D
DaveNF2G
Guest
Yes, we sane people know that...
LOL
LOL
Standard Horizon made the HX471S which was a marine VHF and FRS dual band radio and HX470S which was marine VHF, FRS and MURS.
If I use a frequency that is shared by both FRS and GMRS, which rule as far as power and FCC call signs apply?
Perhaps I didn't state my question properly. I know the FCC rules, but thanks for the refresher. The point of my question was... a group of people are running a drill. The all have the blister pack FRS/GMRS radios from various manufactures. They have chose to use channel 6 (462.6875) which is used by both FRS & GMRS. What radio service regs takes precedence? FRS or GMRS? Or is it a free for all where an individual can use the GMRS side of the radio (understanding that he needs a license, but as we all know likely doesn't have one (due to the $85 fee), still on the same freq but now increases his power output and therefore steps all over the FRS user. I guess there is no clear answer to this question. Sorry I asked it.
We will use the Motorola convention that identifies the FRS/GMRS channels as channels 1-22
Channels 1-7 are shared by FRS/GMRS. If you have no GMRS license, you are capped at 0.5 watts which is the FRS limit. If however, you do have a GMRS license then you can use 5 watts max.
Channels 8-14 are for FRS use only and have a 0.5 watt limit
Channels 15-22 are GMRS only channels and are limited to 50 (fifty) watts max.
On call signs: to legally operate GMRS requires you pay I believe $85 for a 5 yr license at which time they issue you a GMRS call sign which I think you are legally required to use on the air. Problem is this: the FCC allows unlicensed users (no GMRS license and no Ham license of any kind) to buy FRS/GMRS hybrid radios and "requires" them to purchase a GMRS license for $85 BEFORE using the 15 GMRS channels. "HELLO MCFLY (insert "FCC")....ANYBODY HOME?????"
How many people will fork over $85 for a GMRS license to talk on a radio with a range of a few miles when the radios they just bought cost about, ballpark, $45 for a set of two radios............ Answer: virtually NO ONE buys the GMRS license unless they are already Ham license owners and don't want to risk loosing their higher Ham license too, if caught. The only others who "might" buy the license and who don't already own a Ham license are those who buy real GMRS radios (operate on only the 15 GMRS channels and no others). These are what we call "purists" and I am guessing that these folks get licenses at a higher rate than do those who buy the hybrid radios but again, don't bank on it.
Bottom line: virtually no one buys a GMRS license meaning the FCC has mandated an unenforceable requirement which means they should dump the licensing requirement. Another reason is that when a Federal agency (the FCC) is willing to give a license to anyone stupid enough to fork over $85 and they allow this with no training required what so ever of the person they are about to issue the license to, then this is simply a "money collection scam" and the requirement should be done away with.
Think I got all that right.
Excellent post!!
Eh. Got on a bit of rant there. That being said…I can go buy a Motorola APX, program it up for all the local PS stuff without a license. There has never been anything from stopping someone from purchasing a radio without a license to use said radio.
Then again, most licensed owners who own repeaters (me for example) see no point in programming radios with the shared channels…why when you have access to the higher powered repeater channels?
It's not enforced very well (like a lot of other FCC regs), but it is illegal to possess a transmitter on frequencies for which you have no license.
It's not enforced very well (like a lot of other FCC regs), but it is illegal to possess a transmitter on frequencies for which you have no license.
It limits your usefulness in a disaster. Even if your repeaters are up, you can't talk to anyone on the shared channels because you don't have them.
Nope…just illegal to transmit (the any one, any frequency, and power rule of CF47 comes into application with that) without a proper license to cover what you transmitting on.
Does not having the shared repeaters limit your usefulness? Depends, those channels may take up valuable memory in your radio for amateur frequencies that you may be associated on with an emergency response group (because in reality very few use GMRS for disaster relief).
Incorrect.
§90.427(b) Except for frequencies used in accordance with § 90.417, no person shall program into a transmitter frequencies for which the licensee using the transmitter is not authorized.
This is found in Part 90, which, while not being the rules that govern GMRS or any other service, do apply to everyone who might wish to have a radio that is capable of transmitting on Part 90 channels.
Wrong. That only means that different licensees that share the same frequency can communicate with eachother in an emergency, or they can transmit on thier own frequency and listen to another station's frequency.and then read 90.417 and you will see it is perfectly legal to program in whatever frequency you want.
Wrong. That only means that different licensees that share the same frequency can communicate with eachother in an emergency, or they can transmit on thier own frequency and listen to another station's frequency.
See 2.405 (d)