GM-15Pro Programming Help

[Darren418]

I posted a few hours ago on this thread a link to a youtube video showing how to convert the GM-15 Pro from GMRS to 2m/440 ham. The mods deleted my post I assume because posting links is against the rules (I'll re-check the rules, maybe it's a copyright issue?). So rather than post the actual link, I suggest just doing a youtube search for "Matt Cover Tech" and "GM-30" and it should pull up. The GM-30 and GM-15 are essentially the same radios and use the same software.

I had two of these GM-15 Pros sitting around doing nothing because there is no GMRS activity around me, so this was a great help letting me re-purpose them for 2m/440.

 

[K4EET]

Hi @mmckenna and thanks for pointing out my error. I thought I was on ecfr.gov but after checking my browser history, I see that I was on govinfo.gov instead. I think 🤔 what I’ll do because of the sentence in 95.1761(c) that, as you pointed out, reads

“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.”

is to ask a friend of mine that works for the FCC to see if they can request, via their chain of command, clarification on that sentence in the CFR so we can put this issue to rest once and for all. In the strictest form IMHO, “No GMRS transmitter” means any and all GMRS transmitters will not be “certified for use in the GMRS” if it can “operate in services that do not require equipment certification.” Without clarification, I am still going to say it would be illegal. But I do appreciate your opinion and see your point. I guess time will tell what the final answer will be with an official statement from the FCC.

In closing, I will concede that there is wording in the CFR that leaves room for interpretation. The problem with that is should you be cited for a rule violation that has room for interpretation, which way will the officials rule? Then you might take it to the court system which still requires a ruling. As I see it right now, the safest way to play is to not mix GMRS frequencies with frequencies from a service that does not require equipment certification.

 

[mmckenna]

“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.”

Yeah, I get what you are saying. But there's a lot of radios out there that have been granted FCC Part 95 certification, along with Part 90, that have the ability to be programmed with amateur radio frequencies. If the FCC agrees with your interpretation, then there's a lot of radios that are going to get their type certification pulled. A lot of Kenwood, Icom and Motorola….

is to ask a friend of mine that works for the FCC to see if they can request, via their chain of command, clarification on that sentence in the CFR so we can put this issue to rest once and for all.

Will be interesting to see, but in my experience, they don't always seem to know themselves.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I know this is an old tread, but ham and GMRS can indeed be used in same radio.


My Kenwoods TK-390, TK-3180 and TK-5310 all have GMRS and ham 70 CM frequencies in them.

Right, but your Kenwoods are likely part 95 approved, where as Almost none of these chinesium radios have part 95 acceptance, but a code to reset the radio allows them access to unlocked mode.