GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) $80 FCC licensing required

[KevinJames]

We’ve all seen those stylish FRS (Family Radio Service) radios that hikers, cyclists and others carry. Those things do not require any special license. So the other day I’m surfing the net and come up on an old favorite of mine, http://www.dak.com/. They were offering an lesser known brand GMRS unit for $50/USA. It bragged of going at least twice the distance of most FRS units (up to 10 miles). I was tempted but wanted to do comparative shopping (many of you know how I am with that).

So this past weekend I was in my local Costco and they had the same class of radio (GMRS) made by Motorola for only $40. I snapped at that like a fish on a shinny lure.

No where on the outside of the packaging (those hard plastic things that you have to destroy in order to get it open) was there any mention that the buyer would have to get FCC licensing in order to use it. However, stuck nicely in the middle of instruction brochure was a green sheet of paper with a huge warning that the device should not even be used on certain bands before getting a license with the FCC—“severe penalties apply to those caught disregarding this warning.”

So there was the subtle catch as to why no exterior warning was on the packaging. The device does have dedicated FRS channels that can be used, this making the unit still worth it’s cost.

However, I wanted the whole enchilada. So I went online to website indicated on the green notice. The link had changed locations but the FCC was kind enough to redirect. It took a little while trying to figure out what the dickens was required. First you have to apply for an online account to use the website, then you have to apply for your license, then you have to go back into the system to pay for the license. It took me about 40 minutes to complete all steps (needing to go back several times because I couldn’t figure out their navigation system).

The $80 is applied to a 5-year license, so it only $16 per year, but you have to pay for all five years up front. I haven’t had the opportunity to yet test the advertised 10 mile radius but it dang well better come close for my having to applied for FCC licensing, not to mention the cost.

[ShoresGuy]

GMRS is also repeater/PL-tone based meaning that you should be able to access repeaters with certain GMRS models. I have an older Motorola Talkabout Motorola FRS/GMRS model which was able to use 3 GMRS channels but I couldn't access any repeaters since the radio couldn't transmit PL-tones to trip any repeaters.

Enjoy

[KevinJames]

Shoresguy: If it isn't legal, don't respond:

How would someone "trip a repeater" with a GMRS unit?

Aren't most repeaters today proprietary and somewhat "intelligent" equipment, knowing how to direct signal? If so, how would a rogue GMRS signal get around? Admittedly, I don't know about these things.

[ShoresGuy]

That's a good question, I'm not an expert on this subject either.

Here are some links:

http://www.provide.net/~prsg/wi-gmrs.htm#Repeater

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMRS

[MeatChicken]

Most of the "blister pack" GMRS/FRS radios do not have the capability to do the frequency split required for repeater operation, if you did get one that does, repeater operation will be clearly in the instruction manual.
For get getting anywhere near 10 miles, unless you are in the middle of the ocean, away from most other RF sources, AND you can SEE the other party across the water.....

[KevinJames]

pretty much what I expected. But hopefully the performance will be better than the those advertising 2 to 5 miles distance.

(Yeah, I might actually get 2 miles!)

I still have yet to test it. My employment is keeping me very busy.

In the past two weeks I have

1) Had problems with my hip (for which I started seeing a chiropractor)
2) Got poison oak on Labor Day when I went to a regional park
3) Just came down with a bad cold.

(Move over Job, its my turn. )

[ShoresGuy]

^ and .... 4) bought an FRS/GMRS phone

I used to be into FRS myself a lot. It was a lot of fun to go to amusement parks such as Marine World (now Six Flags) in Vallejo or to Great America in Santa Clara and scan the channels/codes using the scanning function and mess with people's private transmissions .

[WirelessBeachBum]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

^ and .... 4) bought an FRS/GMRS phone

I used to be into FRS myself a lot. It was a lot of fun to go to amusement parks such as Marine World (now Six Flags) in Vallejo or to Great America in Santa Clara and scan the channels/codes using the scanning function and mess with people's private transmissions .

ShoresGuy, The FCC has sent CIA Helicopters to your house now that they know the culprit in the Six Flags case.

I used to use those when I did some investigative work, (early 90's) they got a decent range, but ten miles is pretty much out of the question except in the best conditions.

But at the time it was more cost effective to do that verses pay a quarter a minute for cellular airtime.

[ShoresGuy]

Lol they need to send them here to Germany , FRS is available in Germany as well but here the 446 Mhz band is used. The range and power output level is the same as in the US/Canada.

[WirelessBeachBum]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Lol they need to send them here to Germany , FRS is available in Germany as well but here the 446 Mhz band is used. The range and power output level is the same as in the US/Canada.

I'm sure there are a few CIA operatives bouncing around Germany...

The band my radios used was the same as the McDonalds Drive thru in my local town.

Talk about fun, it made it really interesting when we were following people and get too close Mickey D's. I'll have a side of fries with my infidelity.

That was a fun job, but I got tired of following cheating spouses around...and the town I lived in, people seemed to not want to pay what we were worth. Equipment was pretty expensive as well...I think the radios we had were $300. Not really allot of money now, but back in those days that was allot of flipping burgers.

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by WirelessBeachBum

The band my radios used was the same as the McDonalds Drive thru in my local town.

Talk about fun, it made it really interesting when we were following people and get too close Mickey D's. I'll have a side of fries with my infidelity.

What kind of radios were you using? Could you talk through the McDonalds speaker box? That could be really fun!

[WirelessBeachBum]

They weren't GMRS or FRS radios, they were "Business Band" radios, they came with one band, and a slot for another crystal you could use if you purchased your own frequency licenses from the FCC....we never did that, we just used the frequency that was already on them.

I finally got rid of them last year, I had long since lost the charger, and the nicad batteries had been gone for quite a long time.

[ShoresGuy]

Some years ago, my two younger brothers and I pulled a funny prank with my local movie theatre. They had FRS radios and even though they set codes, I scanned for their traffic. Then while passing the theatre via the freeway one day, we told them that we wanted popcorn and then someone came on asking what the hell we were doing on their channel.

Amazing fun

[WirelessBeachBum]

I think it's funny people think by setting those codes they are some how encrypting the call so no one else can listen, or use "their" frequency.

[ShoresGuy]

Yep , some of the newer FRS radios do contain voice scramblers though.

[Andy]

I use a 10 mile walkie talkie that apparently requires licensing, but I'm not sure how anybody could catch anybody using a radio like that...Everyone I know that uses these type of radios have no license whatsoever.

[ShoresGuy]

What make and kind of radio is it, Andy?

[Andy]

It's a Motorola, don't have the model number right now, sorry...I like them though

[jwilkers]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

I use a 10 mile walkie talkie that apparently requires licensing, but I'm not sure how anybody could catch anybody using a radio like that...Everyone I know that uses these type of radios have no license whatsoever.

That is changing. The new Personal Radio Association (PRA) is turning in people on a daily basis. The boss of the group is a close personal friend of one of the chief enforcement officials in the FCC.

[ShoresGuy]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

It's a Motorola, don't have the model number right now, sorry...I like them though

The FRS radios are available here in Germany as well but I haven't actually gotten any here yet.