Question on "short range" for GMRS

[Deputy276]

I keep hearing this chant "the GMRS was set up for short range communication". Yet I haven't found a definitive answer to the question of "what is short range". Some say it's for across the street. Some say across the USA. I searched all over Google using different ways to ask the question, but got no answer. So there seems to be no really defined explanation for "short range use". Has anyone found anything that states from the FCC what they LEGALLY say is "short range" in actual distance? Feet? Yards? Miles?

 

[mmckenna]

You are not going to find a milage that the radio is permitted to cover.

What you'll find:
Limitation of transmitter power output (50 watts maximum on the primary channels)
Antenna height limitations.
Prohibition against linking repeaters over the internet.

GMRS is not supposed to be an extension of amateur radio. It's not supposed to have high power/high gain antennas/high above ground level antennas. It can use repeaters.

Generally it's the FCC trying to make users understand that channels are shared with other users, channels must be shared, and large wide area coverage systems are not part of the plan for GMRS.

 

[KC1THE]

Found this generalized distance comment at FCC.gov under GMRS Operations:

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

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

www.fcc.gov

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

 

[vagrant]

Each time I drove across the USA it took several days. When I drive to the store across town, it takes less than an hour. This limited distance provides for me to communicate with my immediate family as well as my friend who is also licensed for GMRS and lives in town. Twenty five miles, less than an hour drive, is quite generous as a short distance.

My friend and I also have an amateur radio license. This allows us to use high power repeaters that use high gain antennas. Some of the amateur radio repeaters we use are linked providing coverage around the world.

GMRS = Short distance 1-25 miles
Amateur = Across the USA, around the world and even satellites in space.

Obtaining the appropriate license is the solution. Fortunately, there is not an age restriction for testing and receiving an amateur license. Additionally, my girlfriend can use my amateur radio even though she is not licensed, as long as I am also there at the control station.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I routinely talk approx. 50 miles to a repeater during the day, and sometimes in the evening without much problem.

 

[mmckenna]

I routinely talk approx. 50 miles to a repeater during the day, and sometimes in the evening without much problem.

Back in the early 2000's, I had access to a very high level repeater along with my own PL tone.
I had no issues talking to family members 100 miles away. No linking, just one good repeater at an excellent high site.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

There is absolutely no prohibition on range in the personal radio services, CB, FRS or GMRS. There used to be, 250 miles for CB but that seems to have been stricken from rules. The FCC webpage only sets expectations of range. A couple kids in state of Washington saved a hiker with broken leg, some 80 miles away with FRS radios. If you talk 100 miles on your GMRS radios between mountaintops, you have broken no rules. A UHF ham radio with same wattage as GMRS has been routinely used earth to ISS and vice versa.

 

[rf_patriot200]

For some reason, the FCC has for years labeled Gmrs as a Short range personal radio service with little clarification .

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

For some reason, the FCC has for years labeled Gmrs as a Short range personal radio service with little clarification .

If they touted the fact that GMRS supports 50 watt radios and repeaters, with unconstrained ERP and with antenna heights likewise constrained only by FAA guidelines, it would annoy the LMR commercial vendors. Note that Motorola has not produced any decent Part 95 GMRS radios for decades (An exception being Systems Saber are part 95 certified, undoubtedly a rogue move by some engineer doing the certification process)

 

[MTS2000des]

For some reason, the FCC has for years labeled Gmrs as a Short range personal radio service with little clarification .

I think the recent clarification is pretty clear to me: 1-25 miles as stated on their website which was updated in August.