Power changes on FRS freqs

[mac66]

Been using FRS radios for decades and only recently learned that the newer FRS radios are rated at 1/2 watt AND now 2 watts.  I also just recently became aware that channels 1-7 can be used at 2 watts, 8-14 are limited to 1/2 watt and 15-22 can also use 2 watts.

So the question is... on these newer FRS radios, does the transmit power automatically change depending on the channels you're on?  In other words if on channels 1-7 and 15-22 the radio is automatically on 2 watts, if on 8-12 it automatically switches to  1/2 watt?

[WRXR255]

If they are type certified they will have all that baked in automatically.

[Adamdaj]

On 6/29/2024 at 3:59 PM, mac66 said:

Been using FRS radios for decades and only recently learned that the newer FRS radios are rated at 1/2 watt AND now 2 watts.  I also just recently became aware that channels 1-7 can be used at 2 watts, 8-14 are limited to 1/2 watt and 15-22 can also use 2 watts.

So the question is... on these newer FRS radios, does the transmit power automatically change depending on the channels you're on?  In other words if on channels 1-7 and 15-22 the radio is automatically on 2 watts, if on 8-12 it automatically switches to  1/2 watt?

According to what I see, the FCC has only increased the transmit power on FRS channels 1 through 7. FRS channels 8 through 14 remains at the 1/2-watt level. Of course, some folks gone to tell that I'm wrong. My math skills may not be great, but from what I do remember, the FCC has set the power limit at a 1/2 watt = 500 milliwatts.

[TrikeRadio]

Yes, certified FRS radios all automatically use the proper legal transmit power for the various channels. GMRS radios that also use these channels also are obey those rules for power output on those channels that they share with FRS (athough the power output levels differ somewhat to the rules for FRS.

[ADVBikerRadioGirl]

I posted an answer yesterday and it showed that it was pending approval. I came back today and my comment is gone. There’s no indication that it is still pending approval or that it was deleted. I didn’t get any message in my inbox telling me that the comment was inappropriate. Which I don’t believe it was because it was related to the topic, and it was a very simple and direct answer. I am going to post it again, maybe it was a system clinch. 

I found the answer in the Midland website. In which they talk about FRS radios and the changes to the frequencies and power output. Here it is:

“November 16, 2020

FRS radios will now have 22 channels:

These expanded capabilities now include usage of channels 8 – 14, and previously GMRS only channels 15 – 22, in addition to the existing FRS channels 1 – 7. It is important to note that each FRS transmitter type must be designed such that the effective radiated power (ERP) on channels 8 - 14 does not exceed 0.5 Watts and the ERP on channels 1 - 7 and 15 - 22 does not exceed 2.0 Watts. Part95 - eCFR”

 

 

[WRYS709]

For what its worth: the Pofung BF-T11s that I previously purchased from Amazon, had programming software that worked with my Baofeng-style K1 USB cable (FTDI chip) that allows me to make changes including the transmit frequency to allow repeater use.

[WRXB215]

3 hours ago, ADVBikerRadioGirl said:

I posted an answer yesterday and it showed that it was pending approval.

That's strange, I've never seen that before. Perhaps @rdunajewski was testing a new feature?