GMRS vs. FRS

[lowerrollin]

I know this is an old thread, but what are these 900mhz "frequency hopping" bubblepack radios?

Clothing, Toys, Electronics, Jewelry, Jaclyn Smith - Kmart.com or Clothing, Toys, Electronics, Jewelry, Jaclyn Smith - Kmart.com (same link)

900mhz ?!

Isnt this the same tech used by Nextel's "direct talk/MOTO talk?" not direct connect mind you....... With direct talk, power is .7 watts I think. because its digital, and a low wattage, it falls on its face when you get about a mile apart. I wonder if these kmart bubbles are better than the moto phones.....

 

[talkpair]

In the era of cell phones, it is silly and the bandwidth should be given to public safety.

If there's one good thing about unlicensed bubble-pack radios......it's that it pretty much eliminates spectrum from ever being 'taken back'

 

[BamaScan]

Hey that TriSquare Radio soulds like a good radio for my Business. We are on a one acre lot. Sometimes you don't won't the public hear what you say.

 

[treborx]

This band is more of a joke than CB, because at least in CB, everyone KNOWS it is a wasteland. In GMRS / FRS some still pretend it serves some useful purpose. In the era of cell phones, it is silly and the bandwidth should be given to public safety. .

Then what will hunters use? What will backpackers use? What will people in areas of no cell coverage use? If I asked my wife to get an amateur license she would just get angry that I have so much time for hobbies while she is busy helping the kids do homework.

 

[nlurker]

All I ever hear on both GMRS and FRS is kids playing and loud ring tones over and over.

 

[gewecke]

All I ever hear on both GMRS and FRS is kids playing and loud ring tones over and over.

That's because they don't KNOW any better. IF they read and understood the instructions, some of that might not happen ... but unfortunately much of the general public is stuck on stupid. 73, n9zas

 

[gewecke]

Does this mean the radio that have both the FRS and the GMRS channels, that the radio is operating on the 5w power rating when you use the GMRS only channels? Sorry to butt in.

Most are only 2 watts or less on Gmrs, with 0.5 watts permanently programmed for Frs channels. :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[iMONITOR]

I've owned numerous MURS, FRS, and GMRS radios over the years. I had a GMRS license, but didn't renew it.

I found that FRS radios worked almost as good as GMRS radios, when both are hand-held, and no repeater involved. Now I just use FRS. No license requirement, no rules for the most part, longer battery life. Midland seem to be the best in my experience. Motorola, not so much. I'm not surprised. Motorola is just a name, they don't really have any part in manufacturing their FRS radios.

 

[gewecke]

I've owned numerous MURS, FRS, and GMRS radios over the years. I had a GMRS license, but didn't renew it.

I found that FRS radios worked almost as good as GMRS radios, when both are hand-held, and no repeater involved. Now I just use FRS. No license requirement, no rules for the most part, longer battery life. Midland seem to be the best in my experience. Motorola, not so much. I'm not surprised. Motorola is just a name, they don't really have any part in manufacturing their FRS radios.

The older moto Gmrs/Frs were assembled in Schaumburg, Il. at one point, then later in Malaysia. My T7200 & T7400 both were made in Malaysia, and far better than the crap they market now. :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[KD8DVR]

All I ever hear on both GMRS and FRS is kids playing and loud ring tones over and over.

The kids and parents don't read the manuals where it indicates the licensing requirements. Or they don't care.

Sent from my SC-777 using Tapatalk

 

[KD8DVR]

I've owned numerous MURS, FRS, and GMRS radios over the years. I had a GMRS license, but didn't renew it.

I found that FRS radios worked almost as good as GMRS radios, when both are hand-held, and no repeater involved. Now I just use FRS. No license requirement, no rules for the most part, longer battery life. Midland seem to be the best in my experience. Motorola, not so much. I'm not surprised. Motorola is just a name, they don't really have any part in manufacturing their FRS radios.

I got my gmrs license back after the fee reduction. Mostly still use my trisquare 900 MHz radios on vacation. Range equivalent to FRS.

For point to point simplex, I agree with you. 500 mW FRS is as effective as gmrs. Power has little bearing. It's the physical obstructions and such.

Sent from my SC-777 using Tapatalk

 

[Dave2582]

FRS channel, or hybrid channel?

My company just bought several motorola walkies for a decent size call center that I work in. I am tasked to set them up. The radios are for emergency use for evacs when it happens. The operators that will use them don't have a license for gmrs. Would I be correct to set the radios up in the frs channels, or would it be okay to use any of the hybrid channels other than ch 1?

 

[ecps92]

channels names can vary by make/model of the radio
Best to reference these by Freq

Anything that ends in 5500, 5750, 6250, 6500, 6750, 7000, and 7250 would be NO GO as those are GMRS

Not sure what a hybrid channel is as GMRS is one power limit and FRS has it's own Power limit

My company just bought several motorola walkies for a decent size call center that I work in. I am tasked to set them up. The radios are for emergency use for evacs when it happens. The operators that will use them don't have a license for gmrs. Would I be correct to set the radios up in the frs channels, or would it be okay to use any of the hybrid channels other than ch 1?

 

[nd5y]

Hybrid channels are the shared GMRS/FRS 462 MHz splinter channels. Usually channels 1-7 in most radios.

If he has common 22 channel dual service radios and wants to uses them on the unlicensed FRS-only channels he should use channels 8-14. Those are the 467 MHz FRS-only splinter channels and should be hardware restricted to narrowband and 0.5 watt output.

 

[Dave2582]

It's an MD series two way. Here is the manual.

 

[nd5y]

The bottom document link has the frequencies. Using channels 8-14 is legal without a license under FRS rules.

 

[Dave2582]

Thank you.

 

[ecps92]

Thanks first I've heard them referenced as hybrid.

Hybrid channels are the shared GMRS/FRS 462 MHz splinter channels. Usually channels 1-7 in most radios.

If he has common 22 channel dual service radios and wants to uses them on the unlicensed FRS-only channels he should use channels 8-14. Those are the 467 MHz FRS-only splinter channels and should be hardware restricted to narrowband and 0.5 watt output.

 

[nd5y]

Thanks first I've heard them referenced as hybrid.

Same here but I figured that had to be what he meant.

 

[UPMan]

On 22-channel radios, channels 1-7 and 15-22 all operate under GMRS rules (i.e. an explicit license is legally required). 8-14 operate under FRS rules.

Even though 1-7 can be either FRS or GMRS, since the radio transmits at a power level > 0.5W, it makes them GMRS.

We've petitioned the FCC to make some changes to the rules to make:

1) All channels operate under the same technical standards with maximum 2W ERP for all 22 and same bandwidth for all 22.
2) All channels license-by-rule (i.e. "if you follow the rules, you have a license", which is how FRS, CB, and MURS licensing works).
3) Redefine all 22 channels as FRS (with the above rules).

I've visited the FCC twice for this matter. Both times, they were very receptive. However, this rulemaking has been in process for most of this decade. They estimated some action this Summer (but today is the first day of Autumn, and I've still seen nothing).