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Disclaimer: I do not condone transmitting illegally. This is a technical discussion question intended to bring better understanding to if/why radio compliance and FCC certification matters. While looking for a new GMRS HT, I noticed a pattern of manufacturers creating what appears to be two models of the same radio but with different capabilities. For example, the Wouxun KG-Q10G and KG-Q10H appear to be the same exact radio, with the exception that the G model is locked down to only transmitting on the GMRS frequencies (and cut a few HAM features), whereas the H model is (presumably) not locked down in such a way. The same thing could be said about the infamous Baofeng UV-5R versus the UV-5G. I recently also got a little interest in MURS and thought it would be neat to have a radio that could transmit on both GMRS and MURS frequencies. Bundle that with a few business radio frequencies that I’m licensed to use, and now I’m searching for a radio that can transmit on all of the above (although I don’t believe one exists legally as explained below). It would be nice to have one radio that could do it all instead of having to carry 3 separate radios, one for each application. Now let’s talk about the FCC rules. After reviewing many convoluted forum posts about part-95 acceptance and reading the rules themselves, I came to the conclusion that such multi-band radios exist but could not transmit legally – mostly HAM radios. This is because part 95 specifies that any compliant radio can only transmit on part 95 frequencies. (Yes, I know there are legacy part 90/95 compliant radios plus multiple revisions of the part 95 rules, but let’s just ignore those for now.) My real question boils down to this: blatantly ignoring the fact that there is some (il)legality involved in transmitting on a radio that is noncompliant with part 95… Are there any reasons someone wouldn’t just go out and buy the non-GMRS version of a radio and program it to “masquerade” as a GMRS radio? What’s wrong with programming a HAM radio for 462.6125 MHz, setting the bandwidth to 20kHz, limiting the power to 5W, and pulling the PTT trigger? I’m sure we all know someone who’s used a UV-5R or other non-compliant HT to talk GMRS/FRS/MURS/etc. Why shouldn’t (or should) someone go out and buy a Wouxun KG-Q10H or Baofeng UV-5R instead of their GMRS counterparts and use it in a non-compliant fashion as their all-in-one HT? I’m looking for more of a nuts-and-bolts explanation of frequencies, bandwidths, transmit power, etc. and less of an explanation of the part 95 rules – it has already been well established that transmitting on GMRS frequencies with an unapproved radio is illegal. Again: I do not condone transmitting illegally. This is a technical discussion question intended to bring better understanding to if/why radio compliance and FCC certification matters.

Good morning all..... I have a few questions about the Kenwood TK-880 and the TK-863 First off is the TK-880 part 95 complaint? is the TK-863 part 95 complaint? 2nd is I have a TK-863G and I programmed it myself, however it stays in scan mode all the time.... even if the scan button (icon) is not pressed. also the scan add/delete when pressed adds or deletes all channels with one press.... My TK-880 don't scan unless you press the scan button and the (SCN) icon appears, further more the scan add/delete button places a scan icon beside the channel you add/ delete from the list......... Why is my TK-863G acting so stupid????? any help would be great....

"Petitions for reconsideration" are due within 30 days of the rules being published in the Federal Register. The publication is expected for late June, maybe July.