Commercial businesses using FRS/GMRS? Chick-fil-A, I'm looking at you.

[chrismol1]

I believe it was 07/08 motorola came out with the RDM2070d, a murs only handheld, fixed antenna, 7 ch, the first 2 repeat as last, walmart version it displays "WALMART" on display on power up. They used various business band portables prior. Walmarts grandfathered a license in my state in the ULS to 1992 which makes since with large supercenters being started at that time. They didnt bother to renew in 2002 which makes sense with murs becoming a thing in 2000. Target has their own versions of the CLS model

 

[colodak]

My first introduction to ham radio in the early 90's, volunteered for a local SAR team, went to the state training classes one year, couple of the guys were ham operators. Couple of us went to the local McD's for lunch one day, guy reaches down and starts scanning on his radio, then picked up the McD drive thru frequency and locked in. When he pulled up to the speaker, he rolled his window up and keyed his mic to place our order, I'm sure the girls inside were freaked out. Can't recall if they got our order right.

 

[WB9YBM]

i listen to everyone.
it is short lived, until this virus stuff goes away.
lock out that channel or listen for any funny stuff.
i left a fast food line one night when they said between themselves, "we need the bug guy here fast".
information is always useful. i did go back at a later date, it was no big deal.

I'd like to see the look on the order-takers face if someone were to pull up and say, "I'll have the same thing the guy ahead of me is having" (hide the scanner first!)

 

[cmdrwill]

Reminds me in 1991 when my tech found a Carl's Jr radio and figured out the frequency and how it worked. Then she programmed the ICOM radio in the service truck so she could place an order before we even got to the CJ's. She also figured out Mac Donald's and others.

 

[phillydjdan]

It's even better when you have the SPEAKER frequency and when they are in the McDonalds drive-thru you whisper "Get the Whopper! Get the Whopper!" then listen to the customer all confused lol

 

[W4KRR]

I would often hear them making disparaging remarks about the customers.

 

[n1das]

My wife and I were at the CFA drive thru today. CCRs were in use instead of headsets. I got a good look at a CCR being used. It is a BF-888S clone with Greaval for a name on it. Channel 13 was in use, 463.525 D465I. D465I corresponds to D331N and that's how it showed up in my BC396xt handheld scanner. I have heard channel 16 in use in the past, 469.95MHz w/CTCSS 203.5Hz.

From the CCR default frequencies in the RR Wiki:

CCR Default Frequencies - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Baofeng/Pofung BF-888S and clones #1
Includes:

• Amcrest ATR-22
• Arcshell AR-5
• Olywiz HTD-825
• Retevis RT22

Ch Frequency Tone Notes
1 462.1250 69.3
2 462.2250
3 462.3250
4 462.4250 103.5
5 462.5250 114.8
6 462.6250 127.3
7 462.7250 136.5
8 462.8250 162.2
9 462.9250 D025
10 463.0250 D051
11 463.1250 D125
12 463.2250 D155I
13 463.5250 D465I
14 450.2250 D023
15 460.3250
16 469.9500 203.5

My wife and I have been at the CFA a couple of times recently and they were using the CCRs again, this time on 462.325MHz CSQ. I managed to get a look at a CCR on the person handling cash for the drive-thru and CCR was an Arcshell AR-5.

 

[n1das]

I would often hear them making disparaging remarks about the customers.

I've heard that too in the past but fortunately not at the CFA I frequent. They probably think no one else can hear them. LOL. If using FRS or CCRs, they probably think no one can hear them because they are using a "privacy code" LOL.

 

[W4KRR]

I've heard that too in the past but fortunately not at the CFA I frequent. They probably think no one else can hear them. LOL. If using FRS or CCRs, they probably think no one can hear them because they are using a "privacy code" LOL.

Actually it was a Mickey D's where they were making the remarks about the customers, and that was many years ago. It seems that these days, most Mickey D's are using some sort of unmonitorable, digital system.

 

[n1das]

Actually it was a Mickey D's where they were making the remarks about the customers, and that was many years ago. It seems that these days, most Mickey D's are using some sort of unmonitorable, digital system.

Yep, I heard it from McD's too back then.

 

[k4ays]

Family Radio Service (FRS)

The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a private, two-way, very short-distance voice and data communications service for facilitating family and group activities. The most common use for FRS channels is short-distance, two-way voice communications using small hand-held radios that are similar to...

www.fcc.gov

Very simple google search for FRS business use. It's the featured result.

There's nothing wrong with business use of FRS as long as they're using part 95 FRS radios.

The guy said that they are using GMRS channels, not FRS channels and you do need a license to operate on GMRS channels. They can use FRS channels.

 

[mmckenna]

The guy said that they are using GMRS channels, not FRS channels and you do need a license to operate on GMRS channels. They can use FRS channels.

The FRS and GMRS rules have been rewritten since you probably last studied them.
The FRS frequencies and GMRS frequencies are now all in the same bucket. Only difference is the amount of power and antenna type you can run.

 

[k4ays]

The FRS and GMRS rules have been rewritten since you probably last studied them.
The FRS frequencies and GMRS frequencies are now all in the same bucket. Only difference is the amount of power and antenna type you can run.

As far as the changes in 2017 goes, there are exclusively GMRS frequencies which are the repeater input frequencies (aka "467 MHz main channels"). All other channels are shared with FRS. So that being said, they are really not in the same bucket. But I did go back over the posters post and seen he did give a frequency that is shared between GMRS and FRS. Personally I think GMRS got screwed with the new set of rules and FRS benefited from them.

 

[mmckenna]

Right. Chick Fil A isn't using repeaters for drive through operations.

As for GMRS getting screwed, based on some of the submissions to the FCC comment period, it was less than ideal, but much better than some of the possible outcomes. At one point they were seriously considering limiting it -all- to 2 watts, no repeaters. Getting to retain the repeaters, 50 watts and better antennas saved it.

Hopefully GMRS is so lucky next time.

 

[wizzardproduction]

I think alot of people forgot to read or reread the part about all old existing forms and GMRS licenses could only operate with business restrictions as they were licensed with and no new business licenses would be issued period and also that they the current business licenses could be renewed BUT could NOT be modified from as issued ONLY RENEWED WITH CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ...I wander how many have kept those older GMRS liscense current lol intrested because the fcc searches I've done dont show alot of these places with a current liscense on GMRS so maybe some big business need some big fines and keep other licenses free for non commercial use like it was intended just my 2 cents worth anyway

 

[mmckenna]

so maybe some big business need some big fines and keep other licenses free for non commercial use like it was intended just my 2 cents worth anyway

They would not be fined if they were operating under the current FRS rule structure, which is entirely possible.

If they were running 50 watts, repeaters, etc, then yes.
There was a towing company near me that had a grandfathered GMRS license and was still using it up until about 10 years ago. They had a good repeater on a high site and it served their purposes well. Some people would get torqued off because a business was on GMRS, yet didn't understand that they were totally legal. Right down to the point that people would try to purposely interfere with them.

My employer still holds a couple of GMRS licenses. We do occasionally use them.
We also have a lot of users utilizing the bubble pack 22 channel FRS radios, all totally legal.

 

[MrThompson]

For Mike the OP - I'd be an Elmer and offer to show the manager how to limit the transmit power and frequencies used. You never know when there might be a budding HAM in your midst.

 

[bill4long]

The guy said that they are using GMRS channels, not FRS channels and you do need a license to operate on GMRS channels. They can use FRS channels.

This may help.

FRS/GMRS combined channel chart - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[n1das]

Chic Fil A near me uses Retevis RT22 FRS radios. Gave me something to listen to while waiting in the drive up line.

The CFA near me that I've posted about earlier finally wore out the CCRs they were using. The antennas got totally destroyed on them. Now they are using Retevis RT22 FRS radios. I found them on 462.6375 (FRS 4) and using a CTCSS of 131.8Hz. The RT22 seems to be a perfect little FRS radio for them to use. The RT22 antenna is a stubby antenna built into the RT22's enclosure. At least they won't destroy the RT22 as easily.

Since the rewrite of Part 95 rules came out in 2017, I have noticed an uptick in business use of FRS. All perfectly legal too. Kids playing with FRS bubble packs are still there but legitimate business use of FRS has increased.

 

[chief21]

Since the rewrite of Part 95 rules came out in 2017, I have noticed an uptick in business use of FRS. All perfectly legal too. Kids playing with FRS bubble packs are still there but legitimate business use of FRS has increased.

I expect that the change of maximum TX power from the toy-like 500 mW to 2 Watts might cause many businesses to re-evaluate FRS as a feasible option.