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Good points. I doubt the FCC will be revisiting GMRS rules anytime soon. They actually did a lot of good with their 2017 updates, and it has given the service a much needed infusion of new blood by easing some of the previous restrictions as well as making the license itself more affordable. And yes, they did make a couple of rule changes that make little sense and pretty much (theoretically at least) kill the market for good quality new radios. But, then they compensated by making that statement about being aware of (and apparently not too concerned about) GMRS ops using Part 90 radios. Which supports the points you made above. I figure if they give a hoot about FPP-capable Part 95 radios (which they obviously don't on radios made before 2017, or they would not have granted type acceptance), they have thousands of users with non-type-accepted Baofengs to wade through before turning their attention to it. I also figure anyone who contacts them to ask about it will get whatever answer they figure is most likely to make the questioner go away and leave them alone.

Oh give them 20 years or so... If you are new to GMRS and radio all together.... keep in mind many who have been at this for years in all forms of radio have a "common sense" approach to things...goes with that "spirit" of the rule type deal. There are 20 guys a day that get into GMRS and think they have found some incredible new discovery in capability that no one else has thought of....but it isn't practical, isn't legal, and doesn't meet the common sense test.

That's about as close to a smoking gun as you're going to get from the FCC. They are aware that people are using surplus Part 90 equipment - and they don't intend to anything to stop that use. As others have mentioned, there's never been a single enforcement action by the FCC against anyone for using Part 90 equipment in Part 95. If you've been around the block with the FCC a few times, you begin to realize that many of the rules have been written after the fact.

I agree with RCM. As I explained elsewhere on this site, too much gain is not a good thing on UHF. You will wind up with such a narrow beam-width that you wont be able to hit the repeater when you are in close to it. Antenna height is king. You will get better results from a 3dB antenna at 100 feet than you would with a 12dB antenna at 50 feet... especially in hilly or mountainous terrain.

Hi, It would appear that the FCC is a force of nature. By that I mean that it will follow the path of least resistance. It will comply with what ever makes the problem go away.

I have searched the FCC NAL listings going back many years and I have never seen an NAL for either type certification or for linking via any means. Honestly, the only NAL's I found were for corporate businesses blatantly using GMRS or that Bundy guy in California who happens to be a GMRS licensee jamming Part 90 users. GMRS has a pretty good record with the FCC.

At my club's board meeting last evening, I made a motion that we as a club make it known that GMRS licensees are welcome to become auxiliary members. Discussions will be ongoing for the next few monthly BoD meetings. Hopefully my motion will be passed and then we can present the proposal to the general membership.

I'm reminded of this Reddit thread. Also, regarding balloons tailing behind me on the 417… Edited to add: Thank you for building a repeater that can be used by your neighbors in a pinch! Especially in a hurricane area, that's a potential lifeline.

If anyone has verifiable official documentation that ANY GMRS licensee has ever been given an FCC citation for using a Part 90 Type Certified "transmitter" in Part 95 service, please add that documentation to this thread.

Part 90 and 95 equipment require different type acceptances, and the requirements (if strictly adhered to) make them mutually exlusive. Since Part 90 has more stringent emission regulations than 95, it is generally accepted that using Part 90 equipment as Part 95 equipment is fine so long as all other Part 95 rules are followed to the fullest of the Part 90 radio's capabilities (such as transmit power and deviation). I suspect the FCC considered formalizing this under 95.1735 (see 95.335) but ultimately did not. Since the rule does not exists, the FCC will say no if you ask them to use a Part 90 radio on GMRS. Regardless, such a radio would never be allowed on FRS due to antenna restrictions intended to increase channel capacity by limiting range -- the FCC exercises control over these restrictions with Part 95 type acceptance.

Ok... No argument with your interpretation. However, note the word repeater is never mentioned. Rather, they use the word transmitter. So, would that, by extension, allow any Part 90 compliant transmitter to be used in Part 95 service? Like as a base or fixed station? And, aren’t handhelds also transmitters? BTW, Inalso found this in the FCC’s response to comments on the (at the time) proposed GMRS rules changes: Several commenters are concerned that the proposal to prohibit combination radios would prevent GMRS licensees from using surplus Part 90 equipment in GMRS. See, e.g., Comments of Jerry Scott Parham at 3. This is not our intent. We will continue to certify equipment that meets the respective technical standards for Part 90 (land mobile) and Part 95 (GMRS) in both services, if requested. However, we are amending the language in new section 95.1761© to clarify the requirement in old section 95.655(a) that Part 95 GMRS radios will not be certified if they are equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service.

The vast majority of GMRS Repeaters are Part 90 Type Certified. The technical standards in that regard are almost identical between Part 90 and Part 95 and we know of no instances where a station inspection netted a citation from the Commission for a licensed GMRS operator using a PROPERLY OPERATING Part 90 system in Part 95 service. If ANYONE has DOCUMENTATION of such a citation, please add to this thread with that data. The Rules that were recently modified "seem" to address this partially - Section 95.1761 Sub C, "No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with a frequency capability not listed in §95.1763, unless such transmitter is also certified for use in another radio service for which the frequency is authorized and for which certification is also required. No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. All frequency determining circuitry (including crystals) and programming controls in each GMRS transmitter must be internal to the transmitter and must not be accessible from the exterior of the transmitter operating panel or from the exterior of the transmitter enclosure." Also, refer to Section 95.335 - especially Sub A, "Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no person shall operate a transmitter in any Personal Radio Service unless it is a certified transmitter; that is, a transmitter of a type which has obtained a grant of equipment certification for that service, pursuant to part 2, subpart J of this chapter. Use of a transmitter that is not FCC-certified voids the user's authority to operate that station. See sections 302(a), (b ), and (e) of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 302(a), (b ), and (e)). (a) Exceptions. Under certain exceptions, non-certified Personal Radio Service transmitters, or transmitters certified for use in the land mobile radio services may be operated. Any such exceptions applicable to stations in a Personal Radio Service are set forth in the subpart governing that specific service. See e.g., §§95.735 and 95.1735." Disclaimer: The Staff at MyGMRS is supplying this data as information only and assumes no liability for it's use by individuals. It is the responsibility of each licensed user to know and follow the most recent Rules covering the radio service that they are licensed for.