Hello everyone,
I have looked up a lot of info on GMRS but it is either very vague or the answers are conflicting. I am wanting to apply for a GMRS license so that me and my family can utilize radios to talk on. Using both handhelp/portable radios and mobile radios installed in our vehicles. I am also planning on setting up a repeater.
Good choice. I did that for years before I was able to get others in the family to get their amateur radio licenses. For those that don't want to get their ham licenses, GMRS is an excellent solution.
My first question is, what is the make power output? Would I be correct in handhelds/portables are 5watts, mobile radios in a vehicle are 5-50watts and a repeater transmitting at a maximum of 50watts?
Maximum power output isn't dependent on the radio type, but on the frequency.
The 8 primary GMRS channel pairs are limited to 50 watts, however you can use gain antennas and increase the ERP above 50 watts. Many repeaters are running 40-50 watts off the transmitter into higher gain antennas and seeing ERP levels from 100-300 watts.
The 7 interstitial frequencies (the ones shared with FRS) are limited to 5 watts ERP.
While it's uncommon to find a UHF hand held radio that does more than 4 or 5 watts, there isn't any rule in GMRS that says you can't run more. It's just not realistic based on batteries and not necessarily safe for a hand held radio.
So, totally legal for you to run 50 watts on the primary channels and on your repeater. Add gain antennas and enjoy the increased ERP.
My second question is, with me wanting a repeater is there anything extra in the initial filling or doing another filing? can I just pick any of the GMRS frequencies, plug a receive and transmit and get to talking?
The repeater does not require separate or special licensing. Your GMRS license covers your GMRS repeater.
As for picking frequencies, it's common courtesy to check to see what's around you first. In some areas of the country there are many active repeaters. Some are even grandfathered business repeaters (totally legal). Popping up on a GMRS pair without checking to see if it's in use would be bad form. GMRS licensees are expected to cooperate. No frequency is reserved for any specific user. Also, you will need to pick a CTCSS or DCS code for your system. Since there are a lot of GMRS users, both licensed and unlicensed, as well as FRS radios that operate on 467MHz frequencies tucked in between the GMRS repeater inputs, running CTCSS or DCS on your repeater input will almost always be necessary. If not, one kid with a slightly out of whack FRS radio can tie up your repeater for hours with deedle tones, noises, music, fart noises, etc. Don't be that guy that blankets and entire area with that.
You'll also want a CTCSS or DCS tone on your repeater output. That way your family won't have to listen to everyone else on the same GMRS channel.
DCS tones give you a slight amount more protection as there are more of them and less likely someone will "accidentally" be running the same DCS code.
None of that stops people from trying to hack into your repeater. Make sure you have a way of disabling it if necessary.
Repeaters can be private or open to the licensed public. Your choice. With the right repeater controller, you can program multiple CTCSS or DCS tones to allow other users to not hear other traffic. I used to have access to a GMRS repeater, many years ago. Had my own CTCSS tone and pretty much had the channel to myself and my family. Since it was a "non-standard" CTCSS tone, I could leave a base radio on in the house 24x7 and not be annoyed by others.
My third and final question is, what radios are acceptable for this and what modes? I plan on using Harris p7100's for handhelds, GE Erickson Orion's in our vehicles, and I'm not sure on a repeater yet. Will these work? Also, I plan on talking analog and using two tone paging. Is this accepatible?
Any radio that has the FCC type certification for Part 95/GMRS is legal. There are a number of options. Some older Motorola's were. A lot of the Kenwoods are. Many Icoms are. Best to get the FCC ID off the radio you are thinking of using and running it through the database over on the FCC-OET page. That's the definitive answer source.