johnpa 588 Posted January 23 Just asking if future ORP runs are going to require a GMRS radio with external antenna to participate? Are Ham radios no longer a useable form of communication? Thanks 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 2,941 Posted January 23 a ham radio and license can still be an asset. however, most folks aren't willing to invest the time into studying-for and then taking the test to get that license. GMRS radios are common, inexpensive, don't require a test for the license, yet have comparable clarity to most 2m ham communications - so they've pretty much replaced CB in all but a few clubs. so yes, we're slowly moving to GMRS capable radios as a "standard" for the club. an external antenna would not be required, but is beneficial when the group gets really spread out 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bradywgn71 564 Posted January 23 My handheld ham runs both ham and gmrs channels. Not sure of your ham radio also could pickup the gmrs frequencies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 2,941 Posted January 23 1 minute ago, Bradywgn71 said: My handheld ham runs both ham and gmrs channels. Not sure of your ham radio also could pickup the gmrs frequencies. yes, that's a win for cheap chinese/korean radios like Baofeng. all the big brand ham units (Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, etc.) will not do GMRS frequencies without being modified. for some it's a hardware mod, others can be setup for GMRS just by programming though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trail Toy 1,051 Posted January 23 (edited) 3 hours ago, theksmith said: yes, that's a win for cheap chinese/korean radios like Baofeng. all the big brand ham units (Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, etc.) will not do GMRS frequencies without being modified. for some it's a hardware mod, others can be setup for GMRS just by programming though. I've seen new Baofengs with frequency restrictions so the cheap ones are being built like that now. Last month a member brought his new Baofeng and wasn't able to broadcast on 462.700 (channel 21 on GMRS), he could only listen. Later on he messaged me and let me know he learned it had restrictions built in, initially I though he got a bad radio. Edited January 23 by Trail Toy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shellback91 1,239 Posted January 23 At some point I'd like to mount a GMRS antenna up front in the hood area for my handheld Wouxun. I just need to noodle through running the cable etc. and of course the finances. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WILL E 261 Posted January 23 It took me a while to learn that my Kenwood would only receive FRS frequencies. I have not tried GMRS (non-shared) transmitting on it. I believe technically GMRS requires a license to transmit. It appears that most of the runs use the frequency 462.700. This frequency (462.700) is a 'shared' frequency for both GMRS and FRS radios for simplex operation and a GMRS repeater 'output' for repeater operation. Our runs use simplex operation. The big differences is FRS does not require a license but they are technically limited to 1/2 watts of operation. GMRS can transmit up to 50 watts. A lot of handhelds will broadcast on this frequency using 2 watts of power (other will auto limit to 1/2 watt). This technically puts them in the GMRS category but realistically 2 watts is a low enough power that your transmissions are not going to get very far. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
