Question about GMRS "programming"

[GeraldP]

I am considering buying a GMRS radio and confused about what some articles say about "programming" their radio. Since GMRS radio have preset frequencies (channels) and power outputs, WHAT is to be "programmed?"

Thanks,
Jerry AB5R

 

[mmckenna]

I am considering buying a GMRS radio and confused about what some articles say about "programming" their radio. Since GMRS radio have preset frequencies (channels) and power outputs, WHAT is to be "programmed?"

Thanks,
Jerry AB5R

There are a LOT of consumer grade GMRS radios out there that are already programmed out of the box. They may or may not have menus or button press sequences that will allow you to change CTCSS/DCS squelch, power output, etc.

There are some higher tier consumer grade GMRS radios that will let you do a bit more programming, either through the keypad or through software. Those will let you do a bit more programming of CTCSS/DCS, power, other radio functions.

Then there are the Part 95 accepted commercial radios that can legally be used by licensed GMRS users. Those are often radios that are type accepted for Part 90 (commercial) AND Part 95 (GMRS). A licensed and knowledgeable GMRS user can program the radio any way that want within the limits of their license. Many who are active and serious about GMRS will go this route.

A common commercial radio that has both Part 90 and Part 95 is the Kenwood TK-8180 in the 30 watt, 450-520MHz model, or its portable version, the TK-3180 450-520MHz version.

 

[GeraldP]

Thanks for your reply. I just was wondering if they had fixed preset frequencies etc. what was to be programmed. Maybe the CTCSS?DCS?

 

[mmckenna]

Maybe the CTCSS?DCS?

For the consumer radios, yes.

 

[tomk62]

Thanks for your reply. I just was wondering if they had fixed preset frequencies etc. what was to be programmed. Maybe the CTCSS?DCS?

For example, you might want to program additional channels with certain CTCSS/DCS tone combinations that are used specifically in your local area, while leaving the "standard" channels set w/o any tones.

 

[GeraldP]

Thanks for reply. However, I am lost with these explanations. I thought that GMRS was restricted to SPECIFIC frequencies (channels) and power outputs, not a BAND of frequencies. Are you saying that the GMRS radio can be programmed to another frequency, other that those preset? Sorry for my denseness!

 

[mmckenna]

Thanks for reply. However, I am lost with these explanations. I thought that GMRS was restricted to SPECIFIC frequencies (channels) and power outputs, not a BAND of frequencies. Are you saying that the GMRS radio can be programmed to another frequency, other that those preset? Sorry for my denseness!

A person with a GMRS license is ONLY allowed to transmit on the specific exact frequencies listed here:

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.ecfr.gov

No other frequencies are granted by the license. Zero exceptions.

If your radio has more channel slots than those listed above, that probably means you can program them in more than once, or as others suggested, you can program in other frequencies as RECEIVE ONLY.

 

[alcahuete]

Thanks for reply. However, I am lost with these explanations. I thought that GMRS was restricted to SPECIFIC frequencies (channels) and power outputs, not a BAND of frequencies. Are you saying that the GMRS radio can be programmed to another frequency, other that those preset? Sorry for my denseness!

No. You are indeed limited to specific frequencies (channels). However, there are many CTCSS/DCS tones (often called privacy tones or whatever each manufacturer calls them). The programming likely allows you to program one of the specific channels with whichever tones you want. Then you don't have to go through and select the tone manually. You can have it pre-programmed.

A great example is for repeaters. There are multiple repeaters on the same frequency, likely with different CTCSS/DCS tones. Instead of manually selecting the tone for each repeater, you could program different channels with the same frequency and different tones.

 

[GeraldP]

So, the programming implied is NOT the addition of more frequencies rather modifications to those allocated (CTCSS/DCS), if required.

Thanks to all of you for you replies.

 

[mmckenna]

So, the programming implied is NOT the addition of more frequencies rather modifications to those allocated (CTCSS/DCS), if required.

Thanks to all of you for you replies.

Exactly!

Midland, or one of the companies was selling "50 channel GMRS Radios" for a while (maybe they still do), and it confused the hell out of a lot of people.

Just more space to add the same frequencies with different CTCSS/DCS codes. But pretty sure Midland loved the marketing claims they had.

 

[808Beachbum]

I am considering buying a GMRS radio and confused about what some articles say about "programming" their radio. Since GMRS radio have preset frequencies (channels) and power outputs, WHAT is to be "programmed?"

Thanks,
Jerry AB5R

You are free to add SCAN freqs that are within the RX parameters of the specific radio, although outside the TX parameters, for monitoring only. You can also change the channel labels and set up personal preferences on a number of items that are quicker and easier to find on a desktop, vs. small screen/fonts, such as include in scan, Tones, and more.

 

[nokones]

Some GMRS type-accepted radio models allow you to program non-GMRS freqs within a specific band range like 450-520 MHz as receive only freqs.

 

[ladn]

Midland, or one of the companies was selling "50 channel GMRS Radios" for a while (maybe they still do), and it confused the hell out of a lot of people.

Midland also sold a "7 Watt CB Radio" back in the day. The radio had (in small print) 7 watts of audio power.

 

[mmckenna]

Midland also sold a "7 Watt CB Radio" back in the day. The radio had (in small print) 7 watts of audio power.

Marketing people get slippery when they smell money.