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This site gives information on the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), a two way radio service for families and individuals.
This information only applies to GMRS users in the United States . Canada has a GMRS service, however, its regulations are much different .
A page for Canadian GMRS operators is listed below: You may read Canadian regulations from this page.
WARNING: Parents MUST Read this link before giving their children a radio to use. This covers proper radio operation procedures as well as vital infomation for family safety and security!
This page was created to assist the general internet public in finding information about the U.S. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) In the next few paragraphs, I hope to give you a better understanding of this service.
This page and many links you can explore from this page are personal experiences of actual GMRS. This site has NO business interest whatsoever; I wish to assist YOU, the every-day person with providing your family information on two-way radio.
If you own a "walkie talkie" then you need to read everything you see here.
GMRS was created specifically for the use of families and individuals. This service allows the group to use a small, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive two-way radio for the purposes of voice communication between members of the group. These radios, in many cases, give the group a choice of channels to use, to help avoid interference from other groups, as well as other features.
The General Mobile Radio Service is a service developed for use by the general public at large. This service is not intended as a "hobby" service; and currently, usage reports indicate this is a typical trend. Users of GMRS typically wish only to communicate with others of their own group.
Remember: GMRS is a PERSONAL RADIO SERVICE! GMRS is not intended for use by any business, group, or organization.
WARNING: You may ONLY use GMRS radios in the United States and Canada! Use of GMRS radios in other nations could interfere with services such as Fire, police. military, etc. Penalties for unauthorized communications in some nations can be very harsh!
GMRS An FCC issued License! An $85 fee is required to acquire this license. You may go here to get your license. Using GMRS frequencies without a license can result in financial penalties of $10,000 per offense!
A GMRS radio can cost anywhere between about $20 to over $1000 depending on features and capabilities. Accessories and other components vary in price. To be able to legally operate on GMRS, you must use equipment type accepted for use on GMRS. Many commercial-grade radios are useable on GMRS.
Also, many manufacturers advertise "privacy codes" on their radios. This is misleading. ALL transmissions may be listened to by other GMRS users, or those people with scanners. All these "codes" do is keep YOUR radio from hearing people who you do not wish to hear. They are a sort of "filter", not a "scrambler".
Many people equate radio power output with performance. This is essentially the wrong attitude to approach. Reviews of equipment generally show equal performance, regardless of power output. You can for most purposes assume you will get .75 mile minimum effective range.
Most units are compatible with one another in basic operation. Motorola radios, with their unique "compander" circuitry, are not fully compatible with other brands, as their speech clarifiying circuitry makes other radios difficult to understand.
Radios with CTCSS tones generally use the same standard 38 tones. Some manufacturers add a few nonstandard tones, and some now include Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) codes. These offer additional interference protection and can help prevent unwanted individuals from conversing with you.The owners manuals have the tone frequencies to help determine CTCSS tones for different radios. Other features may or may not be cross-compatible; but all radios can operate with each other in basic operation.
The links and pages below will hopefully familiarize you with GMRS, as well as the resources available on the internet to assist you. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy GMRS!
The General Mobile Radio
Service (GMRS) is a public two-way radio service. Families and individuals
may operate on the frequencies allocated to this service. GMRS
Requires an FCC license!
Many people confuse FRS and GMRS. They are two entirely
different services!
The two way radios purchased at almost all stores that carry consumer electronics
are GMRS radios, NOT FRS radios. Do not be confused when they say FRS/GMRS.
If a radio has more than 14 channels, it is a GMRS radio, and you require
a license to operate
this radio. A GMRS license is good for all persons legally residing in your household.
Each individual does not
need their own license. Most 22 channel radios are type accepted for use on
all 14 channel license-free FRS channels. As such, you may operate on channels
1-14 only, using only low power.
GMRS is NOT a business radio service. You can, however, use
GMRS in your business, school, or any type of "work environment", under special
conditions . Any unauthorized operation is subject to FCC fines and other
actions.
Please check out this link for important information on consumer
"bubble pack" GMRS Radios.
Local groups monitor the airwaves for any type of unauthorized
operation and file the necessary complaints to government agencies for action.
It is important for everyone to understand the requirements to operate on GMRS frequencies.
The links on this site will provide you with everything you need to operate correctly.
Comments? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Email: gmrspage@yahoo.com and let me know! I want to answer all your questions!
General GMRS information::
Advanced GMRS User Information
GMRS Groups, forums and Associations
Misc Stuff