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Question on GMRS Channel changes for 2017 - Are they re-aligning?

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rbiddle813

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Hi -

I am reviewing the GMRS/FRS Changes under the FCC 2017 updates and reviewing the channels on Radio Reference here.

https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FRS/GMRS_combined_channel_chart

Am I reading this correct in that there is a realignment of the GMRS Channels? As I am looking at this, it appears the channel numbers are changing. Am I reading this correctly? Or am I just reading it incorrectly?
 

nd5y

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The only change to GMRS channels is that the 467 MHz interstitial channels (FRS channels 8-14) can now be used by GMRS stations with 0.5 W. They were formerly FRS-only.

The channel numbers 1-22 are what the FCC now calls "FRS Channels" and are what 2 W bubble pack radios use. Other than that they are meaningless. There are no official GMRS channel designators that I know of. I don't know where the GMRS channel names on the old chart came from. Maybe PRSG named them.

The complete FCC Report and Order is at http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0519/FCC-17-57A1.pdf
 

bill4long

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The only change to GMRS channels is that the 467 MHz interstitial channels (FRS channels 8-14) can now be used by GMRS stations with 0.5 W. They were formerly FRS-only.

GMRS is now available on channels 8-14, using 5 watts not 0.5 watts.

In order to accommodate these existing lower power combination devices in the FRS, we are increasing the maximum authorized radiated power limit for FRS channels 1-7 from 0.5 Watts to two Watts, and making the GMRS 462 MHz main channels available to the FRS for use on a shared basis with GMRS. The new channels will be numbered FRS channels 15 through 22, and the FRS power limit for these channels will be two Watts ERP.

In addition, we redesignate FRS channels 8 through 14 (theinterstitial channels between the GMRS 467 MHz channels, which formerly were designated exclusively for FRS) to GMRS for use on a shared basis with FRS. They will be available to GMRS operators under the same technical limits that currently apply to FRS.137 We retain the five Watts ERP limit for GMRS operation on the 462 MHz interstitial channels. Consequently, all FRS frequencies will now be shared with GMRS, while the eight GMRS 467 MHz main channels (repeater input channels) will remain exclusively GMRS.


In the nutshell:

FRS: all those bubble pack radios that exist now do not require a GMRS license on channels 15-22, and they can use up to 2 watts on all channels 1-22.

GMRS: you can now transmit on channels 8-14 using 5 watts.

Everything else remains the same with regards to frequencies and power.
 
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rescuecomm

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Don't look over the fact that the power limit for FRS is now 2 watts Effective Radiated Power. Depending on the antenna efficiency, that could be as much as 4 to 5 watts at the antenna terminals.

Bob
 

n1das

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Don't look over the fact that the power limit for FRS is now 2 watts Effective Radiated Power. Depending on the antenna efficiency, that could be as much as 4 to 5 watts at the antenna terminals.

Bob
Those permanently attached antennas are effectively not much better than a leaky dummy load at UHF frequencies.


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