FRS/GMRS
GMRS: The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a land-mobile FM UHF radio service designed for short-distance two-way communication. Licensed.
FRS: The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a mobile radio system authorized in the United States since 1996. This personal radio service uses channelized frequencies around 462 and 467 MHz in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band. Unlicensed.
FRS/GMRS Channels
Channel numbers commonly used on 22 channel FRS/GMRS dual service radios. Most radios of this type are not capable of repeater operation and do not include the repeater input frequencies.
FRS devices have a maximum power of ½ watt (500 milliwatt) effective radiated power and integral (non-detachable) antennas. If you operate a device under the rules that apply to GMRS, you must have a GMRS license. GMRS devices generally transmit at higher power levels (1 to 5 watts is typical) and may have detachable antennas. 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.
Channel No. | Frequency | FRS | FRS Max Output | GMRS | GMRS Max Ouput | Usage/Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | 462.5625 | FRS 1 | 500 mW | GMRS 9 | 5 W | Unofficial national calling channel |
02 | 462.5875 | FRS 2 | 500 mW | GMRS 10 | 5 W | |
03 | 462.6125 | FRS 3 | 500 mW | GMRS 11 | 5 W | |
04 | 462.6375 | FRS 4 | 500 mW | GMRS 12 | 5 W | |
05 | 462.6625 | FRS 5 | 500 mW | GMRS 13 | 5 W | |
06 | 462.6875 | FRS 6 | 500 mW | GMRS 14 | 5 W | |
07 | 462.7125 | FRS 7 | 500 mW | GMRS 15 | 5 W | |
08 | 467.5625 | FRS 8 | 500 mW | |||
09 | 467.5875 | FRS 9 | 500 mW | |||
10 | 467.6125 | FRS 10 | 500 mW | |||
11 | 467.6375 | FRS 11 | 500 mW | |||
12 | 467.6625 | FRS 12 | 500 mW | |||
13 | 467.6875 | FRS 13 | 500 mW | |||
14 | 467.7125 | FRS 14 | 500 mW | |||
15 | 462.5500 | GMRS 1 | 50 W | |||
16 | 462.5750 | GMRS 2 | 50 W | |||
17 | 462.6000 | GMRS 3 | 50 W | |||
18 | 462.6250 | GMRS 4 | 50 W | |||
19 | 462.6500 | GMRS 5 | 50 W | Use restricted near Canadian border | ||
20 | 462.6750 | GMRS 6 | 50 W | Unofficial emergency/traveler assistance channel (PL 141.3) | ||
21 | 462.7000 | GMRS 7 | 50 W | Use restricted near Canadian border | ||
22 | 462.7250 | GMRS 8 | 50 W | |||
467.5500 | GMRS 1 in | 50 W | Repeater input | |||
467.5750 | GMRS 2 in | 50 W | Repeater input | |||
467.6000 | GMRS 3 in | 50 W | Repeater input | |||
467.6250 | GMRS 4 in | 50 W | Repeater input | |||
467.6500 | GMRS 5 in | 50 W | Repeater input. Use restricted near Canadian border | |||
467.6750 | GMRS 6 in | 50 W | Repeater input, Unofficial emergency/traveler assistance channel (PL 141.3) | |||
467.7000 | GMRS 7 in | 50 W | Repeater input. Use restricted near Canadian border | |||
467.7250 | GMRS 8 in | 50 W | Repeater input |
Midland Extra Channels
Midland has started marketing "Extra Channels" on several of their radios. These extra channels are simply existing FRS/GMRS frequencies with hard coded tones and low power on the FRS-only channels.
Channel No. | Actual Channel | Frequency | PL/DPL No. | PL Tone/DPL Code |
---|---|---|---|---|
23 | GMRS 1 | 462.5625 | 38 | 250.3 |
24 | GMRS 3 | 462.6125 | 35 | 225.7 |
25 | GMRS 5 | 462.6625 | 32 | 203.5 |
26 | GMRS 7 | 462.7125 | 29 | 179.9 |
27 | GMRS 15 | 462.5500 | 26 | 162.2 |
28 | GMRS 17 | 462.6000 | 23 | 146.2 |
29 | GMRS 19 | 462.6500 | 20 | 127.3 |
30 | GMRS 21 | 462.7000 | 17 | 118.8 |
31 | GMRS 2 | 462.5875 | 1 | 023 |
32 | GMRS 4 | 462.6375 | 4 | 031 |
33 | GMRS 6 | 462.6875 | 7 | 047 |
34 | FRS 8 | 467.5625 | 10 | 065 |
35 | FRS 10 | 467.6125 | 13 | 073 |
36 | FRS 12 | 467.6625 | 16 | 115 |
37 | FRS 14 | 467.7125 | 19 | 131 |
38 | GMRS 16 | 462.5750 | 22 | 143 |
39 | GMRS 18 | 462.6250 | 25 | 156 |
40 | GMRS 20 | 462.6750 | 28 | 172 |
41 | GMRS 22 | 462.7250 | 31 | 223 |
42 | GMRS 1 | 462.5625 | 14 | 107.2 |
43 | GMRS 3 | 462.6125 | 11 | 97.4 |
44 | GMRS 5 | 462.6625 | 8 | 88.5 |
45 | GMRS 7 | 462.7125 | 5 | 79.7 |
46 | GMRS 15 | 462.5500 | 2 | 71.9 |
47 | GMRS 17 | 462.6000 | 37 | 241.8 |
48 | GMRS 19 | 462.6500 | 34 | 218.1 |
49 | GMRS 21 | 462.7000 | 31 | 192.8 |
50 | GMRS 2 | 462.5875 | 2 | 025 |
GMRS
GMRS radios operate on 8 UHF frequencies that were set aside by the FCC for family use. A license is required ($85.00 for a five year term) which covers your entire family, including (grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, sons, daughters, and pretty much any one related by blood or marriage). The purpose is to facilitate the communications of families over a limited distance.
- FCC License: Yes
- Max Output: 50 watts
- Frequency: 1 meter
Applying for a GMRS license should be done online.
§ 95.119 Station identification.
- (a) Except as provided in paragraph (e), every GMRS station must transmit a station identification:
- (1) Following the transmission of communications or a series of communications; and
- (2) Every 15 minutes during a long transmission.
- (b) The station identification is the call sign assigned to the GMRS station or system.
- (c) A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification.
- (d) The station identification must be transmitted in:
- (1) Voice in the English language; or
- (2) International Morse code telegraphy.
- (e) A station need not identify its transmissions if it automatically retransmits communications from another station which are properly identified.
Ham radio license does NOT cover the GMRS frequencies.
FRS
FRS radios use narrow-band frequency modulation (NBFM) with a maximum deviation of 2.5 kilohertz. The channels are spaced at 12.5 kilohertz intervals.
FRS radios are limited to 500 milliwatts.
FRS stations on channels 1 through 7 may communicate with GMRS stations on those shared channels; the GMRS stations may use up to 5 watts of power, while the FRS stations are restricted to 500 milliwatts.
FRS radios must use only permanently attached antennas, such as walkie-talkies; there are also table-top FRS "base station" radios that have whip antennas. This limitation intentionally restricts the range of communications, allowing greatest use of the available channels. The use of duplex radio repeaters and interconnects to the telephone network are prohibited under FRS rules.
Despite manufacturer advertising claims range is typically less much less than a mile.
Related
See also: