WELCOME TO THE UTAH GMRS RADIO GROUP
GMRS - Welcome and Information
The General Mobile Radio Service(GMRS)
GMRS is a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz.
The most common use of GMRS channels is for short-distance, two-way voice
communications using hand-held radios, mobile radios, base radios, and repeater systems.
The Utah GMRS Group
The UTAH GMRS GROUP is consists or a bunch of radio hobbyists and "average" humans,
that have created this group for a place to communicate and share our interestes in our hobbies and intrests.
GMRS been a fun and useful hobby, that we are excited to share.
We are sure you will like it here and enjoy the people, technology, and conversations.
PLEASE JOIN IN! Everyone is welcome.
We have conversations on all kinds of random topics such as GMRS Radio, HAM Radio, Food,
Family, Entertainment, Technology, News, Weather, Sports, Current Events, Movies, News, etc.
You can also visit our Facebook Group Northern Utah GMRS Information
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1346238659256445
GMRS INFORMATION
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A VALID GMRS LICENSE ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
See the FCC rules and regulations for details and requirements. Your license must be up to date, with the current information of the
registered license holder. You must also be legally allowed to use the FCC license, as the registered license holder, or a member of the registered license
holder's family. While using our network and radios, you must abide by any and all applicable FCC rules and regulations. You are required to read, and be aware of,
all of the rules and regulations related to GMRS Radio as outlined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for GMRS Radio operation
even if you are not required to have a license (see the bottom of this page for a link to FCC Rules and Regulations). As the GMRS user,
you are responsible for the legal operation of your transmissions, on all of the equipment that you are transmitting on.
If you have questions about the legality of any of the equipment on the GMRS network that is not yours, contact the individual equipment owners for information,
and refer to the FCC rules and regulations.
TO GET A GMRS LICENSE:
1- Apply for your "FCC Registration Number" (FRN).
2- Login with your FRN and Password to apply for your "ZA - General Mobile Radio Service" (GMRS) License.
Click here for an instruction video on how to apply for your GMRS License.
YOUR FCC IDENTIFICATION
According to FCC rules and regulations:
§95.1751 GMRS station identification.
Each GMRS station must be identified by transmission of its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of transmissions and at periodic intervals during transmissions.
A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification.
(a) The GMRS station call sign must be transmitted:
(1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and,
(2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes.
YOUR BEHAVIOR
There are many people, in many areas of the United States, share GMRS channels. There may be opinions, topics, people and discussions that you may not agree with or like. Please be respectful. Below are some rules and guidelines for using GMRS Channels.
- IMPORTANT: Allow at least three seconds of silence between the time someone stops talking and the time that you begin to talk.
Even though it seems clear to talk, the repeaters need time to rest and there also needs to be time to make sure the channel is still clear to talk on.
We also share the channel, and people need to time to jump in. Some repeaters also require time to cool. This will also help with double key-ups.
Just think, "one, two, three" before you press the push-to-talk button.
- Communicate! This channel is for "2-way" radio, meaning "Talking and Listening". Please join in.
- If people are talking, try not interrupt or change the subject. If you want to join the conversation, you can, just be respectful.
- Share the channel. If someone wants to talk, let them. Don't hog the channel.
- If you are using tones to access a repeater, keep in mind that others may be using the channel that are not accessing the repeater. Monitor or watch your busy light to make sure you are interupting anyone else, especially others not on the repeater.
- Keep conversations and transmissions short to allow others to use the channel.
- Don't speak bad out anyone on the channel, about our group, about our equipment, about our ideas, or about our group
- Try not to take offense. To avoid conflict, sometimes it's just better to "bite you tongue" and let it go. The actual intention to hurt someone, is rarely the case. We don't want anyone contributing to drama.
- Refrain from offending others. Think before you speak.
- Respond maturely, don't react emotionally.
- Be polite and respectful.
- Retain a sense of humor. We want to have fun here.
- Refrain from acting impulsively.
- Resist the urge to defend yourself.
- Remember, it's not all about you.
- Be aware of other people's feelings.
- Do not be confrontational.
- Avoid topics that might be offensive, controversial, inappropriate.
- Do not discuss radio modifications that could cause you, or anyone else, to operate two-way radio equipment illegally.
- Operate your GMRS equipment legally as described in the FCC Rules and Regulations.
- Do not key up your radio, without saying anything (aka."Ke-Chunking"). This can be very annoying to others, especially when there is a repeater on the channel. It is against the FCC rules and regulations, to transmit without transmitting your FCC call sign. See the above section YOUR FCC IDENTIFICATION Part 95.1751 A, (a), (1). Reminder: FCC violations carry a $10,000 fine, a year in prison, or both. If you want to test, say that you want to test, say your call sign, and then test.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - REPEATERS
What is a repeater?
A repeater is electronic equipment that receives a signal and retransmits it. Since GMRS is line of site, repeaters are used to extend transmissions by using larger, higher mounted larger antennas, duplexing, and combined radios, so that the signal can cover longer distances to be received on the other side of obstructions, such as buildings trees, hills, etc.
Click here for more information
How do I find repeaters in my area?
One way is to listen to the frequencies in your area, or talk to see if a repeater responds. There are also websites, such as http://www.mygmrs.com. If the repeater owner lists their information on a website like this, you should be able to find it. Keep in mind, that some of the information websites like these, are not always listed, maintained or update by the repeater owners and may not be accurate. Others in our group may know of active repeaters that you can access. Some repeaters and networks are private and may, or may not allow you access. Always ask permission from the repeater owner to make sure it is okay for you to use it.
Local GMRS repeaters:
CH 15 - Pleasant View 462.550 + DCS 114
CH 16 - Bountiful 462.575 + PL 141.3
CH 17 - Mount Ogden 462.600 + DCS 114
CH 18 - Powder MT 462.625 + PL 103.5
CH 18 - Shepard Peak 462.625 + PL 141.3
CH 20 - State Capital 462.675 + PL 141.3
CH 21 - Promontory 462.700 + DCS 114
Weekly Nets !!!!
Sunday - Mt. Ogden repeater 9 pm
Tuesday - Promontory repeater 9 pm
Wednesday - Capital repeater 8 pm
Saturday - Capital repeater 8 pm
Can I build my own repeater?
Yes. Your biggest concern is getting a high tower or building to set up equipment and antennas, that are tamper proof, high enough and stable, with limited access to authorized people to work on troubles and upgrades. Far too many radio operators think the installation and operation of a repeaters is "just a purchase of equipment" -- It is NOT. If you are not technical then you will have to $pay$ someone to set it up properly (to be usable). Even many that are technical still consult with professionals. There are many things that you never have considered or thought of, that you will be faced with when building a repeater. To setup a repeater properly, you probably need to understand antennas, how to handle lightening and wind, towers, locations, grounding, guy wires, cement anchors or base, radios, duplexer systems, duplexer tuning, controllers, amplifiers, Radio to Amplifier balance, simplex, duplex, hard line, carrier access, tone squelch, CTSS and PL Tones power loss, tuning, fail over, batteries and power backup, limitations, safety, and even the legal aspects related to all of it. There is also the different quality levels of the equipment, and balance between which components handle the load your users put on repeater. You also need to understand the impacts and ramifications related to the operation of a repeater. There are many adjustments, including hang-time, drop off, cooling, offset, interfaces and frequencies. Ultimately, even if you know what you are getting into, it will commonly cost more than you expect or may not function as expected.
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What equipment can I use on GMRS?
UHF Mobile Radios, UHF Hand Held Radios, and Repeaters that support GMRS frequencies, that meet the following requirements. 2-Way Radio Equipment must meet Part 95 specifications and certifications. Consult the radio manufacturer and FCC for detailed clarifications for use on GMRS bands. FCC Certification Requirement for Radio Equipment
What are the GMRS, codes, channels, bandwidth, and stuff?
Below is a chart. The Family Radio Service (FRS) is for unlicensed use. Typical the "bubble Pack" radios you can buy in retail stores. The frequencies, power and narrow bandwidth for FRS are in the orange box in the table. With General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), which requires a license, you can run wide bandwidth, higher power (except for channels 08-14), and you can use repeater input frequencies for channels (15-22).
See also Wikipedia, and FCC Rules and Regulations
Where does GMRS fit in the bands and frequencies, compared to other things?
There is a lot more to the spectrum than this, but this covers 30Mhz to 941Mhz and you can see GMRS in the 462 and 467 area.
This should help you visualize the frequency in relation to common broadcast frequencies arees, allocated by the FCC. I added GMRS in BLACK.
How can my family use my GMRS license?
You can assign your family members (see FCC rules) a unit number such as unit 1, unit 2, etc. Example, if your license was WXYZ123 and your brother wanted to use your call sign, he would use a call sign, with a unit designator that YOU provide him. The call sign for a family memeber would be something like "WXYZ123 Unit 2" or "WXYZ123 Unit A". Make sure that anyone using your license abides by the FCC Rules and Regulations as well as the NWI GMRS Rules and information provided in this document. Your license covers You, Your Spouse, children, grandchildren, step-children, parents, grandparents, step-parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
FCC RULES AND REGULATIONS
§95.313 Penalties for violations of the Communications Act or FCC rules.
Operators of Personal Radio Service stations may be assessed penalties for violations of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules.
(a) If a Federal court finds that a Personal Radio Service station operator has willfully and knowingly violated any provision of the Communications Act, that operator may be fined up to $10,000 or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year, or both. Upon a subsequent violation, the imprisonment may be for a period not exceeding two years. See §501 of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 501).
(b) If a Federal court finds that a Personal Radio Service station operator has willfully and knowingly violated any FCC rule, the operator may be fined up to $500 for each violation, or in the case of a continuing violation, $500 for each day that the violation continued. See section 502 of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 502).
(c) If the FCC finds that a Personal Radio Service station operator has willfully or repeatedly violated one or more sections of the Communications Act or of the FCC Rules, that operator may be liable for forfeiture. See §1.80 of this chapter for details about the forfeiture procedures and amounts.
(d) If the FCC finds that a Personal Radio Service station operator is using a Personal Radio Service station in a way that violates one or more sections of the Communications Act or of the FCC Rules, the FCC may order the operator to cease and desist (i.e., immediately stop operating the station). See §312(b) of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 312(b)).
The following rules and regulations from the Federal Communication Commission, apply to the type of service that we are using "ZA - General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)".
-------------------- KNOW THE RULES!!! --------------------
- Title 47 "Telecommunications"
- Chapter 1 "Federal Communications Commission"
- Subchapter D "Safety and Special Radio Services"
- Part 95 "Personal Radio Service"
- Subpart A (sections §95.100 - §95.393) "General Rules for the Personal Radio Services"
- Subpart E (sections §95.1701 - §95-1791) "General Mobile Radio Service"
Here are some GMRS related websites:
Northern Utah GMRS Information https://www.facebook.com/groups/1346238659256445 Our Facebook Group
My GMRS Web page http://planet3lcom/wqvj601 My GMRS Web Page WQVJ601
myGMRS https://mygmrs.com Locate GMRS Users and Repeaters
Ham Files https://hamfiles.co.uk Radio programming software repository
USA GMRS Association http://www.usagmrs.com GMRS Radio Resource and Information
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FILE DIRECTORY Click here to access the Download Directory of Files and Documents
This page was created by Paul Evans - Taylorsville/Salt Lake, Utah (WQVJ601)