MikeSD

Frequency coordination is not really official. They really have no power to stop anyone from doing anything. All the FCC cares about is interference between users. FACT, if someone has a parked frequency pair, for amateur radio, but it's not used, and you put up a repeater, the FCC will not give a damn. If there is no interference, there is no problem. frequency coordinators do not own the frequencies. If they file a complaint with the FCC and there is no interference, the FCC won't care. To the person who wondered if DMR will work on GMRS, of course it works just fine. In fact, if DMR is ever adopted, it will greatly expand the use of GMRS. But FCC is always making sure that changes are backward compatible. Fact is DMR would reduce a lot of interference. That's what it's designed to do, and you get double the capacity, if not more. Two conversations can take place simultaneously on the same frequencies. Regarding how long it takes to transmit a text. This example is "I'll be headed home soon". It was transmitted in DMR message, into a dummy load, and i real time speed. You can hear the beep, when the message was sent. msdsite.com/DMR/dmr.mp3 But being legal is an entirely different matter.

That is exactly my need. Sending short bursts of text messages. My question wasn't about "finding equipment". It was about what is legal and what is not. You and the FCC seems to have said it's legal. Just limited. Finding part 95 equipment is an entirely different subject. But I have found that eventually the FCC comes around to what people use. It used to be illegal to have GMRS handhelds with removable antenna, not now. It used to be illegal to transmit 2W on FRS. Not now. It used to be illegal to transmit high power on CB. Not now. What changed? People used it and the FCC came around. So it's not about finding equipment. It's what's legal and what's not. That was the question. And the reason I asked is because I like to stay on the right side of the line. So knowing exactly where the line is, helps. Thanks for the comments.

I think I'll take exception to that. Can you show the rule that prohibits it? I can show you a federal.gov site that says "digital" data transmissions is allowedd on GMRS. Web site: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/08/29/2017-17395/personal-radio-service-reform Oh, and wideband and narroband is irrelevant in this context. It's very doable to send narrowband transmissions on a wideband system. In fact, it improves interference problems. I could still be wrong, but opinions aren't evidence. If you have something from the FCC that says digital data is not legal, I'm all ears. I do know that digital voice is not allowed at this time (because it violates the 1 sec. every 30 second guideline), but that was not my question.

All this appears to be old and out of date data. If it is, these threads need to be closed or flagged. It's giving wrong information. Apparently the FCC has certified some radios for DMR on GMRS. From FCC "In 2017, the FCC updated the GMRS by allotting additional interstitial channels in the 467 MHz band, increased the license term from 5 to 10 years, allowed transmission of limited data applications such as text messaging and GPS location information and made other updates to the GMRS rules to reflect modern application of the service." As far as I know DMR is the only way to send text messages and GPS. And of course, you still have the type 90 vs. 95 but that's another story. And as far as interference, DMR is no more interference that someone walking all over your transmissions, because they can't hear you. Interference will never go away. But DMR has a great possibility to eliminate interference for the most part. And texts are very short interference. And because of the time slot nature, I believe that DMR prevents someone from walking over your conversation, if the radio detects a channel is in use, assuming the other radio is DMR also. I haven't tried this but that's what TDMA does. Please correct me, if I'm wrong.

If that is true, then I'll likely return my BTech, wecause they lied to me. Today I got another reply from BTech saying that the FCC prohibits this. If Midland allows same frequency on multiple channels, with different tones, and is certified, it proves BTech is less than truthful.

I inquired about BTech advertizing. Background They say in their ads for the GMRS 50X1 that there are 8 "modifiable" channels. While that is technically correct, you MAY NOT change the frequencies of any of these 8 channels. I have access to a couple of repeaters that use the same frequency, but with different tones. It's hard to know, sometimes which is which, on the same channel. So, I wanted to reprogram one of these unused 8 channels, with a duplicate frequency, and store it in one of the 8 unused channels. BUT the 50X1 cannot be changed. It keeps reverting back to the original frequency. I asked BTech engineering and they say it's very easy to do by "quick" access to the tone menu. Well that "quick" access requires a minimum of 8 key strokes on the mic. Or lots of scrolling from the radio. They also said the FCC prohibits that. I believe they are wrong and just using the FCC as an excuse. This is a Memory Channel. The FCC says nothing about how memory channels can be used or which frequency can go on which memory channel. I believe the FCC only prohibits the user from selecting a frequency and using it outside the certified limits. But BTech puts this on the FCC. Solutions Option 1: They could just make it clear in their advertisement that while the 8 "modifiable" channels are modifiable, the frequency is not. I think most people reading that would think the frequency would also be modifiable (although ONLY within the repeater frequency options) but it is not. Option 2: BTech could very easily have "hard coded" channels for the first 30, like they do now. All parameters that are allowed to be changed can be, like they are now. Frequencies can't be changed. For all the rest of the channels, they could be receive only, EXCEPT for copies, of existing hard coded channels. For instance, channels 1-30 are hard coded, you can't change frequencies. It would be very easy in software, to allow COPIES of these 30, to any of the other channels, and have them modifiable, and allow transmit, WITHOUT allowing the frequency to be changed These other channels would just be pointers to the existing hard coded channels, BUT allow parameters to be modified, per the channel in question. So, if you copied CH1 to CH40, You could operate channel 40 as it was in CH1, but only be allowed to change parameters per what was allowed in CH1. This would allow 2 legally hard coded GMRS repeater frequencies, to have different channels, on the same frequency, with different tones. I doubt this would be a violation of the FCC. Where am I wrong? If I am. And if I'm right, this would add a very useful feature. Mike GM

I have both. The thing about the BTech I like is the screen layout. Dont know if that is possible on the QYT.