FRS/GMRS

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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:

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