On 2004-11-24, Dolemite wrote:
Thanks alot for everyone's responses. I just had the handsets
delivered yesterday. Am I missing something here? Why would someone
complain about me using a hand held radio on occassion for brief
periods of time? Its not like I'm broadcasting a pirate radio station
or purposly messing with other communications. Are there accounts of
the FCC going after private users for consumer products? My
intension is to use the radios while out camping or playing paintball,
maybe if I get lost in the mall so my girlfriend can guide me through
it.

If you are using a GMRS radio without a license, you are intentionally
interfering with other communications -- the legally licensed users of the
band. Remember GMRS frequencies are shared, so the licensed users have a
right to complain, and the FCC can go after you. If you want license free,
use FRS, MURS or cell phones.



I was on the FCC website already (was going to swallow the $80) and
realized all I had to do was send a check for the license. There's
not testing or training involved. Again, it doesn't make sense for
paying for an $80 license for a $20 product. Will having the license
teach me anything new about how to use the product? It seems more
like an added tax on a purchased product than ensuring users know how
to properly use the product.



Yes -- a $80 license for a $20 radio does seem a bit steep, but if you
realize that in the fairly recent past, these radios were not in the $20-$30
range, but more like $200+ each and more likely to be used my small
businesses than individuals, the fee sort of makes sense. As it stands now,
it is more of a money maker for the FCC, rather than a tax.



--
Alex / AB2RC
Linux is user friendly. However, it isn't idiot friendly.

Subject: Do I really need a license from the FCC
From: "Alex"
Date: 11/26/2004 7:19 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


"Phil Kane" wrote in message
. net...
On 26 Nov 2004 04:53:05 GMT, Alun wrote:

Not any more. The GMRS license now permits operation on any GMRS
channel, with restrictions only on specified channels above "Line A"
which is roughly 150 miles south of the Canadian border. Stations
above Line A which were licensed on those channels under the old
"2-channel" rule can continue to operate on them.

Bull****. That is not true at all.

Dear anonymous pateral parent fornicating scumbag,

Wrong. It IS true.

Steve, K4YZ

(Steve Robeson K4YZ) wrote in
:

Subject: Do I really need a license from the FCC
From: "Alex"
Date: 11/26/2004 7:19 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


"Phil Kane" wrote in message
.net...
On 26 Nov 2004 04:53:05 GMT, Alun wrote:

Not any more. The GMRS license now permits operation on any GMRS
channel, with restrictions only on specified channels above "Line A"
which is roughly 150 miles south of the Canadian border. Stations
above Line A which were licensed on those channels under the old
"2-channel" rule can continue to operate on them.

Bull****. That is not true at all.

Dear anonymous pateral parent fornicating scumbag,

Wrong. It IS true.

Steve, K4YZ









I would be surprised if Phil were to make an error on this kind of thing.

So, if I now have it right, a GMRS licencee can use all the FRS channels
(aka GMRS interstitial channels) plus the additional GMRS channels between
each pair of FRS channels, can use mobiles with more power than the GMRS
handhelds, and can use GMRS repeaters if they belong to them as paid up
members. IOW, they can do much more than a GMRS handheld provides.

The stores, however, market GMRS handelds as FRS handhelds with more range,
with the minor detail about needing a licence in the smallest possible
print.

On 26 Nov 2004 19:02:39 GMT, Alun wrote:

The stores, however, market GMRS handelds as FRS handhelds with more range,
with the minor detail about needing a licence in the smallest possible
print.

That's how the MURS - non-licensed VHF low-power radios - came
about. They were originally license-required Business Radio
channels but E.F. Johnson and Motorola wholesaled their overrun
but under-selling "el cheapo" handhelds out to Costco and Wal-Mart
(remember the "color dot" and "jobcomm" radios ?) and the rest is
history.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

I would be surprised if Phil were to make an error on this kind of thing.

So, if I now have it right, a GMRS licencee can use all the FRS channels
(aka GMRS interstitial channels) plus the additional GMRS channels between
each pair of FRS channels, can use mobiles with more power than the GMRS
handhelds, and can use GMRS repeaters if they belong to them as paid up
members. IOW, they can do much more than a GMRS handheld provides.

The stores, however, market GMRS handelds as FRS handhelds with more range,
with the minor detail about needing a licence in the smallest possible
print.

That's exactly how they got me to buy these damn handsets. It allows
2 mile range on FRS channels and 6 miles range on GMRS.

I guess I'm most confused about how the FCC intends on policing these
airwaves. Do they record everychannel and maintain a massive
database? Or must I be caught using it with the handset designated on
the GMRS network.

Honestly, I the gov't were to supply me with a manuel, or some form of
education on getting more (proper) use out of the handset, I would not
complain about getting the license.

Again, I really want to thank everyone for their responses. Much
appreciated.

--alexis

"Steve Robeson K4YZ" wrote


Dear anonymous pateral parent fornicating scumbag,


Happy Thankgiving to you and your family too.

With fondest kind wishes,

de Hans, K0HB/4ID

Subject: Do I really need a license from the FCC
From: "KØHB"
Date: 11/26/2004 4:02 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: et



"Steve Robeson K4YZ" wrote


Dear anonymous paternal parent fornicating scumbag,


Happy Thankgiving to you and your family too.

Gee...sorry, Hans...If I'd known it was you, I wuddn't have called you
"anonymous".

Steve, K4YZ

(Dolemite) wrote in message . com...
I just bought two Uniden GMRS 2-way radios for $20.

Then it is a GMRS/FRS integral-antenna hybrid - not a "real GMRS
radio".

I plan to use
them while shopping in the mall and while out playing paintball. Do I
really need to get an $80 5-year license from the FCC?

If you don't use them on the 8 GMRS-only freqs, then no, you DON'T
NEED A LICENSE! Use them on the 14 FRS freqs, when Tx power is
limited to 500mW.

What does the
license protect against?

Look - it was a GIMMICK instituted by the radio manufacturers to allow
them to advertise their FRS radios as having more range (a few more
milliwatts of Tx power), and more channels (8). There is NO VALUE
ADDED in the gimmick, you get virtually no better range, and the extra
8 channels aren't worth the $80.

Its not like I'm given my own frequency.

Thanks for your help

- Stewart
For info on MURS - the BETTER license-free Public Radio Service:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MURS-OPEN

(stewart) wrote in message . com...
(Dolemite) wrote in message . com...

Look - it was a GIMMICK instituted by the radio manufacturers to allow
them to advertise their FRS radios as having more range (a few more
milliwatts of Tx power), and more channels (8). There is NO VALUE
ADDED in the gimmick, you get virtually no better range, and the extra
8 channels aren't worth the $80.

Not true...as usual.

Well...Let me ammend that to say they maybe of no use to YOU,
Stewart.

The "no better range" assertion is ludicrous. FRS radios are
limited to 1/2 watt and a fixed internal antenna. A GMRS radio can
use 50 times the power and external antennas that can provide even
greater ERP. Furthermore, GMRS licensees have access to repeaters,
albeit mostly on a pay-for-use basis.

FRS and MURS are the gimmicks...Smoke-and-mirror advertising gets
people to buy those radios, and when the disappointing performance
sends them looking for something else, wa-la..we can sell them yet
another radio!

So...How's that nationwide MURS packet net coming?


Steve, K4YZ