Hans

http://gmrsfrequencies.com/History-&-Future-of-GMRS.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/General_Mobile_Radio_Service https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio#Origins

Everywhere might be a little different. I live by two major highways. MURS and CB are what I hear most with some FRS mixed in now and again. Most FRS users I hear probably aren't truckers.

I hear them on FRS, MURS, and some on CB. It's been like that for at least a decade or two now around here? What I've noticed is FRS and MURS for general comms and CB for heavy traffic issues.

Yep, I think the name plays a significant role in the confusion for many.

With all due respect, it was completely unnecessary to even ask the FCC about this since it is spelled out in plain English in Part 95. Not only that, the answer given (as related here) wasn't completely correct. There IS something in the rules about it... "business activities."

Yeah, in all fairness, you were answering the OP's direct questions. Good luck on the test. If you ever get into DMR, maybe we'll make contact on the North America talkgroup.

Indeed. I agree.

That was the first one I intended on posting but somehow messed it up. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.335

I'm quoting myself because I have experienced another data point since my post. We had a TYT TH-8600 here that was firmware locked to 2m and 70cm only. As such, I am changing my guess and say that any future part specific units based on the TYT TH-8600 will likely be locked to their appropriate frequency range if they enter the country legally. This will likely be firmware fixed so that it will require a firmware downgrade to change it.

Many were doing that all along. I don't think that the rule changes changed much in practice. Occasionally, you could see when they forgot to (or just didn't care to/couldn't) change the radios to narrow band. I rarely heard anyone giving call signs on any FRS frequencies before and don't hear it all that much now.

There are a few china types that have gotten recent grants but the details look sketchy, as usual. IIRC, Motorola re-submitted some of their current bubble packs for certification under the changes. Did they actually change the wattage on those channels? I can't recall but I doubt it.

“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” ― Bruce Lee

I wish there was a 100 likes button for that comment, RCM. I think it was spot on; especially the last sentence.

I hope that I didn't set an adversarial tone for this thread. That was not my intention.

One of the reasons I preferred GMRS over amateur radio was that GMRS often tends to be a little more relaxed as a community. As long as someone isn't violating technical standards and baseline operating decorum, you rarely hear someone contacting the FCC. Granted, most I've spoken to would rather not let it go the way of 11 meter but they also wouldn't like to lose the comfortable, neighborly nature of GMRS. Most of those operators are also licensed amateur radio operators. A good way to kill off GMRS participation would be to add an extreme "radio police" nature to the service. As it is, growing a healthy on-air GMRS community can be difficult enough. If it turned too frosty, the airwaves would go dead silent and then perhaps be filled with only unlicensed 11 meter operator types of yesteryear. I know that if our local community got that way, I would probably either go private with our repeater or shut it down and let the license lapse. I'm not alone in that opinion here locally. When you contact the FCC, please make sure that you get the full part 95 citation for their opinion. Otherwise, it holds almost zero water.

Cool. Thanks.

Thanks for the review, berkinet. I have a couple of questions if you might be able to answer... Is the variable pitch for beeps and ID for the individual ID & beep or is it a one-for-all setting? Is the voice module something that records a voice or is it a computer generated voice? I know that I might be able to google some of this but since you have the unit and did the review, I figured I would ask.

Perhaps you could get Dan to read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" beacause he's not doing anybody any favors, especially himself, with emails like that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influence_People

Wow. No soup for you! I wonder if he realized that brands can be killed with just such an attitude; even hobby endeavors? Judging by the whole experience that you have described in this thread, I don't think he cares anyway. Thanks for the updates.

Funny enough, I vaguely remember learning that a while back. I'll probably forget it a few more times in the coming years and go on the same rant again. Eventually, it will save in my brain matter. lol

Howdy and welcome!