FRS / GMRS

[BaLa]

It's funny listening to some of these kids talking on their 2-ways.

I bet they don't know that people can listen.

 

[MacombMonitor]

It's funny listening to some of these kids talking on their 2-ways.

I bet they don't know that people can listen.

No kidding! I was playing around with an FRS radio one day, and I heard a kid ordering around his grandmother on an FRS radio. He was demanding that she bring him a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, and a glass of milk. She wasn't answering him...probably pretending not to hear. He was a real brat, and kept it up for quite awhile. I finally couldn't resist, and joined in! I simply said, "Hey kid! Quit being a lazy brat, and get it yourself! Let grandma rest!" The radio was silent the rest of the day! :shock:

 

[cellblock776]

FRS channel 1 is the National Pedophile Channel.
There's a good idea. Give little Billy a radio with 2 mile range that any psyco can monitor and send him out into the streets to play. It shouldn't be long before the local offender hears him on the radio, makes contact and lures him into his van with the spray painted windows and worn mattress in back. Next thing we know, Billy is the subject of an Amber Alert and the volunteers who show up to help look for him are using FRS channel 1 to talk to each other as they search the neighborhood. :?

 

[MacombMonitor]

FRS channel 1 is the National Pedophile Channel.
There's a good idea. Give little Billy a radio with 2 mile range that any psyco can monitor and send him out into the streets to play. It shouldn't be long before the local offender hears him on the radio, makes contact and lures him into his van with the spray painted windows and worn mattress in back. Next thing we know, Billy is the subject of an Amber Alert and the volunteers who show up to help look for him are using FRS channel 1 to talk to each other as they search the neighborhood. :?

Yes, I've heard of this actually happening! However, it's like anything else in life. Do you deprive your children of the fun with FRS, or do you educate them in the proper use, and what to watch out for? If a child rides a bike, they're in danger of getting picked up around the corner, or hit by a car. So do you take away their bike? I grew up in Detroit, Michigan. I didn't have a lot of money back then. When I got married, we raised two boys while still living in Detroit, in a very bad area, for almost eight years. We all survived by using common sense, and becoming street smart. Too often today, parents shelter their children from the reality of life, so they grow up naive to whats going on around them, and become easy victims!

 

[LEH]

Just for the heck of it, Ihave all the FRS/GMRS channels programmed into a bank on the scanner. The scanner does have them in the search bank, but this is easier.

There is one DJ to be in the neighborhood. Likes to put on his "music" and play it over the walkie talkie. Thank heaven he out grew that mode.

Just the general converations that take place on the FRS freqs is fun to listen too. I guess people think if they set the PL tone, no one can hear them. DUH.

All in all, I still like the FRS radios. I've had a couple since right after they came out. My ex girl friend and I used them in the mall or large store (like Costco) while shopping. We attracted a lot of comments and helped start this silly craze.

 

[MacombMonitor]

The wife, and I used to use FRS, but have since switched to GMRS for added range. They come in handy in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, when we go up there. Our cell phones are kind of hit, and miss, so if we sepereate, these are great!

 

[jhooten]

Went from FRS to MURS and saved the $80. Have all the range I need and not that many people have discovered MURS yet.

 

[BaLa]

these kids were between 8-12...
some of the things they were talking about you wouldn't believe..

 

[MacombMonitor]

Went from FRS to MURS and saved the $80. Have all the range I need and not that many people have discovered MURS yet.

I play around with MURS too! There are pro's, and con's to both. Sometimes it's nice to have the ability to talk with other's using FRS, so the GMRS is a little more versitle in that way. Plus you can run much more power on GMRS than MURS. But I like all the non-voice applications that MURS can be used for!

 

[Dave13]

Licensing dilemmia....

I wonder WHAT they plan to do and WHEN they do, when and howFCC will lift the GMRS license requirements?
It seems to me there is quite an unannounced battle going on between ALL the 2-Way Radio Manufacturers and the FCC!Manufacturers have literally flooded the market with ultra-affordable FRS/GMRS units, and are blatentlly flipping the FCC off by doing it. Sales of these handy radios are through the roof and most users have NO intentions of attaining the $80 GMRS license!
The manufactures positivelly KNEW this well before starting production but saw the opening in the market and went for it (ALL of em are guilty too!). A loophole in the regulations simply says they must "inform" buyers of licensing requirements... the radios could be sold to anyone!
So now, what is the FCC to do?
Personally, I think they ought to see the handwriting on the wall, and blanket usage of these currentlly licensed frequencys into the realm of CB/ general coverage FRS/ MURS. The situation is FAR beyond control, and following complex cannon of legislature will just worsen the matter. A simple "Blanketing-in" would dissilve the situation, with least cost to the taxpayers.
He-He, maybe the legislators just asked for too much in the ways of campaign contributions, etc. and the manufacturers just are using this tiny point to say "ENOUGH, we're gonna teach you guys a lesson!" ??? Nevertheless, some consumer relief is sure neededhere!
OK, off my Soap Box...
I have 2 pairs of the little FRS H-H's (a pair of 14ch GE's, and a pair of 22ch Audiovox's). Both arefully capable within the 1 1/2 mile range of the FRS band in open country, the band is easilly shortened by various situations tho. I haven't yet tried the GMRS on the pair of Audiovox's, as I actually AM wrestling with the "moral" question of buying the license for our family!
The GE units are simple 14 ch units without CTSS, but operate on longlife, inexpensive "AA" or handy rechargables. Made well and rugged, look like they'd stand up in a Hurricane! Had them about 8 years so far, still work like the day I un-boxed em!
The Audiovox units were a STEAL, at only $14 ea. on Sale came with 5 "AAA" and a Wall Wart. Therechargeables are short-lived, and the radios work much longer with Alkalines. They have the CTSS scan fearures, and a VERY(!) good NOAA Weather recieve and an alert. I was impressed with their overall good preformance! Construction and finish is not as weatherproof as the GE, but whos going to put theradio through what the GE unit looks capable of?
I have listened in on the GMRS only band on both my scanners and the FRS/GMRS radios, and the frequency is VERY active!
I have frequent occasion to travel to the Kids and Grandkids homes here in Central Calif, and have scanned the band often.

*As a sidenote, I have noticed that many business From the Central Valley to SF, simply equip their Employees with the FRS radios and operate them on the lower 14 FRS channels!
Of ALL the Ham Opertors I know (Quite a few), only TWO have GMRS licenses! Funny they ALL own at least one pair of these dandy little radios...

I guess within the next coupe years, there WILL need to be a change on licensing within this FRS/GMRS band? Going to be intresting to see what happens, eh?
Dave13

 

[policeMonitor]

i have a large set 2 way frs radios and i have been picking up people on channel 2 fixing towers.

now on the gmrs radio how many repeters are there and how many watts are they?

 

[djeplett]

Kids aren't the only fun thing that you hear on FRS...

One night I heard a quick ring call, then a voice in a whisper answered, "OK. I'll be at the back door."

Couple lovers rendezvousing late at night using FRS.

 

[cellblock776]

now on the gmrs radio how many repeters are there and how many watts are they?

I'm not sure how many repeaters there are total. Hundreds?
As for how many watts, that's up to the repeater owner. 10 watts? 20 watts? 40 watts? It's up to the owner of the machine. Just like ham radio repeaters.
Many GMRS repeaters are open to all licensed users while some are closed to everyone except people who have donated or paid dues to support the cost of maintaining the machine.
Doug Smith, Editor of Popular Wireless Magazines ( http://www.popularwireless.com ) decided, after a discussion on his Popular Wireless Bulletin Boards, ( http://www.popularwireless.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi ) to put up a webpage to support what is being called the Open Repeater Initiative . The page, (at http://www.popularwireless.com/openrptr.html ), will show information about various 'open' GMRS repeaters submitted by readers.

 

[LarryN]

Anyone got a list of those freq's handy?

 

[MacombMonitor]

Anyone got a list of those freq's handy?

Click here:

http://www.ba-marc.org/writeups/gmrs-frs-freq.htm

 

[policeMonitor]

now i am a cber so i am new to the repeter thing how do i know that i am reaching a repeter

 

[akardam]

now on the gmrs radio how many repeters are there and how many watts are they?

As for how many watts, that's up to the repeater owner. 10 watts? 20 watts? 40 watts? It's up to the owner of the machine.

Not necessarily. 47 CFR 95.135 dictates how much power is allowable in the GMRS service:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/...ccess.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/octqtr/47cfr95.135.htm

 

[OntarioScannerNut]

There are ways for the users to protect themselves using radios like this.

I've heard a few times when FRS/GMRS was active and it sounded like some sort of digital chatter not in analog mode.

But then again, that would be probably in the more costly range of radios compared to the ones you can buy for like $20.

 

[flyingwolf]

So what makes a radio "repeater capable"?
Is this saying that a normal bubble pack GMRS radio from say Wal-Mart could not work on a repeater?

 

[OntarioScannerNut]

I must point out, that given the fact that these radios can be either good or bad I still hate the sound of the beeps and call features on these things. My dad has a set of Uniden FRS radios with I think the 14 channels there is a call feature on it, but when your using the radio and talking to someone, there is no beeps at the end of the transmission.

You ever sit there bored with nothing else to listen to so you decide on putting the FRS/GMRS frequencies into the scanner? Those are noisy as hell.

I'm sorry, but I still think that all the crap on a CB radio still sounds better than on an FRS/GMRS radio.

Yes, I am a person that listens to boring mundane stuff like this. But then again, I also program in Ham repeaters at times as well.