Do repeaters have to be part 95 accepted

[Elkhunter521]

I believe that all transmitters require part95 acceptance. Does any mfg sell them?

[PastorGary]

The vast majority of GMRS Repeaters are Part 90 Type Certified.  The technical standards in that regard are almost identical between Part 90 and Part 95 and we know of no instances where a station inspection netted a citation from the Commission for a licensed GMRS operator using a PROPERLY OPERATING Part 90 system in Part 95 service. If ANYONE has DOCUMENTATION of such a citation, please add to this thread with that data.

The Rules that were recently modified "seem" to address this partially -  Section 95.1761 Sub C, "No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with a frequency capability not listed in §95.1763, unless such transmitter is also certified for use in another radio service for which the frequency is authorized and for which certification is also required. No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. All frequency determining circuitry (including crystals) and programming controls in each GMRS transmitter must be internal to the transmitter and must not be accessible from the exterior of the transmitter operating panel or from the exterior of the transmitter enclosure."

Also, refer to Section 95.335 - especially Sub A, "Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no person shall operate a transmitter in any Personal Radio Service unless it is a certified transmitter; that is, a transmitter of a type which has obtained a grant of equipment certification for that service, pursuant to part 2, subpart J of this chapter. Use of a transmitter that is not FCC-certified voids the user's authority to operate that station. See sections 302(a), (b ), and (e) of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 302(a), (b ), and (e)).

(a) Exceptions. Under certain exceptions, non-certified Personal Radio Service transmitters, or transmitters certified for use in the land mobile radio services may be operated. Any such exceptions applicable to stations in a Personal Radio Service are set forth in the subpart governing that specific service. See e.g., §§95.735 and 95.1735."

 

Disclaimer: The Staff at MyGMRS is supplying this data as information only and assumes no liability for it's use by individuals. It is the responsibility of each licensed user to know and follow the most recent Rules covering the radio service that they are licensed for.

[berkinet]

Ok... No argument with your interpretation. However, note the word repeater is never mentioned. Rather, they use the word transmitter. So, would that, by extension, allow any Part 90 compliant transmitter to be used in Part 95 service? Like as a base or fixed station? And, aren’t handhelds also transmitters?

 

BTW, Inalso found this in the FCC’s response to comments on the (at the time) proposed GMRS rules changes:

 

Several commenters are concerned that the proposal to prohibit combination radios would prevent GMRS licensees from using surplus Part 90 equipment in GMRS. See, e.g., Comments of Jerry Scott Parham at 3. This is not our intent. We will continue to certify equipment that meets the respective technical standards for Part 90 (land mobile) and Part 95 (GMRS) in both services, if requested. However, we are amending the language in new section 95.1761© to clarify the requirement in old section 95.655(a) that Part 95 GMRS radios will not be certified if they are equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service.

[Elkhunter521]

Ok, repeaters are transmitters. Transmitters must be part 95 accepted.

 

Does any manufacturer sell one that is certified?

[berkinet]

https://www.google.fr/search?q=GMRS+part+95+certified+“repeater”

[n4gix]

No, they don't need to be Part 95 necessarily. Read the "exceptions" cited above.

[Logan5]

Ok, repeaters are transmitters. Transmitters must be part 95 accepted.

 

Does any manufacturer sell one that is certified?

Yes Bridgecom and Riton are two I am aware of. but I think there are a few others as well.

[WRAC429]

Ok, I'm still confused. Does this mean that old part 90 radios are automatically certified for part 95 transmission? or does the manufacturer have to request, and be granted certification in both 90 and 95.  Can we ask the FCC what they mean?  "Hey, FCC, can I use my part 90 certified business class radio to legally transmit on all FRS/GMRS frequencies under my GMRS license?  If yes, what grants me the authority to do so?"  I have searched extensively and can find no FCC rules that expressly permit Part 90 radios to transmit on Part 95 FRS/GMRS freqs.  Did no one address this during the Part 95 NPRM discussion?  If so, what were the FCC's findings?  I have found very few Part 95 repeater capable mobile units and even fewer handhelds and would like to know that using readily available Part 90 radios is in compliance with the code.

[WRAF213]

Part 90 and 95 equipment require different type acceptances, and the requirements (if strictly adhered to) make them mutually exlusive. Since Part 90 has more stringent emission regulations than 95, it is generally accepted that using Part 90 equipment as Part 95 equipment is fine so long as all other Part 95 rules are followed to the fullest of the Part 90 radio's capabilities (such as transmit power and deviation). I suspect the FCC considered formalizing this under 95.1735 (see 95.335) but ultimately did not. Since the rule does not exists, the FCC will say no if you ask them to use a Part 90 radio on GMRS. Regardless, such a radio would never be allowed on FRS due to antenna restrictions intended to increase channel capacity by limiting range -- the FCC exercises control over these restrictions with Part 95 type acceptance.

[PastorGary]

If anyone has verifiable official documentation that ANY GMRS licensee has ever been given an FCC citation for using a Part 90 Type Certified "transmitter" in Part 95 service, please add that documentation to this thread.  

[JLeikhim]

The vast majority of GMRS Repeaters are Part 90 Type Certified.  The technical standards in that regard are almost identical between Part 90 and Part 95 and we know of no instances where a station inspection netted a citation from the Commission for a licensed GMRS operator using a PROPERLY OPERATING Part 90 system in Part 95 service. If ANYONE has DOCUMENTATION of such a citation, please add to this thread with that data.

 

The Rules that were recently modified "seem" to address this partially -  Section 95.1761 Sub C, "No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with a frequency capability not listed in §95.1763, unless such transmitter is also certified for use in another radio service for which the frequency is authorized and for which certification is also required. No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. All frequency determining circuitry (including crystals) and programming controls in each GMRS transmitter must be internal to the transmitter and must not be accessible from the exterior of the transmitter operating panel or from the exterior of the transmitter enclosure."

 

Also, refer to Section 95.335 - especially Sub A, "Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no person shall operate a transmitter in any Personal Radio Service unless it is a certified transmitter; that is, a transmitter of a type which has obtained a grant of equipment certification for that service, pursuant to part 2, subpart J of this chapter. Use of a transmitter that is not FCC-certified voids the user's authority to operate that station. See sections 302(a), (b ), and (e) of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 302(a), (b ), and (e)).

(a) Exceptions. Under certain exceptions, non-certified Personal Radio Service transmitters, or transmitters certified for use in the land mobile radio services may be operated. Any such exceptions applicable to stations in a Personal Radio Service are set forth in the subpart governing that specific service. See e.g., §§95.735 and 95.1735."

 

Disclaimer: The Staff at MyGMRS is supplying this data as information only and assumes no liability for it's use by individuals. It is the responsibility of each licensed user to know and follow the most recent Rules covering the radio service that they are licensed for.

 

Interesting! See e.g., §§95.735 and 95.1735." Those sections are actually reserved. Could it be the FCC contemplates allowance for Part 90 equipment? This has been raised during the NPRM. To be honest, to be fully compliant with certification and to have a proper 50 watt 16K03FE or 20K0F3E emission as intended, requires one to choose from a small number of obsolete products. Some of them quite good, like Motorola Systems Sabers or Kenwood TK-8302H . I am actually building a repeater that will be 99% compliant. The PA is the 1 % problem.

[JLeikhim]

If anyone has verifiable official documentation that ANY GMRS licensee has ever been given an FCC citation for using a Part 90 Type Certified "transmitter" in Part 95 service, please add that documentation to this thread.  

 

I have searched the FCC NAL listings going back many years and I have never seen an NAL for either type certification or for linking via any means. Honestly, the only NAL's I found were for corporate businesses blatantly using GMRS or that Bundy guy in California who happens to be a GMRS licensee jamming Part 90 users. GMRS has a pretty good record with the FCC.

[JLeikhim]

Ok, I'm still confused. Does this mean that old part 90 radios are automatically certified for part 95 transmission? or does the manufacturer have to request, and be granted certification in both 90 and 95.  Can we ask the FCC what they mean?  "Hey, FCC, can I use my part 90 certified business class radio to legally transmit on all FRS/GMRS frequencies under my GMRS license?  If yes, what grants me the authority to do so?"  I have searched extensively and can find no FCC rules that expressly permit Part 90 radios to transmit on Part 95 FRS/GMRS freqs.  Did no one address this during the Part 95 NPRM discussion?  If so, what were the FCC's findings?  I have found very few Part 95 repeater capable mobile units and even fewer handhelds and would like to know that using readily available Part 90 radios is in compliance with the code.

This is an interesting question. There may be some overlap where the rules permitted part 90 radios and the age of some older equipment. Hopefully your license is likewise that old.

[Radioguy7268]

 

BTW, I also found this in the FCC’s response to comments on the (at the time) proposed GMRS rules changes:

 

Several commenters are concerned that the proposal to prohibit combination radios would prevent GMRS licensees from using surplus Part 90 equipment in GMRS. See, e.g., Comments of Jerry Scott Parham at 3. This is not our intent. We will continue to certify equipment that meets the respective technical standards for Part 90 (land mobile) and Part 95 (GMRS) in both services, if requested. However, we are amending the language in new section 95.1761© to clarify the requirement in old section 95.655(a) that Part 95 GMRS radios will not be certified if they are equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service.

That's about as close to a smoking gun as you're going to get from the FCC. They are aware that people are using surplus Part 90 equipment - and they don't intend to anything to stop that use.

 

As others have mentioned, there's never been a single enforcement action by the FCC against anyone for using Part 90 equipment in Part 95.  If you've been around the block with the FCC a few times, you begin to realize that many of the rules have been written after the fact.

[WRTS781]

I believe the kenwood TKR-830 was part 95 according to repeaterbuilder.com, however the tkr-830 is a full duplex radio meant for a trunking system; takes some hacking to make it a stand alone repeater.

[LeoG]

Btech RPT50

[nokones]

LMR Services certified transmitters do not have to be certified for Part 95 services in order to be legally used on Part 95 freqs. Part 95.335(a) allows the use of LMR transmitters on Part 95 services providing that the user operates that LMR transmitter in accordance with the Part 95 rules and regs insofar as freq tolerance, power output, bandwidth, etc.

The use of my Motorola radios on GMRS freqs is totally legal if I do not exceed the power and frequency limitations described in Part 95, subpart E, and they don't need to be Part 95 certified.

[Lscott]

On 7/5/2025 at 6:08 PM, nokones said:

LMR Services certified transmitters do not have to be certified for Part 95 services in order to be legally used on Part 95 freqs. Part 95.335(a) allows the use of LMR transmitters on Part 95 services providing that the user operates that LMR transmitter in accordance with the Part 95 rules and regs insofar as freq tolerance, power output, bandwidth, etc.

The use of my Motorola radios on GMRS freqs is totally legal if I do not exceed the power and frequency limitations described in Part 95, subpart E, and they don't need to be Part 95 certified.

As the rules are written they imply any radio transmitter that is certified for another service can be used on Part 95, GMRS, so long as the frequency, bandwidth and power requirements are met at a minimum.

This is the problem with using Ham radios with the MARS/CAP mod's. Your typical Ham radio only has a Part 15 certification, which is mainly to ensure it can't be used to monitor cell phone frequencies. This would also preclude using a couple of Ham only mobiles to build a do-it-yourself GMRS repeater.

That seems to be one of the advantages of using Part 90 radios. There are a LOT of quality used LMR, Part 90, radios to be had for reasonable prices. There are a few currently manufactured radios that work too.

The link below points to one of my UHF radios. It will operate on FM/DMR or FM/NXDN depending on the firmware loaded. I have radios setup for both digital modes. As noted the radios I tend to get cover the 400 to 470 MHz band spread since this includes the armature band from 420 to 450 MHz. One point Hams forget is we are secondary users on the 70cm band, the government is primary, so it shouldn't be a surprise the radio has Part 90 certification over the range. 

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new

The attached FCC grant shows the radio is certified for Part 90 from 406.1 to 470 MHz, so it meets the requirements, and I'm assuming legal under the rules for use on GMRS, just can't use the digital feature there, until the FCC gets off it's arse and makes some changes first.

Oh, for those wondering what's up with the weird lower band spread frequency, 406.1 MHz, should read this.

https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emergency-406-beacons/

I would avoid operating anywhere near this frequency. Some of my other commercial radios have a builtin GPS and can transmit position info. Not sure if it's compatible with the PLB radios.

FCC NX-1300 Grant-4.pdf

[OffRoaderX]

There are a LOT of words in this thread but I would like to point out that the FCC has never..not once, not ever, gone after anyone for simply using a non Part 95 certified repeater on GMRS...

Never....

[nokones]

It is my understanding that there never been a certified Part 95 repeater available until the Retevis, Midland, and BTech came out within the last year or so.

[WRYZ926]

4 minutes ago, nokones said:

It is my understanding that there never been a certified Part 95 repeater available until the Retevis, Midland, and BTech came out within the last year or so.

That has been my understanding also. Most just use a Part 90 certified repeater.

You can find used Motorola Quantar UHF repeaters cheaper than what Bridgecom and B-Tech want for their GMRS repeaters. And the Quantar is way better. If one goes with the Quantar 125, they just need to make sure to turn the power level down so that the 50 watt max is not exceeded.

[OffRoaderX]

13 minutes ago, nokones said:

It is my understanding that there never been a certified Part 95 repeater available until the Retevis, Midland, and BTech came out within the last year or so.

This is correct - although Retevis has had one for 3 or 4 years, but before that, there were none - Yet with thousands of non part 95 approved repeaters out there, nobody is in jail.

[WRUE951]

37 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

There are a LOT of words in this thread but I would like to point out that the FCC has never..not once, not ever, gone after anyone for simply using a non Part 95 certified repeater on GMRS...

Never....

they never will..     I can tell you, every single one of my HAM buddies with GMRS repeaters,  all use Kenwood's, Motorola's, Harris, Hytera radios..  (non-part 95)  If the FCC ever decided to enforce this rule, it would be impossible for them to detect them.  Outside of putting their eyes on them..   And that would never happenn

[WRYZ926]

I'll have to look at our Bridgecom repeater next time I am at the repeater site. I doubt it is Part 95 certified as it is the exact same repeater that Bridgecom sells for the amateur 70cm band. The only difference is how they program them before shipping.

There is a person near me that owns several GMRS repeaters along with several 2m and 70cm repeaters. He uses Motorola Quantar repeaters for all of them.

[WRTC928]

2 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

There are a LOT of words in this thread but I would like to point out that the FCC has never..not once, not ever, gone after anyone for simply using a non Part 95 certified repeater on GMRS...

Never....

And why would they? They have their hands more than full trying to rein in people who are creating genuine problems. I don't know if it's ever happened, but I could imagine it being added onto the list of charges if they had to hunt someone down for being a troublemaker. As I always say, be polite and things will probably be fine...but be capable of "action" in case someone doesn't respond to politeness.  

[OffRoaderX]

34 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

And why would they?

The point is, "some people" are out there, right now, spreading lies and misinformation on the online forums, videos, etc, claiming that the FCC will actively go after you, track your location, fine, you, or even jail you for using a radio/repeater on GMRS that is not Part 95E approved.

We must stop the lies.