[another okie]

A word of warning to gadget freaks like me who buy a walkie-talkie.

The ads and packages say, in very small type, that an FCC license is necessary to operate certain types of them.
I read that and assumed that the procedure was pretty simple and cheap.
I should have known better - it is the federal government.

Anyway, the little radios I bought cost only eighteen dollars for a pair of them. The license costs $75 each! Ouch! What good is it having Republicans in charge of the government?

Now the radios I bought operate on two sets of frequencies - FRS and GRMS. For the FRS frequencies no licencse is required, so at least I can use the radios, as long as I avoid the GRMS frequencies.

The fine for use of those frequencies without a license is $10,000.

I wonder how many of the people buying these units from Wal-Mart or Cabela's ever bother to actually read or observe the license requirement. I bet not very many do. It's one more example of how pretty soon everyone will be a criminal; they just won't know it until they do something to attract the government's attention.

[45 ACP]

A great reason to use codenames on the radio regardless of the band.

Besides, I don't remember seeing the FCC black van with all the antennas driving around my neighborhood............lately!

:uhoh:

[mattf7184]

Do you know how hard it is to find out if you are on the GMRS band? The fine is geared more towards companies. And I believe that $75 is for 5 years and may even encompass your whole family but I am not sure about that.

[another okie]

The bands are listed on the FCC website. It's not that hard to figure out when you're on them. Compare the frequency listing on the website to the channel listing for your radio, and there you are. On my radios the FRS are 1-7, then there are several joint FRS / GRMS, then the higher ones are all GRMS.

[mattf7184]

They will know if someone is on it, I shoulda said it is almost impossible to find out who is on it. It is not worth their effort to chase families down for non business use on those bands. I know this from people in with the FCC and various communications experts I am friends and family with.

To get someone theyll need to triangulate a general area, use frequency counters and prove that you have a radio capable of talking on those bands and even need to get search warrants to find out if you do indeed have them.

[another okie]

listing of GRMS frequencies: (bandplan)

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/personal/generalmobile/data/bandplan.html

listing of FRS frequencies: (bandplan)

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/personal/family/data/bandplan.html

The above posters are probably correct that it's very unlikely a violator would be caught, but why take a chance? I'm a law-abiding citizen, and I will stick to the legal frequencies. I obey the law even when no one is looking over my shoulder.

[Lennyjoe]

So whats the benifits of using GRMS?

My Rhino has GRMS/FRS capability along with GPS.

[Fly320s]

So whats the benifits of using GRMS?
Better range of transmission/reception.

When I was first learning to fly, all pilots were required to have a FCC radio station operator's permit.

I got mine in 1985-ish, free of charge. No fee was required at the time.:D

[Ham Hock]

I believe I read that you cannot even use frs channels on a gmrs radio without a license, although I cannot figure out how they would catch you doing that.

Do a google search for "bubble pack pirates" and you will find some info.

[another okie]

I talked to the FCC question line about these questions. If I understood their answers correctly, the key questions are power and frequency, not the type of radio.

Most GRMS radios operate at one watt or greater power, some substantially more, which gives them more range. (That's one of the benefits of the GRMS radios, up to five mile range.)

Apparently some dual purpose radios operate at 500 milliwatts (1/2 watt) when operating on FRS channels, and higher power when on GRMS channels. But if your GRMS capable radio is operating on FRS channels at full power, you're violating the law. My radios have a maximum output of 500 milliwatts, so I think I'm OK.

[Harry Tuttle]

75 % of Walmart GMRS purchasers don't even read the manual

[mattf7184]

Manuals are for WOMEN :D :neener:

[rebbryan]

i read it....and that's all i did

[PCRCCW]

OOps.........license? :D

Shoot well.