GMRS/HAM radios

[WSCU736]

This might be a dumb question. But can a ham UHF radio be used for GMRS only?

[nokones]

4 minutes ago, WSCU736 said:

This might be a dumb question. But can a ham UHF radio be used for GMRS only?

Radio devices transmitting on GMRS freqs must be in accordance with Part 95, Subparts A & E. More than likely, not legally.

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, WSCU736 said:

This might be a dumb question. But can a ham UHF radio be used for GMRS only?

Not according to the regulations, but from a technical standpoint yes, and many people do.

[WSCU736]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

Not according to the regulations, but from a technical standpoint yes, and many people do.

Well thank you. I was wondering if one stays below 50 watts. How could anyone tell what radio it is.

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, WSCU736 said:

Well thank you. I was wondering if one stays below 50 watts. How could anyone tell what radio it is.

People usually announce it on public forums.

[WSCU736]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

People usually announce it on public forums.

That doesnt sound to smart to me.

[Socalgmrs]

“They” can’t tell the difference at all.   It’s a matter of you wanting to stay “legal” or in accordance with the rules or not.   Many many people all over the country use ham radios for gmrs.  Many many do not and only use gmrs certified radios.  

[amaff]

A lot of folks use Ham radios. A lot use commercial / LMR UHF radios.

5 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

People usually announce it on public forums.

I often joke that "How do you know if someone's using a Motorola? Don't worry, they'll tell you."

[WRYZ926]

No one will ever know the difference unless you tell them. As stated, amateur radios are not type 95 certified so are not legal to use on GMRS. Some people want to stay compliant while others don't worry about it. That is a decision you have to make for yourself.

I can't confirm or deny that any of my radios have been modded 

[WSCU736]

Thanks all. That answered my question. wink wink

[amaff]

2 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I can't confirm or deny that any of my radios have been modded 

All of mine that can be unlocked are (well, they're ham / GMRS radios that are unlocked) because most of the cheap radios' software is really restrictive. They're unlocked so I can configure them how I want. Following all the GMRS rules (my mobile won't transmit on 8-14, for example, and runs 5W on 1-7, etc), but I can put the channels I want where I want in the radio's memory.

[WRYZ926]

Just now, amaff said:

All of mine that can be unlocked are (well, they're ham / GMRS radios that are unlocked) because most of the cheap radios' software is really restrictive. They're unlocked so I can configure them how I want. Following all the GMRS rules (my mobile won't transmit on 8-14, for example, and runs 5W on 1-7, etc), but I can put the channels I want where I want in the radio's memory.

And some 20 watt mobile radios can transmit on channels 8-14 when set to narrow band and low power without any mods being done. They still transmit above the legal 0.5 watts though. 

A suggestion for those thinking about modding an amateur radio for GMRS, I highly suggest that you make sure that it will not transmit on GMRS channels 8-14 so you don't possibly interfere with the GMRS repeater channels.

[SteveShannon]

17 minutes ago, WSCU736 said:

That doesnt sound to smart to me.

Unless you do something incredibly stupid with your radio, nobody will know and almost nobody will care, not even the FCC. 

[dosw]

1 hour ago, WSCU736 said:

Well thank you. I was wondering if one stays below 50 watts. How could anyone tell what radio it is.

50w for 15-22 and repeater inputs. 5w for 1-7, 0.5w for 8-14, plus 8-14 have to be narrowband and should only be handheld. Bandwidth misconfigurations show up in the waterfall of SA or SDR equipment. But more importantly, can cause interference with the repeater inputs.

 

Nobody can tell, if you're configured correctly.

[amaff]

10 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Unless you do something incredibly stupid with your radio, nobody will know and almost nobody will care, not even the FCC. 

Pretty much this. You've got to try pretty hard to actually get into real trouble with the FCC. And even then...

[Lscott]

2 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

People usually announce it on public forums.

At least the dumb ones do.

[UncleYoda]

Has there ever been a case of being fined, warned or whatever FCC does for using a ham radio for GMRS where POWER and BANDWIDTH were correct?

[WRXB215]

47 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

Has there ever been a case of being fined, warned or whatever FCC does for using a ham radio for GMRS where POWER and BANDWIDTH were correct?

There was one guy that received a letter from the FCC that listed four violations. The last one was for using a non-type certified radio. That is not the reason he was investigated. They showed up because he was jamming a repeater. While they were there, they noticed he did it with a non-type certified radio and just threw that in for good measure.

To my knowledge, that is the only time it has ever shown up on a letter and, like I said, that was not why they showed up at his house.

[TrikeRadio]

2 hours ago, WRXB215 said:

There was one guy that received a letter from the FCC that listed four violations. The last one was for using a non-type certified radio. That is not the reason he was investigated. They showed up because he was jamming a repeater. While they were there, they noticed he did it with a non-type certified radio and just threw that in for good measure.

That's like getting a ticket for not wearing your seat belt .... but only because you were speeding and running red lights.

[WRYS709]

There is one specific radio, the Radioddity DB20-G a/k/a Anytone AT-779UV that comes Part 95E certified that can easily “open” to use on Ham 2 meters/440 MHz and then reset to certified use on GMRS. 

[UncleYoda]

1 hour ago, WRYS709 said:

There is one specific radio, the Radioddity DB20-G

Yea I have one.  I've left it in GMRS mode so far.   Having to redo the channels each time is why I'm not eager to switch back and forth.  The other thing they could've designed better is allowing more channels to be programmed for TX.

[marcspaz]

2 hours ago, TrikeRadio said:

That's like getting a ticket for not wearing your seat belt .... but only because you were speeding and running red lights.

 

You are correct and it does happen. In some circles, its referred to as a "sentence enhancer".

[nokones]

9 hours ago, WSCU736 said:

Well thank you. I was wondering if one stays below 50 watts. How could anyone tell what radio it is.

The FCC will find out when one of your friends end up dropping a dime on you. Keep your checkbook handy.

[WRYS709]

45 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

Yea I have one.  I've left it in GMRS mode so far.   Having to redo the channels each time is why I'm not eager to switch back and forth.  The other thing they could've designed better is allowing more channels to be programmed for TX.

l create code plugs for each Mode.

When opened, all 500 channels are available for TX.  I posted somewhere here on this Forum in a GMRS thread, my codeplug for Part 95E rules when opened.

[Socalgmrs]

11 minutes ago, nokones said:

The FCC will find out when one of your friends end up dropping a dime on you. Keep your checkbook handy.

Aaaand they still won’t care.   The fcc just doesn’t care. It can’t care.   There is a repeater out in the world that interrupts every single other user on all .700 stations both 462 and 467.  And all tones  both analog and digital. This person transmits all kinds of stuff tel telemundo to radio stations to old westerns to some very nasty content.   This repeater (person) has over 300 individual complaints to the fcc.  The people affected by this repeater/person have 100s of hours of recordings, many many people have independently fox hunted this person down and used a kraken.  The affected people have contacted local state and federal law enforcement, fcc, and congressman.  Guess what.  The fcc still has done nothing for over 12 months.   
 

I highly doubt they will go after some one using a uv5r and not a uv5g.