It would be better to return the GMRS radios and get FRS radios instead. No
license is required for the latter.

It doesn't make sense to risk a $10,000 fine. The FCC usually issues the
max fine allowed not the min. And yes they do go after people for violating
the regs even for consumer goods.

For GMRS, the license is merely a money raising scheme for the government.
It has nothing to do with technical expertise. But then since one is not
allowed to modify the radios in anyway or connect them to other products, no
technical expertise is required.


"Dolemite" wrote in message
om...
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.

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.

Again, thank you for everyone's responses.

Tom Randy wrote in message
...
On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 10:06:13 -0800, Dolemite wrote:

I just bought two Uniden GMRS 2-way radios for $20. 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? What does the license
protect against?


A $7 to $10,000 fine. Just get the license.