GMRS licenses

[coldbricks]

I was just curious as to how many people you think own or are familiar with the GMRS license system? They are sold everywhere in places like Wal-mart, etc, and as far as I know, don't you still need a license? Was just curious. I find it a bit ironic you can buy a legal unlicensed CB radio with more power. Thanks

coldbricks

 

[W6KRU]

I was just curious as to how many people you think own or are familiar with the GMRS license system? They are sold everywhere in places like Wal-mart, etc, and as far as I know, don't you still need a license? Was just curious. I find it a bit ironic you can buy a legal unlicensed CB radio with more power. Thanks

coldbricks

5 watts of uhf is not quite the same as 5 watts of 28mHz. The uhf will have a much longer range if line of sight is possible. If you drop down to 14mHz you will find that you can talk to another state but not across town.

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

Well GMRS and FRS are much less crowded then CB in most areas and thier a little more portable then a CB HT is. And as for the licensed GMRS vs. unlicensed CB, GMRS has it's fair share of unlicensed (illegal) users but they are a little more well behaved then the average CB'er.

Why the FCC requires a license for GMRS when, except for higher power and being able to use repeaters it's pretty much the same as FRS, and why they charge such high fees for a GMRS license ($85) I don't know.

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

5 watts of uhf is not quite the same as 5 watts of 28mHz. The uhf will have a much longer range if line of sight is possible. If you drop down to 14mHz you will find that you can talk to another state but not across town.

Not quite, it depends on where you and the other station are, what kind of radio you and the other station have and other things. I've used CB and GMRS and there have been times when I couldn't get across the neighborhood on my 15-20 watt GMRS base but cover the neighborhood and a couple miles beyond with my CB HT on 1 watt.

Radio is like real estate, it's all about location, location, location!

 

[W6KRU]

Not quite, it depends on where you and the other station are, what kind of radio you and the other station have and other things. I've used CB and GMRS and there have been times when I couldn't get across the neighborhood on my 15-20 watt GMRS base but cover the neighborhood and a couple miles beyond with my CB HT on 1 watt.

Radio is like real estate, it's all about location, location, location!

Yes. With UHF it is all about location because it is a line of sight frequency. That is why you can hit a satellite with a 5 watt handheld. I think our local uhf repeater is only 20 watts but it covers a large part of the county and a hundred miles out to sea.

I can't explain your situation at all. A CB HT has a horrible antenna and at 1 watt the ERP will be extremely low.

 

[robertmac]

This is a little like comparing apples and oranges. In Canada, no license is required for GMRS but then it is supposed to be limited to 2 watts and no repeaters. I suspect there is a little cost and some setting up of repeaters [to avoid undo interference to GMRS and other out of band users], thus some knowledge of radio systems is necessary. I'm not sure if licensing is used to avoid too many repeaters in a specific area or not. Won't go into why license is necessary as I stated above no repeaters/license in Canada. Could do search on GMRS to find out, but the poster could do that. With sunspot cycle 24 starting up, CB will be limited [during the day] for close comms., but long distance will be possible. CB 11 meters can be line of site when sunspot cycle low, but with active sunspots, DX is possible.

 

[CTracker]

As far as I'm concerned, a GMRS license is little more than a gimmick. It's only redeeming factor (IMO) is that it also covers family members (blood).

 

[N_Jay]

Let's remember, at one time ALL radio services were licensed.

It is not about the power, it is about being able to identify the station and interference when encountered.

As for the $85. Well it's the government. We have to pay for those Congressional raises some how!:evil::evil:

CB band enforcement was abandoned long ago (I believe incorrectly) with the believe they would only trash their own band. History has shown the issues with trying to keep lawlessness confined.