GMRS License

[UNTMatt]

Anyone get licensed for GMRS? Probably a dumb question on a public board but thought I'd throw it out there. Am getting mine, it's $85/5 years if anyone is interested.

[Killtimer]

Don't plan on it...... They're not required in Canada AFAIK. :shrug2:

[sttourer]

Uh oh. Now you'll be on the FCC watch list. ;)

When I purchased my radios 4 or 5 years ago, I decided to go the 'legal' route also. Rarely do I use them and when I do, I'm in the FRS channel range.

If I had to do it over again, I'd have saved my money.

Pat

[UNTMatt]

Don't plan on it...... They're not required in Canada AFAIK. :shrug2:


I don't think Canada requires a GMRS license. Unfortunately, our government finds it necessary to get more money out of us for it. I remember when it used to be a requirment to have a cb license. Thankfully that was done away with.

[nm6r]

Why not just use FRS? No license required and better battery life. There really isn't much to be gained by the higher power GMRS.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[Louie Louie]

I have a Ham radio license. In case theFCC goes after that is my defense!

nb6l

[Blrfl]

I have a ham license and ponied up for a GMRS license.

Louie: If you get nailed for a GMRS offense, they'll probably nail you harder because you already have another license and should know better. There are some copies of FCC letters around the Internet where they specifically point that out.

Ray: FRS would be just fine if somebody made a rugged, compact FRS radio with good-quality RF hardware in it that can be stuffed under the seat and powered from the bike. And having the antennas attached isn't very helpful, either. That said, I have a Cobra hybrid radio under the seat, and it works just fine.

MURS looks real attractive, but trying to find others with radios is kinda difficult these days...

--Mark

[GL1800]

Sticking to good old CB. The widest used and most readily accepted radio makes life so much simpler. When touring I know I can hit chan 19 and get info, directions, or told off. Why spend money on a system that has no real outside application and is in essence special equipment when there is already a tool that fills that niche. As for FRS and GMRS having greater range, if I can't contact them on the CB then the cell phone comes into play. Again, why make things difficult? Maybe I am missing something here, if so please point it out to me.

[nm6r]

What you're missing is how horrible cb is for bike to bike communications. Sure, you can talk to truckers. You can also hear all of their bs. CB has other shortcomings such as a large (and inefficient) antenna requirement, very busy channels, lots of noise in general, static, subject to man-made noise, AM.

FRS is so much better for bike to bike and is becoming the standard. It operates on UHF requiring a very small antenna which is actually efficient for the frequency, low power, smaller radio, lower power consumption, nice and quiet FM.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[Ken]

...as if the FCC has the manpower, technology, or even the desire to enforce this silly restriction...

[Blrfl]

Bingo. I'll be very surprised if GMRS still requires a license five years from now.

--Mark

[curmudgeon]

TK3207 Kenwood radios have the capability of programming the power output to 4 watts for all channels including FRS/GMRS. All channels can be PC programmed for power, QT, and Frequency.

Phil

[UNTMatt]

...I have a Cobra hybrid radio under the seat...

Pictures and which radio are you using?

[UNTMatt]

TK3207 Kenwood radios have the capability of programming the power output to 4 watts for all channels including FRS/GMRS. All channels can be PC programmed for power, QT, and Frequency.

Phil

Kenwoods don't work with the MIT. I want to try the Icom which, from what I've read, will fit the MIT adaptor but cannot find one locally to try out. Right now we don't have the budget to take the chance.

I don't think GMRS will require licensing in a few years.

[Mandel]

These high powered walkie talkies with multiple FRS and GMRS channels are sold cheaply in places like Costco and Walmart. How can the FCC really expect ordinary, inexperienced consumers to differentiate the channels. Most people who use an 18 channel radio just look for a quiet channel to use and don't pay attention to whether it is an FRS or GMRS channel, as if they'd know the difference anyway.

The radios come packaged with a tiny, small-print instruction page that mentions in a footnote that you need a license to use certain channels. Since you don't really need an instruction booklet to learn how to use these radios, I wonder how many people actually read the instructions closely enough to notice they need a license for certain channels.

Moreover, even though I know that I need a license to use my GMRS channels, once I get out in the field I don't know which channel numbers correspond with GMRS and which use FRS.

This whole situation is ridiculous. The FCC cannot possibly or reasonably expect the general population to comply with this regulation.

My attitude is to use whatever channel is working well and if I'm ever questioned, I can truthfully say I had no idea I was using a licensed channel. Why did they give me these channels if I'm not allowed to use them?

That's my defense and I'm sticking to it.

Mandel

[Blrfl]

Pictures and which radio are you using?

Hm, don't have any pictures, and right now everything's apart for some cleanup and rearranging to make more room for a future project. Just imagine the mess in the first picture (the Autocom is underneath the fuse block) with the radio in the second on top of it, wrapped up in a bandana to keep it from getting dinged up.

1672816729

The radio is a Cobra PR950DX. I found a pair on FleaBay for under $30. I've only had them a few weeks but have done a bunch of testing with it. So far the only problem I've had with it is having the power/volume knob get kicked into the "on" position, draining the batteries. At some point I'll put in a DC-DC converter so I have 6V to run it on.

--Mark

[gene]

Hey those pictures don't work . That cable for your cobra will also work with handheld midland and radioshack CB's so you can talk with those special Wing riders to by swaping radio's

[Louie Louie]

Louie: If you get nailed for a GMRS offense, they'll probably nail you harder because you already have another license and should know better. There are some copies of FCC letters around the Internet where they specifically point that out.


--Mark


Appreciate that counselor..I will contact FCC

[Blrfl]

I finished relocating the Autocom and cleaning up under the pillion seat today, so here are some pictures.

Yeasu FT-51R (the clunky thing with the adapters is temporary).:

16787

Cobra PR950DX:

1678816789

The second Cobra picture shows a piece of matting I custom cut to keep either radio from rattling around the tail section and getting all dinged up.

--Mark

[maxib]

Many, many years ago I came home from college to visit my family who had taken the RV to a fishing area that was very popular. After settling in with them at the campsite we went to the fishing area. We were slightly downstream from a dam and the river was crowded on both sides with fishermen.

My Dad tells me to get a rod and go fishing, but I told him I didn't have a license. This goes on for an hour before I finally gave in. Ten minutes later, I was in a DNR car going to the nearest post to put $100 in the mail because a judge was not available.

I was a freshman in college just looking to visit my family on a weekend and now I'm being taken in a cop car to be witnessed posting money for the fine. I really did not want to fish but my Dad said, "It's okay, there are so many people here that you'll never get caught." Well, after ten minutes of holding a rod, the only thing I caught was a hefty fine.

Yes, I have a GMRS license because it's the law.

[k6gad]

The FCC is constantly under pressure from commercial users of the radio frequency spectrum. If people don't pay for a license they may just give that portion of radio frequencies over to be used by someone else who will pay. It's one of those use it or lose it things. If they see no one is paying they may assume no one is using GMRS.
Gary

[Mandel]

Do you have to pass any kind of test or take any training to get one of these licenses, or is it just a matter of paying the fee?

Mandel

[Blrfl]

Nope... Apply on line, send them a check and watch the sparks fly.

You do need to identify your station (they'll assign you a callsign like "WXYZ234") every so often while you're on the air, and there are a few rules about what you can't transmit and who's covered by your license.

--Mark

[tommyboy]

I just installed a J&M CB2003 on my bike this weekend. I have used CBs for the last 10 years. I bought the complete system from another guy in my club for $175. He bought a new Goldwing (the one with the airbag) and didn't need it. It turns out he never even took it out of the packaging. The only thing it didn't have was a passenger helmet headset.

[joeca43]

I ponied up for the license a few months back and keep a copy of it on the bike. I do not need to be bothered by getting hassled over it should I get confronted by some overzealous FCC type somewhere.
It's good for 5 years so It's over and done with.
Now if I could only remember my call sign :eek:

[UNTMatt]

Nope... Apply on line, send them a check and watch the sparks fly.

You do need to identify your station (they'll assign you a callsign like "WXYZ234") every so often while you're on the air, and there are a few rules about what you can't transmit and who's covered by your license.

--Mark

I think that's my biggest issue with the license. Give us your money and we'll let you talk. Serves little purpose other than collecting revenue's.

[Blrfl]

I think that's my biggest issue with the license. Give us your money and we'll let you talk. Serves little purpose other than collecting revenue's.

That's actually par for the course for most licenses. Broadcasters pay a small fortune every year, and the cellular carriers spend billions in spectrum auctions to acquire the rights to use it. (And, in any case, it's probably a better idea to collect from the people using the spectrum versus raising everyone's taxes to cover it.)

GMRS is something of a strange case because it was mostly used by businesses before the FCC changed it over to personal use only, leaving the fee structure intact. I figure they're going through the same teething that Class D CB went through in the 1970s where it took them awhile to give up on licensing it. Like I said before, I figure GMRS will probably go the same way. FRS works, but the low power limit and the restriction on external antennas really hobbles it. UHF is a good candidate for a license-free band with a bit more power because its range is more limited by terrain than, say, HF CB. But I wouldn't expect the current 50W to be the legal limit anymore.

Amateur licenses don't cost anything other than a small fee to reimburse the examiner for time and supplies. (Amateur radio has a volunteer examiner system in which VEs administer the tests and certify the results to the FCC, which issues your license.) Once your license has been issued, you can keep renewing it indefinitely.

--Mark

[Byron]

Maybe if I play nice with some of the easy stuff, they won't mind if I bend the rules elsewhere. :)

[ligito]

One of our local governments use FRS radios to contact their staff in the building.
I've always felt that was an abuse of FRS (Family Radio Services) and don't think it's legal.

[nm6r]

One of our local governments use FRS radios to contact their staff in the building.
I've always felt that was an abuse of FRS (Family Radio Services) and don't think it's legal.

You should do the right thing and file a complaint with the FCC. :smile:

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif