Hans
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Posts posted by Hans
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Thanks for info! I'm on the interstate about 7-8 hours a week, and I scan GMRS, FRS, and MURS but have never heard anyone who was a trucker. I really don't hear much of anything except kids on FRS.
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.
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When did truckers quit using CB's? What are they using now?
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.
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I talked to Tracy Simmons at the FCC Gettysburg and he stated there is nothing in the rules about commercial users on FRS while using them for flagging operations.
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."
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.503
(Emphasis added by me.)
§ 95.503 Definitions, FRS.
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.
FRS unit. A transceiver for use in the FRS.
- Elkhunter521 and berkinet
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Today, Beekeeper's question E.
Per HamStudy, I've reached 66% proficiency. In another week, I should be able to sit for my licensing exam.
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.
- Elkhunter521 and berkinet
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Rugged Radios is a complete rip off. I would never buy anything from them, the radios they sell are rebranded CCRs with a ridiculous markup.
Indeed. I agree.
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That was the first one I intended on posting but somehow messed it up.
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https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.361
§ 95.361 Transmitter Certification.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the subpart governing that service or in other parts of this chapter, each transmitter that operates or is intended to operate in a service of the Personal Radio Service must be certified in accordance with the governing subpart and part 2 of this Chapter.
(b ) A copy of the instruction manual specified in § 95.393 must be forwarded to the FCC with each request for certification of the relevant transmitter. If a final copy of that manual is not available when the certification application is submitted, the applicant may include with its application a draft or preliminary copy provided it forwards a final copy to the FCC when such a copy becomes available.
(c ) Equipment certification will not be issued for transmitter types where any control, switch or other type of adjustment - which, when manipulated, can result in a violation of the rules - is accessible to the user.
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https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.337
§ 95.337 Operation of impermissibly modified equipment prohibited.
No person shall modify any Personal Radio Service transmitter in a way that changes or affects the technical functioning of that transmitter such that operation of the modified transmitter results in a violation of the rules in this part. This includes any modification to provide for additional transmit frequencies, increased modulation level, a different form of modulation, or increased transmitter output power (either mean power or peak envelope power or both). Any such modification voids the certified status of the modified transmitter and renders it unauthorized for use in the Personal Radio Services. Also, no person shall operate any Personal Radio Service transmitter that has been so modified.
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https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.319
§ 95.319 Malfunctioning transmitting equipment.
If the operator of a Personal Radio Services station becomes aware that the transmitting equipment is no longer functioning properly, he or she must stop making transmissions (except for emergency communications) using the malfunctioning transmitting equipment until it has been adjusted and/or repaired, as necessary, to restore proper operation.
(a)FCC request to discontinue operation. If an FCC representative informs a Personal Radio Services station operator that the technical characteristics of his or her transmitted signals are not in compliance with the applicable rules (e.g., regarding power, unwanted emissions, frequency accuracy), he or she must immediately stop making transmissions with the transmitter producing the non-compliant signals.
(b)Internal repairs. Internal adjustments and repairs to Personal Radio Services transmitters must be performed by or under the supervision of an individual who is qualified to maintain and repair transmitters.
(c )Test transmissions. The operator of any Personal Radio Services station may make brief test transmissions to verify the functional status of the transmitting equipment at any time, provided that such transmissions do not cause interference to the communications of other stations. A qualified individual maintaining or repairing a Personal Radio station transmitter in accordance with paragraph (b ) of this section may make test transmissions as necessary to maintain or repair the transmitter, provided that such transmissions do not cause interference to communications of other stations.
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I can't verify until I have one in my paws but my guess is that it will be possible to program it up; VHF included.
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.
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Now I'm not saying anyone but the diehards like us here will think of this and jump on the chance to ambiguously use GMRS radios at 5 watts under the guise of FRS just to get full power, but you never know.
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.
- RCM and Elkhunter521
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BTW - is anyone making the new radios with 2w on FRS yet? I haven't really checked myself.
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.
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“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
- Elkhunter521, JLeikhim and RCM
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I wish there was a 100 likes button for that comment, RCM. I think it was spot on; especially the last sentence.
- Jones, Elkhunter521 and RCM
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I hope that I didn't set an adversarial tone for this thread. That was not my intention.
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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.
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Cool. Thanks.
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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.
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I give Dan two thumbs up and will continue to support him and his products.
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
- Elkhunter521 and RCM
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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.
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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
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Howdy and welcome!
GMRS History
in General Discussion
Posted
http://gmrsfrequencies.com/History-&-Future-of-GMRS.html