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I might add that GMRS has tolerances as far as frequency that are far lower then most HAM gear. With GMRS being smack in the middle of the part 90 portion of the band it is important to maintain some type of standard as to not cause interference to the adjacent service. Requiring a type accepted and certified transmitter is the best way to do this.

GMRS is for families. No test, covers your whole family. No tinkering, grab a pre programmed radio and go. The downside is that the FCC limits the equipment that can be used to prevent people from plugging numbers into a radio and causing interference. There would be a lot more confusing regulations to follow if the FCC started putting all kinds of equipment exceptions for various other services, which then creates more problems than it was trying to solve for a family jist grabbing a set of radios and going. My wife and kids are not interested in Amateur radio. This allows us all to communicate with few issues.

Frankly, I want to know the real reason why the FCC requires you to use a Type 95 radio for GMRS. Suppose you're a licensed ham AND have your GMRS license. This rule just means I've got to purchase additional radios to lug around. Who is this rule benefiting and why? There was a petition in 2014 to add exception to the Type 95 rules to ham operators but it failed miserably. Thanks

You do realize that you are expecting logic from an agency of the federal government.

This is exactly my thinking as well. I currently have GMRS, 2m/70cm, and a 10m radio in my Jeep. And an antenna for each radio. I really want to add 6m, too, but 3 radios and antennas are already too much. I am thinking about getting a Yaesu FT-8900R, which is a quad-band. That will get me down to two radios and two antennas... but if we could get a radio like that to run on GMRS too, then I would be down to one radio. Instead of looking like a mobile SETI station, my Jeep would look like a Jeep.

And nothing that the OP suggested would change any of that. Adding an exception for already licensed HAMs to use their already existing and perfectly capable gear wouldn't change anything that's happening in GMRS currently for non HAM types using it. Just means that we would have to spend less money on redundant equipment to stay within the letter of the law. Though I'm sure there's already plenty of combo HAM/GMRS guys running around with Amateur gear programmed for GMRS use.........

Hello and welcome, not sure about your location, I have a wide area repeater in IL, follow the link in my signature below for more details.

Cellphones cheaper than landlines, Heck, I remember when cellphones were called phone booths LOL Welcome to the group

Welcome. I am new myself but have found those here to be very helpful and best of all this is a respectful and polite place. Actual adults.

I have 4 radios on the way. All 20 channels programmed. Freight and all $540.