wrci350

This. Amazon is NOT the place to buy ham radio gear. Actually, some of the ham radio stores sell on Amazon too, but the prices are higher.

The FT-65 is a SOC, not superheterodyne. That's not necessarily terrible; with the proper filtering a SOC radio can be a good performer. On the other hand, I have a couple superhet radios I am very unimpressed with.

I love my FT-2980. Built like a tank, great audio, never gets hot, etc. There is one repeater that's 60+ miles away from me that I am able to use with no issues. As has been said many times here, "power is not everything" and going from 50 watts to 80 watts gives you *maybe* 25% more range ... but it doesn't hurt, either. I just wish there was a 70cm version of the same radio. As far as the FTM-6000, I too have no personal experience with it, but I do see that HRO has it on sale for $40 off until 11/27. (Chances are some of the other retailers will also have it for the same price. Funny how that works!)

Didn't realize we were talking about particular radios; I thought it was about Part 90 radios in general. I've seen lots of people recommend certain Kenwood or Icom (Part 90) radios since they were Part 95 type accepted pre-2017. Can't recall any similar recommendations for Motorola radios. My understanding of "grandfathering" is that they would be OK on GMRS even with other frequencies in them since they were type accepted under the old rules. I think the only way a Part 90 radio could get Part 95 E type acceptance today is if it was not capable of transmitting on amateur radio frequencies, and the vendor would have to submit for 95 E acceptance too.

I'm not following you. Perhaps I misinterpreted you, but you seem to be saying that *any* Part 90 radio is automatically OK to use for GMRS. The way I read the rules, a Part 90 radio *can* be OK to use on GMRS ... but only if it has also been certified under Part 95 E. That's not automatic, and most current Part 90 radios do not have Part 95 certification. What am I missing?

I think *that* is a myth. If it's not, I have yet to see where in Part 95 E that it says it's automatically OK to use a Part 90 radio on GMRS. What it does say is that a radio must be certified under Part 95 E to be "legal" on GMRS. It also says that a radio can be certified under "another part" (like 90) AND Part 95 E, but it specifically forbids a radio from being certified under 95 E if it can also be used on amateur radio frequencies. So "opened up" ham radio transceivers are explicitly NOT OK to use on GMRS (per FCC regulations). As far as LMR radios? Pretty sure that there are some older models that were certified under Part 90 and pre-2017 Part 95 and those are grandfathered and still OK on GMRS. If there are newer models that also have Part 95 certification I haven't met them.

Or "Handie Talkie". A portable handheld radio; what many call a "walkie talkie".

Nope. The wording of the rule has been changed.

Yes, that was the point I was trying to make. I don't think they changed the rules. I think they *clarified* that rule.

Go read the blog entry and decide for yourself. Note this change to 95 E, which is referenced in the letter posted on that blog: § 95.1749 GMRS network connection. Operation of a GMRS station with a telephone connection is prohibited, as in § 95.349. GMRS repeater, base and fixed stations, however, may be connected to the public switched network or other networks for the sole purpose of operation by remote control pursuant to § 95.1745. Note that it says "may be connected to ... other networks for the sole purpose of operation by remote control ..." Remote control means things like turning the repeater on or off, changing the power level or tones, etc. My interpretation of that is, "You can hook your repeater up to the Internet, but only for remote control". In other words, not to link it to other repeaters for voice traffic.

Correct. The squelch tail is *after* the transmission through the repeater stops. That's why you can key up a repeater and then hear the tail after you unkey.

That sounds very much like desense. Your transmitted signal is overloading the frontend on the other HT and it cannot "hear" the repeater. Get someone to take the second HT outside to the end of the driveway and see if that works better.

Many of the authorized dealers have them in stock again and you can get them at the list price, not what some scalper on Amazon is charging. But if you can do it with an Arduino, go for it!

[best Emily Litella voice]Oh! Well that's DIFFERENT!

All of the GMRS frequencies (except for the repeater inputs) are shared with FRS, where business use is permitted. Family Radio Service (FRS). A short-distance two-way voice communication service, with limited data applications, between low power hand-held radios, for facilitating individual, family, group, recreational and business activities. Actually, business use of GMRS is also allowed, but unless the business has a grandfathered license, every user needs their own individual license. The operator of a GMRS station may use that station for two-way plain language voice communications with other GMRS stations and with FRS units concerning personal or business activities. Landscapers and construction crews use FRS quite often and that's not "illegal" at all.

You forgot the "best" part ... they all came pre-programmed with a bunch of test frequencies, many of which were in the public safety bands. Did that hours ago.

Sorry Randy. Since I'm your FAVORITE VIEWER, I'll stop.

Oh, I've read it carefully, many times. Part C does NOT say what you claim that it says. It just says that a radio can be type-accepted for GMRS and another service (but not Part 97). Part 90 isn't even mentioned in that paragraph. Instead, how about you read sub section "a" again instead: Each GMRS transmitter (a transmitter that operates or is intended to operate in the GMRS) must be certified in accordance with this subpart and part 2 of this chapter. In other words, for a radio to be "legal" on GMRS it MUST BE CERTIFIED under Part 95 E. Not under Part 90, or 80, or 15, or 97 ... Part 95.

It's not a matter of "who is smarter". I'll use my favorite saying again. There are the GMRS rules. There are what people THINK the GMRS rules are. And then there are what people thinkg the GMRS rules SHOULD BE.

Is that not where this topic is?

Show me the paragraph in the *current* GMRS rules (Part 95 E) where it says that. Oh wait, you won't be able to do so, because there IS no paragraph where it says that. What it DOES say is that you can have a radio certified for Part 95 E and "another section" as long as it cannot transmit on Part 97 (amateur radio) frequencies. But the manufacturer still needs to submit for Part 95 E certification in order for the radio to be legal on GMRS. Nowhere does it say that Part 90 radios are automatically OK to use on GMRS.

I'm sure they all have Part 95 type-acceptance too, yes?

Don't have that particular radio and the RT Systems software for it, but I have their software for a number of other radios and you can certainly do that. Just save the codeplug (programming) to a file and send it to someone else. The only thing you might want to watch out for is that the other person might have the settings on their radio different than what you have, so you might have to adjust.

Go read Part 95 and then come back and show us where it says that. Hint: it does not. Yes, the manufacturer submitted that model of radio for certification some time in the past. In order to be legal to use on GMRS, the radio in your hand has to be in the same configuration as the one submitted for certification. If it's not, then it is no longer certified, and does not meet the FCC requirements for the GMRS service.

That's not an accurate statement. The FCC rules state that only a radio that is type-accepted for Part 95 E can be used on GMRS frequencies. Nowhere does it say, "but it's OK for you to use your ham radio that's been 'opened up' (either by hardward modification or via software) as long as you have a GMRS license too".