On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 11:50:42 +0900, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:


"Gary S." Idontwantspam@net wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 17:17:42 -0800, "MBlaster"
wrote:

I am looking into the GMRS radios for my family. What units would anyone
recommend? Are there any test reviews available.

As an FYI, when they say "UP TO 5 miles", here in the real world,
think "UP TO TWO miles if everything goes right".

Also, stick with brands you have heard of, less like to create
headaches. Pricing on identical items can vary greatly, so shop
around.

And don't forget... the GMRS license itself costs as much as two or three of
the radios ($75).... : |


Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

I agree with the comments regarding power and range. If you want any
kind of decent performance, don't get one of the bubble pack radios
like you see at Wal-Mart. Get a real radio, and make sure it has a
removable antenna. If you buy a combo FRS/GMRS it won't have one as
it's not legal on FRS. It's good to be able to use a mag-mount, etc
for increased range. I have two (real), 5-watt GMRS radios, and two
25-watt mobiles. With a decent antenna you can cover a pretty good
area. If you want to use (or put up) a repeater, be sure the radio
can transmit and receive on the GMRS repeater frequencies.

Dick - W6CCD
WPUF301

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 11:50:42 +0900, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:

And don't forget... the GMRS license itself costs as much as two or three of
the radios ($75).... : |

At least one license will cover all members of a household, which
helps the OP.

Not all that useful for a group of individuals who live alone, unless
each one gets a license.

Hypothetically, I would guess that some of these radios are used
without licenses.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 11:50:42 +0900, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:

And don't forget... the GMRS license itself costs as much as two or three of
the radios ($75).... : |

At least one license will cover all members of a household, which
helps the OP.

Not all that useful for a group of individuals who live alone, unless
each one gets a license.

Hypothetically, I would guess that some of these radios are used
without licenses.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:36:59 -0700, Dick
wrote:

Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

Better double check the fine print. I though it was for a single
household, not for the entire extended family.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:36:59 -0700, Dick
wrote:

Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

Better double check the fine print. I though it was for a single
household, not for the entire extended family.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 13:46:15 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:36:59 -0700, Dick
wrote:

Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

Better double check the fine print. I though it was for a single
household, not for the entire extended family.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

OK. Here's the fine print.

95.1 The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).

(a) The GMRS is a land mobile radio service available to persons for
short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of
licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a
system consisting of one or more stations.

-- and --

95.179 Individuals who may be station operators.

(a) An individual GMRS system licensee may permit immediate family
members to be station operators in his or her GMRS system. Immediate
family members are the:

(1) Licensee;

(2) Licensee's spouse;

(3) Licensee's children, grandchildren, stepchildren;

(4) Licensee's parents, grandparents, stepparents;

(5) Licensee's brothers, sisters;

(6) Licensee's aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews; and

(7) Licensee's in-laws.

Note that the regulations only identify immediate family members. It
says nothing about them being in the same household. It would
probably be stretching it some if everyone wasn't in the same town, or
within a few miles of each other, but the regulations do not
specifically address this. They only address being on the same
"system."

Dick - W6CCD

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 13:46:15 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:36:59 -0700, Dick
wrote:

Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

Better double check the fine print. I though it was for a single
household, not for the entire extended family.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

OK. Here's the fine print.

95.1 The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).

(a) The GMRS is a land mobile radio service available to persons for
short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of
licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a
system consisting of one or more stations.

-- and --

95.179 Individuals who may be station operators.

(a) An individual GMRS system licensee may permit immediate family
members to be station operators in his or her GMRS system. Immediate
family members are the:

(1) Licensee;

(2) Licensee's spouse;

(3) Licensee's children, grandchildren, stepchildren;

(4) Licensee's parents, grandparents, stepparents;

(5) Licensee's brothers, sisters;

(6) Licensee's aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews; and

(7) Licensee's in-laws.

Note that the regulations only identify immediate family members. It
says nothing about them being in the same household. It would
probably be stretching it some if everyone wasn't in the same town, or
within a few miles of each other, but the regulations do not
specifically address this. They only address being on the same
"system."

Dick - W6CCD

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 08:05:17 -0700, Dick
wrote:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 13:46:15 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:36:59 -0700, Dick
wrote:

Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

Better double check the fine print. I though it was for a single
household, not for the entire extended family.

OK. Here's the fine print.

95.179 Individuals who may be station operators.

(a) An individual GMRS system licensee may permit immediate family
members to be station operators in his or her GMRS system. Immediate
family members are the:

(1) Licensee;

(2) Etc

Note that the regulations only identify immediate family members. It

Thanks for looking that up. A bit more generous than I thought.

Still doesn't work for a non-profit organization situation, where the
connections are not through blood and marriage.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 08:05:17 -0700, Dick
wrote:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 13:46:15 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:36:59 -0700, Dick
wrote:

Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

Better double check the fine print. I though it was for a single
household, not for the entire extended family.

OK. Here's the fine print.

95.179 Individuals who may be station operators.

(a) An individual GMRS system licensee may permit immediate family
members to be station operators in his or her GMRS system. Immediate
family members are the:

(1) Licensee;

(2) Etc

Note that the regulations only identify immediate family members. It

Thanks for looking that up. A bit more generous than I thought.

Still doesn't work for a non-profit organization situation, where the
connections are not through blood and marriage.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 08:05:17 -0700, Dick
wrote:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 13:46:15 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:36:59 -0700, Dick
wrote:

Yes, but the one GMRS license covers literally everyone in your
family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, you name it, they are
covered. Gets pretty cheap if 10 people get radios.

Better double check the fine print. I though it was for a single
household, not for the entire extended family.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

OK. Here's the fine print.

95.1 The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).

(a) The GMRS is a land mobile radio service available to persons for
short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of
licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a
system consisting of one or more stations.

-- and --

95.179 Individuals who may be station operators.

(a) An individual GMRS system licensee may permit immediate family
members to be station operators in his or her GMRS system. Immediate
family members are the:

(1) Licensee;

(2) Licensee's spouse;

(3) Licensee's children, grandchildren, stepchildren;

(4) Licensee's parents, grandparents, stepparents;

(5) Licensee's brothers, sisters;

(6) Licensee's aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews; and

(7) Licensee's in-laws.

Note that the regulations only identify immediate family members. It
says nothing about them being in the same household. It would
probably be stretching it some if everyone wasn't in the same town, or
within a few miles of each other, but the regulations do not
specifically address this. They only address being on the same
"system."

Dick - W6CCD


Please, no jokes about places where an entire county could
operate under a single license.