POLL: GMRS License

I got mine, just $70 and took a couple of weeks. I guess I didn't want some dude with a satellite dish on the roof following me around like in the movies. I've also got the Midland MicroMobile other folks have mentioned although I've only got the 15 Watt model and just used it a couple of times. I'm not necessarily a "rule follower", however I am a giant nerd and thus any sort of certification was reason enough in my book.

I bought a study guide for the HAM license but have not done a damn thing with it yet.

 

The most important consideration is to get whatever the folks you travel with have. For us, that's GMRS - We have two Midland GXT1000 handhelds and a

$161 MXT275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio – 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone – Overland Caravanning Tractors – Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

MXT275 in the truck. The handhelds are great around the campground or as loaners on the trail. Both series have NOAA weather channels which I find pretty useful. I do have the FCC license but that's just the way I roll. No offense taken with those who don't. Midland is running a ten off deal now and usually has a twenty five off for a week or so around Christmas.

 

So, I did some searching and found a couple interesting articles on FCC convictions and fines.

First, I was wrong, I thought there was only one incident where someone was jailed. It's apparently 2 incidents, but it was the SAME GUY! Because he's an idiot.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-23-me-410-story.html

Then there are the fines. Yes, someone was fined $25,000 for amateur radio violations. But from the article it's clear this was a repeat offender who was operating a base station and soliciting advertisements (and giving out his phone number in ads). He was told repeatedly to stop, and didn't. Because he's an idiot.

http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-fines-amateur-radio-licensee-25-000-for-operating-unlicensed-fm-station


I've read through a few of the various FCC Enforcement Monitor sites out there, and have yet to see a single case of even a notice of violation (let alone fees levied) for some dudes in 4x4s talking to each other. The logistics involved in finding someone on a base station are complicated enough, making finding a dude wheelin' in the mountains all but impossible, and certainly an impractical waste of time. The investigations take months, if not years.

One time I went wheeling with my friend and his daughter years ago, and his daughter was reading my son a book over the radio on one of the higher power GMRS frequencies (this was before I knew about the licensing). Not a peep from the FCC, lol.

From reading the above (and other) articles, there is a common theme for violations and enforcement actions. So I've come up with 3 rules to avoid catching the ire of the FCC:

Rule #1: Don't be a dick and disrupt communications, especially law enforcement channels, lol.
Rule #2: Don't solicit advertisements.
Rule #3: If asked to stop, stop.

Bonus rule: Don't be an idiot.

 

I came to the same conclusion after a similar search. I may push the "legality" from time to time but I always follow those rules. If I have any thought that my actions are impeding anybody then I don't do them.

The same holds true for transmitting on a frequency within the ham bands that is being improperly used as a repeater TX frequency. It should have been a simplex frequency but it's not. I don't use it so I dont step on anyone who may be using it.

Basically - don't be a jerk and everyone will be fine.

 

Yep!

Basically, rules are generally there for the stupid people.

My brother, who is OHV Law Enforcement told me about a particular guy he was contacting for some random violation (probably speeding thru the staging area), and the guy was like "I didn't know that was illegal" to which my brother replies, "Yeah, 99% of the other folks here probably didn't know that was illegal either, but they still managed NOT to violate it."

My wife works for local zoning and always gets the "what do you mean I can't do XYZ on this property, this is MY property, that's a stupid rule." Inevitably, yeah, it's probably a stupid rule, but someone made a problem for everyone. Like how there is a limit on the number of squirrel monkeys you can have on a particular type of property. Yes, because someone tried to have an absurd number of them on a tiny property and pissed off the neighbors. So now it's a thing.

Dumb people are why we can't have nice things.

 

Fee was 70$ for GMRS, free for Ham. FRS was free, but the radios need to be licensed.

https://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2020/12/fcc-approves-new-ham-and-gmrs-license-fees.html#:~:text=Up to now the application,and covers an entire family.

Changes:
35$ for GMRS (down from 70)
35$ for Ham (up from 0)
0$ FRS (stayed the same)

In order to broadcast on GMRS, you need a GMRS license, and a GMRS licensed radio. You can not use an unlicensed radio on GMRS frequencies (a radio not approved for the use on those frequencies by the FCC), even if you have a license.

NOTE: Baofeng et. al. radios are not licensed and are against the rules to use for GMRS and FRS.

FRS is the same as GMRS, you're limited to the frequencies/channels, but the FRS channels do not require a license. But the same rule applies - The FCC needs to give its blessing to the radio, and Baofeng et. al. are not permitted



So, if you buy an FRS licensed radio, you can use channels 1-14, GMRS license is required for 15-22, and a GMRS licensed radio. I think most radios are licensed for both GMRS/FRS.



Personal note: ...I have a baofeng. If you're out in the woods with a couple other trucks just tooling around, the FCC isn't going to send in the drones - they have bigger fish to fry and really don't give a rip about the small scale stuff. It's like going 31 in a 30. Yes it's illegal, but really? I also have my ham tech, got that for free just under the radar in November but ham is a bit more involved.

If it was me - I'd just stick to the FRS frequencies. . But since a baofeng isn't allowed anyway, who cares if you're licensed if you're using an unlicensed radio in reality.

edit to add: I don't know the specifics but I think if you're in the woods with a group, as long as one person has a license in that group, the whole group is good (but same deal, has to use licensed radios).

 

If some scofflaw were to get their hands on a dual-band Baofeng or Btech radio, a programming cable and CHIRP software, a hypothetical channel lineup could look like this:


But it would be a gross violation of FCC rules and no one should ever do this.

 

Reviving this chat.
Just picked up my Raddioty

$110 db20-g GMRS mobile radio for car vehicle, 20W long range two way radio with cigarette lighter plug, 500 channels, VOX, display sync, for off road overlanding 4x4

db20-g

$60 Midland mxta26 MicroMobile® 6DB Gain Whip Antenna – Quadruple Signal Output – 32” Antenna

Midland mxta26 antenna
Mounted to a Rago Fabricstion tailgate mount.

WSFZW262