The General Mobile Radio Service

List of Contents:

What Kind of Radio is Used in the GMRS?
What Kinds of Stations May Operate in the GMRS?
What Frequencies and Channels Are Available in the GMRS?
How May The "Regular" Channels be Used?
How May the "Split" Frequencies be Used?
What Transmitter Power is Allowed in the GMRS?
What Transmission Mode is Used in GMRS?
What is the Typical Communications Range?
   For Mobile-to-Mobile Communications
   For Base-to-Mobile Communications
   For Repeater-Assisted Communications
Is There a Height Limit for GMRS Antennas?
What About Communications Quality Within That Range?
Do GMRS Signals Suffer From "Skip"?
How Expensive Is GMRS?
How Do I Proceed with GMRS?
How Do I Contact Local GMRS Users?
How Do I Decide on My Channels?
Who is Eligible to Obtain a GMRS License?
How do I Obtain a GMRS License?
Who Will Be Eligible to Operate Under My GMRS License?
Where Can I Purchase GMRS Equipment?
Is Used Equipment Available?
What Are "User Cooperatives"?
Where Can I Find Out More About the GMRS Rules?
Where Can I Find Out More about the Personal Radio Steering Group?

What Kind of Radio is Used in the GMRS?

The General Mobile Radio Service (formerly known as Class A of the Citizens Radio Service) is a personal radio service available for the conduct of an individual's personal and family communications. It is regulated by Subpart A of Part 95 of the FCC Rules and Regulations.

GMRS uses commercial grade, UHF-FM radios identical to those used by public safety agencies, businesses, and other governmental, commercial and industrial licensees in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services.

Only those radios that have been type-certified by the FCC for use in the GMRS may be used in this service. Most radios intended for use in the nearby Amateur Radio band (420-450 MHz) and some older (especially tube-type) commercial radios are not permissible to use. Otherwise, some UHF-FM radios currently type certified for Part 90 use in the 450-470 MHz band which do not exceed 50 watts transmitter output power, and which do not include capabilities not permissible for use in GMRS, are also type certified for use in the GMRS.

The "preferred" type of radio for most GMRS licensees is the handheld radio. It offers the best mobility and flexibility of use, since it can be carried and operated by the user wherever he or she goes -- at home, at work, in a motor vehicle, while shopping, even while riding public transit or while engaged in recreational activities (camping, hiking, etc.). Some licensees also use vehicle-mounted radios, but usually to supplement their handheld radios. With minor modification, some vehicular radios can also be used as base stations, although handheld radios are frequently also used in this manner

What Kinds of Stations May Operate in the GMRS?

As implied by the name, the General Mobile Radio Service is intended primarily for communications by mobile stations or between mobile stations and base stations.

A repeater station is a special kind of base station that receives signals on one frequency (in the 467 MHz band), and automatically (and usually, nearly simultaneously) retransmits that signal on another frequency (in the 462 MHz band).

A conventional base station can also be set up as a repeater by receiving a signal in the 462 MHz band, and then retransmitting that same signal after a slight delay on the same frequency. This requires attaching an inexpensive "store-and-forward" device to the base station, but also requires using another device to shut the station off if it is operated from a remote location.

Repeater stations are often located on tall buildings or towers, or on hilltops, in order to extend the range for mobile communications.

What Frequencies and Channels Are Available in the GMRS?

An FCC license is required ($75, as of Fall 2002), and persons operating under a personal license may operate on any GMRS frequency. There is no requirement for frequency coordination or any other special permission, and all licensees must cooperate in the selection and sharing the available channels.

The GMRS is comprised of twenty-three individual frequencies, organized into two groups: the "regular" or "primary" channel pairs (frequency pairs) shown in Table 1, and the "split" or "interstitial" frequencies shown in Table 2.

GMRS radios must be crystalled or programmed for each channel position (if there is more than just a single channel). The "Channel Position 1" on one radio can refer to an entirely different transmit/receive frequency combination than the "Channel Position 1" on another radio. For this reason, most GMRS licensees use the "designators" shown in Tables 1 and 2, rather than a channel letter or number.

How May The "Regular" Channels be Used?

Within the "regular" channel pairs (Table 1), there are again two groups of frequencies, one group in the 462 MHz band (Column 2), the other in the 467 MHz band (Column 3). The two frequencies within each channel pair are separated by precisely 5.000 MHz.

Base stations and repeater stations may transmit only on the 462 MHz frequencies. Mobile stations may also transmit on these 462 MHz frequencies, for communicating directly with base stations or with other mobile units. The 462 MHz frequency of the respective channel pair is the primary one to monitor for activity.

Mobile stations may also transmit on the upper (467 MHz band) frequencies to a repeater, which then retransmits the very same signal automatically (and usually, nearly simultaneously) on the paired 462 MHz band frequency exactly 5 MHz lower. A typical mobile "channel" configuration might be that shown in Table 3.

"Channel Position 1" in this Table 3 example is used to communicate through a local repeater. The radio transmits on the 467 MHz frequency of the channel "pair." This signal is received by the repeater station on that 467 MHz frequency, and is automatically retransmitted on the 462 MHz frequency of the channel "pair."

A second station alternatively transmits and receives in a similar manner. Neither party actually hears the other station directly, but instead hears the other person's signal being retransmitted by the repeater.

"Channel Position 2" in this Table 3 example is used for the direct communications mode. In this mode, each party alternately transmits and receives on the same frequency. Each party hears the other one on the same frequency, and no repeater station is involved in the communications exchange.

These "direct" communications are preferred when the extended communications range of the repeater is not needed, or when one of the units is not within range of the repeater station.

As discussed below, a GMRS personal licensee is permitted to operate on any GMRS frequency.

How May the "Split" Frequencies be Used?

The "split" or "interstitial" frequencies are located in between the "regular" frequencies in the 462 MHz band. They are available only when operating under a license issued to an individual person. They may not be used under a license issued to any other entity (a corporation, association, public service team, governmental unit, partnership, etc.), nor by unlicensed stations (except by Family Radio Service radios).

There are other restrictions on the use of these "split" frequencies by GMRS stations as well.

• Only mobile units and "small base stations" may transmit on these frequencies. A "small base station" is a base station that has an antenna that extends not more than 20 feet above the ground or above the building or structure on which it is mounted.

• GMRS transmissions on these "split" frequencies are limited to not more than 5 watts ERP (effective radiated power, which includes any antenna gain). This applies both to mobile stations and to small base stations.

• These frequencies may not be used by a repeater station (regardless of antenna height or transmitter power), nor by any base station with more than 5 watts ERP or with an antenna which extends more than 20 feet above the ground or above the structure on which that antenna is mounted.

These "split" frequencies are intended to be used only by handheld GMRS radios, or by comparable low-power mobile units. They may be used by a "small" base station, but only under the conditions mentioned above.

What Transmitter Power is Allowed in the GMRS?

GMRS stations may transmit with not more than 50 watts on the "regular" channels. Some stations near the US/Canadian border are permitted only less. Stations transmitting on the "split" frequencies (see Table 2 above) may transmit with not more than 5 watts ERP.

However, in the UHF ("ultra high frequency") band, antenna height above ground is the primary factor which determines communications range, not transmitter power.

Because the GMRS is used primarily by mobile stations communicating with other mobile stations or with a base station, the emphasis is on mobile operation. The most popular kind of mobile radio is the "handheld" type carried on the person (worn on the belt, carried in the purse or pocket, etc.), although vehicle-mounted transceivers are also permitted.

Handheld transceivers, powered by their own internal batteries, usually transmit with a power of 1 to 4 watts. Some vehicle-mounted transceivers can transmit with up to the legal maximum of 50 watts, since they derive their power from the much larger vehicle battery and electrical system.

However, a lower-power handheld transmitter can be attached to a vehicle's external antenna (for best results, located in the center of the roof) to extend its operating range.

A 4-watt handheld radio attached to an antenna on the roof of a vehicle can frequently communicate nearly as far as a 50-watt mobile transmitter connected to the same antenna. The more than 10 times additional power of the 50-watt unit rarely increases the communications range more than 20% or 30%. Since low power handheld radios offer greater flexibility of use (the operator can remove them from the vehicle and carry them on his or her person, for instance), and since these radios are usually much less expensive than full-power mobile units, they are fast becoming the most popular type of GMRS radio for personal and family use.

At the nearly "line of sight" frequencies of the GMRS, communications range is affected more by antenna height than by transmitter power. For instance, changing from the first floor to the fourth or fifth floor of a multi-story building can more than double the communications range of a handheld GMRS radio. A two-watt handheld radio on the twentieth floor of a tall building may have 10 times the communications range of a full 50-watt mobile unit parked at the ground level of that same building!

What Transmission Mode is Used in GMRS?

Only FM (frequency modulated) voice transceivers are currently type certified by the FCC for use in the GMRS. Computer and digital communications (data, packet signals, etc.) are not allowed. In Citizens Band (at 27 MHz), only AM (whether double sideband, upper single sideband ("USB"), or lower single sideband ("LSB") is permitted.

There are two primary performance differences between AM (used in CB) and FM (used in GMRS and most other "land mobile" services).

First, in an FM communications system, the "loudness" of the voice transmission is dependent not on the strength of the signal (as is the case with AM), but solely on the modulation level. A weak FM signal will be just as loud as a strong one, but it will be accompanied by more static noise.

Second, when two AM double-sideband signals are on the same frequency, they "beat" with each other and produce an interfering whine (a "heterodyne"). Only when one is much stronger than the other can the stronger one be clearly understood. When two FM signals are on the same frequency, the one which is even slightly stronger than the other can usually be clearly heard. This is called "the FM capture effect."

However, the primary performance difference between CB and GMRS is not the mode (AM vs. FM), but the spectrum (27 MHz vs. 460 MHz).

The FCC Rules prohibit interconnection of a GMRS radio with the public switched telephone network ("autopatch"). There would not be enough channels if everyone had and used this autopatch capability. There would be no space left for conventional mobile-to-mobile and base-to-mobile communications.

The PRSG (Personal Radio Steering Group) is planning for these new technologies, and we report on the progress towards them in our newsletter, the Personal Radio Exchange (or PRE). We also report extensively on and promote other changes in "network architecture" which may be a suitable alternative to massive and costly mandatory changes in current radio hardware.

Click here for more information about subscribing to our newsletter (available now in an electronic format).

What is the Typical Communications Range?

At 460 MHz, communications range is determined primarily by the height of the antennas and the nature of the surrounding countryside. Raising the height of the antenna from 4 feet above ground (the height of a typical car roof) to 30 feet above the ground can extend the communications range by as much as 300% or more.

   >  For Mobile-to-Mobile Communications

For a typical 2- to 4-watt handheld transceiver, the communications range directly to another comparable handheld unit is typically in the range of 1/2 mile to 1 mile. In rolling or heavily forested terrain, the range can be less. If the two units are on distant mountain tops with a clear "line of sight" contact, this range could be much further.

   >  For Base-to-Mobile Communications

A 10-watt base station with an antenna atop a two-story building may have a 5- to 10-mile communications range with a 4-watt mobile unit. This range could be somewhat more in flat terrain or if the building is on a hill.

UHF "line of sight" communications will go further in a flat countryside than in a rolling one. Signals can also bounce off of tall building surfaces. This can actually increase range in some urban or mountainous environments.

Increasing the transmitter power at both the base station and the mobile unit can increase the communications range slightly. However, the primary way to increase operating range is to increase the base station antenna height.

   >  For Repeater-Assisted Communications

A typical low-power handheld radio might be able to communicate with a base station on top of a mountain or a tall building 15 miles to even 30 or more miles distant.

A repeater station is really just a special kind of base station which employs a very tall antenna. The repeater usually receives on a 467 MHz GMRS frequency. When it receives a signal (usually accompanied by a special code which this repeater listens for especially), the repeater then automatically (i.e., without further operator action or control) retransmits that same signal on the comparable 462 MHz frequency.

Another kind of repeater, only recently introduced to GMRS, receives a signal on a 462 MHz frequency, and retransmits that same signal after a slight time delay on that same frequency. This kind of repeater can be much less expensive to purchase and operate, since it doesn't require a "duplexer" or a second antenna for receiving purposes. However, like a conventional repeater, this "store-and-forward"-type repeater still requires a control method to shut it down, if it is operated from a remote location.

The advantage of the repeater is in its capability to receive a signal from a distant transmitter, and to retransmit a signal which can be heard by a distant receiver, because of the station's greater antenna height.

If a repeater with a tall antenna can hear a mobile signal 20 miles away (a typical distance for a well-sited repeater), then it can usually transmit to another mobile unit anywhere within that same 20-mile radius. The two mobile units themselves do not need to be near each other. They could be at opposite sides of the 20-mile radius of coverage of the repeater, or 40 miles apart from each other, and still be able to communicate through the repeater.

There are some practical upper limits on range. For example, a repeater whose antenna is mounted on a 100-foot tower in mostly flat terrain might cover a 15-mile radius. An additional 5 to 10 miles of coverage might be gained by each doubling of antenna height.

Using this example (and with the same typical terrain), mounting the antenna on a 200-foot tower might provide a 25-mile radius of coverage. But to achieve a 35-mile radius, you would need a 400-foot tower. For a 45-mile radius of coverage, you would need an 800-foot tower. From this example, you can see that extending the range beyond 25 or 30 miles can come only from having access to a very tall antenna or (more likely) to a mountain top.

Although there is the obvious advantage of additional communications range in communicating through a repeater station, there are also disadvantages. When one repeater is transmitting, it can block out or interfere with all other communications on that same frequency within that same area. Since there are only eight frequency pairs available for repeater communications, GMRS users must cooperate in sharing the use of these frequencies.

One method of cooperating is to use the repeater only when it is necessary to employ its extended range. When the corresponding units are close enough to each other so that the repeater is not needed, then the units should communicate with each other directly, not through the repeater.

Repeater users should also keep their communications as short as possible (namely, only necessary and urgent communications).

Furthermore, because signals retransmitted through a repeater travel much further, they are less private. Privacy is another advantage of shorter range "direct" communications.

Is There a Height Limit for GMRS Antennas?

The only height limit in the GMRS applies to "small" base stations and "small" control stations. Repeater stations and conventional base stations have no antenna height limit, at least insofar as the FCC is concerned.

However, if an antenna structure extends more than 200 feet above ground, or if it is located within about 6 miles an airport, then there are FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) requirements for painting and lighting. If the antenna structure extends more than 300 feet above ground, there are also special provisions for determining the impact on the environment.

In most areas, of greater concern will be the height limits imposed by local zoning regulations and (if applicable) restricted-use covenants. Even the 20-foot height permitted "small" base and control stations may exceed local zoning ordinances!

What About Communications Quality Within That Range?

GMRS signals are at UHF frequencies, and have a wavelength of about 25 inches. CB signals are at HF frequencies, and have a much longer wavelength (about 36 feet). This shorter wavelength enables GMRS signals more easily to penetrate into and to escape from buildings. The optimum location when inside a building, however, is on an upper floor near a window with an outside exposure facing the desired direction of communication.

Do GMRS Signals Suffer From "Skip"?

The "skip" phenomenon commonly encountered with CB signals, especially during peak sunspot conditions, does not affect UHF frequencies. However, there are other phenomena which can extend or diminish UHF communications range.

The most common of these is atmospheric reflection caused by thermal inversions, for instance as occur over large bodies of water (such as the Great Lakes or along the Atlantic Seacoast). Although these inversions occur only occasionally, they can still cause distant signals to interfere with local signals.

Fortunately, most GMRS personal users respect each others' communications needs. GMRS licensees usually try to cooperate to minimize problems during these "enhanced propagation" conditions. "DX'ing" distant GMRS stations is usually not appreciated -- indeed, it is a virtual guarantee to become unwelcomed to use others' repeaters!

A good way to tell if UHF signals are being extended by atmospheric conditions is to view the lower UHF TV channels (14 through 20) with an outside TV antenna. If you can see distant TV stations that are not normally available in your local area, then there may be atmospheric conditions that are extending propagation.

How Expensive Is GMRS?

Only commercial-quality radios FCC type-certified for GMRS may be used in the GMRS. The cost of GMRS radios has decreased in recent years, both as the quantity of used equipment has increased, and as the number of manufacturers offering less expensive models has increased.

Low-power GMRS handheld transceivers have also recently become available through many local consumers electronics stores and from mail-order vendors, including through the Internet. However, many of these radio models are capable only of unit-direct-to-unit communications, and cannot operate through a range-extending repeater. To be capable of operating through a conventional repeater, a GMRS radio must be capable of transmitting in the 467 MHz band (as well as receiving in the 462 MHz band), and must be able to transmit subaudible control tones.

However, even GMRS radios that cannot transmit on the 467 MHz GMRS frequencies can communicate through the recently introduced "store-and-forward"-type repeaters (that receive instead on the 462 MHz GMRS frequencies). More information on this new kind of repeater will be in our subscription newsletter, the "Personal Radio Exchange."

The cost of a GMRS transceiver will depend on a number of factors. The primarily factor may be the source of the radio. Mass-produced radios sold through mail-order vendors or local consumer electronics stores are likely to be less expensive than identical models sold by local two-way radio dealers. Other aspects that can affect the cost of a radio include the transmitter power, the number of channels, and the presence or optional availability of subaudible tone signaling (which is usually necessary to communicate through a repeater station).

New radios for base or mobile use can typically cost from $50 to over $3000. A common price range for an "entry level" handheld transceiver with full channel and signaling capabilities is $150-$300. Some "bubble pack" radios (so called because they are packaged in a "blister pack") sold at consumer electronics stores are available for even less, often combined with a capability to communicate on FRS channels as well. (However, most such "bubble pack" radios are not capable of transmitting on the GMRS 467 MHz frequencies, and are thus not capable of communicating through conventional GMRS repeaters.)

The PRSG has prepared a publication, "How to Choose a Handheld GMRS Radio." This publication ($6) and others in our "Basic Information Series" are available from our Michigan office. Click here for more information.

A conventional repeater station (with its accompanying hardware, control circuits, filters, etc.) can cost anywhere from $1200 to over $8000. However, a single repeater can be used by many individuals, and local "user cooperatives" are becoming increasingly popular. The recently introduced "store and forward" repeaters can usually be assembled for less, typically for as little as $20 to $50 above the cost of a simple base station and antenna, plus (if necessary) the cost of some method of remote control.

With appropriate long-term financing, a 30-member cooperative can purchase, install, and maintain a conventional repeater frequently for less than $5 per member per month for the equipment, exclusive of the site rental expenses. (That compares with fees ranging anywhere from $25 to $100 or more per month which many commercial licensees pay for the use of comparable business- and industrial-use repeaters.)

Despite the high cost of the repeater equipment, the greater cost over the long run can actually be that of renting a favorable antenna site. In the major urban areas, prime sites (on the tallest buildings) can go for as much as $400 to $800 or more per month. It doesn't take many months for that to build to a gigantic bill!

A repeater cooperative may be able to find less expensive prices. In a city of many hills, a member of the cooperative may live near an advantageous hilltop, for instance.

The members of many GMRS user-cooperatives perform volunteer services for local public safety agencies, hospitals, school districts, etc. These working relationships can provide an avenue for acquiring low- or no-cost access to less advantageous but still acceptable repeater sites.

If all else fails, access to a favorable antenna site may be available for rent from an established communications vendor. However, there can be "strings attached." You could find yourself locked into a requirement to purchase your radios from just that particular vendor (a common tactic used by two-way radio dealers), in exchange for being permitted the use of that repeater station or that site. This can restrict your option to purchase less expensive but adequate radios from some other source.

How Do I Proceed with GMRS?

If, after weighing the various advantages (the generally courteous operation from other personal licensees, the high quality of communications, etc.) against the various disadvantages (the sometimes high cost of the equipment, the limited range without a repeater, etc.), you wish to proceed with GMRS, you should take the following steps:

  
1. Contact local users.   
2. Decide on your channels.   
3. Apply for your license.   
4. Purchase your equipment.

How Do I Contact Local GMRS Users?

Before investing in radio equipment, you may want to contact other GMRS users in your area whose communications uses and needs may be similar to yours. The PRSG publishes the GMRS National Repeater Guide, which also contains the names, addresses, and phone numbers of many local and regional "user cooperatives" and others (especially current GMRS personal and public service team licensees) who may be able to assist you. They can frequently answer more of your questions about existing local operations, and give you some good hints (and maybe even some warnings!) about local sources of equipment and repeater services.

How Do I Decide on My Channels?

The FCC Rules now permit GMRS personal licensees to operate on any GMRS channel. (See Table 1.) The application form (FCC Form 605) doesn't even ask you for your operating channel or station location. However, you may transmit on the GMRS 467 MHz frequencies only to communicate through a repeater.

Most GMRS users regularly operate only on one or two channels. If you intend to use a radio that is capable of operating on only a limited number of channels, and if you are going to use the GMRS to communicate with others already licensed or planning shortly to license in this service, then you will want to choose the same channel(s) that they have chosen or will choose. If not, you will want to choose a channel which is not already in heavy use in your area.

The best way to determine which GMRS channels are already in use in your area is to monitor them with a scanning receiver. However, most scanners are substantially less sensitive than typical GMRS radios. Therefore, listen from several different locations from within your anticipated operating area, and use an external antenna, preferably one mounted on the building roof for best reception. In most major urban areas, it is unlikely that you will find a regular GMRS channel which is completely unused.

The "675 channel" (see Table 1) is used by many public service teams and user cooperatives for their emergency and travelers assistance communications. There is a growing nationwide network of repeater stations available on this particular channel for just this purpose. However, GMRS personal licensees may operate on any GMRS channel, and all users must immediately yield to any bona fide emergency communications.

Who is Eligible to Obtain a GMRS License?

Only an individual person is eligible to obtain a new GMRS license, or to significantly modify an existing one. He or she must be at least 18 years old, and may not be the representative of a foreign government.

Prior to 1989, any legal entity (a corporation, an association, a partnership, or a governmental agency) was also eligible to license in the GMRS to operate on these frequencies.

An entity which was first licensed prior to July 31, 1987, and which has not significantly modified its operations since then, is "grandfathered" and may continue to operate and to renew its GMRS license(s). However, these grandfathered entities are not permitted to use the "split" frequencies (see Table 2), and may otherwise operate only under the terms (specifying channels, station locations, etc.) on their last license issued prior to July 31, 1987.

In some places (especially in the larger urban areas), these "grandfathered" non-personal licensees still predominate on the GMRS channels, although most are expected eventually to move to more appropriate Part 90 commercial and industrial radio services.

All GMRS licensees must cooperate in the selection and use of the assigned frequencies. For more than two decades the FCC has cautioned commercial and industrial GMRS licensees that they must cooperate with personal/family users. The FCC further advised these entities that if they did not wish to cooperate with personal licensees, they should instead relicense for one of the other private land mobile radio services. (The PRSG can provide you with a copy of this important 1977 FCC Public Notice.)

The GMRS is not "the other business radio service," the FCC emphasized in adopting new GMRS rules effective in 1989.

This change in eligibility reflected in part these entities' continuing lack of cooperation with personal licensees. The FCC expects many current commercial and industrial licensees eventually to relicense and to relocate to one of those other Part 90 "private land mobile" services.

Where cooperation problems remain, the PRSG will assist local GMRS personal licensees in identifying the sources of these improper operations. The PRSG can also assist in preparing the necessary information for complaint actions to be filed with the FCC.

How do I Obtain a GMRS License?

Unlicensed operation of a GMRS transmitter, including on the "split" frequencies shown in Table 2 (except by FRS radios), is punishable by a monetary fine of up to $10,000 for the first offense, even more for subsequent violations. You must obtain an FCC license (or be an immediate family member of someone who is already licensed) before you may transmit with a GMRS radio.

To apply for a GMRS license, you must complete and return a Form 605 to the FCC. You can obtain a copy of the FCC Form 605 and its instructions by calling: 1-888-CALL-FCC. You can also obtain a copy from the FCC's Web site: www.fcc.gov/formpage.html

You can also apply for a GMRS license directly on the Web. This is actually the preferable way to obtain a new GMRS personal license. For more information on licensing, click here.

Applicants must also submit an FCC Form 159 ("Remittance Advice"). It is available from the same sources mentioned above.

As of October 2002, the cost of obtaining an FCC license in the GMRS is $75. This includes a $50 application fee, and a usage fee of $25 ($5 per year for the five-year GMRS license). This $75 fee total must be submitted along with the application.

Who Will Be Eligible to Operate Under My GMRS License?

A licensee's immediate family members are eligible to operate under his or her license. This includes parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren -- basically you, your spouse, and all of your and your spouse's immediate blood relatives.

Others (your employees, friends, associates, etc.) must each obtain their own licenses before they can operate in the GMRS, even if they are just operating one of your own radios. You may not lend your license to any other party.

Where Can I Purchase GMRS Equipment?

GMRS radios (often combined with FRS radios, and sometimes mistakenly marketed as FRS-only radios not needing a license) are commonly available from most consumer-electronics stores nationally, and from a variety of sources advertising on the Internet.

However, most of these radios at consumer-electronics stores are capable only of unit-direct-to-another-unit communications, and cannot communicate through conventional GMRS repeaters because they lack the capability of transmitting on the GMRS 467 MHz frequencies. (See Table 3 above.) Even if not capable of using a conventional repeater, these radios would still be capable of communicating through the recently introduced "store-and-forward"-type of repeaters.

Is Used Equipment Available?

A particular problem exists with purchasing used radio equipment. It can be difficult to obtain accurate estimates of repair and maintenance costs, or even just the expense of the initial setup. GMRS radios, but especially used radios, are certainly not "plug and play" hardware. Complex UHF-FM radio equipment can require substantial "shop time" (typically at anywhere from $40 to $80 per hour for labor!) to rebuild or to retune, above and beyond the cost of recrystaling or reprogramming for different channels.

These high "shop time" rates may actually be quite reasonable when you consider that a well-equipped two-way-radio repair shop probably has in excess of $100,000 worth of test equipment which it must purchase and maintain. In addition, each individual technician probably needs his or her own bench equipment, at an additional $6,000 to $30,000 per person.

As a general rule, you should not consider the purchase of any used GMRS radio equipment unless you have a local technician who is willing to perform the maintenance work, and who already has some experience working on that particular make and model.

A good "rule of thumb" is that you should be prepared to spend from 5% to 10% of the original purchase price per year on equipment maintenance and repair costs. For radios more than five to eight years old, you may need to double that estimate. In addition, remember to plan for extra expenses to cover insurance and accidental damage.

The typical "blister pack" radios now predominating at most consumer-electronics stores are generally "throw-away" units that are not cost-effective to repair or modify. One hard drop and it could be permanently dead.

The irony is that if you seek a durable GMRS radio capable of operating through the expanding national network of conventional repeaters, you should probably consider purchasing a commercial-grade radio, one not advertised as a GMRS-specific radio! Many models currently being marketed as GMRS-specific are often cheaply built, incapable of operating through conventional repeaters, and cannot be cost-effectively repaired, maintained or modified.

One excellent source of reliable information about GMRS radios, including advertisements for full-capability models (able of communicating through conventional GMRS repeaters), is Doug Smith's Popular Wireless bulletin board. This is a primary Web resource for current and accurate information about GMRS, one that every Web-using GMRS operator should check into regularly. And it's free!

What Are "User Cooperatives"?

In some areas, persons interested in or licensed for GMRS operations have combined their resources and purchasing power to put up a local conventional repeater station. There are other potential benefits as well to such local user cooperatives.

Obtaining information about local, inexpensive yet reliable sources of equipment is another topic about which you should contact other local users or user cooperatives. They may have had especially good or even bad experience with certain local two-way shops. The PRSG's GMRS National Repeater Guide can be a good starting point for identifying local user cooperatives and initiating these contacts.

Where Can I Find Out More About the GMRS Rules?

The PRSG continuously updates the FCC Rules pertaining to GMRS, FRS and MURS (Multi Use Radio Service, a new, license-free 150 MHz CB service). For the latest information, click here.

Where Can I Find Out More about the Personal Radio Steering Group?

The PRSG mailing address is:

PRSG volunteer staff can be reached at (734) MOBILE 3. (That's the same as (734) 662-4533.) The best times to reach PRSG staff are evenings to 1 AM Eastern time. You can also send E-mail to the PRSG, although we encourage you first to explore the numerous pages here on our Web site. You should find answers to most questions already here on line.

The PRSG publishes a national newsletter, the Personal Radio Exchange (or PRE), in an electronic format. This newsletter is the primary communications medium with our subscribers. An annual subscription to the electronic version of the PRE is $10. An annual subscription to printed version is $40.

We also have a more extensive on-line description of our history, purpose, activities and services.