GMRS?

[Lurch]

Okay, so Cobra and some others have a FRS radio that also has GMRS frequencies on it. Supposedly the FRS stuff is about a 2 mile radio and the GMRS is up to 5 miles (higher watts). These are available at any Best Buy. Is a license required for GMRS?

[Bruce]

If a license is required (and this stuff has been changing lately) it's a simple application...no knowledge required...even a driver could do it :-) I'll do some more research and see what I can find.

Look the radios over carefully. Just because it has GMRS FREQUENCIES doesn't mean it has top GMRS POWER. I think it would be unlikely a radio capable of FRS frequencies and GMRS power would ever get type accepted...but I've been wrong before.

BW

[Bruce]

From the FCC website:

What is the General Mobile Radio Service?

The General Mobile Radio Service ("GMRS") is a personal radio service available to an individual (one man or one woman). It is a two-way voice communication service to facilitate the activities of the individual's immediate family members. Expect a communications range of five to twenty-five miles. You cannot make a telephone call with a GMRS unit.

Do I need a license?

Yes. Before any station transmits on any channel authorized in the GMRS from any point within or over the territorial limits of any area where radio services are regulated by the FCC, the responsible party must obtain a license for a GMRS system. An individual 18 years of age or older, who is not a representative of a foreign government, is eligible to apply for a GMRS system license. Application for a GMRS system license is made on FCC Form 605 <http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form605/605.html>. There is a filing fee.

The GMRS regulations are in Part 95, Subpart A, of the FCC Rules. They are written so as to be easy to use and understand. Part 95 is contained in the Code of Federal Regulations, Telecommunications, Title 47, Part 80 to End. They are available at www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr


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Note that it's supposed to be for FAMILY communications. I suppose you could adopt your crew...

If you race for Mazda, are you a "representative of a foreign government?"

Remember that no matter what kind of VHF/UHF radio you use, its range will be VERY limited through the forest. The range figures they give you are for someplace flat and uncluttered - say Kansas.

Bruce