GMRS Two-Way Radios

[jerneedog]

Hello all,

My wife just told me about these two-way radios she just ordered online for us.
I went to check them out and they are the GMRS ones. I read that they require
an FCC License to operate them. Is this a free license? If not...anyone know
what the fee is for the license and how long the license is good for?

We want to use these for our family outings and whatnot.
Thanks,
Jerry

 

[crayon]

It depends on how the radio was actually marketed.

Some manufacturers have received approval to market radios that are certified for use in both the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). Other manufacturers have received approval of their radios under the GMRS rules, but market them as FRS/GMRS radios on the basis that:

- Some channels are authorized to both services, or
- A user of the radio may communicate with stations in the other service.

Radios marketed as "FRS/GMRS" or "dual-service radios" are available from many manufacturers and many retail or discount stores. The manual that comes with the radio, or the label placed on it by the manufacturer, should indicate the service the unit is certified for. If you cannot determine what service the unit may be used in, contact the manufacturer.

If you operate a radio that has been approved exclusively under the rules that apply to FRS, you are not required to have a license. FRS radios have a maximum power of ½ watt (500 milliwatt) effective radiated power and integral (non-detachable) antennas. If you operate a radio under the rules that apply to GMRS, you must have a GMRS license. GMRS radios generally transmit at higher power levels (1 to 5 watts is typical) and may have detachable antennas. The current fee for a new GMRS license is $80.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/personal/generalmobile/

 

[jerneedog]

This is the description of the radios in question:

# These Midland® two-way radios have up to a 5 mile range & feature (15)GMRS and (7)FRS frequencies.
# They also feature paging/call button, scan, auto stealth squelch, auto battery save and keypad lock.
# Each radio measures 4-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 1-3/8" and use 2 Watts of power.
# FCC licensing required.
# 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
# Uses 4 "AA" batteries, not included.

$80.00 is alot to pay in my opinion for the use of these radios.

 

[crayon]

If you operate a radio that has been approved exclusively under the rules that apply to FRS, you are not required to have a license.

.. snip ..

If you operate a radio under the rules that apply to GMRS, you must have a GMRS license.

As long a you do not flip the switch over to GMRS .. you should be okay without an FCC license.

 

[jerneedog]

Thanks so much for info.
I really didn't know much about the GMRS radios and the license.
The radios that she bought were Midland GXT-200.

Thanks again for the help,
Jerry

 

[mikey60]

This is the description of the radios in question:

# These Midland® two-way radios have up to a 5 mile range & feature (15)GMRS and (7)FRS frequencies.
# They also feature paging/call button, scan, auto stealth squelch, auto battery save and keypad lock.
# Each radio measures 4-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 1-3/8" and use 2 Watts of power.
# FCC licensing required.
# 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
# Uses 4 "AA" batteries, not included.

$80.00 is alot to pay in my opinion for the use of these radios.

IIRC, That $80 is for 5 years, which works out to $16/Year.

Mike

 

[jerneedog]

IIRC, That $80 is for 5 years, which works out to $16/Year.

Mike

5 years...that sounds better.

Is there much difference between the FRS and GMRS?
Any advantages to having the license?

 

[loumaag]

Those radios are GMRS radios and the use of them does require a license. The FRS channels are a sub-group of the GMRS frequencies. It is the radio that determines the need for a license not the channel you choose to operate on. FRS radios are restricted to the FRS channels and put out .5 of a watt on a tiny antenna. GMRS radios do not have those restrictions, hence the need for a license to legally operate the radio's described.

Note the emphasis added in this:

# These Midland® two-way radios have up to a 5 mile range & feature (15)GMRS and (7)FRS frequencies.
# They also feature paging/call button, scan, auto stealth squelch, auto battery save and keypad lock.
# Each radio measures 4-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 1-3/8" and use 2 Watts of power.
# FCC licensing required.
# 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
# Uses 4 "AA" batteries, not included.

 

[nmfire10]

Lou is correct. You need a license for those radios, period.

 

[LarryN]

1. What is the penalty if caught?

2. How do they enforce this?

3. How long till they drop the licence requirement like what happened with the CB's 30+ years ago?

 

[CAT]

Unless you have a public access GMRS repeater in your area, you're much better off with no-license MURS radios: http://www.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm

 

[N_Jay]

1. What is the penalty if caught?

2. How do they enforce this?

3. How long till they drop the licence requirement like what happened with the CB's 30+ years ago?

1. I think $10,000 a day or such I think.

2. Hardly at all (still no reason not to follow it!)

3. Never, CB was F'ed over and I think The FCC learned their lesson.
(FRS, IS the no license version)

 

[CAT]

1. What is the penalty if caught?

Monetary fine, confiscation of equipment with a slap on the wrist.

2. How do they enforce this?

The FCC has a mobile response team, they monitor ALL frequency activity 24-hours a day, 7-days a week - there is not a single square mile that they aren’t constantly monitoring - using very sophisticated triangulation methods they are ready to respond to an unlicensed user’s location in minutes to arrest the lawbreaking individuals.

3. How long till they drop the licence requirement like what happened with the CB's 30+ years ago?

5-7 years.

 

[crayon]

Unless you have a public access GMRS repeater in your area, you're much better off with no-license MURS radios: http://www.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm

Agreed. Another plus in favor of MURS is that it does not have an antenna restriction. High gain antennas are allowed.

Sweet!

 

[Pro-95]

ALL of our Motorola FRS/GMRS radios state that a license is required ONLY if you use the GMRS part of the radio.

FRS may get as far as 2 miles as a general rule. A 5-7mile FRS/GMRS radio will only work to the advertized range in GMRS mode.

 

[nmfire10]

ALL of our Motorola FRS/GMRS radios state that a license is required ONLY if you use the GMRS part of the radio.

FRS may get as far as 2 miles as a general rule. A 5-7mile FRS/GMRS radio will only work to the advertized range in GMRS mode.

Edit- Before I go nuts, please show us which radios you are refering to?

 

[ECPD279]

2. How do they enforce this?

The FCC has a mobile response team, they monitor ALL frequency activity 24-hours a day, 7-days a week - there is not a single square mile that they aren’t constantly monitoring - using very sophisticated triangulation methods they are ready to respond to an unlicensed user’s location in minutes to arrest the lawbreaking individuals.

EXACTLY!!! That's why we hear of so many cases being prosecuted!! ;-) :-D

 

[Voyager]

ALL of our Motorola FRS/GMRS radios state that a license is required ONLY if you use the GMRS part of the radio.

FRS may get as far as 2 miles as a general rule. A 5-7mile FRS/GMRS radio will only work to the advertized range in GMRS mode.

So all of your FRS/GMRS radios meet all FRS rules? (with respect to power output on FRS channels, having a fixed, non-removable antenna, etc.?)

As for range, it ALL depends on terrain. With 2W on UHF, I can talk 50 miles plus given appropriate terrain. Most people won't see 5-7 mile range, but that's called marketing - it IS possible.

Joe M.

 

[scnnr]

So all of your FRS/GMRS radios meet all FRS rules? (with respect to power output on FRS channels, having a fixed, non-removable antenna, etc.?)

Guy's you are noticing this little guy are you not, :wink: in most of the posts. Of course you are.

Buy your radio and enjoy. Of course up here we don't need a license for the
FRS/GMRS radios.

Randy

 

[Voyager]

So all of your FRS/GMRS radios meet all FRS rules? (with respect to power output on FRS channels, having a fixed, non-removable antenna, etc.?)

Guy's you are noticing this little guy are you not, :wink: in most of the posts. Of course you are.

Buy your radio and enjoy. Of course up here we don't need a license for the
FRS/GMRS radios.

Randy

That's this little guy's friend, isn't it?

Joe M.