Rugged Radios finally gets an FCC Smack-Down

[Cognomen]

Looks like a Kirisun.

 

[donmontalvo]

I'm new to the GMRS thing, kind of forced into it by Jeep, now that their Jeep Jamboree events require it over CB.

I dived in and bought a Midland MXT115 and wasn't able to get it to talk to handhelds in our group.

Buddies tried unsuccessfully to get it to work, they all recommended Rugged Radios GMR25/45.

Finding this forum, and reading about how they got fined by the FCC left me feeling awkward.

I bought a GMR25 kit (w/handheld, antenna, mount, cable, etc.), installed and works fine.

I really hope its working because its a better design than Midland, and not because its breaking FCC rules.

Jokes aside, the Rugged Radios that my buddies and I bought were post-FCC fine, so they're legit.

Did the smoke settle? Is it ok to use that brand? Seems like it is.

 

[alcahuete]

Jokes aside, the Rugged Radios that my buddies and I bought were post-FCC fine, so they're legit.

Did the smoke settle? Is it ok to use that brand? Seems like it is.

What they do is take Cheap Chinese Radios, rebrand them with their name, and jack the price up 3-5x. It is type accepted for GMRS, from what I can gather, so you'ree good there.

In any event, here is basically what they sold you, and I'm guessing you paid a little more than $135 for it. Heck, they were going on eBay not that long ago for under $99.

Amazon.com

Don't fall for Rugged Radios' crap. You can do way better, cheaper, elsewhere.

 

[danesgs]

I am glad you found this forum and also happy that some folks out there are smart enough to understand what they are doing. I personally do not think you much to worry about. That said and having been a CBer in the "Golden Years" (1976) who sent in his FCC license when everyone went crazy with linear amps and later trash talk, I hope you lean in the future towards getting a HAM license. Not just because it gets you a ton of capabilities but it will propel you into a whole new world of possibilities you might have never thought of before. Yes there are some curmudgeons among us but they are not the majority. GMRS or FRS is fine for now but down the road being able to communicate off road via all manner of legal means is like nothing else. Setting up an HF or High power VHF/UHF station mobile will get you really out there.

I ran a 65 watt VHF simplex station that was heard 20 miles away. Radio is an important tool to have these days if the grid gets compromised. Forget the 5 watt Chinese HT's (good for a few blocks under the best conditions). Repeaters are great as well but if the power goes, simplex is going to need power and that's where a HAM radio license will come in handy. I doubt there will be FCC agents running around enforcing rules and laws on GMRS folks during a disaster but if you have a license its less likely you will get hassled.


KJ4DGE

 

[danesgs]

I think its funny that all the talk here about enforcement and such carries more weight among ourselves than a federal entity of the US government. As HAMs we are expected to police ourselves and mostly do, but with SO many idiots selling crap on the internet, maybe its the FTC not the FCC that should be enforcing what is being sold.

 

[jeepsandradios]

I'm new to the GMRS thing, kind of forced into it by Jeep, now that their Jeep Jamboree events require it over CB.

I dived in and bought a Midland MXT115 and wasn't able to get it to talk to handhelds in our group.

Buddies tried unsuccessfully to get it to work, they all recommended Rugged Radios GMR25/45.

Finding this forum, and reading about how they got fined by the FCC left me feeling awkward.

I bought a GMR25 kit (w/handheld, antenna, mount, cable, etc.), installed and works fine.

I really hope its working because its a better design than Midland, and not because its breaking FCC rules.

Jokes aside, the Rugged Radios that my buddies and I bought were post-FCC fine, so they're legit.

Did the smoke settle? Is it ok to use that brand? Seems like it is.

Id be curious what channels you are talking on. the Midland has all available GMRS frequencies. Not sure how one radio will talk and one wont unless your on FRS or other channels.

 

[buddrousa]

What our new member needs to understand and know is the radio he is using now may be on a channel he is not licensed to use and causing interference with licensed users and could be held liable.

 

[AK9R]

I’m pretty sure HAM is even better!

One small tip from a 30-year amateur radio curmudgeon..."ham", as in "ham radio", is not an acronym so you don't need to type it in all caps. The term the FCC uses is "amateur radio service". The origin of "ham radio" is clouded by history. You can just say "ham radio" and most radio-oriented folks will know what you're talking about.

GMRS, or FRS, is probably better suited to what you guys do than CB. I used to be a sports car guy, but I hung out with an off-road club back in the 1980s as we were putting together a Jeep Cup event that was basically a road rally over some backwoods roads in southern Indiana. Those guys all used CB, but that was long before inexpensive GMRS radios were available. For communicating over short distances (up to a mile or so), GMRS simplex or FRS should work well as long as there are no mountains in your way. Glad to see that you have your GMRS license and are concerned about using a radio that meets FCC rules.

 

[AK9R]

The Molle overhead panel is due in in a few daysI’ll have both GMRS/CB mounted and I can start getting serious.

@mmckenna will probably chime in with mounting suggestions, but I'd be cautious using Molle to mount a 3.5 pound object in a vehicle that sees many bumps and jolts.

 

[alcahuete]

Thanks, I was worried that I may have bought an illegal radio.

I got it for $150, they’re clearing them out. When I buy important stuff, and I have a choice to buy from a Chinese company through Amazon with no support and shipping the unit back is costly, versus rebranded but supported by a US company, I lean towards the layer. It’s just a personal preference. In this case $150 (supported in US) vs $135, I decided on the former.

That's not bad then, honestly. Their website lists that radio for over $200, and the kit for over $400. Both are absolutely outrageous prices.

 

[alcahuete]

What our new member needs to understand and know is the radio he is using now may be on a channel he is not licensed to use and causing interference with licensed users and could be held liable.

Best I can tell, it is the rebranded TYT TH-8600 with the GMRS firmware. It is actually type certified and locked down to GMRS, assuming RR didn't mess with it. I know that's a big assumption given their past.

 

[bill4long]

Anyone here tried one of these? They're GMRS type accepted

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096533TR6/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=6ce0e92cd28742c15f22f5881196e847&hsa_cr_id=1379911260901&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=d99512a8-e571-456f-83d5-9905cb0d9036&pd_rd_w=RZIN1&pd_rd_wg=l0Bn8&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2_img

 

[mmckenna]

@mmckenna will probably chime in with mounting suggestions, but I'd be cautious using Molle to mount a 3.5 pound object in a vehicle that sees many bumps and jolts.

Yeah, I've done a lot of off roading, but none of it in Jeeps. Mine has all been UTV's or full size trucks.
Never underestimate the ability for a couple of pounds of radio to become a serious missile hazard when getting bounced around. I'd put a lot of thought into how to securely mount the radio, and I'm not sure I would 100% the Molle mounts that are being sold. They seem to be good for light weight items, but not sure I'd trust it with a several pound radio. Some of these Molle mounts seem to be the latest gimmick that manufacturers are caching in on, and the few I've seen run from very stout to flimsy punched sheet metal.

When ever I install radio in a moving vehicle, it gets through-bolted into something pretty stout. I use backer plates whenever I mount through any plastic or thin sheet metal. I use machine screws with Nylock nuts and often big fender washers to distribute load, even on small things like mic hangers. The vibration that off road vehicles can place on a radio is pretty extreme, and anything relying on sheet metal screws into plastic or thin sheet metal runs the real risk of failure. If you are driving around in a Prius, then none of that really applies, but for those of us that venture of the smoothly paved interstates, it's a different story. Don't even think of double sided tape, velcro or bungee cords for this, save that for the amateurs in their wife's mini-van.

Add in the risks of a roll over, and you really don't want that radio separating and bonking someone on the head.

There's a really good write up from about a year ago by someone who did an amazing job installing a GMRS and ham radio in a Jeep. Take a look at what member @ccg_ga did with his Jeep: Multiple Antenna Question for 2M/70CM

 

[vagrant]

The Radioddity DB20-G does not look to bad for the price and one reviewer on Amazon noted they switched it to wide from narrow. If I had known of this a week ago I would have purchased one as a gift for a buddy, but he left on his trip this morning. Well, I would have tested it first. At least with Amazon it can be returned easy enough. I may still purchase it later after others have reported their results. I will look at the software first.

 

[ccg_ga]

Thanks to several people on this thread (@mmckenna, @prcguy, @vagrant and more) I was able to install both an Icom IC-2730A and Midland MXT400 in my TJ last July.

The full write-up series is available on my website. The link below is to part 1 and there are 5 posts total to cover the entire project. There are additional photos and info in the Multiple Antenna Question for 2M/70CM thread as well.

Part 1 - Midland MXT400 MicroMobile GMRS Radio & Icom IC-2730A Mobile Ham Radio Install in a Jeep Wrangler - Part 1 | Southeast 4x4 Trails

 

[ramal121]

Anyone here tried one of these? They're GMRS type accepted

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096533TR6/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=6ce0e92cd28742c15f22f5881196e847&hsa_cr_id=1379911260901&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=d99512a8-e571-456f-83d5-9905cb0d9036&pd_rd_w=RZIN1&pd_rd_wg=l0Bn8&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2_img

It has a Fun button, can't be all that bad. I do like to have fun with my radios.

 

[AK9R]

Meanwhile, back to products RuggedRadios sells.

 

[N4GIX]

Nicely written sir!

 

[GrumpyGuard]

Like you said, its about the money. All imported radios should be sold "empty" or wiped. While many HAMs complain about programming a radio from the keyboard as difficult, many times it comes down to being too lazy to read a manual or too cheap to buy a programming cable and learning to use some software. On the flip side of all that is Kenwood and Motorola selling commercial gear that requires expensive and proprietary cables and not meant to be sold for Amateur use but HAMs buy them for the quality of the radio and superior audio. You get what you pay for. At the same time I like competition in the marketplace. How many folks are still getting big cable bills to watch a few channels a month when they can get OTA digital for free? They just would miss recording stuff that gets repeated at some point via local outlets anyway.

Everyone likes a good deal and more bang for the buck, but buying a diamond for a dollar you get a fake diamond for a dollar...

Danesgs, I agree with you. Every radio I have owned I have had to program, either by using the keypad on the radio, or using software and a programming cable. When I visit the DMR Facebook pages I see post after post of Hams wanting to sell their new DMR radio because the learning curve is "so steep". By taking a few minutes to watch a YouTube video or contact your local club for help, so many people want to be able to use the radio right out of the box. In my opinion, if you are unable or unwilling to learn how to program your radio, you shouldn't own one.

 

[ladn]

Id be curious what channels you are talking on. the Midland has all available GMRS frequencies. Not sure how one radio will talk and one wont unless your on FRS or other channels.

The Midland radio is narrowband, but most of GMRS is wideband. They don't play well together.