The Greater Post Whore Society - Volume 6: Wash Your Hands On The Way Out

https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/how-to-gmrs-za-fcc-license.5412/

 

Evening.

 

ok. Did a bit of searching. Looks like in Canada at least there is no requirements for licensing for GMRS with less than 5 w of power. Now the majority of the time I won’t be wheeling too much with the Silverado. Thanks to your suggestions. I now have some reading to do when I go into quarantine when i get home.

 

Where did you order from? Midland says they're doing a Black Friday sale next week.

Like others said, GMRS requires an FCC license that's $70 for 10 years (as of now, may come down in price soon) and covers your entire immediate family, even those that don't live with you. And their definition of "immediate" is much broader than you'd think. https://www.fcc.gov/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

GMRS and FRS both share many of the same channels/frequencies, and can talk to each other. GMRS is basically "high-powered" FRS, and can use repeaters to cover a wider area. FRS is less than 2 watts and has other restrictions such as handheld devices not having removable antennas. There's also no requirements or restrictions on how to use it, like for example GMRS you're supposed to announce your call sign every 15 minutes if constantly using the channel.

Our last trip, the handheld you were using is technically FRS because power output is about a half a watt, but when we're all close like that half a watt is more than enough power. Realistically you can probably get close to a mile in terrain like we were, and when you stopped to help those bikers presumably you tested that range a bit.

With the MXT275 if properly installed, we should've been able to easily talk from the top of Flagpole Knob down to Switzer Lake where we started. There are repeaters throughout our area (https://mygmrs.com/map/#/) and (https://mygmrs.com/browse), and from my house with my handheld and from my truck I can hit four repeaters - Alexandria, Warrenton, Sterling, and one we haven't found the actual location of yet. @Pro-4K and @xterraography both live about 10 miles away from me as the crow flies, and I can't communicate directly radio-to-radio due to terrain, but I can talk to both of them on repeaters.

Warrenton is up on the side of a ridge, and claims that you could hit it in the right conditions:

 

I'm on line and don't know what Radio service to put down on license . there's only about 900000 to chose from . Any help/idea's ? what am I missing ?? thanx

 

ZA - General Mobile Radio Service

 

Main! I want sum gmrs...

 

Thank You TerryD !! I read right past it on the overland page

I don't think I'll ever get a ham lic . That was a P.I.T.A. . I could probably order some full auto AK's from Istanbul and have less paperwork But I'm now LEGAL..........

 

What?! I didn't think there was much to it besides learning, testing, fees and then talking.. no?

 

Remember Antenna will make the radio!!. Crappy antenna, crappy range..
GMRS in the last few years has grown, with Better radio's and Folks setting up GMRS Repeater towers. FCC license, for Family.

Forgot to add.. FCC.. Requires. Funds. and you get a license number of some sorts.. $70.00 for 10 years.

Vs Ham $15.00 for 10 years. and More Flex and range. But it requires testing, and fresh Credit card for more fancy toys.

 

Yes..... ALL THE MONEY for Ham toys.....

 

Always preferred my "HAM" honey baked or Smithfield [ original Smithfield ] Lol !!

 

After doing more reading. GMRS is not as viable option In Canada as it is down in the states.

first off we are maxed out a 2 Watts power 2dn is the antenna. In Canada we may not put an external antenna on the radios. It is also impossible to find one that can be vehicle mounted for that reason. Other then picking up a pair of GMRS “Walkie-Talkies from the local Walmart or Canadian tire.

 

As I was speed reading through the article and the licensing process it did mention something about operating it within 2 mile's of the Canadian border !!

 

work almost done for the day

 

My rear hatch quit working.. it acted strange the last couple times I've opened it by not seeming to unlock all the way. It came open about an inch and I had to lock and unlock it to get it to open all the way. Now it doesn't do anything when I pull the handle..

Time to pull it open and investigate. I guess I'll look into the "inside opener" mod while I'm at it.

Edit: the key won't turn in it either

 

That sucks man. I haven't seen much about this so no idea what to tell you.

 

Hey Jeff , I have a antenna tab on the rear bumper would that work with this antenna or would I need different hardware ? thanx E. c .

 

Probably would not work since the gmrs antennas are much shorter than cb antennas. The one I have is 32". Wouldn't be much above the roofline.

 

Don't get caught up on antenna length. A longer antenna is usually not better.

This Tram is all you need, mounted high on the rear gate with a NMO lip mount.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IDTJ2VS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_vjrTFbDE9QYS1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RBNVVZZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_nmrTFb91ZPBZZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I run the Tram dual band version since I need 2m Ham but I've run this setup for years with only occasional disassembly of the mount to clean out corrosion.

Longer antennas than 1/4 wave are higher gain and usually involve some kind of matching circuit. That makes them narrow banded, reduces your takeoff angle and in some cases puts HUGE nulls in your radiation pattern all for their ability to sell you a "high gain" antenna.

On paper it might have higher gain but it might just be at 60* takeoff angle and everyone you're trying to reach is at 25* or less so all your signal goes over them.

A standard 1/4w antenna will have pretty much an omnidirectional radiation pattern and in my experience, prove the most useful in all situations.

Mounting your antenna high on the vehicle with a good sturdy mount and grounded to the body properly do more for your setup than buying a longer antenna with high gain figures.

 

Well landed in Canada this morning at a temp of -7C. ufck it’s cold here. The temp in Kuwait when I left was 24c

 

Welcome home!

 

Welcome back home

 

Glad ya made it..
QUARANTINE BEERS!

 

More quarantine scotch and whiskey

 

I have no idea what anything you said means. Here's the specs on my antenna. Good or nah?

 

Welcome back, eh?

 

Looks good. GMRS is mostly around 462.5.

 

I wouldn't run it but that's not saying it's a bad antenna.

You're 33" with a the majority of your signal focused from the ground to 28° up from the ground and all that for less than 3dB of gain over a 1/4w.

If you were on a mountain top talking to another mountain top, you would be heard slightly better than I would at the extreme end of our limits of reach vs the $10 6" long 1/4w I posted earlier.

I'm not bashing your antenna by any means. Larid makes quality stuff, but they sell a lot of antenna based on numbers that most folks don't understand and assume that "bigger is better".

 

Welcome home , Thank you for your service for our brother's to the north

Almost forgot ; Good Evening !! [ Insert new time zone joke here ]

 

Hey Terry , thanx for the info ! Did you mount this on the top of the hatch or on the side at the very top ?

 

Mine is on the side at near the top but remember I'm running a longer antenna because of the 2m Ham.

 

More quarantine scotch and whiskey

 

Well the wife just gave me the green light to buy a new tonneau cover, headache rack, hidden winch plate and winch for the Silverado. Probably going to place the order for the headache rack, winch cradle and winch closer to when I get out of quarantine

 

SWEET!

 

AND WELL DESERVED !!

 

Must be back in the Real side of the world.. haha
a good scotch will cure most things.. Whiskey the rest.. With Organic Ice. ;-)

 

How ya feelin' today, eh?

 

Well only had 2 drinks last night and went to bed at 8 pm. Had a good buzz going but this am I am feeling great. Been on a shopping spree ordering stuff for the Silverado

 

A couple drinks and ordering parts is always a good pass time