FRS Only Radios?

[SteveH]

Now that the new Part 95 rules are in place and combined FRS/GMRS radios will be phased out over the next 2 years, has anyone heard about any plans to provide dedicated FRS radios? Presumably these would have up to 2 watts on channels 1-7 and 15-22; 1/2 watt on 8-14.

[n4gix]

It's still way too early for anyone to make any announcements about new products. It will probably take until around this time next year.

[SteveH]

I'll bet it comes sooner rather than later. The rules were approved this past May but have been gestating since 2010. The Midland GXT1000 has a high power of about 3 watts, low at just under 1/2 watt and at mid power (per Midland), 2 watts. Seems like a FRS radio could be made with a firmware change and some testing. I'd have to think that the manufacturers have had a few product designs in their back pockets.

 

I did find a listing of current FRS/GMRS radios that would be non-compliant with the new rules. See https://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2017/09/which_frs_gmrs_radios_are_license_free.aspx

 

The only FRS/GMRS radios I have are a pair of GXT740s. That model is a bit over 1/10 watt for FRS and a bit over 1 watt for GMRS.

[SteveC7010]

I did find a listing of current FRS/GMRS radios that would be non-compliant with the new rules. See https://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2017/09/which_frs_gmrs_radios_are_license_free.aspx

 

Interesting. The radios on that list are either too powerful or repeater capable, but there's not a one that is both.

 

I'd also point out that they say: "The simple act of purchasing the radios gives you a license to use them on all 22 channels." which we all know is not quite how it works. Following the rules for the radio service is what grants and maintains the license, not the purchase of the radios.

[n4gix]

I think that it's ridiculous to specify "hundredths of a watt" as in "3.07W (high power)"...

[SteveH]

SteveC7010 - yes, poorly worded but maybe easy to understand for the average consumer.

 

N4GIX - As for the digits after the decimal point, I guess that's how the testing companies get the big bucks. I'm sure radio to radio variations make that meaningless.

 

I've been looking at some FCC test results for a few different radios. For example, my Midland GXT740 is 1.202 watts for the shared channels and a miserable 0.150 watts for FRS only. The Cobra CXT645 (now discontinued) is 2 watts and 1/2 watt (no useless digits!) Gee, that fits the new rules. The Uniden SX377 is 1.59 and 0.45 watts but there's a boost for the shared channels to 2.5 watts according to the manual. (FCC report doesn't seem to mention this.) The Uniden GMR 5095/5088/5098) is 1.92 and 0.44 watts. As with the previous radio, the report doesn't mention the boost feature.

[n4gix]

Truthfully, any fractional wattage is irrelevant in terms of performance. Only truly anal retentive types are micro-focused on such trivia.

[PastorGary]

Just a mention from the new Part 95 Rules:
 

95.1791   Sales of GMRS/FRS combination radios prohibited.

(a) Effective September 30, 2019, no person shall be permitted to manufacture or import, sell or offer for sale any radio equipment capable of operating under both this subpart (GMRS) and subpart B (FRS) of this chapter.
 

and

 

§95.591   Sales of FRS combination radios prohibited.

Effective September 30, 2019, no person shall sell or offer for sale hand-held portable radio equipment capable of operating under this subpart (FRS) and under any other licensed or licensed-by-rule radio services in this chapter (devices may be authorized under this subpart with part 15 unlicensed equipment authorizations).