Family Radio Service
&
General Mobile Radio

Frequency Assignments

(Some of this info may be out dated, please verify for yourself)

* Channels or channel pairs (one 462 MHz frequency and one 467 MHz frequency) are available to GMRS systems only on a shared basis and will not be assigned for the exclusive use of any licensee. All station operators and GMRS system licensees must cooperate in the selection and use of channels to reduce interference and to make the most effective use of the facilities.
It is NOT an emergency-only channel. All licensees on 462.675/467.675 must yield to emergency radio traffic. (There is NO guarantee there will be a local repeater that you can actually use or that if one exists you will be able to access it.) What this channel is used for, and quite effectively, is Public Service Communication by REACT teams. Organized groups of licensees make their radio systems and mobile equipment available to public safety agencies in times of disaster.

Unless you know you have access to a repeater on this frequency pair, do not expect this channel to be of any practical use in emergencies. Low power simplex portables on 462.675 will not attract anyone's attention. Persons using repeaters on this frequency do not listen for simplex communication and the likelihood of you finding a CTCSS code in a hurry to access a repeater you have never used before is very remote. Consider another radio service or better yet a cellular phone if you need personal emergency communication. Note also that GMRS repeaters may not have a phone patch facility as is common in the Amateur Radio Service. When you use GMRS for an emergency you must relay the information to another operator that has access to a telephone, providing someone actually answers your call. All stations should listen with squelch disabled before transmitting or activating a repeater. Some licensees use simplex communication on repeater output channels. Be courteous to other stations.

+Simplex operation on repeater inputs is not permitted. Also note that GMRS is a base to mobile and mobile to base communications service. Base stations of the same or different licensees may not communicate with each other. You must have the written permission of a repeater owner before you can use a repeater for other than emergency calling.

How do you gain access to a radio repeater? You either have to know someone willing to add you to their system or you have to install your own. The latter can be quite expensive. Two ways to make contact with potential repeater owners are 1) contact radio shops near you to see if they are aware of any local repeaters 2) buy a Repeater Guide and write owners of repeaters in your area. No repeater owner is obligated to make his repeater available to you.

GMRS Interstitial Frequencies

Interstitial frequencies are available for simplex use by all GMRS licensees. Operation on these channels is restricted to GMRS Small Base Stations and GMRS mobile units operating with five watts or less of effective radiated power. GMRS shares these channels with the hand-held radios of the Family Radio Service.

Radios for the Family Radio Service:

• are limited to one-half watt of effective radiated power.
• cannot have removable antennas nor can the antenna that came with the radio be replaced or modified with any type of antenna other than the type it was designed to use.
• cannot connect to external antennas to increase the range of operation.
• must be type accepted for use in the FRS.

GMRS licensees can establish a Small Base Station (five watts ERP or less) on shared Interstitial channels with an antenna that is less than 20 feet above the structure the antenna is mounted upon. GMRS equipment can communicate at considerably greater distances than FRS. Establishing a small base station for use in your immediate neighborhood can be an excellent alternative to sharing a busy GMRS channel used by repeaters.

Because no license is required for the Family Radio Service, some have declared the FRS frequencies the "free band." FRS users should remember that the band is in fact shared with stations that are licensed to operate on these frequencies. FCC restrictions on the type of equipment that can be used in the FRS are essential to minimizing interference.

There has been some interest on which channel might be considered a "travel channel." Since range of half watt radios is very limited the concept ONLY makes sense if you're within half a mile of the same vehicle going the same direction OR you are lost within a mile or so of an FRS station willing to help. Given those conditions it is probably best to try channel 1. I suggest you try saying something like, "travelers aid" anyone listening. Remember that FRS was NOT designed to provide emergency assistance. DO NOT expect to attract help in an emergency calling on any FRS channel.

(*)Many users of the Family Radio Service use channel one for general calling and move off to channels 2 through 14 for conversations. Informally, some users have also talked about this channel as one where you are most likely to meet another traveler. What that means to a very low power radio service is uncertain. You should not expect to buy these radios for personal travel assistance. A cellular phone is a better alternative. These radios are ideal for short distance communication to coordinate family events. Remember also that the first seven are shared with the General Mobile Radio Service.

Last Updated Saturday, April 02, 2005

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