Wal-Mart Incident Today

[MTS2000des]

well since people don't get it, from their standpoint, on THEIR property it is THEIR frequency within their property lines. They (WalMart) can certainly lawfully control who enters upon their physical property and ban people at will.

since they choose to use an open RF channel that is license by rule (rules being the key phrase that pays), than they have to respect other users' too. If an off property signal comes through their radio, they have to refrain from transmitting until the other users are finished:

FCC: Wireless Services: Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS): Operations

If they fail to do so, record them, and turn them over to the FCC EB. who knows, being that Walmart has deep pockets, they might actually be interested. But then, who knows how much of a payola check they've made to the FCC. That is, after all, how it really works in the good ol' USA.

 

[KB0VWG]

I have seen some but long ago

A few posts ago, someone asked if there are any "bubble pack" MURS radios?
I've never seen any, has anyone else seen legit MURS radios offered to the consumer?? Other than the mobile that r/s marketed and the moto P10 that had their logo on it, I'm not aware of any.

73,
n9zas

I did see some murs bubble pack radios several years ago in a Compusa store, But that was like 7 or 8 years ago.
kb0vwg
wqoi992

 

[jhooten]

Dakota Alert Wireless Security Equipment

They are on ebay, often for about $80.

 

[kruser]

Dakota Alert Wireless Security Equipment

They are on ebay, often for about $80.

If they keep the price fairly high, that should slow down the sales and keep the channels halfway clean.
I'm sure it will just be a matter of time though before someone starts selling bubble packs with two radios for $40 bucks which will be the end!

 

[ThomasMcKean]

If they keep the price fairly high, that should slow down the sales and keep the channels halfway clean.
I'm sure it will just be a matter of time though before someone starts selling bubble packs with two radios for $40 bucks which will be the end!

I wonder if those have removable antennas? *Blink*

 

[MeddleMan]

What I Have...

A few posts ago, someone asked if there are any "bubble pack" MURS radios?
I've never seen any, has anyone else seen legit MURS radios offered to the consumer?? Other than the mobile that r/s marketed and the moto P10 that had their logo on it, I'm not aware of any.

73,
n9zas

...are two BP radios purchased on Ebay. They are made by Columbia. They have all five MURS channels, PL tones, Weather Channels, Roger beep, most options like GMRS/FRS BPs. Photos to follow later.

 

[gewecke]

Dakota Alert Wireless Security Equipment

They are on ebay, often for about $80.

Yep, some of those on the air around here somewhere?

*Alert* zone 1, alert zone 1...

73,
n9zas

 

[gewecke]

...are two BP radios purchased on Ebay. They are made by Columbia. They have all five MURS channels, PL tones, Weather Channels, Roger beep, most options like GMRS/FRS BPs. Photos to follow later.

Do tell ?

73,
n9zas

 

[methusaleh]

Columbia made the MURS1 and 2 (sometimes erroneously referred to as the MURS11).

I am not 100% sure of the differences between the two, except for weather RX.

I bought a bunch of them on eBay for next to nothing, new in package with Fry's price tags on them, quite a few years ago...I want to say 2007 or so. I don't think anyone knew what they were, as I recall I watched the auctions for days and nobody bid against me. I think I paid $40 in total for six pairs of them. I still have them and use them in situations where most people would use FRS, such at at county fairs, on camping trips, etc. They take four AA batteries and have decent battery life. If you want some photos, let me know.

Here is a photo I found on mods.dk:

mods.dk / picture / Others / columbia telecommunications group, inc. / murs 2

 

[KB7MIB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

I have one of the Dakota Alert HT's. Their antenna is removable. SMA connector, I believe.

 

[noobiest]

I learned something here at the end. My FRS radio is not this MURS thing of which you all speak. I guess that My Walmart shopping will continue.

 

[gewecke]

I learned something here at the end. My FRS radio is not this MURS thing of which you all speak. I guess that My Walmart shopping will continue.

MURS is only 5 channels on VHF

FRS is 14 channels on UHF

I could be wrong, but I doubt you'll find a MURS radio to buy at walmart (unless a employee sells you his?)

73,
n9zas

 

[MeddleMan]

Colubia MURS Radio

Columbia made the MURS1 and 2 (sometimes erroneously referred to as the MURS11).

I am not 100% sure of the differences between the two, except for weather RX.

I bought a bunch of them on eBay for next to nothing, new in package with Fry's price tags on them, quite a few years ago...I want to say 2007 or so. I don't think anyone knew what they were, as I recall I watched the auctions for days and nobody bid against me. I think I paid $40 in total for six pairs of them. I still have them and use them in situations where most people would use FRS, such at at county fairs, on camping trips, etc. They take four AA batteries and have decent battery life. If you want some photos, let me know.

Here is a photo I found on mods.dk:

mods.dk / picture / Others / columbia telecommunications group, inc. / murs 2

That's it right in the picture. I couldn't sucessfully down load pictures from my phone.

 

[SCPD]

Yeah that's one of the problems of living in a small town. EVERY day is a slow news day.

From my perspective, by definition, it isn't a small town if it has a Walmart. It isn't remote unless you can't buy milk, lettuce or gas where you live and there is no post office. I never had the pleasure of living in a remote town given that definition. In the smallish towns I've lived in not every day is a slow news day. The media covers volunteer groups, school programs and the volunteer fire department. In my case a story was done on me when I transferred to a new position in a new location. When a town employee, firefighter, paramedic or police officer celebrates 20 or 30 years on the job or their retirement, an article is written. The media writes about local drives and hikes and what flies and bait are catching the trout. There is always news, just because it doesn't include murder, rape, armed robbery; give a count on the number of burglaries and grand theft autos occurring per week or month; doesn't lessen what the media in a small towns cover.

Your situation with Walmart may have seemed funny to some. A little prank that was perfectly legal. However, sometimes you can be right and still lose. It is this type of incident that gives radio hobbyists a bad name. It is this type of incident that causes businesses and public agencies to demand products that don't allow this to happen and encryption can be one result. It would seem intuitive that the employees at this store, rightly or wrongly, expect their radios would only have traffic for their store. As others have indicated transmitting on their frequency knowingly was not necessary so why do it?

There is a McDonalds a few blocks from my home. I can hear the customer side of the drive through communications on 154.600 MHz, so an employee inside listens to it. Does this mean it would be funny for me to be in the area and tell them I appreciate their service using my MURS capable handheld? Yes, they should update their system and get off what is now MURS, but so what? The result would be intentional harmful interference and as a licensed ham I won't do that, even if Part 95 is applicable and not Part 97. If I wasn't a ham it still would not be right and I don't care what the legalities are. It is obnoxious and using FCC frequency allocations and use regulations to justify it doesn't change that.

 

[n4jri]

I'd like to know if Wal-mart replied to the letter that was posted.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[gewecke]

I'd like to know if Wal-mart replied to the letter that was posted.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

I think we might be a little off topic but
from my years working for walmart in loss prevention, I can tell you that this corporation is not one to admit fault (even if it's theirs) from all the wrongful injury, and wrongful termination lawsuits that have been filed against them. Denial is their friend.
Now if you think that walmart is correct in their actions...they do have more legal counsel than we do!

73,
n9zas

 

[SCPD]

From my perspective, by definition, it isn't a small town if it has a Walmart. It isn't remote unless you can't buy milk, lettuce or gas where you live and there is no post office. I never had the pleasure of living in a remote town given that definition. In the smallish towns I've lived in not every day is a slow news day. The media covers volunteer groups, school programs and the volunteer fire department. In my case a story was done on me when I transferred to a new position in a new location. When a town employee, firefighter, paramedic or police officer celebrates 20 or 30 years on the job or their retirement, an article is written. The media writes about local drives and hikes and what flies and bait are catching the trout. There is always news, just because it doesn't include murder, rape, armed robbery; give a count on the number of burglaries and grand theft autos occurring per week or month; doesn't lessen what the media in a small towns cover.

Your situation with Walmart may have seemed funny to some. A little prank that was perfectly legal. However, sometimes you can be right and still lose. It is this type of incident that gives radio hobbyists a bad name. It is this type of incident that causes businesses and public agencies to demand products that don't allow this to happen and encryption can be one result. It would seem intuitive that the employees at this store, rightly or wrongly, expect their radios would only have traffic for their store. As others have indicated transmitting on their frequency knowingly was not necessary so why do it?

There is a McDonalds a few blocks from my home. I can hear the customer side of the drive through communications on 154.600 MHz, so an employee inside listens to it. Does this mean it would be funny for me to be in the area and tell them I appreciate their service using my MURS capable handheld? Yes, they should update their system and get off what is now MURS, but so what? The result would be intentional harmful interference and as a licensed ham I won't do that, even if Part 95 is applicable and not Part 97. If I wasn't a ham it still would not be right and I don't care what the legalities are. It is obnoxious and using FCC frequency allocations and use regulations to justify it doesn't change that.

(A little prank that was perfectly legal)

Where does the OP say it was a prank? He was just saying he was a satisfied customer.

( It would seem intuitive that the employees at this store, rightly or wrongly, expect their radios would only have traffic for their store.)

Why do people think their communications are private?

( As others have indicated transmitting on their frequency knowingly was not necessary so why do it? )

WalMart DOES NOT own the frequency,it is a shared frequency and if not in use any one has a right to use that MURS frequency.
There is no intentional harmful interference if someone else is transmitting on that frequency even if almighty Walmart is wants to use it.unless they were already in the process of transmitting a message and was interrupted which was not the case and if Walmart talks over someone else already using that frequency that is called intentional harmful interference.

 

[w4wxp]

Ok, here's the deal...While you believe that you have every right to transmit on the 570 MURS channel, Walmart has a claim on that frequency for their store operations. Right or wrong makes no difference!

They have NO claim on that frequency. NO part 95 channel or frequency is set aside for any specific user.

SO...this manager could have just called the cops and had THEM deal with you.

Any this person could have called FCC Enforcement and had them deal with Walmart AND the cop. Who do you think is going to win? Hmm?

 

[w4wxp]

It's TRUE!!! WM has the power to keep you off a legal channel while you are on their property and all they have to claim is that you intended to interfere and or intrude on their business.

No they do NOT.

They are in the United States and ALL radio communications here are regulated by the FCC & NTIA.

The FCC says that part 95 freq's must be shared and are not reserved for specific users, therefore it doesn't matter if you are sitting in Wal Mart's business office, THEY HAVE NO MORE RIGHTS THAN ANYONE ELSE FOR THE USE OF THOSE FREQUENCIES.

Wal Mart is responsible for using cheap radios that are readily available to the public, and if they don't like it, there are private radio allocations available FOR businesses.

 

[gewecke]

No they do NOT.

They are in the United States and ALL radio communications here are regulated by the FCC & NTIA.

The FCC says that part 95 freq's must be shared and are not reserved for specific users, therefore it doesn't matter if you are sitting in Wal Mart's business office, THEY HAVE NO MORE RIGHTS THAN ANYONE ELSE FOR THE USE OF THOSE FREQUENCIES.

Wal Mart is responsible for using cheap radios that are readily available to the public, and if they don't like it, there are private radio allocations available FOR businesses.

I'm not going to debate if you're right or wrong on this, but go attempt to talk to them on MURS 4 or 5 and let us know what you experience ok?
I could tell you my experience, but I'd rather hear about yours.

73,
n9zas