Personal Radio Services include Ground Mobile Radio
Service (GMRS), Family Radio Service (FRS), Multi-Use Radio
Service (MURS), Citizens Band (CB), Radio Control (R/C),
Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), Low Power Radio Service
(LPRS), Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS), Medical
Implant Communications Service (MICS), and Interactive Video
& Data Service (IVDS).
Family Radio Service (FRS)
FRS radios are the very inexpensive UHF
radios that are found almost everywhere in the United
States. They are limited to a half-watt of transmitter
power. One of the hallmarks of an FRS radio is that
they have an antenna that is not removeable. These do
not require radio licensing. Beware of companies that
offer "Extended Range" FRS radios. This is just a
sales gimmick conjured up by a marketing person to help sell
radios. Despite the name, they still are limited to
only 0.5 watts, and they will not perform much better than
the older units. [
Read Brochure
]
Ground Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
A popular upgrade from the FRS radios are
the GMRS or GMRS/FRS radios. The main difference
between these and the FRS radios is that they have a
removeable antenna, can transmit at higher power between 5
and 50 watts, depending on how they are used), and require
an FCC license. They have a wider range of UHF
frequencies, some of which are also shared with the
Business/Industrial frequency pool. GMRS radios may
communicate with FRS radios, as long as the 1/2-watt power
limit is not exceeded. These may also be set up with a
repeater or mobile relay station. GMRS systems may not
be connected to the telephone network. A GMRS license
is good for five years, may be renewed every five years, and
is not transferable to other individuals or companies.
Some of the GMRS frequencies were part of the old 'color
dot' system. Included in the GMRS pool are the White
Dot and Black Dot frequencies.
Many radio dealers are promoting GMRS
radios to customers without telling them about the licensing
requirement. Supposedly, the GMRS radio is a cheap
'unlicensed' alternative to genuine business radio systems.
All GMRS radios require licensing.
FCC rules even state that the GMRS user must
identify either by voice or by Morse code the Call Sign of
their license upon cessation of transmission. GMRS
licenses may only be held by individuals, and only their
immediate family may operate under that license.
Enterprise users may not
operate under a GMRS license, and will need to obtain their
own Business or Public Safety license. [
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Brochure ]
To obtain a GMRS license,
contact us to get started.
Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)
This is a VHF band, and is somewhere
between FRS and GMRS as far as power and eligilbility.
Originally, the MURS frequencies were part of the Business
frequency pool. The 154.xxxx frequencies were a
holdover from the early days of radio when people would
identify frequencies by colored dots that they put on the
radios. 154.5700 was the old Blue Dot, and 154.6000
was the Green Dot. MURS is unlicensed, and is limited
to 2 watts. MURS radios may be used by individuals and
businesses alike. MURS radios have restrictions of
bandwidth depending on which frequency you use. Due to
its unlicensed nature, it is popular with business, but due
to the interference problems, is not well suited to
enterprise users that require better radio service than
individual users. [
Read
Brochure ]
If you find that any of these bands are
not suited for your use, then you should consider a
Business/Industrial or
Public Safety
license.
Citizens' Band (CB)
CB consists of 40 channels ranging from
26.965 to 27.405 MHz. Use of CB is on a shared basis,
with a power limit of 4 watts on the carrier and 12 watts
sideband. CB radios may be used in the United States
and its territories, as well as Canada as long as it
conforms to Canadian power limits. Many enterprise
users use CB radios for their work, but due to the heavy
use, short range, and interference problems they find that
CB is not suitable for business use. The sale and use
of any CB radio that has not received FCC certification
(type licensing) is illegal and grounds for a heavy fine.
Use of a linear amplifier with a CB radio will void its
type-license and also makes the user liable for a hefty
fine. Many CB users do not think that the FCC rules
apply to them. This is far from the truth, and the FCC
regularly levies fines against vendors selling equipment
without the FCC identification number,, as well as radio
users that hog the airwaves or that use large amplifiers.
CB users need to adhere to the same rules as the other radio
bands.
Radio Control Service (RC)
RC service is for the remote control and
operation of a device. These bands may only be used
for non-voice transmissions, and are unlicensed. There
is no age or citizenship requirement for use fo this band.
There are 80 channels available between 72.0 to 73.0 MHz for
use with model aircraft. There are 30 channels between
75.4 and 76.0 MHz for use with model water craft.
There are also the frequencies 26.995, 27.045, 27.095,
27.145, 27.195, and 27.255 MHz that are available for any
kind of device. All of these frequencies are secondary
to any other FM television transmissions, and you must stop
transmission if interference is caused.
Wireless Medical Telemetry Service
(WMTS)
WMTS service is designed to allow
remote monitoring of patients' vital signs by medical
personnel. Only an authorized medical provider may
operate WMTS devices within a medical facility; home and
ambulance use is not allowed at this time. Frequencies
fall into three different bands: 608-614 MHz (also
used in radio astronomy), and 1395-1400 MHz and 1427-1432
MHz (both formerly Federal bands reallocated for this
service in 1993, also shared on a primary basis with utility
telemetry operations). WMTS devices must not cause
undue RF emissions exposure. This service is
unlicensed; however, operators of WMTS equipment need to be
authorized by a frequency coordinator. RLS can provide
this service.
To become an authorized WMTS
operator, contact us to get started.
Medical Implant Communication
Service (MICS)
MICS service is designed for use with
medical devices such as heart pacemakers. This is an
unlicensed band, for ultra-low power outputs. Devices
must be used only by authorized medical personnel. The
frequencies range from 402-405 MHz and were chosen due to
their propagation characteristics in the human body.
MICS transmitters are limited to 25 milliwatts and 300 kHz
of bandwidth; other limitations apply. MICS devices
must not cause interference with meterological radio
services, and must show that they do not cause a hazard to
humans due to RF emissions.
Low Power Radio Service (LPRS)
LPRS allows short-distance one-way
communication to provide auditory assistance to persons with
disabilities, those that require language translation,
educators, law providers, health care providers,
law-enforcement tracking systems (such as locators for
sexual predators or flight risks, and point-to-point network
communications with Automated Marine Telecommunications
Systems (AMTS) coastal stations. Antennae are limited
to 100 feet AGL unless the antenna is mounted inside a
building. There is no license required unless
communication is with the AMTS system. In that case,
the operator must hold an AMTS license. There are 260
channels available on a shared basis for voice, data, or
tracking; ranging from 216.0125 to 216.9975 MHz.
Operators are not to cause interference with television
Channel 13 or the US Navy SPASUR radar system (216.88-217.08
MHz). Thirteen frequencies are available exclusively
for law-enforcement operations.
To become an authorized AMTS
operator, contact us to get started.
218-219 MHz Service
Formerly known as the Interactive Video
and Data Service (IVDS), this band is used for
short-distance communication service designed for licensees
to transmit information, product, and service offerings to
subscribers and receive interactive responses within a
specified service area. Mobile operation is permitted. Rules
permit both common carrier and private operations, as well
as one- and two-way communications. Potential applications
include ordering goods or services offered by television
services, viewer polling, remote meter reading, vending
inventory control, and cable television theft deterrence.
This spectrum does require a license. There are 734
licenses covering different areas of the United States.
These are auctioned licenses, and cost a lot of money.
There are two channels per license: 218.0-218.5 MHz is
Channel A, and 218.5-219.0 is Channel B. This band is
not well-suited for video distribution.
Hikers, Offroaders, Packers
People that spend a lot of time exploring
in the undeveloped parts of the United States have two radio
services available to them.
One item of interest is the
Personal Locator Beacon or PLB. PLB service is a 406 MHz radio beacon that
is used by hikers, mountaineers, and orienteers to help
search and rescue (SAR) units locate a person that is lost
or injured. A PLB, when activated, transmits a unique
signal to the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system that can be
identified with you and traced in an emergency. This
signal is an internationally-recognized signal, and is
monitored in the United States by NOAA and the Air Force.
These devices should be mandatory on any excursion into
roadless areas like the Bob Marshall Wilderness, or any
mountainclimbing trip where avalanches or crevasse falls are
possible. Use of a PLB does not require an FCC radio license, but it
does require a mandatory registration with NOAA.
The other more common item are handheld
GPS devices. There has been an explosion of
development of products for the hiker and offroad
enthusiast. Whether you are hiking the Pacific Crest
Trail, or driving the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route,
these units can mean the difference between a wrong turn and
a good day. Companies like Garmin, Tom Tom, and
Magellan all offer similar units, and models such as the
Garmin Rino double as portable radios both for communication
and to transmit waypoint information. These come
preprogrammed with FRS frequencies, which means they are
limited to 1/2 watt. However, they can be unlocked by
the manufacturer to transmit at higher power over longer
distances, but only if you can provide proof that you have a
GMRS license.
RLS can register your PLB and
license your GPS and get you ready to take on the outdoors
in safety.
Contact us to get started.
