Talk:FRS/GMRS
Contents
Personal Radio Services (PRS)
Personal radio services are short-range, low-power radio communications using a device or devices that operate much like walkie-talkies. Personal radio services include one- and two-way voice services, data transmission and transmissions that operate equipment by remote control.
Personal radio services devices generally do not rely on transmission towers or other equipment. Some types of personal radio services, especially those using very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) radio spectrum, encounter significantly less static, noise and fading than CBs or walkie-talkies.
The most popular types of personal radio services are Citizens Band Radio Service (CB), Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Low-Power Radio Service (LPRS) and Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS). Of these types of services, only GMRS requires an FCC license to operate. Citizens Band Radio Service
CB service allows private, two-way radio communications for personal or business use. Communications (or attempts to communicate) with stations over 250 km (155.3 miles) away are prohibited. The maximum authorized power levels vary depending on whether the station is transmitting a single side band (SSB) or an AM signal. SSB transmissions are authorized up to 12 watts Peak Envelope Power (PEP), while AM transmissions are permitted up to four watts carrier power. CBs used in the United States must be FCC-certified and labeled as such by the manufacturer. CB service operates on 40 shared channels on a "take-turns" basis, meaning no CB channel is assigned to any specific individual or organization. Users must never talk with another station for more than 5 minutes continuously, and must wait at least one minute before starting another communication. You may not raise the power output of your CB unit, attach any type of power amplifier or modify the unit internally.
Family Radio Service
FRS allows two-way voice communications over very short distances, generally less than one-half mile. An FRS unit looks and works much like a walkie-talkie. If you have a dual-use, FRS-General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) unit, you may legally use only the FRS channels unless you have a GMRS license. The label on the unit or the operations manual should indicate the service the unit is certified for. FRS-only units transmit at lower power levels and have antennas that are integrated with the unit; GMRS units transmit at higher power levels and may have detachable antennas. You can operate your FRS unit anywhere in the U.S. and its possessions.
General Mobile Radio Service
GMRS is a land-mobile radio service available for short-distance, two-way communications. A GMRS system may legally be operated only with a license granted by the FCC. The individual licensee is responsible for the proper operation of the GMRS system. A GMRS system is made up of station operators and a mobile station consisting of one or more mobile units. It may also include one or more land stations. Some land stations operate as repeaters, thereby extending the range of GMRS mobile units. New GMRS licenses are granted only to individuals, but GMRS licenses granted to non-individuals (such as businesses) before July 31, 1987, can be renewed if certain conditions are met. You can apply for a GMRS license online, or by filing FCC Form 605. The FCC sets license filing fees annually, and current filing fees are $85. Licenses are granted for five years.
Low Power Radio Service
LPRS is a private, one-way short-distance communication service that allows stations to transmit voice data or signals for auditory assistance to people with disabilities, people who require language translation, and certain individuals in educational settings. LPRS also allows stations to transmit voice, data, or tracking signals for health care-related communications and certain law enforcement activities. Two-way communications are prohibited. LPRS can also be used for network control communications in the Automated Marine Telecommunications System (AMTS). LPRS transmitters can be operated anywhere in the United States.
Multi-Use Radio Service
MURS is a private, two-way short-distance voice or data radio communications service used for personal or business activities. The service operates on five Very High Frequency (VHF) channels. MURS users must cooperate in using the five channels to reduce interference to other users. No user has priority over any other user, but all users must yield to emergency communications. A MURS station may not operate as a repeater station, including store-and-forward packet radio operation, or a signal booster. Maximum allowable transmitter output power for a MURS unit is two watts. Transmission range between two hand-held units varies depending on the unit's antenna height, terrain and weather.
GMRS Part 95a Certified Radio List
Motorola Radius GM300 - certificated for Parts 22, 74, and 90 but not 95A
Kenwood TK 373G radios are 95A granted.
These models are personally verified to be Part 95A type accepted for use on GMRS.
Mobile ---
TK-860 32 Channels Numeric Display Only 1-32 (Wide/Narrow) TK-860G 128 Channel Alpha-Numeric Display (Wide/Narrow) TK-862G 8 Channel Numeric Only (Wide/Narrow)
Portable ---
TK-360G 8 Channel (Wide/Narrow) TK-372G 32 Channel (Can direct software to write to radio as if it were a 128 channel version) Alpha-Numeric Display (Wide/Narrow) TK-370G 128 Channel Alpha-Numeric Display (Wide/Narrow)
Kenwood ProTalk XLS TK-3230
- Kenwood Tk3140 ... yes 95a
- Icom F40GT ... yes 95a
Motorola Radius M100 2 ch uhf not sure about the m208 or 216
The Kenwood TK-840-1 is part 95A legal
Any Ritron that transmits 450-470 is Part 95 Accepted. Repeaters, mobile and Ht's. They get it on everything. I use alot of RPM450 25 Watt Mobiles, RTX450 5 Watt Ht's, SST450 2 Watt Ht's and my Repeater is a RRX450 30 Watt. All type accepted.
TK-390 has 95a grant. 160 channels, and they can be set up for front panel programming.
- Kenwood TK 373G radios are 95A granted.
- TK805D and TK350 are 95A certified.
- BridgeCom BCR-40U 40 watt station/repeater - 95 certified
ham radio 70cm / 440 base stations
- Yaesu FT-736R
- Icom IC-910
Discontinued VHF-UHF Multi Mode Transceivers
- Icom IC-451A
- Icom IC-471H
- Icom IC-475H
- Icom IC-820H
- Icom IC-821H
- Kenwood TS-811A
- Kenwood TS-780
- Kenwood TS-790A
- Yaesu FT-726R
- Yaesu FT-736R
Part 90 Radios
- ICOM U-400 16 Channel UHF 450-480 Mhz
FCC Rules:
§ 95.1773 GMRS authorized bandwidths. Each GMRS transmitter type must be designed such that the occupied bandwidth does not exceed the authorized bandwidth for the channels used. Operation of GMRS stations must also be in compliance with these requirements. (a ) Main channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(a )) or any of the 467 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(c )). (b ) Interstitial channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz interstitial channels (see § 95.1763(b )and is 12.5 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 467 MHz interstitial channels (see § 95.1763(d )). (c ) Digital data transmissions. Digital data transmissions are limited to the 462 MHz main channels and interstitial channels in the 462 MHz and 467 MHz bands.
§ 95.1775 GMRS modulation requirements. Each GMRS transmitter type must be designed to satisfy the modulation requirements in this section. Operation of GMRS stations must also be in compliance with these requirements. (a ) Main channels. The peak frequency deviation for emissions to be transmitted on the main channels must not exceed ± 5 kHz. (b ) 462 MHz interstitial channels. The peak frequency deviation for emissions to be transmitted on the 462 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed ± 5 kHz. (c ) 467 MHz interstitial channels. The peak frequency deviation for emissions to be transmitted
on the 467 MHz interstitial channels must not exceed ± 2.5 kHz, and the highest audio frequency contributing substantially to modulation must not exceed 3.125 kHz. (d ) Overmodulation. Each GMRS transmitter type, except for a mobile station transmitter type with a transmitter power output of 2.5 W or less, must automatically prevent a higher than normal audio level from causing overmodulation. (e ) Audio filter. Each GMRS transmitter type must include audio frequency low pass filtering, unless it complies with the applicable paragraphs of § 95.1779 (without filtering). (1) The filter must be between the modulation limiter and the modulated stage of the transmitter. (2) At any frequency (f in kHz) between 3 and 20 kHz, the filter must have an attenuation of at least 60 log (f/3) dB more than the attenuation at 1 kHz. Above 20 kHz, it must have an attenuation of at least 50 dB more than the attenuation at 1 kHz.
§ 95.1771 GMRS emission types. Each GMRS transmitter type must be designed to satisfy the emission capability rules in this section. Operation of GMRS stations must also be in compliance with these rules.
(a) Each GMRS transmitter type must have the capability to transmit F3E or G3E emissions. (B) Only emission types A1D, F1D, G1D, H1D, J1D, R1D, A3E, F3E, G3E, H3E, J3E, R3E, F2D, and G2D are authorized for use in the GMRS.
bandwidth - wide or narrow
The GMRS bandwidth divides into 22 channels that are common with FRS. Also, eight additional repeater channels are solely available to licensed GMRS operators.
- Channel 1 @ 462.5625 MHz through Channel 7 @ 462.7125 MHz is 20kHz bandwidth
- Channel 15 @ 462.5500 MHz through Channel 22 @ 462.7250 MHz is 20 kHz bandwidth
- Channel 8 @ 467.5625 MHz through Channel 14 @ 467.7125 MHz is 12.5 kHz narrow-band
Channels 1-7 are the most popular because they are common between GMRS and FRS radio. The GMRS radios can allow a maximum of 5 watts of power on these channels.
Channels 15-22 are GMRS channels that allow enabled full power 50 watts and repeater stations.
§ 95.1773 GMRS authorized bandwidths.
Each GMRS transmitter type must be designed such that the occupied bandwidth does not exceed the authorized bandwidth for the channels used. Operation of GMRS stations must also be in compliance with these requirements.
(a) Main channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(a)) or any of the 467 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(c)).
(b) Interstitial channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz interstitial channels (see § 95.1763(b)) and is 12.5 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 467 MHz interstitial channels (see § 95.1763(d)).
(c) Digital data transmissions. Digital data transmissions are limited to the 462 MHz main channels and interstitial channels in the 462 MHz and 467 MHz bands.
900 MHz ISM and non-ISM Radio
here are frequencies that have been allocated for Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) devices to communicate. Some of these frequencies are licensed and some are unlicensed. The FCC first made unlicensed spread spectrum available in the ISM bands in rules adopted on May 9, 1985
Current FRS/GMRS Channels (effective September 28, 2017)
- Note that the old GMRS channels (the 462 MHz splinter channels and the 462/467 repeater channels) were not required to narrowband.
- FRS channel numbers commonly used by 22 channel radios are shown in the leftmost column.
- Most 22 channel radios of this type which were formerly marketed as GMRS/FRS combination radios (radios that are not capable of repeater operation, do not include the repeater input frequencies, have a maximum power of 2 watts and have a non-detachable antenna) have been reclassified as FRS radios.
See Table at: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FRS/GMRS_combined_channel_chart
