Does anybody know exactly why the FCC doesn't allow all Part 90 devices on GMRS? It seems like the Part 90 requirements may be more stringent than Part 95.
I'm NOT the FCC, so I'm just sharing what I've observed over the years regarding type acceptance.
There is nothing in the current GMRS rules that says Part 90 radios can be used. The FCC rules seem very clear to me, that a radio used on GMRS must have Part 95 approval.
I know you know that, just laying that out for those in the back of the room or those that were not paying attention.
The type acceptance thing is supposed to be a way to make sure that the radio used on a specific radio service meets
all the requirements and limitations of that radio service.
GMRS is pretty clear about what can and cannot be done with the radios. There is a hard power limit. There are emission and stability requirements.
While many/most Part 90 radios will meet those requirements, they do not meet ALL the requirements, or can provide features that are not compliant with GMRS. Requirements like no more than 50 watts. Things like running 5KHz deviation. Things like running analog and not digital.
If someone buys a radio that specifically has Part 95E approval, they can be reasonably assured that their raido meets the FCC requirements for GMRS.
When someone buys a Part 90 radio, or hacks open their ham radio, they may exceed power levels. They may be able to program digital modes. They may not meet the emission masks (looking at you, hammy rigs), etc. There's no shortage of posts on this site where someone who doesn't know better/doesn't care buys a 100 watt Motorola XTL UHF radio and plops it on GMRS. After all, more power is more better, right? Or those that insist on running DMR, P25 or whatever to teach those bubble pack users a lesson.
Some (maybe a few on here) actually have the knowledge and test equipment to make sure their chose radio meets ALL the requirements of the radio service. Most don't. Hammy Newham who just bought the latest digital capable CCR and assumes that GMRS is simply an extension of 70cm, or assumes that "All else
HAS failed" will ASSume that their 35 questions make them a comms expurt teknishun, rarely does have the knowledge and usually not the right test gear.
Unfortunately, and as always, it only takes a handful of idiots to spoil all the apples in the radio basket.
I know Kenwood has some devices that comply with both Part 90 and Part 95. It almost seems like more of an oversight to me and splitting hairs.
Right, and if you look at those specific radios, like the TK-8180 450-520/30 watt model, they all fall well inside the requirements of GMRS. If you look at the H models of the TK-8180, they are advertised as "45 watts", but can be cranked up past 50 with the software.
Also, I'm assuming that Kenwood and others have to pay the certification bodies money to get the FCC approvals, and they don't want to spend the extra money, and know better not to spend money on a radio that doesn't meet the requirements.
