GMRS

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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
  • FCC Reg: Part 95

Applying for a GMRS license should be done online.

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. 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 years.

§ 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 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.

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.

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