Frequencies and Repeaters

[wyldeshot]

First, I am very new to amateur radio and trying to learn. I have a handheld radio and working on learning it. I do have my GMRS license.

I have been looking through local repeaters. Some of these repeaters are in the 145-147 mhz frequency ranges. I know this is outside of the GMRS range. I am trying to decide if I should program these frequencies in to radio. Having a GMRS license, I am not allowed to use these 145-147 mhz frequencies correct?

I appreciate the help!

 

[AK9R]

That's correct. The repeaters you are seeing on 144-148 MHz are in the amateur radio 2m band. You must have an amateur radio license in order to transmit on amateur radio frequencies. A GMRS license does not give you operating privileges on amateur radio frequencies.

 

[wyldeshot]

That's correct. The repeaters you are seeing on 144-148 MHz are in the amateur radio 2m band. You must have an amateur radio license in order to transmit on amateur radio frequencies. A GMRS license does not give you operating privileges on amateur radio frequencies.

Thank you so much. That's what I was thinking. I don't think I will program those into my radio. I hope to start working on my HAM license this year. Mostly to learn more!

 

[KC3ECJ]

You might be able set them to receive only depending on the radio you use in the meantime.

 

[GlobalNorth]

If you get a Ham license, it can help to put your Amateur call sign sticker on your Amateur radio and your GMRS call sign sticker on your GMRS radio.

Call sign confusion is real!

 

[wyldeshot]

You might be able set them to receive only depending on the radio you use in the meantime.

That’s how I have it setup now. I have some set on my scan but if I would accidentally respond I will broadcast on a GMRS frequency.

 

[wyldeshot]

If you get a Ham license, it can help to put your Amateur call sign sticker on your Amateur radio and your GMRS call sign sticker on your GMRS radio.

Call sign confusion is real!

For sure! I was hoping it would be the same lol. I have a sticker on my radio now. I was shocked at the cost of some of the ham radios. I’ll need to take baby steps.

 

[ladn]

f you get a Ham license, it can help to put your Amateur call sign sticker on your Amateur radio and your GMRS call sign sticker on your GMRS radio.

I've heard of some folks using one radio for both ham radio and GMRS. It would be either a dual band (VHF/UHF) or UHF only. Sounds like that would be a lot easier than schlepping around two radios.

 

[GlobalNorth]

It is pretty embarrassing to chime in on a ham net and then have someone ask: "Do you have an Amateur call sign? That sounds like a GMRS call."

 

[AK9R]

It is pretty embarrassing to chime in on a ham net and then have someone ask: "Do you have an Amateur call sign? That sounds like a GMRS call."

I have heard it happen. Some folks don't know that amateur radio and GMRS are separate radio services with separate licenses.

 

[MTS2000des]

Yep. About a year ago a guy popped on my UHF repeater with a GMRS call sign. We politely informed him that a part 97 license is required. He cleared off. About a month and a half later, he came back with a ham call. Today, he is an extra. He graduated from a Baoturd to "for real" radios and is an active participant on many area repeaters and can be heard for "5.5 hours or more" a day. He's also very active on HF and loves CW.

Just goes to show you what a little POSITIVE mentoring and guidance can do if one is willing.

 

[a417]

It is pretty embarrassing to chime in on a ham net and then have someone ask: "Do you have an Amateur call sign? That sounds like a GMRS call."

...or key up on the company talk group at work and drop your callsign... something something, separation of church and state something something.

 

[GlobalNorth]

I have heard it happen. Some folks don't know that amateur radio and GMRS are separate radio services with separate licenses.

Some of us have both licenses and have forgotten what service we were using at the time. An "Abe Simpson" moment, for certain!

 

[wyldeshot]

Yep. About a year ago a guy popped on my UHF repeater with a GMRS call sign. We politely informed him that a part 97 license is required. He cleared off. About a month and a half later, he came back with a ham call. Today, he is an extra. He graduated from a Baoturd to "for real" radios and is an active participant on many area repeaters and can be heard for "5.5 hours or more" a day. He's also very active on HF and loves CW.

Just goes to show you what a little POSITIVE mentoring and guidance can do if one is willing.

This is great and what I’m working towards. And yes I’ll need to graduate to a real radio once I know what I need and what I don’t. I love stories like this. I love to teach people what I know and I love to learn.

 

[N4GIX]

I've had that happen more than once. With five mics in close proximity it's easy to grab the wrong one. Opps!

 

[MTS2000des]

Pretty bad when you accidentally get on SO or Fire Main with your ham call. They see the alias and already know "he forgot which mike he was grabbing, damn radio guys"

 

[k6cpo]

I've heard of some folks using one radio for both ham radio and GMRS. It would be either a dual band (VHF/UHF) or UHF only. Sounds like that would be a lot easier than schlepping around two radios.

Unfortunately, this is violation of the FCC rules. GMRS radios have to be type certified and can't be used on other services. The Baofengs have led to this becoming a common practice in spite of the rules.

 

[bharvey2]

I have heard it happen. Some folks don't know that amateur radio and GMRS are separate radio services with separate licenses.

I have both ham and GMRS licenses. I've "heard" of people picking up the wrong mic or radio and giving the wrong call sign for the particular service. Again, I've "heard" of it happening.

If you want to use one radio for both ham and GMRS, radios that are listed for both part 90 and part 95 AND can be programmed and function within the ham bands are available. I tend to gravitate toward those as they're usually of good quality; far better that any of the CCR offerings.

With regard to the OP's question: as noted above, you can program ham frequencies into your radio as receive only without any problems. Be sure that the ham channels are programmed for wide band (25khz, not 12.5khz) You could program in the transmit frequency but technically, that could get you into trouble. The likelihood is almost nil though. Better yet, get your amateur radio tech license. It isn't hard to do and then you can enjoy the ham bands as well.

 

[wyldeshot]

Unfortunately, this is violation of the FCC rules. GMRS radios have to be type certified and can't be used on other services. The Baofengs have led to this becoming a common practice in spite of the rules.

What would be a budget friendly solution for a portable GMRS and then a portable HAM to get started?

 

[AK9R]

If you want to use one radio for both ham and GMRS, radios that are listed for both part 90 and part 95 AND can be programmed and function within the ham bands are available.

The rules would seem to contradict that. 47 CFR 95.1761(c) states:

No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with a frequency capability not listed in § 95.1763 [which lists the 462 and 467 MHz frequencies used in GMRS], unless such transmitter is also certified for use in another radio service for which the frequency is authorized and for which certification is also required. No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. All frequency determining circuitry (including crystals) and programming controls in each GMRS transmitter must be internal to the transmitter and must not be accessible from the exterior of the transmitter operating panel or from the exterior of the transmitter enclosure.