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GMRS/FRS/MURS Texting Devices

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JASII

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What devices are currently available that allow texting? I recall that the discontinued TriSquare devices had a texting mode. I have read that Garmin RINO radios will do it. Also, the Motorola DTR410/550/650 will. Are there others? What about Nextel Direct Talk? Is there any way to make them text unit to unit? Is the range for texting the same as voice?
 

rapidcharger

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The Trisquare radios and Motorola DTR radios are in 900mhz personal radio services not in the GMRS, FRS or MURS radio services.
Data is not allowed in GMRS so the radios capable of text messaging are not going to be legal there.
Data is allowed in MURS, however the radios that would be capable of sending and receiving data are unfortunately not certified to legally use in that radio service.... At least, I've never seen one. As it is, there's not even that many certified for just voice let alone data.
Data is allowed in the FRS too. If you can find a Rino that does it, I'd say that's probably the only one certified to do that.
 

gewecke

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What devices are currently available that allow texting? I recall that the discontinued TriSquare devices had a texting mode. I have read that Garmin RINO radios will do it. Also, the Motorola DTR410/550/650 will. Are there others? What about Nextel Direct Talk? Is there any way to make them text unit to unit? Is the range for texting the same as voice?

This is what I suggest, as long as you limit texts to Frs channels only;

GARMIN Rino 530HCx 2-Way Radio with GPS/FRS/GMRS 010-00564-01 ? Walmart.com

73,
n9zas
 

quarterwave

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"What about Nextel Direct Talk? Is there any way to make them text unit to unit?"

No.
 

ResQguy

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Nextel has been non-extent for a few years now.

Be that as it may, DirectTalk never did need infrastructure to operate and will continue to do so until batteries are no longer available. You can make unit to unit voice calls all day long, but no data like SMS is available. The compatible devices are still very popular and useful.
 

Dantian

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The Trisquare radios and Motorola DTR radios are in 900mhz personal radio services not in the GMRS, FRS or MURS radio services./QUOTE]

Just for the sake of accuracy ...

There are no 900 MHz personal radio services.

After working on it since 1979, the FCC rejected the idea of putting a personal radio service in the 900 MHz band in late 1984.

Those 900 MHz radios are Part 15 devices, which are not radio services and have no licenses or operator rules.
 
D

DaveNF2G

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Are you sure data is allowed on FRS but not GMRS? They fall under the same Part of the FCC rules and those rules are much more restrictive for FRS.
 

EmilyWolf

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The Trisquare radios and Motorola DTR radios are in 900mhz personal radio services not in the GMRS, FRS or MURS radio services.
Data is not allowed in GMRS so the radios capable of text messaging are not going to be legal there.
Data is allowed in MURS, however the radios that would be capable of sending and receiving data are unfortunately not certified to legally use in that radio service.... At least, I've never seen one. As it is, there's not even that many certified for just voice let alone data.
Data is allowed in the FRS too. If you can find a Rino that does it, I'd say that's probably the only one certified to do that.

Trisquare is garbage unless you need toy like radios just for light use. The dtrs are amazing. Having a tech license is more amazing
 
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