Should I return Radios? - Licensing-Practical Use

[nwiscan]

Hi- I am not a ham nor have a GMRS license.

I picked up a set of GMRS/FRS radios with the intention of using them on my property to communicate within the home and backyard and to utilize the weather alerts. I wasnt aware that I needed a license for this until reading the disclaimer in the manual.

Can I safely use them on the FRS channels without fear of being caught without a license or should they go back to the store?

The info have found is kinda of confusing where it saysa license is not needed for channels 8-14 but then I read a licenses is needed for any radio CAPABLE of GMRS?

 

[nd5y]

I read a licenses is needed for any radio CAPABLE of GMRS?

Whatever you read was wrong. You can use the radios on the FRS-only channels 8-14 with no license.

See the section General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS) Dual Devices at the bottom of this page:
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) | FCC.gov

 

[nwiscan]

thank you.

Is there anything I should know or something you can suggest about the legality of using these radios on the FRS settings only?

How are the GMRS monitored and licence holders policed?

Any suggestions/tips on how to set it up to get the most out of my situation. In the home, surrounding property and weather is also recomended.

FYI the radios I have are Midland 490's

 

[nd5y]

Is there anything I should know or something you can suggest about the legality of using these radios on the FRS settings only?

This is from the FCC web site I linked to above:
If you operate a radio that has been approved for both FRS and GMRS, and if you limit your operations to the FRS channels with a maximum power of ½ watt effective radiated power, you are not required to have a license. (Note that some dual-service radios transmit with higher power on FRS channels 1 through 7; these radios can be used without a license only on FRS channels 8 through 14.)

How are the GMRS monitored and licence holders policed?

They basically aren't policed at all unless the FCC receives complaints from somebody receiving interference from unlicensed users or other illegal operation.

I have no idea what you mean by weather alerts or what that has to do with GMRS/FRS.

 

[nwiscan]

Weather alerts are just the NOAA alerts which is an added feature to the radios I bought.

Can my location be tracked by using these radios in ch. 8-14?

Any other tips for a new user is greatly appreciated. I hope my inquiry is OK here, I just dont want to cross the line between general use without a license and what could get me in trouble.

 

[62Truck]

Whatever you read was wrong. You can use the radios on the FRS-only channels 8-14 with no license.

See the section General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS) Dual Devices at the bottom of this page:
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) | FCC.gov

This is partially incorrect..
He can also use channels 1 -7 just as long as he is not running more then 500mw

 

[nwiscan]

This is partially incorrect..
He can also use channels 1 -7 just as long as he is not running more then 500mw

There seems to be a slippery slope to all this which makes me question if "big brother" is listening.

 

[kma371]

If your THAT concerned, then take them back and get regular FRS radios. No need to make it complicated.

 

[SteveC0625]

There seems to be a slippery slope to all this which makes me question if "big brother" is listening.

Very, very unlikely. FRS is rapidly going the way of the old 27 MHz CB radios. It's a vast no man's land with virtually zero routine monitoring by the FCC. There have been millions of the FRS and GMRS bubble pack units sold.

What will draw their attention is complaints of interference by a number of things. High power abuse of the FRS channels might be one of them. From what I have seen and heard, running the 2 watt GMRS bubble pack radios on FRS channels where only 0.5 watt is authorized is probably not going to garner their attention. Now firing up 50 watts on FRS will sooner or later get noticed.

Things like intentional continuous broadcasting (playing dj or talk radio), intentionally overriding legitimate transmissions (called "blowing them off the air"), intentional interference with legacy licensees, and similar behavior are what generate complaints to the FCC. And complaints are what will sooner or later rouse the FCC to actually look into things.

Frankly, I think that using the GMRS/FRS radios as they were intended, is not something that any of us should loose any sleep over. No reason for paranoia here.

 

[SteveC0625]

Weather alerts are just the NOAA alerts which is an added feature to the radios I bought.

Can my location be tracked by using these radios in ch. 8-14?

Any other tips for a new user is greatly appreciated. I hope my inquiry is OK here, I just dont want to cross the line between general use without a license and what could get me in trouble.

There are no licensing requirements on receive only operation of pretty much any radio on any frequency.

If you can transmit on any frequency, you can be tracked presuming that the tracker has the right equipment. See my previous post. I sincerely think you need to worry about other things. Please understand that using any two way radio in any radio service is open to the same capabilities in regard to tracking, with or without a license.

GMRS/FRS radios, responsibly used, are just not the place to fuel any Orwellian worries.

 

[SteveC0625]

If your THAT concerned, then take them back and get regular FRS radios. No need to make it complicated.

Yup... well said.

 

[nwiscan]

thanks for your thoughtful replies. Have a nice holiday.

Just to clarify to some of the PM'ers I received... I was NOT asking how to broadcast on the GMRS without a license, rather, how to do it properly without one on the FRS frequencies.

 

[KB0VWG]

He read the manual

I am glad that you took the time of reading the manual, Good Job. Most people purchase those radios and never think twice about reading the manual and where and where not they should transmit when they don't have a license. You can transmit with no license between ch 8 and 14.

Like the other previous post said don't worry if you accidently key up on a gmrs freq by accident, the FCC wont come after you for that, what you need to is just be a responsible radio operator and have fun.
73's
kb0vwg
wqoi992

 

[nanZor]

The nice thing about staying on the FRS frequencies is that there is no power option - it is always at low power, saving batteries. The 490 is decent for what it is - I especially liked it since it uses 4 batteries, instead of the more common 3-cell setup in units this size. I chose to ignore the supplied charger and oem battery, and ran from externally charged AAA's in a quality charger - or just had a pack of non-rechargeables handy.

Turning off the roger-beep and limiting the use of the call-tones can save your sanity.

 

[gewecke]

If your THAT concerned, then take them back and get regular FRS radios. No need to make it complicated.

This would be good advise except, for the fact that you can no longer purchase the 14 ch only FRS radios, only 22ch gmrs/frs radios. Any radios that transmit just require a little discipline that's all!

73,
n9zas

 

[willgrah]

[No message]

 

[62Truck]

. You can transmit with no license between ch 8 and 14.

73's
kb0vwg
wqoi992

Again this is partially incorrect...

He can also transmit on channels 1-7 as long as he is NOT transmitting above 500MW's. Most bubble packs that I have seen and the pair of midlands that I own let you adjust the power on channels 1-7 and 15-22. Channels 1-7 are also license free, if you use a power setting of more then 500mw then you NEED a license. So as long as he has the power limit set to low on channels 1-7 he is legal.

 

[nonperson]

FYI if you are concerned about "big brother" listening then you shouldn't use those radios. Because big brother, momma, uncle, crazy uncle, poppa, grandma etc can hear you if they have the same or similar radio. Heck any radio transceiver can be monitored. BTW if you do get the license you can get "bigger" radios and use up to 50 watts and repeaters.

 

[mformby]

Hi- I am not a ham nor have a GMRS license.

I picked up a set of GMRS/FRS radios with the intention of using them on my property to communicate within the home and backyard and to utilize the weather alerts. I wasnt aware that I needed a license for this until reading the disclaimer in the manual.

Can I safely use them on the FRS channels without fear of being caught without a license or should they go back to the store?

The info have found is kinda of confusing where it saysa license is not needed for channels 8-14 but then I read a licenses is needed for any radio CAPABLE of GMRS?

It not against the law to have GMRS radios, or radios with GMRS frequencies in it/them, it is illegal to transmit on GMRS frequencies without a license. Kinda like back in the 70's when the CB craze hit. You could buy a linear (RF power amplifier) but you couldn't use it. Odd law for sure.

 

[mformby]

The odds are slim that you would get caught using GMRS radios without a license. The FCC does not travel around and monitor frequencies like they used to. However if someone files a complaint that is legally licensed the "men with the gold badges" could show up and they will hurt you...financially because their fines apply to each radio and each frequency that you have illegally. They are non-negotiable and always win so they can justify the trip. Take the chance if you want to. I don't want to so I got my GMRS license. A few years ago the busted a sheriff's office in southern California because their license had expired. Their fine was around $250,000.00.