2 Meter license, True or False

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Hi Guys, I have heard from two different radio ops, that the FCC does not require any license for a 2M radio under 100 watts. I will keep studying but would really like to know. They class it in the same area as a CB radio. You Guys will tell me the truth, that's why I come here. Thanks.
 

burner50

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False...

Completely false.

You are required to have a license to transmit on any ham band...
 

KB0VWG

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Totally False

You need a Fcc license no if ands or buts.
kb0vwg
wqoi992
 

gewecke

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Hi Guys, I have heard from two different radio ops, that the FCC does not require any license for a 2M radio under 100 watts. I will keep studying but would really like to know. They class it in the same area as a CB radio. You Guys will tell me the truth, that's why I come here. Thanks.

They were yanking your chain. Yes, you need the license. ;)

73,
n9zas
 

mastr

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Wrong. I advise you to be careful which "radio ops" you take advice from.
 
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I kind of figured they were speaking with forked tongue. That's why I ask "the big boys"! I am so greatful to be a member of this wonderful forum. Now I think about it, I have never seen what kind of radios they claim to have. Far as I know the Feds have never turned down revenue from anywhere. Thanks Guys. 73's
 

nonperson

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Not entirely false! MURS is a license free and is in the VHF band. However you are only legally limited to two watts and only five frequencies. They could also be talking about marine band.
 

Rt169Radio

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A 2 meter radio is a ham radio and so you need to have a ham radio license to transmit on it.
 

nonperson

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A 2 meter radio is a ham radio and so you need to have a ham radio license to transmit on it.

Two meters refers to the wave length of the frequency. If you wanted to take it literally then two meters is actually 149.896229 MHZ which is outside the amateur band. Just saying!
 

KG4INW

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Not entirely false! MURS is a license free and is in the VHF band. However you are only legally limited to two watts and only five frequencies. They could also be talking about marine band.

And the radios have to be certified for Part 95 to be totally legal on MURS.
 

nonperson

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And the radios have to be certified for Part 95 to be totally legal on MURS.

Unless the radio was manufactured before a certain date which I can't remember at the moment. :D But it's still limited to two watts.
 

kc4jgc

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Not entirely false! MURS is a license free and is in the VHF band. However you are only legally limited to two watts and only five frequencies. They could also be talking about marine band...........Two meters refers to the wave length of the frequency. If you wanted to take it literally then two meters is actually 149.896229 MHZ which is outside the amateur band. Just saying!

REALLY, NP? THe OP asked about the amateur 2m band ONLY, not MURS. He has his answer, so why muddy the water by throwing in "not entirely false" which total BS! Oh, BTW, because the band is lower in freq than exactly 2.0 meters but above 3 meters it is indeed literally 2 meters!

I would have let you slide if it weren't for your first sentence.

Fact of the matter, anywhere between 144-148 MHz, license required, period.
 

nonperson

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REALLY, NP? THe OP asked about the amateur 2m band ONLY, not MURS. He has his answer, so why muddy the water by throwing in "not entirely false" which total BS! Oh, BTW, because the band is lower in freq than exactly 2.0 meters but above 3 meters it is indeed literally 2 meters!

I would have let you slide if it weren't for your first sentence.

Fact of the matter, anywhere between 144-148 MHz, license required, period.

"Hi Guys, I have heard from two different radio ops, that the FCC does not require any license for a 2M radio under 100 watts. I will keep studying but would really like to know. They class it in the same area as a CB radio. You Guys will tell me the truth, that's why I come here. Thanks."

The OP asked about a "2M radio," not "the amateur 2m band ONLY" and said "they class[ify] it in the same area as a CB radio." MURS is the only VHF (2m) radio service that is referred to, by some, as the VHF CB that I know of. The Marine band is another possibility, his friend(s) were talking about in reference to the "100 watts" statement. Either way MURS is only allowed 2 watts and Marine radios are for use by boats and ships. I don't know if they have any power restrictions? Further more the OP stated he was studying for his license and appeared to be rather new to radio. To the uniformed a radio is a radio and they wouldn't know the difference between a CB, HAM and commercial radio services.
"The band is lower in freq than exactly 2.0 meters but above 3 meters it is indeed literally 2 meters!" NO! Literal means "true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual: a literal description of conditions." Literally means "in the literal or strict sens." Two meters is only used to refer to the band but LITERALLY, two meters is not in the HAM bands. :)


I have never heard anyone other then an Amateur Radio operator refer to a VHF radio as a 2-meter.

You may be correct but the OP stated he was studying for his license and may be referring to any radio in the VHF range. If in fact his friend(s) were talking about the 2 meter amateur band (144 -148 Mhz) then they would be wrong. Either way though it sounds like they were breaking some FCC rules. :)
 

jhooten

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Murs 5 is 1.94 meters

164.52 is 2.0475 meters

Since 149.9 to 150.5 is allocated to the Federal Government the FCC cannot issue you a license to operate on 2 meters.

Just to pick nits.
 

zz0468

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The OP asked about a "2M radio," not "the amateur 2m band ONLY"...

We really don't need some pedantic simpleton coming along and complicating the issue. We all know what the OP was really asking. :roll:
 

acyddrop

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Not to nit pick, but that's not entirely true. It's true with respect to the OP's original question, but in a more broad sense it's incorrect. With regards to Part 15 title 47 of the FCC code, you're allowed to transmit above and below AM broadcast but with VERY little power. If this rule wasn't in place I doubt you could use a regenerative receiver. There are of course some rules with the design of the feed line and such but you are allowed to transmit "micro power". And from what I can tell reading the section that would include every HF/VHF and UHF band. It's not broadly useful however, since you're probably not going to go even a block. But the law is in place to allow small experimentation. And if you cause interference you'll be asked to stop, which seems entirely reasonable to me.

you need a license regardless what the Watts are. the Watts have nothing to do with transmitting with a license.
 
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gewecke

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I'll bet the Op never asks another question... :(


73,
n9zas
 
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