$50 GMRS\FRS hack more power

alpha-alligator · Dec 23, 2014

Is it possible to Modify these cheap radios and bump up the watts from half a watt to whatever.
The whole marketing for these radios is range. But yet they all pump out the same power.
Total sham. From 12km $100 to 47km $200. I bought Motorola two way walkie talkie.
Here in Canada the rules for allowable wattage are more lax compared to USA. The rules I think are about to change and soon will be able to use 50watts

kayn1n32008 · Dec 23, 2014

Canada rules for GMRS is 2w fixed antennas. I doubt IC is going to allow 50w on GMRS.

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KB7MIB · Dec 23, 2014

The manufacturers are the ones who are scamming the consumers with their range claims, solely to boost sales figures against their competitors, not the FCC or IC.

The FCC's rules specify 500 milliwatts ERP for FRS-only radios on channels 1-14, or for hybrid FRS/GMRS radios when operating on channels 8-14, in the USA. GMRS radios are allowed up to 50 watts transmitted power output.
Of course, a handheld radio will not achieve that 50 watts output. The cheap ones may put out 2 watts on the FRS/GMRS shared channels of 1-7, and the GMRS-specific channels of 15-22. Commercial grade handheld radios may put out 4 watts. (There is a 5-watt ERP limit on the FRS/GMRS shared channels 1-7.)
A mobile or base station is required to achieve the 50 watt transmitted power output on the GMRS-only channels of 15-22.

The Family Radio Service was, and is, meant for ultra short range personal and business communications. It is not meant to, and never was meant to, achieve ten's of kilometers, or miles, of range.
The General Mobile Radio Service, using repeaters, can achieve this kind of range. I don't know the status of the GMRS in Canada.

If you need more than the kilometer or so range that an FRS radio is capable of providing, do some research on the options available to you under Canadian laws.

John
GMRS - WPXJ598
Peoria, AZ

gewecke · Dec 23, 2014

alpha-alligator said:
Is it possible to Modify these cheap radios and bump up the watts from half a watt to whatever.
The whole marketing for these radios is range. But yet they all pump out the same power.
Total sham. From 12km $100 to 47km $200. I bought Motorola two way walkie talkie.
Here in Canada the rules for allowable wattage are more lax compared to USA. The rules I think are about to change and soon will be able to use 50watts

I think you need to do some more research.

73,
n9zas

Starion1 · Dec 24, 2014

alpha-alligator - KB7MIB (John) has explained the parameters of FRS very well. Once you attempt to "hack" the FRS radio, you have defeated the intention of the service. Anything is possible in regards to bumping up the power but the purpose is to keep FRS within the 500mw. Modification of a FRS antenna is also not permissible since it would effectively change the ERP (Effective Radiated Power) thus pushing the unit beyond its intended service.

As far a marketing goes, these exaggerated claims have been going on for years. Nothing new here. I guess if you had a perfect scenario where two units where talking to each other unobstructed from mountain top to mountain top, you may get the range advertised. Unfortunately we operate our radios in less than ideal situations. Keep in mind, "Your mileage may vary".

jim202 · Dec 24, 2014

Keep in mind that the FRS radio circuitry was designed with a certain transmit power output level. Once you try to exceed that power level by changing part values, you have just decreased the life of that transmitter.

Plus the battery on the portable radio was chosen to run so many hours. If you jack up the transmitter power, the operational time of that battery goes down. So now depending on how much talking you do, your forcing yourself to carry extra batteries with you just to keep the radio operational.

Bottom line here is if you don't like the way FRS radios perform, then get an FCC license and operate with higher power in the business band. Now you can run as much power in a portable radio as you can find in a radio that may be available. Just remember that these radios are going to cost a whole bunch more than an FRS radio.

techman210 · Dec 24, 2014

alpha-alligator said:
Is it possible to Modify these cheap radios and bump up the watts from half a watt to whatever.
The whole marketing for these radios is range. But yet they all pump out the same power.
Total sham. From 12km $100 to 47km $200. I bought Motorola two way walkie talkie.
Here in Canada the rules for allowable wattage are more lax compared to USA. The rules I think are about to change and soon will be able to use 50watts

The problem with range on these cheap, bubble pack radios is not usually the transmit power, but poor/abysmal receiver performance and bad antenna design. Of course there is no way to effectively test if you are getting the listed power output since you can't remove the antenna. That would be a good project for someone with a lot of time and test equipment to go through a number of models of these radios and get Consumer Reports involved.

DaveNF2G · Dec 26, 2014

jim202 said:
Bottom line here is if you don't like the way FRS radios perform, then get an FCC license and operate with higher power in the business band. Now you can run as much power in a portable radio as you can find in a radio that may be available. Just remember that these radios are going to cost a whole bunch more than an FRS radio.

Good advice, except that the OP is in Canada. Just swap Industry Canada for FCC and it's all good.
:wink:

kayn1n32008 · Dec 26, 2014

DaveNF2G said:
Good advice, except that the OP is in Canada. Just swap Industry Canada for FCC and it's all good.
:wink:

In Canada, IC does not allow repeaters on GMRS and all radios must have a fixed, non-removable antenna with a power output of no more than 2watts.

Good advice on business band though. Depending on where he is, he may have difficulty getting a repeater pair, and will have to justify his need for licensed channels. Simplex, low power on VHF will be no problem though. Frequencies like 169.710MHz, or even 153.050MHz will allow you to get licensed, then apply for the basic 10, and then after that, apply for the various annex's for the resource road channels... if he is in western Canada.(have not checked for his location.)

alpha-alligator · Dec 28, 2014

jim202 said:
Keep in mind that the FRS radio circuitry was designed with a certain transmit power output level. Once you try to exceed that power level by changing part values, you have just decreased the life of that transmitter.

I like this response as was the original question had asked for.

poltergeisty · Dec 29, 2014

Just get something like I have; a Kenwood 373G that pumps out 4 watts on FRS and GMRS. :twisted:

techguru · Feb 16, 2015

poltergeisty said:
Just get something like I have; a Kenwood 373G that pumps out 4 watts on FRS and GMRS. :twisted:

Or get a couple of the new 8 watt Baofeng's.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MAULSOK/

robbie2 · Aug 31, 2015

Idea for the GMRS License,

When stores sell them they sould have the FCC application forms at the store for the buyer to fill out before purchase. the store could include the $ 90.00 license fee with the sale of the radio.

kind of like gun stores they have paper work at the store for you to fill out for the background check. They could do the same thing with the GMRS License. the stores would have the FCC License forms at the counter for people to fill out at time of purchase.

mikewazowski · Aug 31, 2015

Years ago Motorola Canada sold cheap portables on 469.2625MHz that had a caddy for AA batteries. It also came with a licencing form from Industry Canada.

A coupon was included in the pack for a free NiCad battery pack that replaced the caddy. Fill it out, send it in and your battery was shipped to you.

Soon after receiving your battery pack, you would receive a call from Industry Canada asking why you hadn't licenced your new radio.

blackbelter · Aug 31, 2015

I have of pair of these 5 W GMRS/FRS radios .work very well.

rapidcharger · Aug 31, 2015

The over-the-counter business radios here in the states had paper applications included with the radios also. Back in the days of color dots and stars. It's really not a bad idea if you're going to sell a GMRS radio to include it an application. Then again, people don't read.

KB7MIB · Aug 31, 2015

There is fine print on the packaging of the FRS/GMRS bubblepacks stating that a license is required, and I believe a license application, or maybe now a link to the FCC ULS website, is included in the packaging.

Unfortunately, most people seem to ignore it.

John
Peoria, AZ

W8RMH · Sep 1, 2015

robbie2 said:
When stores sell them they sould have the FCC application forms at the store for the buyer to fill out before purchase. the store could include the $ 90.00 license fee with the sale of the radio.

kind of like gun stores they have paper work at the store for you to fill out for the background check. They could do the same thing with the GMRS License. the stores would have the FCC License forms at the counter for people to fill out at time of purchase.

The stores just want to sell the radios. They don't care if you have a license or not. I don't see them adding anything to the price to discourage a purchaser.

robertmac · Sep 1, 2015

While we are at it, why not turn the GMRS/FRS in another crappy CB band. Sounds like it will head that way with recommendations to go against the regulations in Canada. As has been pointed out, there are many legal ways to go about using a radio if that is what is required.

wa1nic · Sep 21, 2015

It is unlikely that they put 50 watt rated transistors in a 500 mW radio.

Maybe you could tweak it up towards a watt before the thing caught fire and killed your entire family if you worked hard enough, but the range gained for your effort would be fairly insignificant.

$50 GMRS\FRS hack more power

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