GMRS Question

[jesiandabe]

I purchased some uniden gmr-1038-2 radios. What I did was give one to my brother and I kept one cause I was wanting to talk to him over em. They said they have a 10 mile range and he lives about that far away but I can talk to him. I got them about a mile apart and they are staticy. Will I be able to use them? Is there a way I can up the wattage on em to make em work?

 

[kreepus]

The advertised range of 10 miles would be under ideals conditions, i.e. flat open terrain, no obstructions in the way.

As far as the output power is concerned, I don't know of any way to increase power on those types of radios short of using some type of external RF amplifier.

 

[ke5lvt]

10 miles is the max range under the best conditions. like on a lake. depending on the area you live, you might get 1 to 5 miles.

 

[Gilligan]

Range is very limited on these radios but make sure you are on a channel that has full power capabilities. On many of those radios, on the display, it will show a little radio that becomes bold when you are on a full-power channel. I think usually it is ch 1-7 and 15-22 and the low-power only channels are 8-14. I used to work security on a large hotel property and we used the radios w/ advertised 14+ mile range on full-power. On a property no larger than 1/8 mile by 1/8 mile, there were times when we couldn't talk to each other. So I would say don't even bother if you're not out on a highway or in a boat, or up on a mountain. Get Nextel!

 

[stewart00311]

Also lets not forget the FRS .5 watts, GMRS (Liscensed) 5 watts.
That is the problem with the bubble packs as they do not make it clear to operate on the High power channels a liscense is required.

 

[jonny290]

sounds like the perfect opportunity for a couple of tech tickets and HT's or used mobile rigs

 

[iMONITOR]

It's such BS the range specs that manufacture publish on their FRS/GMRS radios! I guess they're not held to the same "Truth in Advertising", as others are. Realistically their range such read something more like 1-2 miles under normal conditions.

 

[800crazy1]

AMEN GREATLAKES , thats the truth.

 

[omega52]

What's the deal with these low end GMRS radios? The manufacturers are doing the Licensed radio community a disservice by marketing these as Family radios. It is very unclear that most of the usefulness of these radioe is in the licensed channels. I don't recall exactly, but the cost of a license was something like $80 for a 5 year license. Now you tell me who is going to apply for a license to use their $30 radio!

 

[iMONITOR]

What's the deal with these low end GMRS radios? The manufacturers are doing the Licensed radio community a disservice by marketing these as Family radios. It is very unclear that most of the usefulness of these radioe is in the licensed channels. I don't recall exactly, but the cost of a license was something like $80 for a 5 year license. Now you tell me who is going to apply for a license to use their $30 radio!

Manufactures? No, it's more like the consumers are doing the licensed radio community a disservice by not reading, or not respecting the license requirement.

That would be like saying the auto manufactures are doing the walking pedestrians a disservice by producing automobiles that people buy, and operate without a driver's license. It's the individuals responsibility to obtain the proper license, not the manufactures to make sure they do so.

As for who would pay $80.00 for a GMRS license? I did! So have numerous Radio Reference members. Just because a radio is inexpensive, does not alleviate you from your responsibilities to obtain the proper license. Will people buy these radios, and use them without a license? Sure they will. Just like people do a lot of other unethical, or illegal things. But again, it's "people" causing the problems, not "manufactures".

 

[Gilligan]

But the manufacturers KNOW that people will use them however they please, and not just the "few" who don't bother to get a license, but the 99% of them who don't care. And they are marketing them on that principle. To deny it is not practical.

 

[iMONITOR]

But the manufacturers KNOW that people will use them however they please, and not just the "few" who don't bother to get a license, but the 99% of them who don't care. And they are marketing them on that principle. To deny it is not practical.

It doesn't matter. It is simply not the manufactures responsibility. I can go buy a 100 watt ICOM H.F. transceiver, and I do not need a license to do so. The manufactures are not doing anything illegal.

 

[Gilligan]

The manufactures are not doing anything illegal.

I didn't say they were doing anything illegal. Unethical sounds more like it. When they advertise "license-free" on the box that is half-FRS and half-GMRS that is deceptive. And I'm not even positive that every radio comes with a license application like they used to. I'm not removing personal responsibility from the buyer. But I am placing some responsibility on the seller for selling items in a way that they know consumers will cause a problem. We sell guns for protection and for sport. People choose to use them in inappropriate ways. But these radios are marketed in such a way that the average buyer will use them in ways that are illegal. And the primary users of these radios are kids, not adults. And kids don't care about the laws of radio. It's all about the marketing, my friend. Not illegal, but unethical.

 

[iMONITOR]

I didn't say they were doing anything illegal. Unethical sounds more like it. When they advertise "license-free" on the box that is half-FRS and half-GMRS that is deceptive. And I'm not even positive that every radio comes with a license application like they used to. I'm not removing personal responsibility from the buyer. But I am placing some responsibility on the seller for selling items in a way that they know consumers will cause a problem. We sell guns for protection and for sport. People choose to use them in inappropriate ways. But these radios are marketed in such a way that the average buyer will use them in ways that are illegal. It's all about the marketing, my friend. Not illegal, but unethical.

I don't disagree with the point you're trying to make, but the fact is, unethical, or not, they just don't care. They don't have to care, and they're making money...that's what they're in business to do.

If you feel that strongly about this, then perhaps you should contact the FCC, as it is ultimately their responsibility to enforce the rules, and attempt to get them to put pressure on the manufactures, but I wouldn't count on them being too interested either.

Personally I think they should drop the GMRS license requirement, even though I have one. What purpose does it serve? The license itself will not change how people will use them.

 

[Gilligan]

If you feel that strongly about this, then perhaps you should contact the FCC....

In truth the whole thing doesn't really affect me. I wanted to make a point and that's about it. The FCC is well aware of how these manufacturers are advertising their radios and I don't think they really care, either. I think they see GMRS as the "next CB radio" in that as long as people don't bother licensed businesses, who cares about the mess FRS has made for GMRS licensees. Sad to say but it's probably true. Oh well. Just thought I'd put my two cents in. Or four cents. Or whatever... Have a good day!

 

[Mischief810]

The advertised range of 10 miles would be under ideals conditions, i.e. flat open terrain, no obstructions in the way.

As far as the output power is concerned, I don't know of any way to increase power on those types of radios short of using some type of external RF amplifier.

I really hate to steer this thread back on the topic at hand (I love a good licensing debate as much as the next guy ), but what products would you use to increase output?

I have an orphaned Bellsouth FRS/GMRS that I found in an office "junk box." It works, but the range predictably stinks. Needless to say, I'm not too worried about voiding warranties or causing a radio meltdown.

Has anyone done a homebrewed amp? How about a homebrewed amp and antenna project. I have a soldering iron, some leftover coax and other nick nacks in my own "junk box."

 

[Concrete1]

Something to consider:
The FCC approves for sale all these "GMRS" radios that have a combo of a licensed & unlicensed service in them, that are clearly marked & blister packed for mass consumer sale.
The FCC, however, Does Not allow, for example, a 40ch 4watt CB / Combo 25W marine radio, or 4w CB/ 80w 12M Amateur rig to gain approval.... Nor do they allow a Combo 50W 2M rig "inside" a 25W consumer Marine radio ... This seems to be unique to GMRS/FRS...

 

[joetnymedic]

i can assure you that in unidens bubble pack frs/gmrs there is no application. they do tell you a license is needed for gmrs but do not provide you with the application. they direct you to the fcc site. Since I'm licensed now, i'm going to buy a few better radios for power distance wise. although i just got my youngest a cell phone which was the purpose of licensing in the first place.

Joe - gmrs licensed just this year and i paid the 80 bucks too. did it online.

 

[DPD1]

It's such BS the range specs that manufacture publish on their FRS/GMRS radios! I guess they're not held to the same "Truth in Advertising", as others are. Realistically their range such read something more like 1-2 miles under normal conditions.

The problem is the same with most performance oriented products... All it takes is one person bending the truth, then everybody else has no option but to do the same thing, because people DO in fact believe hype. So it's either be honest and make no money, or join the crowd. On the positive side, if you know the limitations, DX can actually be fun with such things... I've sat on the top of a valley and talked to friends close to 20 miles away on FRS, while they were driving around the valley. That's LOS of course, but it was fun.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Custom Scanner, Aviation, MURS, GMRS, Marine & Ham Antennas -

 

[Gilligan]

DX can actually be fun with such things...

I would be willing to bet there are groups dedicated to FRS DXing.