Baofeng AR-5RM and GMRS

[HHD1]

Is it against FCC Rules to transmit on GMRS channels using the Baofeng AR-5RM?

And if so, why?

[WRTC928]

As far as I can determine, in the history of the FCC, nobody has ever been cited solely for transmitting on a radio which was not type-accepted for that frequency. Of course, if you were being an ass and causing problems, they'd probably throw that charge in as well "just because". That said, the power and bandwidth restrictions exist largely to keep someone on that frequency from interfering with other users. If you decide to use the 5RM on GMRS, please be a decent human and set the bandwidth (wide/narrow) and power to the "legal" GMRS limits. The 5RM won't go below about 2-3 watts, so you should probably block transmission on channels 8-14, which are restricted to 0.5 watt. You can program them in and then set duplex to "off", then if there's some urgent need to use one of them, you can turn duplex back on fairly quickly from the keyboard on the front.

[HHD1]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

SocalGMRS has a long history of scolding newly joined people about reading the rules.  Although it is a good idea to become familiar with the rules, I don’t think it’s effective to answer a first (or even 21st) question by scolding.  Eventually you may decide there are some people here who should be ignored (me included) and the forum software allows you to place them (me included) onto an ignore list.  Not only that by you can ignore specific aspects of another user without ignoring them completely.

It was a good first question.  I hope you stick around and ask many more.

Thank you.  I appreciate that. 

I have seen many people in the radio realm like that.  It kept me from getting my license for a long time. But I'm kinda proud that I did now.  It just came through last Saturday. I know it didn't require a knowledge test to get but, I feel a bit more legit now.

Thanks for being cool.  And don't worry, it takes more than a keyboard warrior to scare me.  I do run a YouTube channel...   LOL

[SteveShannon]

24 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

Is it against FCC Rules to transmit on GMRS channels using the Baofeng AR-5RM?

And if so, why?

It’s against the rules to transmit on GMRS frequencies using a radio that hasn’t been certified for GMRS.  But unless you’re doing far worse things nobody will probably ever know or care and the FCC will not cite you.

[HHD1]

14 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

It’s against the rules to transmit on GMRS frequencies using a radio that hasn’t been certified for GMRS.  But unless you’re doing far worse things nobody will provably ever know or care and the FCC will not cite you.

Thanks.  I kind of figured that.  I was just curious if it had to do with transmission power on some of the frequencies.  Or maybe it's because the radio can transmit on other frequencies.  I wonder what makes the radio "certified" for GMRS.

 

Aside from that, my AR-5RM sounds better than any of my other HT's. 

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

Thanks.  I kind of figured that.  I was just curious if it had to do with transmission power on some of the frequencies.  Or maybe it's because the radio can transmit on other frequencies.  I wonder what makes the radio "certified" for GMRS.

 

Aside from that, my AR-5RM sounds better than any of my other HT's. 

The characteristics tested for are listed in the regulations, but a lot of it has to do with transmitting at the right power, no more than the correct bandwidth for the channels you’re on, and repression of harmonics (signals that poorly designed radios transmit on frequencies other than where they’re supposed to transmit).  
 

Here’s the GMRS specific language:

95.1761 GMRS transmitter certification.

(a) Each GMRS transmitter (a transmitter that operates or is intended to operate in the GMRS) must be certified in accordance with this subpart and part 2 of this chapter.

(b) A grant of equipment certification for the GMRS will not be issued for any GMRS transmitter type that fails to comply with the applicable rules in this subpart.

(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.

(d) Effective December 27, 2017, the Commission will no longer issue a grant of equipment authorization for hand-held portable unit transmitter types under both this subpart (GMRS) and subpart B of this part (FRS).

(e) Effective December 27, 2017, the Commission will no longer issue a grant of equipment authorization under this subpart (GMRS) for hand-held portable units if such units meet the requirements to be certified under subpart B of this part (FRS).

[OffRoaderX]

18 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

The fcc can hold you accountable since you signed that you read and understood the rules when you paid your money.   

"can".. but, based on their enforcement history over the last 15 years, they won't.

[HHD1]

20 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

I suggest you read what you already told the fcc you read when you signed up for your gmrs call sign.   This is gmrs 101.  You really have to read the rules you agreed to.  The fcc can hold you accountable since you signed that you read and understood the rules when you paid your money.   
 

a certified gmrs radio fallows all the rules and can not transmit out side of those rules.  That’s what makes it certified.  Again gmrs 101.  Again I highly suggest you read the rules.   
 

I agree no one will know or care. 

Thank you for your suggestion.  I did read the rules, however, not everything I read gets committed to my long-term memory.  Also, I was hoping that this topic would make an interesting first thread for me, since I am new to this forum. 

[WRHS218]

1 minute ago, HHD1 said:

I was hoping that this topic would make an interesting first thread for me, since I am new to this forum. 

Welcome to the asylum. Now ask about linking repeaters...

[HHD1]

2 minutes ago, WRHS218 said:

Welcome to the asylum. Now ask about linking repeaters...

LOL, thank you.  Glad to be here.

[SteveShannon]

11 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

Thank you for your suggestion.  I did read the rules, however, not everything I read gets committed to my long-term memory.  Also, I was hoping that this topic would make an interesting first thread for me, since I am new to this forum. 

SocalGMRS has a long history of scolding newly joined people about reading the rules.  Although it is a good idea to become familiar with the rules, I don’t think it’s effective to answer a first (or even 21st) question by scolding.  Eventually you may decide there are some people here who should be ignored (me included) and the forum software allows you to place them (me included) onto an ignore list.  Not only that but you can ignore specific aspects of another user without ignoring them completely.

It was a good first question.  I hope you stick around and ask many more.

[HHD1]

18 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

As far as I can determine, in the history of the FCC, nobody has ever been cited solely for transmitting on a radio which was not type-accepted for that frequency. Of course, if you were being an ass and causing problems, they'd probably throw that charge in as well "just because". That said, the power and bandwidth restrictions exist largely to keep someone on that frequency from interfering with other users. If you decide to use the 5RM on GMRS, please be a decent human and set the bandwidth (wide/narrow) and power to the "legal" GMRS limits. The 5RM won't go below about 2-3 watts, so you should probably block transmission on channels 8-14, which are restricted to 0.5 watt. You can program them in and then set duplex to "off", then if there's some urgent need to use one of them, you can turn duplex back on fairly quickly from the keyboard on the front.

Thanks. That's good advice.  

[Socalgmrs]

I suggest you read what you already told the fcc you read when you signed up for your gmrs call sign.   This is gmrs 101.  You really have to read the rules you agreed to.  The fcc can hold you accountable since you signed that you read and understood the rules when you paid your money.   
 

a certified gmrs radio fallows all the rules and can not transmit out side of those rules.  That’s what makes it certified.  Again gmrs 101.  Again I highly suggest you read the rules.   
 

I agree no one will know or care.