|
Yes, I've seen those as well. As a licensed ham operator, I tend to be
sensitive to being properly licensed to transmit. .... Of course, a GMRS license only tests your ability to write a check and mail it to the correct address. There is no intent to test the users ability or knowledge, and that is not the reason for requiring a license for GMRS (or business, public service, special emergency, etc.). As a licensed service, GMRS allows use of higher power radios (up to 50 watt transmitter output), as well as gain antennas, repeaters, etc. Requiring a license (and identifying when transmitting) allows identifying and tracking down a station which causes interference, necessary when you start using higher power, gain antenna, etc. The license also provides any restrictions or conditions on the use of the radio. For example, two of the GMRS pairs are not allowed to be used within approximately 75 miles of Canada - and that is clearly stated on the license when you get it (and in the regulations if you bother to read them). And NO GMRS frequencies are legal outside of the U.S. - you can't take a GMRS radio to Canada or any other country and legally use it, even though Canada does recognize FRS. Tests done on most of the bubble pack GMRS/FRS radios show they do not produce any higher effective radiated power on the GMRS frequencies than on the FRS - what they are giving you is a useless 22 channel radio instead of a useless 14 channel radio. The other issue directly related to the lack of performance is the antenna requirement for FRS (integrated non-removable no gain), which isn't a whole lot better than a dummy load. Carl Ham, GMRS, & Commercial |
Hmmm,
My family finds these "useless" FRS radios quite handy. Additionally, we can use them to the full 2 mile range at times while snow boarding. I think FRS and GMRS service has done a fabulous job of filling a communication needs nitch. While I enjoyed the information you brought to the subject, I detect unpleasantness in your attitude. What's up? ---.. ..--- ...._._ Blank wrote: Yes, I've seen those as well. As a licensed ham operator, I tend to be sensitive to being properly licensed to transmit. .... Of course, a GMRS license only tests your ability to write a check and mail it to the correct address. There is no intent to test the users ability or knowledge, and that is not the reason for requiring a license for GMRS (or business, public service, special emergency, etc.). As a licensed service, GMRS allows use of higher power radios (up to 50 watt transmitter output), as well as gain antennas, repeaters, etc. Requiring a license (and identifying when transmitting) allows identifying and tracking down a station which causes interference, necessary when you start using higher power, gain antenna, etc. The license also provides any restrictions or conditions on the use of the radio. For example, two of the GMRS pairs are not allowed to be used within approximately 75 miles of Canada - and that is clearly stated on the license when you get it (and in the regulations if you bother to read them). And NO GMRS frequencies are legal outside of the U.S. - you can't take a GMRS radio to Canada or any other country and legally use it, even though Canada does recognize FRS. Tests done on most of the bubble pack GMRS/FRS radios show they do not produce any higher effective radiated power on the GMRS frequencies than on the FRS - what they are giving you is a useless 22 channel radio instead of a useless 14 channel radio. The other issue directly related to the lack of performance is the antenna requirement for FRS (integrated non-removable no gain), which isn't a whole lot better than a dummy load. Carl Ham, GMRS, & Commercial |
Hmmm,
My family finds these "useless" FRS radios quite handy. Additionally, we can use them to the full 2 mile range at times while snow boarding. I think FRS and GMRS service has done a fabulous job of filling a communication needs nitch. While I enjoyed the information you brought to the subject, I detect unpleasantness in your attitude. What's up? ---.. ..--- ...._._ Blank wrote: Yes, I've seen those as well. As a licensed ham operator, I tend to be sensitive to being properly licensed to transmit. .... Of course, a GMRS license only tests your ability to write a check and mail it to the correct address. There is no intent to test the users ability or knowledge, and that is not the reason for requiring a license for GMRS (or business, public service, special emergency, etc.). As a licensed service, GMRS allows use of higher power radios (up to 50 watt transmitter output), as well as gain antennas, repeaters, etc. Requiring a license (and identifying when transmitting) allows identifying and tracking down a station which causes interference, necessary when you start using higher power, gain antenna, etc. The license also provides any restrictions or conditions on the use of the radio. For example, two of the GMRS pairs are not allowed to be used within approximately 75 miles of Canada - and that is clearly stated on the license when you get it (and in the regulations if you bother to read them). And NO GMRS frequencies are legal outside of the U.S. - you can't take a GMRS radio to Canada or any other country and legally use it, even though Canada does recognize FRS. Tests done on most of the bubble pack GMRS/FRS radios show they do not produce any higher effective radiated power on the GMRS frequencies than on the FRS - what they are giving you is a useless 22 channel radio instead of a useless 14 channel radio. The other issue directly related to the lack of performance is the antenna requirement for FRS (integrated non-removable no gain), which isn't a whole lot better than a dummy load. Carl Ham, GMRS, & Commercial |
I will agree completely that both FRS and GMRS serve a useful and specific
purpose. I suppose any unpleasantness I showed is with regard to the manner in which radio manufacturers are mass marketing the combined FRS/GMRS radios with range claims that vary from tenuous to ridiculous except under the most ideal of conditions. Further, the radios are manufactured with either a very tiny fine print note about the license requirement, or no notice at all, on the exterior of the package. Using commercial grade 2-way hand held radios, you will achieve much greater performance (range, audio quality, etc.) than with any of the mass marketed bubble pack radios. That, as well as mobile radios and repeaters, is what GMRS is about. So, why should you, or anyone else, buy a 22 channel radio (or pair of radios) that only have 7 frequencies you can use without a license? Why not buy a set of 14 channel FRS only radios instead - that gives you twice as many channels that you can legally use without a license? FRS and GMRS share seven frequencies (the first 7, or lower 7 FRS channels). When those channels are incorporated into a combined FRS/GMRS radio, they become GMRS, not FRS, channels, thus they require a GMRS license to use. That only leaves you the upper 7 FRS channels as legally usable in a combined FRS/GMRS radio, unless you obtain a license. Now the license cost is really not all that much when you consider it does cover everyone in your family (not just your household), and is good for 5 years. So if you have a family of 4, that comes out to about $3.75 per year per person. Even if you are the only person benefiting from the license, it is only $15 a year - less than most people spend on just about anything else. What I would really like to see is a set of GOOD GMRS radios placed on the consumer market, and a method by which users will go to the effort to get a license. Then they can benefit from significantly better radio communications. Other viable options include MURS and of course, amateur radio (which is what this newsgroup is supposed to be about anyway). Please, explore all options to solving a communications need. But don't rely upon the manufacturers of mass marketed "bubble pack" radios to provide that solution. Carl "CC" wrote in message ... Hmmm, My family finds these "useless" FRS radios quite handy. Additionally, we can use them to the full 2 mile range at times while snow boarding. I think FRS and GMRS service has done a fabulous job of filling a communication needs nitch. While I enjoyed the information you brought to the subject, I detect unpleasantness in your attitude. What's up? ---.. ..--- ..._._ Blank wrote: Yes, I've seen those as well. As a licensed ham operator, I tend to be sensitive to being properly licensed to transmit. .... Of course, a GMRS license only tests your ability to write a check and mail it to the correct address. There is no intent to test the users ability or knowledge, and that is not the reason for requiring a license for GMRS (or business, public service, special emergency, etc.). As a licensed service, GMRS allows use of higher power radios (up to 50 watt transmitter output), as well as gain antennas, repeaters, etc. Requiring a license (and identifying when transmitting) allows identifying and tracking down a station which causes interference, necessary when you start using higher power, gain antenna, etc. The license also provides any restrictions or conditions on the use of the radio. For example, two of the GMRS pairs are not allowed to be used within approximately 75 miles of Canada - and that is clearly stated on the license when you get it (and in the regulations if you bother to read them). And NO GMRS frequencies are legal outside of the U.S. - you can't take a GMRS radio to Canada or any other country and legally use it, even though Canada does recognize FRS. Tests done on most of the bubble pack GMRS/FRS radios show they do not produce any higher effective radiated power on the GMRS frequencies than on the FRS - what they are giving you is a useless 22 channel radio instead of a useless 14 channel radio. The other issue directly related to the lack of performance is the antenna requirement for FRS (integrated non-removable no gain), which isn't a whole lot better than a dummy load. Carl Ham, GMRS, & Commercial |
I will agree completely that both FRS and GMRS serve a useful and specific
purpose. I suppose any unpleasantness I showed is with regard to the manner in which radio manufacturers are mass marketing the combined FRS/GMRS radios with range claims that vary from tenuous to ridiculous except under the most ideal of conditions. Further, the radios are manufactured with either a very tiny fine print note about the license requirement, or no notice at all, on the exterior of the package. Using commercial grade 2-way hand held radios, you will achieve much greater performance (range, audio quality, etc.) than with any of the mass marketed bubble pack radios. That, as well as mobile radios and repeaters, is what GMRS is about. So, why should you, or anyone else, buy a 22 channel radio (or pair of radios) that only have 7 frequencies you can use without a license? Why not buy a set of 14 channel FRS only radios instead - that gives you twice as many channels that you can legally use without a license? FRS and GMRS share seven frequencies (the first 7, or lower 7 FRS channels). When those channels are incorporated into a combined FRS/GMRS radio, they become GMRS, not FRS, channels, thus they require a GMRS license to use. That only leaves you the upper 7 FRS channels as legally usable in a combined FRS/GMRS radio, unless you obtain a license. Now the license cost is really not all that much when you consider it does cover everyone in your family (not just your household), and is good for 5 years. So if you have a family of 4, that comes out to about $3.75 per year per person. Even if you are the only person benefiting from the license, it is only $15 a year - less than most people spend on just about anything else. What I would really like to see is a set of GOOD GMRS radios placed on the consumer market, and a method by which users will go to the effort to get a license. Then they can benefit from significantly better radio communications. Other viable options include MURS and of course, amateur radio (which is what this newsgroup is supposed to be about anyway). Please, explore all options to solving a communications need. But don't rely upon the manufacturers of mass marketed "bubble pack" radios to provide that solution. Carl "CC" wrote in message ... Hmmm, My family finds these "useless" FRS radios quite handy. Additionally, we can use them to the full 2 mile range at times while snow boarding. I think FRS and GMRS service has done a fabulous job of filling a communication needs nitch. While I enjoyed the information you brought to the subject, I detect unpleasantness in your attitude. What's up? ---.. ..--- ..._._ Blank wrote: Yes, I've seen those as well. As a licensed ham operator, I tend to be sensitive to being properly licensed to transmit. .... Of course, a GMRS license only tests your ability to write a check and mail it to the correct address. There is no intent to test the users ability or knowledge, and that is not the reason for requiring a license for GMRS (or business, public service, special emergency, etc.). As a licensed service, GMRS allows use of higher power radios (up to 50 watt transmitter output), as well as gain antennas, repeaters, etc. Requiring a license (and identifying when transmitting) allows identifying and tracking down a station which causes interference, necessary when you start using higher power, gain antenna, etc. The license also provides any restrictions or conditions on the use of the radio. For example, two of the GMRS pairs are not allowed to be used within approximately 75 miles of Canada - and that is clearly stated on the license when you get it (and in the regulations if you bother to read them). And NO GMRS frequencies are legal outside of the U.S. - you can't take a GMRS radio to Canada or any other country and legally use it, even though Canada does recognize FRS. Tests done on most of the bubble pack GMRS/FRS radios show they do not produce any higher effective radiated power on the GMRS frequencies than on the FRS - what they are giving you is a useless 22 channel radio instead of a useless 14 channel radio. The other issue directly related to the lack of performance is the antenna requirement for FRS (integrated non-removable no gain), which isn't a whole lot better than a dummy load. Carl Ham, GMRS, & Commercial |
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