Picking the right license

[The_Hawk_Master]

I am new to the radio world. I am looking to expand into the world of licenses. I have the system to program Motorola ht1000 and mt2000 and want to pick The right frequency and license before continuing to do everything the right way. The ht1000 comes in 4 bandsplits. 136-147. 403-470. 450-520. And 806-870. I know the 800s are emergency services. I would like to know if there a license I can obtain legally for either the 136-147 and/or 450-520 bands.

I tried looking on the fcc page and various sites online but I can’t get a clear answer on which bands are legal to use under amateur license vs gmrs license.
Is there another license that I don’t know about that would work?
I am considering getting a repeater down the line if that makes a difference. I am only looking to have it used by a closed group if it is possible.
Just trying to do my research before jumping in

 

[rf_patriot200]

I am new to the radio world. I am looking to expand into the world of licenses. I have the system to program Motorola ht1000 and mt2000 and want to pick The right frequency and license before continuing to do everything the right way. The ht1000 comes in 4 bandsplits. 136-147. 403-470. 450-520. And 806-870. I know the 800s are emergency services. I would like to know if there a license I can obtain legally for either the 136-147 and/or 450-520 bands.

I tried looking on the fcc page and various sites online but I can’t get a clear answer on which bands are legal to use under amateur license vs gmrs license.
Is there another license that I don’t know about that would work?
I am considering getting a repeater down the line if that makes a difference. I am only looking to have it used by a closed group if it is possible.
Just trying to do my research before jumping in

The Technician Amateur Radio License would allow you use of the 144-148 mhz. band, the 430-450 mhz. band, the 222-225 mhz. band, the 902-928 mhz. band, the 1240-1300 mhz. band, The 50-54 mhz. band and the 28.3 -28.5 mhz. band.

 

[n0esc]

One other slight difference from GMRS to Amateur is who the license is good for. Basically the amateur license is good for you alone, barring some specific circumstances where someone can operate under your license while you maintain control of the equipment. If you eventually deploy a repeater, people using it need to be licensed themselves, including family. This is unlike GMRS where you can hold a single license for yourself that covers your entire immediate family.

 

[MTS2000des]

I am considering getting a repeater down the line if that makes a difference. I am only looking to have it used by a closed group if it is possible.
Just trying to do my research before jumping in

Then the amateur radio service is most likely a poor fit. For what purpose does your "closed group" want to communicate? Business? Part 90. Personal? GMRS. Of course GMRS is 462MHz, so UHF only. No coordination needed but all frequencies available to all licensees. as stated on FCC web page "listen before talk" and contrary to popular belief, linking of repeaters are PROHIBITED.

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

AboutRule Part47 C.F.R, Part 95 Subpart ERadio Service Code(s)ZA - GMRS

www.fcc.gov

Part 90? All VHF/UHF spectra but requires coordination in addition to licensing.

 

[The_Hawk_Master]

Then the amateur radio service is most likely a poor fit. For what purpose does your "closed group" want to communicate? Business? Part 90. Personal? GMRS. Of course GMRS is 462MHz, so UHF only. No coordination needed but all frequencies available to all licensees. as stated on FCC web page "listen before talk" and contrary to popular belief, linking of repeaters are PROHIBITED.

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

AboutRule Part47 C.F.R, Part 95 Subpart ERadio Service Code(s)ZA - GMRS

www.fcc.gov

Part 90? All VHF/UHF spectra but requires coordination in addition to licensing.

Mainly just personal business from time to time. It doesn’t need to be encrypted but we need to be able to cover a larger area around 10-25 miles at a time. The gmrs might be my best bet if there isn’t a better option. 7 out of the 14 people would be related so gmrs would cover That.

We travel to various locations where we would need large area coverage so I was considering having a mobile repeater that we could activate when we get on site.

Most time we are outside but there are times we need the signal to reach through buildings.

 

[The_Hawk_Master]

One other slight difference from GMRS to Amateur is who the license is good for. Basically the amateur license is good for you alone, barring some specific circumstances where someone can operate under your license while you maintain control of the equipment. If you eventually deploy a repeater, people using it need to be licensed themselves, including family. This is unlike GMRS where you can hold a single license for yourself that covers your entire immediate family.

Gmrs is appealing and would cover half the group we have.

What channels dose gmrs cover?

The system would always be operated as a group with me in charge of it.
For the repeater we would have a main location but we travel to different locations. So I was considering a mobile repeater we could just activate when we got on site. The range we would need is 10-25 miles.

 

[K9KLC]

More likely GMRS is the answer here.

 

[K9KLC]

What channels dose gmrs cover?

general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs
Click on data to see the channelized frequencies.

 

[The_Hawk_Master]

general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs
Click on data to see the channelized frequencies.

The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz.

I saw this part. Is it any channel between 462-467, or is it the just any range of 462 or 467 not including 463-465?
Is there any restriction which in those bands?

 

[AK9R]

Is it any channel between 462-467

It's specifically the channels listed here: General Mobile Radio Service - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[KF0NYL]

GMRS is channelized and you can only use the authorized channels/frequencies.

List of GMRS Frequencies and Channels

 

[The_Hawk_Master]

It's specifically the channels listed here: General Mobile Radio Service - The RadioReference Wiki

Is that the list of most common used channels or are they the only channels you can use?
That list dose not include 467

 

[rf_patriot200]

The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz.

I saw this part. Is it any channel between 462-467, or is it the just any range of 462 or 467 not including 463-465?
Is there any restriction which in those bands?

462.550 -462.725 mhz. to receive and 467.550 - 467.725 to transmit IF your operating through a repeater.

 

[KF0NYL]

Is that the list of most common used channels or are they the only channels you can use?
That list dose not include 467

Those are the only channels that are allowed to be used for GMRS.

Though the link I posted is a little easier to understand as far as the channels go.

 

[MTS2000des]

A GMRS licensee may use a combination of portable, mobile, fixed, and repeater stations consistent with the operational and technical rules in Subpart E of Part 95. The use of some channels is restricted to certain types of stations. In addition, certain channels are reserved for voice-only operations, while other channels allow voice and limited data operations.

None of the GMRS channels are assigned for the exclusive use of any system. Licensees must cooperate in the selection and use of the channels under a “listen-before-talk” etiquette in order to use them most effectively and to reduce the possibility of interference.

A GMRS user can expect a communications range of one to twenty-five miles depending on station class, terrain, and repeater use. GMRS stations cannot be interconnected with the public switched telephone network or any other network for the purpose of carrying GMRS communications, but these networks can be used for remote control of repeater stations. In other words, repeaters may not be linked via the internet—an example of an “other network” in the rules—to extend the range of the communications across a large geographic area. Linking multiple repeaters to enable a repeater outside the communications range of the handheld or mobile device to retransmit messages violates sections 95.1733(a)(8) and 95.1749 of the Commission’s rules, and potentially other rules in 47 C.F.R. Repeaters may be connected to the telephone network or other networks only for purposes of remote control of a GMRS station, not for carrying communication signals.

In addition to violating Commission rules, linking repeaters is not in the public interest. Because GMRS spectrum is limited and used on a shared “commons” basis, the service only works well on a localized basis when users can hear each other and cooperate in the sharing of channels. Linking repeaters not only increases the potential for interference, but also uses up a limited spectrum resource over much larger areas than intended, limiting localized availability of the repeater channels.

GMRS and the Family Radio Service (FRS), which share many of the GMRS channels, are intended for individuals such as family members and friends, scouting troops, emergency response groups, and hobbyists to communicate with each other over short distances, directly or through a repeater station. Linking repeaters, via the internet or other networks, undermines the purpose and usefulness of the GMRS and FRS.

 

[W2SOX]

Based on what you're trying to accomplish I do not think either license really is what you need. The whole point of both of these licenses is to allow for open and accessible radio spectrum space for communications.

It sounds like you're trying to make your own Nextel style network like the old PTT cell phones. There is a company called Rapid Radio that claims to do what you are looking to accomplish. I've never used them but might be worth looking into for your case.

 

[K9KLC]

The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz.

I saw this part. Is it any channel between 462-467, or is it the just any range of 462 or 467 not including 463-465?
Is there any restriction which in those bands?

If you click on "DATA" towards the top of the page, it will give you the exact frequencies.

 

[K9KLC]

Is that the list of most common used channels or are they the only channels you can use?
That list dose not include 467

@KF0NYL posted a link to the EXACT frequencies you can use if you don't want to take the extra step to link to the Link to the official FCC page I posted and go to that page and click on DATA...AGAIN, those are the frequencies period, not a suggestion but the actual frequencies you can use.

 

[K9KLC]

Is that the list of most common used channels or are they the only channels you can use?
That list dose not include 467.

The list does include frequencies that are in the 467 range. Not sure what you're looking at there??

 

[The_Hawk_Master]

The list does include frequencies that are in the 467 range. Not sure what you're looking at there??

I was looking at a different list not posted by @KF0NYL. Now that I have a good list, is there restrictions on pl codes. I noticed a lot of places have 141.3 as a standard code could i have my radios/repeters set to my own code to cut down traffic on the network i would have up?

Licensees must cooperate in the selection and use of the channels under a “listen-before-talk” etiquette in order to use them most effectively and to reduce the possibility of interference.

I am not bothered by sharing traffic with others. There will be nothing private shared over it. Is this something the pl codes (if I choose a random one of my choice) would reduce?

A GMRS user can expect a communications range of one to twenty-five miles depending on station class, terrain, and repeater use.

If I do expand and decide to deploy a repeater dose it have to be fixed or can it be deployed where ever we do business? If so can the station have a different pl code than the ones I see advertised elsewhere.

We would be operating in the southeastern Pa area for normal operations and occasionally travel to upstate New York a few time a year.