On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 18:30:06 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

A completely legal alternative is with a ham HT, with extended RX and
a scanning function, is to include the FRS/GMRS frequencies (with any
CTCSS code on receive being used) and have a separate GMRS rig with
you, but turned off.


Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)

Not sure what you are suggesting here. Why leave the GMRS radio off?
It is certainly legal to use a ham HT to listen to anything but cel
conversations, but very illegal for use to transmit on GMRS
frequencies.

Dick

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 14:03:29 -0700, Dick LeadWinger wrote:

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 18:30:06 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

A completely legal alternative is with a ham HT, with extended RX and
a scanning function, is to include the FRS/GMRS frequencies (with any
CTCSS code on receive being used) and have a separate GMRS rig with
you, but turned off.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)

Not sure what you are suggesting here. Why leave the GMRS radio off?

No other reasons than saving batteries, and only listening to one rig.

It is certainly legal to use a ham HT to listen to anything but cel
conversations, but very illegal for use to transmit on GMRS
frequencies.

The poster I was replying to mentioned modding the ham radio to TX on
FRS/GMRS, as well as RX. If extralegal suggestions are made, those
getting them should be fully aware of that fact.

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, 12 Jun 2005 02:20:39 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

Not sure what you are suggesting here. Why leave the GMRS radio off?

No other reasons than saving batteries, and only listening to one rig.

OK. I understand if you are wanting to scan other frequencies as well
as FRS/GMRS. Then turn on the GMRS if you need to transmit. That
would make sense.

It is certainly legal to use a ham HT to listen to anything but cel
conversations, but very illegal for use to transmit on GMRS
frequencies.

The poster I was replying to mentioned modding the ham radio to TX on
FRS/GMRS, as well as RX. If extralegal suggestions are made, those
getting them should be fully aware of that fact.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)

I saw someone post possibly modifying his UHF HT to cover FRS/GMRS. I
couldn't tell if he was talking about a ham HT or something else.
Many people aren't aware that it is legal to use a GMRS radio (for
transmit) on ham frequencies, but it is not legal to use a ham radio
on GMRS/FRS frequencies. GMRS/FRS has technical requirements that
most ham radio equipment does not meet. They also have to be
certified. Just wanted to clarify that.

Dick

On 2005-06-12, Dick wrote:

Many people aren't aware that it is legal to use a GMRS radio (for
transmit) on ham frequencies, but it is not legal to use a ham radio
on GMRS/FRS frequencies.

But if you modded the radio to cover 70cm, wouldn't you then be unable
to use it for the licenced FRS bands?

--
Ben Jackson

http://www.ben.com/

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 02:12:30 -0500, Ben Jackson wrote:

On 2005-06-12, Dick wrote:

Many people aren't aware that it is legal to use a GMRS radio (for
transmit) on ham frequencies, but it is not legal to use a ham radio
on GMRS/FRS frequencies.

But if you modded the radio to cover 70cm, wouldn't you then be unable
to use it for the licenced FRS bands?

That would be my understanding.

The certification of the equipment would lapse if it is modified
physically, and it could no longer be used on any service other than
amateur bands.

Programming amateur frequencies into a commercial radio would be fine,
if properly licensed for all of the frequencies.

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, 12 Jun 2005 12:08:03 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 02:12:30 -0500, Ben Jackson wrote:

On 2005-06-12, Dick wrote:

Many people aren't aware that it is legal to use a GMRS radio (for
transmit) on ham frequencies, but it is not legal to use a ham radio
on GMRS/FRS frequencies.

But if you modded the radio to cover 70cm, wouldn't you then be unable
to use it for the licenced FRS bands?

That would be my understanding.

The certification of the equipment would lapse if it is modified
physically, and it could no longer be used on any service other than
amateur bands.

Programming amateur frequencies into a commercial radio would be fine,
if properly licensed for all of the frequencies.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)

Right. Normally, modification is not necessary. You just program in
the new frequencies. A point of clarification. The FRS is not a
licensed service. It does, however, require certified equipment.

Dick

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 05:51:48 -0700, Dick LeadWinger wrote:

Right. Normally, modification is not necessary. You just program in
the new frequencies. A point of clarification. The FRS is not a
licensed service. It does, however, require certified equipment.

Regulated service would be more accurate.

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

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

wrote:

Hi, everyone-

I don't know if this is the right group for my question, but I can't
find any other groups to ask.

I've been trying to do research online to find the best pair of GMRS
radios for vacation/travel use. I'm building the $80 FCC license fee
into my figures, and have about $160-170 to spend, so the pair of
radios should cost no more than $80-90.

I've seen 2 Motorola models that look good... the T5950, and the
T7400R. The 5950 has been out for quite a while, and several users
have given it good reviews. The T7400R has virtually NO reviews,
though it seems to have been out for several months.

So why would I be interested in the 7400? It's 2 Watts, and claims a
greater range (7 miles) than the 5950. But I've only been able to find
three reviews for it. One says it's the best thing since sliced bread,
and two others (which were written last year) just say it's not
available yet.

Does anybody have any experience with these radios, or feel that
another model is the best out there in the $80-90 range (per pair)?

It's been very frustrating trying to find any information or reviews on
these things. Usually I enjoy doing web research on tech products
before buying, but this search has been very tedious. Thanks for any
help you can provide!

-Mark

What you failed to mention here is what you plan on doing with them.
There isn't much more than a nickel's worth of difference between a
cheap FRS radio and a good GMRS radio in your price range. You might get
better communications across a large lake but that would be about it.

You can't use any modified equipment on GMRS. The equipment you use
MUST be GMRS type accepted. And... don't forget you need a license.

On 19 Jun 2005 06:40:28 -0700, wrote:

You can't use any modified equipment on GMRS. The equipment you use
MUST be GMRS type accepted. And... don't forget you need a license.

The only bands you do not need type accepted/certificated equipment on
are the amateur bands that you are licensed for.

Any modification of a radio in another service will void the type
acceptance.

Actually, commercial broadcasters can modify their equipment, but also
need to monitor their output for any potential problems.

As for the GMRS license, the manufacturers of the radios do inform
buyers that they need an FCC license, but I have never seen printing
that small before. ;-)

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

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