Difference between revisions of "FRS/GMRS"

Revision as of 11:38, 4 June 2015

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.

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.

GMRS

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) - FCC Title 47 Part 95; GMRS radios operate on 8 UHF frequencies that were set aside by the FCC for family use. A license is required (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 on select channels
• Frequency: 1 meter (UHF)
• Bandwidth: standard FM (FM) ±5 kHz deviation (see new rules as FRS are now NFM)
• FCC Reg: Part 95

Applying for a GMRS license should be done online.

• GMRS Informationwhy can't they maintain a URL?
• FCC Universal Licensing System

License Fee:
Since the FCC has eliminated the $5 per year regulatory fee, the cost for a family GMRS license has dropped from $90 down to $65 $35. The fee, which was previously assessed at $5 per year, added $25 to the total cost of a GMRS license, which has a term of five 10 years. [ 2020 update reduced fee to $35 and expanded license validity term to 10 yrs ].

§ 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.

View a table of FRS/GMRS Frequences and Channels.

GMRS Frequency and Channel List

• Channels * represent 2020 FCC rule part modification
• Channels 2 W and higher are wide band 25kHz ( excludes 8 - 14 )
• Channels 8 - 14 are narrow band at 12.5 kHz

Common PL / CTCSS Tones and Associated Tone Number Code

TONE/Hz          TONE/Hz          TONE/Hz
 01: 67.0         07: 85.4         13: 103.5
 02: 71.9         08: 88.5         14: 107.2
 03: 74.4         09: 91.5         15: 110.9
 04: 77.0         10: 94.8         16: 114.8
 05: 79.7         11: 97.4         17: 118.8
 06: 82.5         12: 100          18: 123.0

GMRS Repeater

GMRS range is line of sight. A GMRS repeater with an antenna that is high above the surrounding terrain can extend the usable range over a wide area up to 20 miles or more. The GMRS-only channels are defined in pairs, with one frequency in the 462 MHz range for simplex and repeater outputs, and another frequency 5 MHz higher for repeater inputs.

To build a repeater use a quality bandpass with reject type UHF duplexor. With a license a GMRS user can transmit up to 50-watts of power. Build the repeater to transmit at full power, 50-watts.

Individual must apply to the FCC for a GMRS repeater control operator license.

FCC Considering GMRS Rule Changes

The FCC is seeking comment on a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in regards to GMRS, whether to do away with the license requirement or possible close down GMRS altogether. Considerations in the NPRM:

• Eliminate GMRS licensing (aka “license by rule”), similar to the FRS and CB spectrum, or extend licensing term from five to ten years.
• Relax eligibility requirements. Under the current GMRS licensing regulations, only those aged 18 years or older are eligible to apply for a GMRS license. According to the FCC, if licensing is eliminated, it will be very similar to the FRS service, which has no such age restriction, so they don’t find a reason to continue the age eligibility requirement.
• Move to narrowband 12.5 kHz spacing. Currently GMRS uses 25 kHz spacing.
• Decrease GMRS handheld radio output power from 5 to 2 watts.
• Eliminate the use of repeaters in the GMRS service.

What does the future of GMRS hold? It is difficult to say. If the FCC takes GMRS away completely, then it will become illegal to use any of the FRS/GMRS combo radios. Repeater owners will have to turn off their repeaters.

Updated: Summer 2015

Changes to individual license requirement have been approved. In 2015, the FCC ruled to keep the license requirement, but to remove the regulator fee for licensing. Adopted May 20, 2015. Will be in effect after a 90-day notification period to Congress. Fee will not be eliminated before August 18, 2015.

Updated: 2020 GMRS Rule Changes by the FCC

• More Power to FRS: FRS radios are now allowed to transmit up to 2W of power and do not require a license to operate: Formally referred to as FRS/GMRS hybrid radios, these radios will now be reclassified as FRS units using expanded FRS capabilities.

• FRS Channel Expansion: FRS radios will now have 22 channels including usage of channels 8 - 14, and previously GMRS only channels 15 - 22, in addition to the existing FRS channels 1 - 7. Channels 8 - 14 not to exceed 0.5 Watts and on channels 1 - 7 and 15 - 22 not to exceed 2.0 Watts.

• No More Hybrid Exemption: All radios capable of over 2 Watts (type certified) transmit are now classified as GMRS and will require license to operate legally.

• Longer License Terms and Adjusted Cost: GMRS licensing is now good for 10 years and cost $35

• GMRS Channel Expansion: GMRS will have 30 total channels with 22 FRS/GMRS channels plus 8 repeater channels.

GMRS Discussion Online

Try to avoid "survivalist" forums discussing these radios. The SHTF / Survivalist forums tend to discuss illegal use of GMRS radio equipment. Furthermore, much of what is discussed on the survivalist forums is inaccurate including mods that typically will damage your radio equipment. Look for discussion groups that are technically oriented or forums shared by GMRS and HAM radio users. Although a HAM radio license does not grant access to GMRS frequencies, some HAM operators also have a family GMRS license and the majority of HAM radio operators are far more knowledgeable than any of the crazy folks over on the survivalist forums.

• Radioreference.com Forum Category: GMRS / FRS - Discussions related to GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and FRS (Family Radio Service) communications
• myGMRS.com: General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) - An entire forum dedicated to GMRS radio discussion.
• Two Way Radio Forum Cagetory: Consumer (FRS / GMRS) Radios - A forum category discussing GMRS. Site operated by a two-way radio business.

GMRS Transceivers (examples)

There are many GMRS HT (hand held transceivers) available. This list will focus more on units with repeater capability, in vehicle mobile units, and base units.

• Midland MXT500-50 Watt GMRS MicroMobile® Two-Way Radio
• Midland MXT275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio – 15 watts Two-Way Radio
• Midland MXT115VP3-15 Watt GMRS MicroMobile® Two-Way Radio
• BTECH GMRS-20V2 20W GMRS Two-Way Radio
• Wouxun KG-1000G GMRS Base/Mobile Two Way Radio

FRS

Family Radio Service (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.

• FCC License: No
• Max Output: 0.5 watts or 2 watts on select channels
• Frequency: 1 meter (UHF)
• Bandwidth: Narrow FM (NFM) 2.5 kHz deviation
• FCC Reg: Part 95

FRS radios were limited to 500 milliwatts until the 2020 rule change. Now 2 watts allowed on select channels.

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 lower transmit power.

FRS radios must use only permanently attached antennas, such as handy talkies (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.

View a table of FRS/GMRS Frequences and Channels.

It seems that some hybrid FRS/GMRS two way radios operate WFM on FRS frequencies that the FCC restricts to NFM for FRS users. FRS two-way radios only operate on the narrow band frequency space.

Related

See also:

• FRS/GMRS
• MURS
• VHF Maritime Mobile Band
• Citizens Band radio