHF and UHF channels used by ham operators for local FM simplex. Additionally the list includes the Prepper Ham VHF simplex channel (146.420 MHz), the Survivalist Ham VHF simplex channel (144.550 MHz) and the Prepper Ham UHF simplex channel (446.030 MHz) that is somewhat interoperable with the PMR Prepper channel 3 (446.03125 MHz). Most hams also make use of repeaters in the VHF and UHF bands, but the channels for these repeaters vary according to geographic area. There is no common repeater channel frequency or PL tone that is valid in all areas, they are all different. When programming your radio, it is advisable to include the repeater channels and PL tones in your area. See a repeater directory for more information.

PL TONE
All channels are default to Receive Carrier Squelch. All FRS, GMRS, PMR, MURS, BUSINESS, and HAM channels are programmed in the file transmitting the most common default PL tone frequencies but receiving Carrier Squelch, for maximum interoperability. The Marine channels have the transmit PL tone turned off, and use Receive Carrier Squelch. The user may change and reprogram the PL Tone frequency as needed, or may desire to use Tone Squelch instead of Carrier Squelch.

-RadioFreeq

RadioMaster Blog
"Survivalist Communications for the SHTF Prepper"
 
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Darth_vader

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Couple suggestions:

1) Start counting FRS at "1" instead of "0", to keep it consistent with the de facto industry-standard numbering plan. This is especially helpful when using a radio with a keyboard, such as the UV5R, where one need only enter the preset's number. Typing, for example, "0-0-1" and getting FRS channel 2 could lead to confusion, especially in a life-or-death emergency. Preset "0" could still be used to monitor, for example, a state's EAS feed channel (in my area it's 166.250 MHz, carrier squelch) or the SAREMT on line #92 in receive-only mode.

2) Use 67.0 Hz (Motorola #1) as the PL for FRS instead of 88.5 (Motorola #8), since the former is the default setting on many popular FRS HTs. Using a different tone could be problematic if one is following 3-3-3. It might also be a good idea to set it only for the transmit side and leave the receive side as carrier squelch.

I don't know what the default tone for MURS HTs (like Dakotas) tends to be or which specific numbering convention manufacturers use, but those I've seen suggest they follow the Motorola convention.
 

RadioFreeq

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Default PL Tones FRS GMRS MURS

1) Start counting FRS at "1" instead of "0", to keep it consistent with the de facto industry-standard numbering plan.

Good suggestion on the channel slot re-ordering!

☀ By starting FRS channel 1 at the memory slot position 1, at least the FRS/GMRS channel slots and channel numbers would then be equivalent to the "Motorola convention".
☀ Yes, another channel could be inserted in the zero slot. The user could program their favorite frequency in the zero slot.
☀ We will include the re-ordering in the next update version of the programming file.


2) Use 67.0 Hz (Motorola #1) as the PL for FRS instead of 88.5 (Motorola #8), since the former is the default setting on many popular FRS HTs.

We agree.

☀ We had been looking at ubiquity of various PL tones, and considered it a tossup between 67.0 Hz (lowest interoperable tone freq) or 88.5 Hz or 100.0Hz. These are the most common default PLs we have observed for FRS and seen listed.
☀ It is a compelling argument to default to the lowest common denominator #1 PL tone 67.0 Hz. PL XZ
☀ So, we will change the FRS and GMRS simplex PL tone in the next file update version to PL=67.0 Hz.
☀ We will keep all the GMRS repeater channels at PL=141.3 Hz, since that is the widely published PL tone frequency for the open public Channel 20 "Travelers Emergency" GMRS Repeater channel, duplex+ 5.0 MHz split with 462.675 MHz repeater output / 467.675 MHz repeater input.


I don't know what the default tone for MURS HTs (like Dakotas) tends to be or which specific numbering convention manufacturers use, but those I've seen suggest they follow the Motorola convention

The programming file MURS default PL is an interesting judgement call.

☀ Dakota Alert factory-set default (according to their documentation) is "MURS Channel 01, Sub-channel (CTCSS) 01". That is equivalent to MURS channel 1 at 151.820 MHz with PL tone 67.0 Hz. It is probably useful to be interoperable with Dakota default for emergency situations, since it is becoming quite ubiquitous for MURS.
☀ For other types of MURS radios, defaulting to the #1 Motorola PL tone is also compelling. So, we will change the MURS default in the next file update version to PL=67.0 Hz.


It might also be a good idea to set it only for the transmit side and leave the receive side as carrier squelch.

Yes, the way the programming file is already set up is:

☀ All the programmed channels that use PL tone are Transmit PL tone only.
☀ All the programmed channels use Receive Carrier Squelch.

☀ Please see the footnotes in the article for more info about the settings.

Thank you very much for the feedback and comments.


-RadioFreeq

RadioMaster Reports
Survivalist Communications for the SHTF Prepper
 
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WayneH

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Being this isn't just GMRS/FRS I'm moving it to the Tavern. It's too broad in nature to fit in to a specific forum.
 

Darth_vader

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No, that'd be the "Politics" forum.

It might be a good idea to put MURS on 31-35, keeping them grouped together with the other part-95 services and somewhat consistent with their standard channel numbering. E.g. 31 is MURS 1, 32 MURS 2, etc. This is also the way I have my various rigs (transceivers and receivers) programmed.

I would also very STRONGLY recommend setting the SAREMT channel as receive-only. Even in an emergency or SHF situation with no other working means of communication, the people authorised to use that channel can be very territorial and would probably take issue with somebody trying to hail them on such frequencies. It also wouldn't stop the F¢¢'s vultures from turning John Q. Victim into a source of revenue. In the various fora here, you can find stories of people in life-or-death situations who hailled, say, the cops on their radio channels and wound up getting the book thrown at them as a result. I don't know how true any of them are, since they rarely seem to include citations for verification, but still something to be aware of. The part-95, HAM and (to a lesser extent) business and marine bands are relatively safe but transmitting on a public safety frequency, even in dire circumstances, could be problematic.
 

Darth_vader

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Huh, so it did. Odd.

Perhaps the moderator can re-post them where they're supposed to be in this thread.
 

RadioFreeq

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Huh, so it did. Odd.

Perhaps the moderator can re-post them where they're supposed to be in this thread.

We both know that probably won't happen.

We are left at a loss of where to post interesting radio threads that contain a wide range of multiple services and spectrum. It seems that the moderator may want things torn apart into little pieces instead. But that destroys the essence of what it is.

Anyway, Darth, your previous information and feedback is much appreciated, and was included in the update.

-RadioFreq
 

nd5y

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If your goal is to distribute a programming template, why post an image that nobody can cut & paste text from and actually use and will be obsolete if something changes when you can simply post a link to the current document?
 
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