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Go to your account at the FCC and download a current version of your license. When I did that a few months ago the Line A restriction no longer appeared.

Now this is a legal question. There are those of us that have it specifically stated on our license we can't use those frequencies, so is it perfectly fine to disregard that? I'm thinking if it's a special restriction on our license, above and beyond the current rules, it would still apply until we get it officially removed from our license. One could argue the restriction is there to serve some other purpose than rule compliance.

That's good info. Was it only channel 19 and 21? AI cited the below codes to me but when I looked them up, nothing about Line A. If it were still affect, I guess my local reliance NET peeps would not be such a reliable source since they use channel 17, 18, and 22 within Line A. The FCC Part 95 sections relevant to Line A restrictions for GMRS operations near the U.S.-Canada border are: 47 CFR § 95.309: Defines Line A as a line ~120 km (75 miles) south of the U.S.-Canada border and prohibits certain GMRS channels (462.550–462.725 MHz and 467.550–467.725 MHz) north of it. 47 CFR § 95.1767: Specifies GMRS power limits, including ≤5 watts ERP for handhelds and ≤50 watts for mobiles on allowed channels (e.g., 462.5625–462.7125 MHz) north of Line A. 47 CFR § 95.1705: Prohibits GMRS fixed-base stations north of Line A and outlines general operational rules. 47 CFR § 95.1763: Lists GMRS channel frequencies, clarifying which are restricted (channels 15–22) or permitted (channels 1–14) north of Line A. 47 CFR § 95.1733: Prohibits interference with Canadian systems, reinforcing Line A restrictions.

I really think that the FCC screwed the pooch on this. They should have made some sort of announcement, or better yet sent an email to affected licensees.

Quick side note.... FCC Rule § 1.928 "Frequency coordination, Canada" does still list 450MHz to 470MHz as restricted. However, there is no indication that § 1.928 applies to GMRS.

Okay... really quick... the short answer is those people on the net are incorrect. You can use all of the GMRS channels anywhere in the US. Details without getting too dorky... what used to limit us was a combination of FCC rules and a US/Canada treaty. The treaty is called "Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada Concerning the Coordination and Use of Radio Frequencies Above Thirty Megacycles per Second, with Annexes" also known as the "Above 30 MHz Agreement". A new agreement that was signed in 2021 supersedes that agreement. The new document is called "General coordination agreement between Canada and the United States of America on the use of the radio frequency spectrum by terrestrial radiocommunication stations and earth stations." This document discontinued the parts first treaty I mentioned, that impacted GMRS. Now, that only relates to the Treaty / Agreement. Under FCC rules, the restriction was also lifted. The older rule was under "§ 95.1761 GMRS transmitter certification" (e). However, § 95.1761(e) now has new text that is completely unrelated. Also, Line A is not referenced anywhere in the Personal Radio Service general rules, nor in the GMRS specific rules. The original text from the FCC (from the wayback machine), again no longer valid, is noted below. § 95.1761 GMRS transmitter certification (e) GMRS transmitters intended for use north of Line A or east of Line C* must not be capable of transmitting on channels 462.650 MHz or 462.700 MHz (GMRS Channels 19 and 21), unless such operation is specifically authorized by the Commission pursuant to an application showing that harmful interference to Canadian stations is unlikely.*

In the Waiver/Conditions it says: NONE, in all capital letters. Towards the bottom, I suppose to keep me confused, it has a box with this written in it... Conditions: Pursuant to §309(h) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §309(h), this license is subject to the following conditions: This license shall not vest in the licensee any right to operate the station nor any right in the use of the frequencies designated in the license beyond the term thereof nor in any other manner than authorized herein. Neither the license nor the right granted thereunder shall be assigned or otherwise transferred in violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. See 47 U.S.C. § 310(d). This license is subject in terms to the right of use or control conferred by §706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. See 47 U.S.C. §606. That does not look like NONE. Any lawyers out there?

Assuming you mean receiving on HF, I've not seen that the Radtel-880 can TX on 10m at all. The Quansheng can RX on 10m SSB, but needs some surgery to be be able to TX other than FM (as seen on YootOob), and your license class does not have FM privileges on 10m. That being said, there are many Handheld receivers that can pick up the SW bands out there in Used Land. But not many that would allow you to transmit on 10m. I'm with the crowd, work on your operating skills on V/UHF and save up for a decent HF/6m or "shack in the box type rig. One I'm interested in after seeing Salty Walt (W4OGO on YooToob) reviewing it it the Guohetec (sp?) PMR-171. Neat 20 w hf/vhf/uhf battery powered rig with a sub $700 price tag. I get economics. When I first was getting on 10m in 96 as a Tech+ license holder, that $270 for a Realistic HTX-100 was a big budget hit what with 2 youngins and all. Still have that rig and occasionally drag it out and blow the dust off it to see if the Magic Smoke is still there (it is). For decent HF listening, a good portable SW radio will do you better than an HT. Decent new and used ones around that $100 mark.

Download an official copy of your license from the FCC. If th Line A prohibitions still affect you they will appear on your license. Th consensus of those of us who did this is that our current licenses no longer include the Line A restrictions.

None of us should question why someone else has the budgetary limits they do.

In my short GMRS life time I chose to understand Line A rules that pertain to GMRS (in the absence of CLEAR FCC policy) to just stay off channel 19 and 21 and I'm good. A couple weeks ago, a local self reliance net I began to engage with, hosts peeps like me (that have no other radio friends) through some of the repeaters in my area for practice and to learn your radios capabilities. They ended the session with the reminder of Line A and to stay away from channel 19 and 21. The big mistake I made was I just read through some old threads here to learn more about it. Sorry for the click bait but now I'm confused. The latest replies on those threads seem to indicate the GMRS (UHF) frequencies are no longer a problem to use north of Line A? I scrolled through some of them gov't codes you all talk of and the only thing I seemed to find was the Line A definition and contract with Canada. I bypassed the contract link because that has to be way out my GMRS scope of practice and I saw nothing about Line A and frequencies.

Does the wife have a $100 limit too?

But at least you could say you bought it.

That's cool that you had a fun experience on that net. I love that radio can bring people together for fun - people who would otherwise never meet. And just for the record I do not (yet?) have a "HAM" license... before I say this... I understand the meaning of the term "Appliance Operator" - someone who knows how to use their radio but does not know how to build, fix or explain the inner workings of radio... fine but I wonder if you can really say that someone licensed with an Amateur Radio License is either an Appliance Operator or a HAM. it sounds like "yeah you have an Amateur Radio License but ... you are not really a HAM. which also feels very "Sad ham" to me. But that is just me maybe.

I used this stuff on top of the self sealing tape https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZMZV4K1?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

Just noticed as well, in my original post i did have a photo showing the setup.

Ah i see now. No it is a LED ditch light which is on the truck. can't see the entire light in this photo, but you can see how the bracket shares the mount.

Make sure they do a good job of waterproofing the connections.

Thanks again guys for all of your help! I got it from Buy Two Way Radios.com. Messi & Paoloni Hyperflex 10 Premium .400" Pre-assembled Coax - UHF Male (PL259) Connectors Cable Length 50 ft. for $113.00 with shipping. Now I just got to find some one to go back up my tower..

I was looking through the ad listings on eBay and found one for a very sophisticated microphone. It has a DSP chip builtin for background noise, wind noise, siren etc. elimination. Some of my radios also have some basic DSP builtin. For example my TK-D74A has a basic 5 band audio equalizer for TX and RX. Other commercial grade radios have selections for audio filtering, high/normal/low pass, and audio leveling, on TX and RX for digital modes. This is something I haven't seen on the cheap CCR's. So any cheap CCR's out there that has user configurable DSP features?

Examples? Many Amateur Operators are what can be called "Appliance Operators" They know how things work, especially radios, but not why they work. Enjoy the world of Amateur Radio, it's been a fun ride for me since '92 although my work with two way radios goes back into the mid 70's. Every contact you make can bring you new things!

In my mind I was thinking of those rolls of LEDs that you lay out. In reality he probably meant a shop light style fixture with LED lights in it which would mean the driver is surrounded by metal already. The cheap power supplies that drive LEDs are usually noisy and get pretty hot when driven to max. Whenever I build with them I like to make sure there's a few amps in reserve basically to keep the driver from putting out max current keeping it cool and it's life longer. Putting it in a metal container might make the heating worse.

Thanks so much! Ordering it now.

I believe Leo was recommending enclosing the driver/power supply for the LED lights, not replacing the wooden mount for the radio that you made.

I was in our electronics lab once working on a project. Some mention was made about drunks on the street. I referred to them as "Stumble Bums." Well I got one of those "WTF is that" looks. Makes you feel old.