GMRS radios

Let me know if you want to borrow the programming cable (though it's only $10).

 

I'll need to look into GMRS channels and probably even FRS channels just to see what would be the best case ( i see a lot of FRS vs GMRS posts, and i'm unfamiliar with FRS)
but might be worth doing some time soon since shipping it over now from Amazoom would take too long before Ardbeg from the looks of things

 

You'll want interoperability with the Cobra/Motorola handhelds the rest of the group uses. I just put the 22 GMRS channels in the spreadsheet and flashed them in. I'm using it basically as a more powerful walkie talkie with some convenient features like listening to two channels at the same time.

 

Today I learned!

I didn't know that about Canada. However, it looks like Canada does NOT require a license to use those 2 watts.

Correct. This is not legal, although I do not know specifically in Canada. I can give a US-centric response: the radio is (a) not type certified by the FCC to operate for GMRS transmitting and (b) it outputs too much power - these output up to 8W, which would be against the rules in Canada across the board, and in the US on some channels.

I emboldened the TX part because you CAN legally use it to receive, IE listen in on.

FRS and GMRS operate on the same channels.

This table shows the wattage for the US rules, Canada rules linked above.

Yup - and you can get GMRS handhelds that do this, too, and are legal.

PS - you're in channel mode. if you hit the orange button on the front it goes into frequency mode, and you can just punch in the frequency if you know it. Don't need to program it in.





When it comes down to it - you won't have a drone following you in the woods for using them (a), and (b) off road clubs and orgs and events need to be on the up and up for obvious reasons, so will not permit this type of hooliganism "officially".

(c) stay off the Ham bands w/o a license - they're way more persnickity about wrongful use and can and will track you and report you (it's called fox hunting).

I have my amateur radio (ham) license and can use those frequencies, and have a baofeng and DEFINITELY do not have channel 101 through 122 programmed in with GMRS and FRS channels and NEVER use them for off road comms




PS - add these channels in too. I have these programmed in as channels 51-57 (but down in the lower 48)

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weatheradio/find-your-network.html

 

If these are the same as the Wx channels on the Cobra walkie talkie, then they're the same as weather forecast phone recordings i.e. kinda useless

 

They're useful if you have no cell signal, or you can punch them in and listen to something for a few minutes on a road trip.

For my camping setup they're 95% useless. Only tells me whether my window will be rolled down all the way w/ bug netting or only cracked down to the visor limit if there's going to be rain

 

Program whatever frequencies you want on any radio, but transmitting (TX) without proper license and understanding of the rules and etiquette is illegal for a few reasons, including:

• Pushing the Push-to-talk (PTT) (aka “Keying-up” or transmitting) stops everyone’s scan mode for several seconds, which is annoying. If you do this on a repeater, you’ve now bothered every listener within potentially hundreds of miles.
• Listeners in a wide area could miss genuine or emergency traffic.
• Poor quality radios popular with people who know even less than I do radiate spurious emissions that interfere with Law Enforcement/Fire/First Responder and paid business license traffic on adjacent frequencies.
  • Same issue with poor quality antennas found on even the highest quality radios.

While obviously it’s not the end of the world, the best analogy I can think of is it’s like the Delta Bravos who park their precious vehicle across 2 spaces or in the handicap spots without being handicapped. Don’t be that guy.

 

Yup!

Again this is a US perspective, not sure if it's different in Canadia-land:

https://www.cert-la.com/downloads/radio/FRS-GMRS-Frequency-Chart.pdf

Channels 15-22 are repeater channels (that's why that table above has 15-22 in the 50W range for GMRS). If you are on 1-14 you will not be within a repeater network, and this is worthwhile advice to know and follow whether you're on a sketchy baofeng or a type-cert actual radio.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spurious_emission

These are much more likely to happen from a cheap crappy NON-CERTIFIED radio (which the baofeng is, it's a cheap-o "ham radio").

https://hackaday.com/2016/12/14/measuring-spurious-emissions-of-cheap-handheld-transceivers/

This one shows the problem w/ the Baofengs even more:
https://observer.wunderwood.org/2020/02/07/baofeng-hts-and-spurious-emissons/

 

Thank you for clearly pointing out the issues associated with those garbage baofeng radios!

 

Success!
was chasing after the wrong driver for about 2 hours... cable has a WCH Chipset and finally got that all to work out.

 

Revival of an old thread… but…

I recently got my GMRS license and I’m trying to sort out all the things to get up and running.
I’m thinking about a Midland MTX 500 or MTX 575 for the 50W and dual band capabilities (also open to other suggestions). Then I start looking at antennas 1/2 wave vs 5/8 wave, need for ground plane or roof rack/swing out tire rack mount.

So long story short, I’m looking for suggestions. I want to find a radio that will be useful for as long as possible (time wise), truck mounted/mobile, antenna on my aluminum Rhino Rack above the fiberglass shell or on my swing out, long range, repeater compatibility, and will work with the most people GRMS/FRS. The information seems to be out there, but not super easy to find. I’m not looking for a new hobby/lifestyle, I need another thing to drop money on like a hole in the head.

What are good resources to learn about GMRS, and figure out what I should get. I also registered with myGRMS, but can’t access their forums to research or ask questions. Lots of Not A Rubicon videos, but kinda hit and miss. Anyone on the Western Slope/GJ area that knows all things radios GMRS and/or HAM that has the an srm meter, and coax tools to shorten and re-terminate coax antenna cables? I think I want a 50W plug and play, and if I get into it down the road I can upgrade.

This is the truck it will be mounted on.

 

Well, this is specifically for Ontario, Canada and we don't have gmrs licenses or the ability to legally go past 2w so I'm not sure if this is going to be the right place

 

Fair enough… It was late and I saw the GMRS thread, didn’t even notice the Ontario part. I apologize for that friend. My goal was to not start a new thread asking a question that had been asked before, i.e. “what size tires without trimming”. I reached out to some vendors today and had a lot of my questions answered.

 

I’m new to radio in general. My question is, does gmrs radio broadcast its ID when you transmit? I’m not talking about your call sign, but the ID of the device itself.

My work radio, Motorola apx8000, broadcast its ID when transmit and I can see the ID of other radio when they transmit.

 

The normal GMRS radios don't do this, but you can program FCC Part 90 biz radio with ID-ANI feature to do this on GMRS band and run your own exclusive radio system.

 

I just installed the Radioddity DB20-G.
These are sold out now, but I have been pretty happy with it so far. I think that the secondary VFO might not be applying the tone squelch as it should even though it is tuned to a memory slot that includes a tone squelch.
https://www.radioddity.com/collections/consumer-radios-frs-gmrs-radios/products/radioddity-db20g

 

Sort of off topic, but sort of on topic - Has anyone ever watched that NotaRubicon Productions dude on the YouTubes?

He's got a pretty dry sense of humor, but he does put out some useful information.

 

Just sitting in the OF4WD meeting and there is a portion about an exemption from the broadcasting group to allow for higher GMRS for 4x4. They are getting many different groups across the country to get involved to make an argument to the radio group in Canada. Currently waiting to hear about it, but this would be good as there would be no licensing and would allow us to purchase radios and use them for offroad use perhaps on a set number of channels. Not bad at all.

EDIt: little context for people not from Ontario Canada, we are not allowed to have over 2 watt radios. We can get a HAM license which gives us a bit more flexibility but the testing can be a bit extensive considering we just want to talk on the trail and not set up are own stations. Currently only have CB and walkie talkies so the above would be helpful to get more "commercial" radios used in the logging industry which would be super helpful on the trail.

EDIT EDIT: From the OF4WD meeting--> They are asking for 50 watt vehicle mounted radios, antennae's and repeaters. Essentially the o4wd is asking everyone to check out their Facebook group to fill out some forms to help advocate for the change. I will try and post the links and responses here to help those that are interested in getting that changed up. Radio manufacturers are down, its just a matter of the government making some changes.

 

This is a positive. I know the limit is due to emergency comms and whatnot but I don't think any of that is particularly relevant to where we generally happen to be. I don't think comms in ardbeg are going to encroach on the surrounding area but my knowledge is limited.