Its amazing how many radios come "Unlocked" for GMRS or its so easy to change. I just got a KG-UV9XP and I expanded the TX to include GMRS with Chirp and didn't even know I was doing it. Same now for the KG-UV8H.
Please don't get me started on UV-5R and other cheap, Chinese made radios that threaten to undermine the viability of the "majors" (ICOM, Yaesu, Kenwood, Motorola, Midland, etc.) staying in the low cost, entry-level market. These (typically Chinese) manufacturers flood the market with cheaply made stuff, with incomplete software features and incredibly bad spurious output. They then outright lie about proper FCC certification numbers and respond to complaints about missing features with "Oh, we will fix that in the next firmware update." If that's what we want from every radio under $200.00 then all we have to do is keep buying this (ahem...) stuff. ICOM and Yaesu don't make their radios in China. Their Amateur products include firmware-modified commercial and military grade equipment. Do we want them to completely lose interest in the majority of tight-with-a-dollar American hams and GMRS folks?
That's not even one in a row for them. They notified the guy he was out of compliance. The guy said he was sorry, and fixed the problem. I'd hardly call this a case of the FCC slapping someone with a huge fine. They said they would consider a huge fine, if he thumbed his nose at them, and said "fuck the FCC I do what I want". They would do the same if a well respected ham radio club had a repeater get stuck on transmit. Or a municipality if the police department repeater got stuck and was causing interference. In before the "but thats not a part 95 repeater!" crowd: the Motorola Radius equipment he was using is 100% "legal" and "compliant" with GMRS regulations even though they are part 90, not part 95. The FCC issued a statement regarding this years ago, and said it was OK to use repurposed wideband part 90 UHF gear on GMRS. So it's still zero in a row as far as I'm concerned.
@@HamRadio2 You mean like that CB user that had a kilowatt range linear amp, and after multiple FCC contacts including one where they knocked on his door while he was transmitting and still asked him nicely to stop and were leaving ... and only issued him a fine after they heard him on that radio saying "fuck the FCC I do what I want" before they even left his driveway during that visit? And they were leaving at that point, after issuing another warning this time in person. They had no intent of fining him until he poked the bear. Because I'd hardly say that's even remotely similar. And what that dude in the article is saying about how they have a financial incentive to go after violators ... no, no they don't. You can't squeeze blood out of a rock. They might do that to commercial installations like broadcast radio, where they actually have the money to pay the fines. But it's not even remotely like police handing out traffic tickets. It can cost the FCC thousands of dollars to track someone down in their James Bond vans. They're not going to do that in hopes that some kids parents have 20 grand laying around they can take because their kids were using the wrong kind of HT's.
@@notsure7874Ya that's what I'm getting out of this too. If you purposely break the rules and then even tell them to kick rocks, you can't be shocked when they fine you at that point.
Notice of Violation is a written warning under most federal agencies and it means that if he is found to violate the same regulation in the future, then they will issue a Notice of Claim, which would result in a fine.
The likelyhood of them doing that in the future is slim to none, unless he intentionally violates, or via negligence it becomes a nuissance - like his repeater breaks the same way 10x / year because he uses crap gear.
and all over an equipment failure it sounds like, not anything malicious, so it really ought to be one of those... K, this is your warning, monitor your repeaters please and thank you.
The issue is that a majority of radio people get offended super easily by something benign like a roger beep and they will go nuts over it. It's extremely easy to not be a jerk and still get the old geezers angry at you.
Very true. Dont make waves etc. There was a guy that keyed up indefinitely one time, for days. How thats possible, idk. People were transmitting over him. They were having a conversation about "henry" and implying he beats his wife. Inside of henrys audio transmission, you could hear a tv in the background echoing in the room. So that was interesting.
Kind of an extreme situation where he basically locked out a channel, and enough people reported him. IDK how you don’t occasionally check in to your own repeater with an HT. Last weekend, there was someone data streaming continuously over an internet connected repeater while people were trying to have a conversation.
It still seems like they are only going after low hanging fruit: people who consistently cause interference for extended periods of time, making the signal easy to track down. It does make me wonder how sophisticated their tracking capabilities really are; I know the DOD and NSA have rather sophisticated EW capabilities, but they don't seem to be sharing with the FCC at this point...or at least the FCC doesn't want to tip their hand if they are.
The problem is that FCC has made reporting extremely difficult. Where I live (P.R.) they closed the field office ages ago. And they expect that you document everything and bring it in a silver platter for them.
This reminds me of the old Christmas Poem. Yes Virginia the FCC does issue citations. May not always be posted for everyone to review, but the citations are out there to those knuckle heads who asked for them.
The FCC has very advanced tracking capability. Stealthy, too. I have seen their mobile tracking system in a demonstration at work. It was set up in a very common SUV and you couldn’t even tell it was in there.
Well of course they should go after people causing intentional issues. The FCC isn't looking, and better not be, for the neighbor hood kids talking to each other on their bikes.
Isn't, being a problem, on frequencies generally what attracts the wrong attention on any band? Furthermore, being a problem anywhere, also attracts the wrong attention? So, this isn't a freq/power issue, it's an attitude issue.
What the FCC has said regarding non-type accepted radios on GMRS is they will not seek that violation out specifically but if they look you for another violation you may be cited for that violation as well.
I worked in local government for many years, and this assumption that elected officials, law enforcement and regulators don't have access to youtube, or staff that will send them on topic media is just stupid. Local law enforcement just trawls Facebook each day to see who they need to go arrest. Why is this a difficult concept? Maybe they aren't enforcing something now. Once you do it a lot, publish it online, then others start to do it a lot you will see a crackdown on that behavior. This is not hard.
We only bother with using a GMRS call sign on repeaters. Simplex with 5w HT doesn't has enough fars to reliably reach the other side of the neighborhood 😂
In our rural/remote area I would guess that 9 out of 10 GMRS radio owners are not even licensed.The users around here are farmers, ranchers, off road groups and even drug dealers(meth labs and pot farms). They buy these radios off amazon dirt cheap and use them like the cheap walkie talkies we all had as kids. I have even talked to a few of our neighboring farms about applying for the license and the rules on how to use them but, they are not interested. It's even creeping into the Ham freq's here lately, again with the cheap baofeng radios from amazon. I think it will get so bad someday that the FCC will not be able to police GMRS just like CB radio.
If you are operating fine and following rules on GMRS or HAM what is the issue of not having license other than a bunch of loser HAMs are all worked up about it. In a free country license by rule seems very reasonable. By the way radio is almost dead, CB spectrum is quiet, GMRS and FRS are also quiet.
@@Privat2840exactly. Hams take themselves way too seriously and as a result their precious hobby is dying. I welcome the day that all their band space is taken by comercial users. They've pounded their reputation and flow of new users into the ground with their constant grouching and moaning.
@@josephhacker6508 Been a HAM for over 30 years and I quit HAM radio because of all the Charlie Brown carryovers on 40 and 80 meters. Especially during hurricane emergencies, listening to people dead "keying" the frequency, giggle boxes, or whistling, on the designated emergency frequencies! I still keep my ticket up to date, but have given up on HF. Gave up on VHF and UHF because of all the "cliques" that own the frequencies. Sure was fun back in the 80's when you HAD to know morse code to get your license for HF and class upgrades. 'nuff said. smh
@Privat2840 @josephhacker6508 The 2 of you griping and complaining here is somehow more authorized than the Hams that you speak of? Are you some kind of special or just hypocritical?
Some people seem to be offended by un-licensed usage. Around here, people drive around without license plates. Its decriminalized a bit. I'd imagine generally if a person gets noticed, they are doing extra-ordinary things. I dont think it will get bad, most people dont know how to fill a tire with air. Programming a cheap chinese radio is out. They will be using the default frequencies in the radio likely, and be a niche thing, like airsoft usage.
Likely no fine since Mr. Anderson has remedied the issue. This would be the initial contact and it seems he responded appropriately. A good example of the FCC working like it should - finding a violation, contacting the violator, and the violator responding appropriately to rectify the situation and cease said violation. Good to see they do, in fact, take action.
@@panchopistola8298 Yeah, this is literally the same exact thing that would happen to a ham radio repeater that got stuck on TX. It's literally the same thing that would happen if a police department, or fire department had a transmitter stuck on TX and was interfering with other users in some way. I don't get why this is suddenly an "I TOLD U" moment for people crying about baofeng amateur HTs being used out of band and whatnot.
@@notsure7874 🤣 bro they want so badly to be elites … 🤣 But they aren’t . They paid the government for use of something that per our constitution should be free and clear . Should there be bands reserved for military and personal ? Sure … but to require the citizen to pay a fee and take a test to use a set of bands that is not solely used by the government is retarded .
The fact that they only go after people that they can make money off of should be more concerning. I've been dealing with FCC for interference to my Amateur Radio station for over two years now and Laura Smith, Jon Kuzma and David Dombrowski at FCC could care less because they're not making a dollar off of it. I've pissed them off so bad that I've had the department of Homeland security contact me and I told them to kiss my ass. The fact that FCC doesn't care about Amateur Radio operators and their interference to them should be more concerning to you.
We’ve had interference for 2 years. Barely any talking on my local repeaters due to it. FCC has received a ton of letters and we submitted audio and video proof. FCC could care less.
So, someone found out about ONE guy, accidently transmitting continuously on a GMRS frequency that got a lot of complaints from other GMRS users, who somehow managed to make it onto the FCC's radar. That's not the same as someone keying up a GMRS or HAM radio with the wrong equipment or without a license. Even with this 'egregious' violation of FCC rules, all this guy got was a warning letter. The chances of someone getting a call or letter from the FCC over a spurious transmission is so low as to be nonexistent.
It was a nasty gram, and it was purely accidental by the looks of it. The fcc found the exact location and still left without talking face to face with its owner.
Interesting you blame Hams since most of the toxic comments on THIS video are from GMRS users... I think "some people" who want to blame everything on Hams are quite hypocritical
Im an Iowa guy and travel around most of Iowa and a good portion of Illinois and Minnesota and what I'm listening to gmrs repeaters most of the folks I hear are identifying with their call signs. And the two repeaters I listen to most often the locals will ignore anyone not following FCC regs.
Registering yourself with the government specially the FCC is like registering a firearm you buy with the government.. they will come collecting. I learned that the hard way.
Wait a minute, they a citing him for a faulty transmitter. I’ll take that case. It’s accidental, there is no intent. FCC spend some time monitoring intentional violators who maliciously send music and harmful noise making transmissions over the air.
A notice of violation is not a citation. That is why there is no talk of fees in the NOV (Notice of Violation) as it's a preliminary notice that a violation has been identified and the person responsible has 20 days to respond with an explanation for why the violation occurred, how it will be remedied, and when. If the FCC is satisfied with the response and is able to confirm the violation has been corrected then there is unlikely to be any further action. Ignoring the NOV, failing to properly address the violation in a timely manner, or evidence that the violation shows willful intent to cause harm would likely result in harsher actions. When you drive over the speed limit you are committing a moving violation. When a LEO pulls you over for this violation and they start talking to you about it this is effectively a notice of violation. The FCC and the radio operator are here. If the LEO decides your violation warrants a ticket then they will issue a citation. The FCC and the radio operator are not here. NOVs are not citations.
About 20 yrs ago I used to use GMRS walkie talkies out in the field hunting when we didn't have cellphone coverage. I don't remember using call signs or not.
In the past some states prohibited the use of any type of two way radios while hunting, Ohio being one of those states. I do believe rules have changed considering many people carry a cell phone while hunting. Really carrying comms equipment is a wise thing to do while hunting, should you need help and you are in an area covered by some sort of system.
The article is factually deficient. The FCC is NOT incentivized to go after folks for breaking the rules. Any fines paid due to an NAL go directly to the US treasury - NOT the FCC. That has been true for a very long time. The FCC is subject to the budgetary whims of Congress - that is where their paychecks come from. They don't get any operating cash from the collected fines.
My early years in Citizen's Band Radio were fun. I began with a single-channel 100mw walkie-talkie. The band utilized 23 channels in those days, so it was frustrating being limited to having access to only one channel. Eventually, I talked my mother into letting me purchase a 5-watt tube base rig from the local Lafayette Radio Electronics outlet. It transmitted about three watts into a one-quarter wave ground plane up about 20 feet. The station itself was legal, other than me being only 15 years old at the time and wasn't old enough to obtain an FCC license to operate the station. It took about six months for the FCC to locate me and shut down my station. I had been talking skip down into South America daily, and although I wasn't causing any problems for anyone, I was still violating FCC rules and regulations for operating without a license and talking over the 150-mile limit. The feds had to make an example out of me. As the years passed, CB became a free-for-all, with overpowered, modified rigs operating on illegal frequencies and, of course, no one even bothering to get a license anymore. It was overwhelming for the FCC, which could not maintain any degree of realistic enforcement. The 11-meter band became so chaotic that I got into amateur radio. Although I have not used GMRS and probably never will, based on what I am hearing, GMRS will likely degenerate in the same way that the 11-meter CB band did.
GMRS and FRS shair same channels. just power and licence . going to large events like a state fair me and my girlfriend have heard a lit of kids on FRS radios. the short range gives it away and when we see them the small non removable antenna sticks out. anyways the foul language from the kids is a new normal now. we have even learned some new bad words from todays kids. It is up to the parent's to address this. luckley FRS radios do not go very far . this year we are using MURS radios. and hardly anyone on them. thay are VHF and FREE like FRS. only 5Ch and low power. nics video ! 73's
My GMRS radios are blocked from transmitting on the low power FRS frequencies. Why can't FRS radios should be blocked from transmitting on the high power/repeater channels ?
How ironic that Jason does a video on GMRS when I just got mine today...😏 But yeah, as a HAM operator too I tend to use my GMRS call sign since I'm already used to using my HAM call sign. Just gotta remember not to confuse the two and make sure that I don't use my amateur call when on GMRS and vice versa...😁
@@troy3456789I did the same thing, label printer or programming software depending on what model. Mostly because the wife and daughter have no interest in remembering a call sign but use the gmrs radios.
Ok Great so they went after some one on GMRS, what about cb radio with stations running thousands of watts and yes i said thousands of watts on a band that is limited to 4 watts on am/fm and 12 watts pep on ssb . SMDH!
The fact is you can do just about anything on any service is no one complains. If you're not causing people to complain about you and you're being reasonable and responsible nothing should ever happen.
Was participating in my club's weekly net on 2m and during check ins, a guy with a GMRS license attempted check in and was kindly informed by control that he probably should not be TXing on that frequency if he does not have an amateur license. I have not heard that station on air since.
I know Martin casually. He encouraged and loaned me a study guide to get my general ham license. I can guarantee you that he was just unaware that his repeater equipment was faulty. He takes his hobby very seriously and in no way was the constant carrier from his repeater anything but unintentional.
This is quite the stretch. No one is saying the FCC wouldn’t go after these kind of violations. People are saying that FCC isn’t going after someone using a Baofeng on GMRS.
Literally on this channel, I've heard people say " the FCC does nothing". So...if they're only talking about Baofeng radios, they should learn how to state their comments more clearly
@@HamRadio2 - meh. That's just colloquial speech. Nobody literally means "nothing" or "nobody" when they use those words in everyday speech. It's just a short-hand way of saying "The care about this so little that it's probably not worth worrying about." Whether *that* statement is accurate or not is a question I'll leave to the philosophers...
Well, of course they're going to bust you for having a constant signal with constant interference. The person using a baofeng is not gonna be a problem. Nothing to worry about here. IMO
Play stupid games win stupid prizes, but this is not the violation, using GMRS without a license, that is the topic people are talking about most of the time.
Here’s the truth about the FCC caring or not. #1.) They only care when you break the law. #2.) If you interfere, with someone’s frequencies or home entertainment system, and they complain? YES, you will lose your radio, be fined and or, be incarcerated or placed on probation. (Sorry that’s how it works) if you screwup, and they catch you? That’s money in the bank. Literally do you think they’ll pass that up? 🤣🤣🤣
The FCC does take this seriously, we have an awesome non profit GMRS organization in Ohio. To be blunt, we were to a point of “flushing the toilet” of freeloaders who think they can disrespect repeater owners and their private property. We have a regional investigator that we work with about issues that come up. We also have the ability to provide tye necessary evidence they need (Doppler, recordings, disciplinary actions within the group and acknowledgement of all of our members to a code of conduct which closely resembles Part 95 USC. Our investigator has said on numerous occasions that we are a mode that should be practiced across the country. I will be at Huntsville if you would like additional information. The point is, don’t be an idiot on other people’s stuff.
Other people's stuff? Buddy the moment you put up a repeater on the highly public radio waves, you lose all right to complain about unauthorized users. That's like me building a nice house and getting mad when you look at it.
@@josephhacker6508 A more apt analogy is you building a house and people walking in and making a sandwich. Just because it is there doesn't mean they can do whatever they want, airwaves or no. But that's what CTCSS codes help with. It may not block them completely but it slows them down.
95.1705: (d) Individual licensee duties. The holder of an individual license: (1) Shall determine specifically which individuals, including family members, are allowed to operate (i.e., exercise operational control over) its GMRS station(s) (see paragraph (c) of this section); (2) May allow any person to use (i.e., benefit from the operation of) its GMRS repeater, or alternatively, may limit the use of its GMRS repeater to specific persons; (3) May disallow the use of its GMRS repeater by specific persons as may be necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this section. Clear as DAY!
Good video... I always say, until the FCC cleans up 7.200, I'm not going to stress too much about any enforcement on me mistakingly messing up some odd regulation.🤷♂
@@MairinGoBragh7.200 MHz is within approved amateur allocations in some parts of the world so the “interference” is coming from operators that are also licensed. Shared bands can be a bugbear for some but they are a reality.
I've had a couple instances where construction sites in my area have had a transponder going on the site. This thing puts out a constant beacon on a GMRS frequency. It's been 3 or 4 years since it last happened. I tried to report it to the FCC, but never got anywhere with it.
I'm going to have to talk to my kids kindergarten class I bought a bunch of 25 dollar radios for. They mainly just use for the Roger beeps, but I can hear a bunch of screaming too.
All my radios are dual to quad band ham radios I have one actually GMRS radio. I don’t see any enforcement on that especially since I am following all the rules and not using more power or transmitting outside of the band. I don’t know why I need to buy new radios. I don’t want 2 plus radios in my car.
FCC is full of it. We’ve had malicious interference on several repeaters in SFL. This is with several letters and recordings sent to FCC and nothing has been done. Its been 2 years. several Ham Radio operators have even put in money to find to to get directional finding equipment, which is very expensive and we have proof sent to the FCC of who these people are. Its so bad that no one wants to talk on the repeaters anymore. Repeaters are completely quiet here now because of it.
I just recently purchased a few GMRS radios and my license. I will not be broadcasting my call sign over the air. When I purchased the license, I don't recall seeing where my home address was 100% available to anyone listening. Why the F would anyone voluntarily tell everyone not only their address, but that they are currently away from said address? F that. But since I paid for GMRS radios and license, damn straight I'll be using those channels. I know, not quite on topic with the video. I guess I'm still irritated how someone could actually get fined for not broadcasting their empty home, or where some family members may be hanging out.
Maybe in your area, or maybe just on the internet forums you read. In reality, I find both groups welcoming on the air. On the internet, GMRS users really like to whine and complain about Hams when they haven't ever been on Ham Radio frequencies, they are just reading internet forums. No group is perfect, there are some unwelcoming peeps out there - but the group as a whole? No, I don't buy that. After 30 years of being a Ham, I can honestly say your statement is incorrect.
This might be a dumb question, but how EXACTLY do they track you down unless you are broadcasting your name or location? Just got my radio and don’t plan on pushing the PTT button until I get my license. I am just curious.
That's how. I read a story recently about someone being keyed down for 30 minutes. Stupid. So don't be dumb and they likely won't pay attention to you.
The FCC probably doesn't have the resources to support comprehensive monitoring of the RF spectrum. Most likely, at least for services like Ham, GMRS, CB, etc., they rely on complaints from the users of those services to focus their enforcement efforts. If you're not being a jerk on the air (and pissing people off), you're probably not going to have a problem, even if you're not in strict compliance with the rules.
If he did not have a license, they would have never bothered when you get a license and they find an illegal radio signal in the area of your house, they can barge right in. It's in the agreement that you actually paid for you. Paid $35 to allow some nasty government people into your home congratulations. Editi. Whereas, if they go after an on a license person, they can't even prove that you did anything prove to me that I transmitted and a quart of law. Please prove it edit.
Nope. The license gives the FCC no rights at all to enter your home. It's the same agreement that you "agree to" when you purchase and use any "license free" radio. Read the terms on any of these radio services
@commontater652 Yes, they have the technology. Of course they do, even I do. However, they are more worried about corporate interests such as cellphone companies. They don't care if Billy Bob Jr. in Arkansas is transmitting on GMRs 16. And they certainly don't care if Maple leaf junior is transmitting from Canada, LMA. L.
The FCC is funded through an appropriation through Congress. Funds collected from forfeitures go directly to the US Treasury, they do not go to make the FCC more money. If the FCC needs more money, employees, etc. to beef up enforcement, then they need to get that in the appropriation. Regulatory and application fees, which are paid on many FCC regulated services do go to help offset the appropriation, but forfeitures go directly to the treasury. When the the government collects on that recently enacted $300M robocall forfeiture, that does not mean the FCC can reopen all of the field offices and beef up enforcement where it is needed. A notice of violation is simply, hey we caught this. You have 20 days to explain what happened and what you are doing to fix the problem. If the problem persists, then the Enforcement Bureau can look towards forfeitures.
So this sounds like there was a faulty piece of equipment that was transmitting when it shouldn't have, the FCC investigated and notified the owner, and if nothing is done about it THEN further action (fines) would occur. It seems like the article is blowing the situation out of proportion in order to prove a point.
I have observed that the biggest turn off of HAM radio is the stupid attitude of these HAMs. You can't use a 5 watt Baofeng blah, blah, blah. They need to encourage people to get involved. I listen to GMRS, no on is on it. You could call listen all day and hear very little. A few nerds on a repeater and maybe a kid on a bike or a couple of workers at home depot.
That 2nd one sounds like a pilot car service possibly, as I know up here in Canada pilot cars use GMRS and Commercial Channels… however this was interesting to hear…
@@TerraFirmaX couldn't pay me enough to do that. Think the most oversized I've been was 12' wide and I didn't like it. ON-17 is effed. Nobody moves over for shit. I hope they pay you well
Just make sure if you're going to do anything bad just stay mobile, and keep transmission for less than 30 seconds. It would be virtually impossible to track you. Also never identify yourself.
Is this the guy who was playing a radio station on the gmrs for fisherman offshore? This is really old, even when you did this video. He was cited I think 8 or 9 times I think. Our sheriffs dept was cited for having too much interference on their system. They used it to block out gmrs and frs all the time. It was intentional because they had to stop shooting because we were using a trail for overlanding. The impact area was on the boundry of the state park and they had a few rounds go over and hit camping trailers. So they would key and rubber band the switch down and put it in the backof a vehicle they would park at the boundaries. It had an amp, a local ham got a few guys together and triangulated the vehicle and sent a copy of the video to the sheriff, the county comissioners and fcc.
I don't why some individuals believe that the FCC doesn't issue out citations often, but they do. That same individual says that the FCC has to post by law to make the citation available for public knowledge. I assume the FCC may have to right make anything for public knowledge if they think it's necessary. However, I think in most cases, the FCC rather treat each individual licensee like patience. After all drivers that get citations would be public knowledge.
Maybe because the fcc doesn't issue violations. You can see every fine they've issued and there's only a few over the years and those were people causing problems.
I will be more than happy to get a license as soon as I can navigate the crap FCC application site. I have a little brain damage from a concussion during the war and some shit is hard to figure out.
Careful regarding the terminology. The FCC and other gov agencies do not cite violations of laws, they cite violations of rules. They are charged with application of law, but administrative violations typically rules violations that are not cited anywhere in law.
The FCC can cite violations of law and they do all the time. The most common is generally used for unauthorized operation (47 USC §301). Broadcasters who are silent for over a year have their licenses cancelled citing 47 USC §312(g). Noncommercial stations running commercials are cited under both 47 CFR §73.503 (a regulation) and 47 USC §399b (a law). The 47 USC sections that are cited is also known as the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
@@MichelleBradley True. Its just a matter of accuracy. We don't want to be treating the FCC/ATF/whatever as lawmakers etc. They are administrative rule making agencies that reference applicable laws.
@@KaL_Terow 100% sure. The net control missed his callsign due to low volume and he repeated it twice. We looked up his license on the FCC site. He' only been licensed for not eve 2 months.
Well if he'd done that here, one of us would have cordially invited him to the next HARC meeting besides giving him basic info about HAM licensing. We encourage all interested.
@@yungsmile7546 We did too. I think that he did something wrong spooked him. Plus that stuff happens so fast that no one grabbed his GMRS callsign to look him up.
The only thing I've seen people say that they aren't paying attention to is minor violations such as using a non-compliant radio on GMRS and such. I suspect if you are constantly taking up air space or doing things very annoying to other users, you will get a complaint and eventually a fine. I would bet money that you could use GMRS radios for normal use indefinitely without a license and not have an issue either.
@@HamRadio2The real main reason I took the time and spent the money on a GMRS license is so that my use was counted. I know the Govt is really good at trying to say "well, it doesn't look like there are that many people using this bandwidth, we only have this small percentage of users licensed, lets just sell it off to private companies to use".
we have some violators on a repeater in south Florida .must be old C.Beers due to the amount and quality of the language they spew.the operators keep changing the PL but that does not last long.
Regarding your call sign, amateur is 10 minutes, GMRS is 15 minutes, so yes, I did read all that stuff when getting my GMRS license, as well as watching Josh's Technician study videos, and taking the practice tests.
I can see gmrs going the same way as CB radio nobody gives a darn everybody cusses all the time and they throw on carriers on each other it's the same thing as CB radios if you don't believe me go to the big cities and just find a channel listen to it
@@aaronmoore3050 Huh? This was about a repeater, not two hunting buddies in the woods on HTs. While FRS and GMRS share frequencies, the difference is power output and the requirement of call signs for GMRS.
@@aaronmoore3050We'd suggest you watch the video and read the article. Take note of the topic of the video and article. Otherwise, what you are saying is a hot mess!
@@aaronmoore3050 Call it as you may, however, FRS users HAVE been cited by the FCC. The article cites one instance (which they could have cited them for operating without a GMRS license with their power output). A quick Google search shows other FRS users cited by the FCC. So YES, the FCC HAS cited unlicensed users. In addition, GMRS licensees have been cited as well as UNLICENSED users on GMRS. Maybe you don't know to research case history, so all you are doing is speaking your opinion, however, having been licensed in GMRS for almost five decades -- well before it was called GMRS, we know what we are talking about. You can push the pablum you wish; we're just stating fact. Anyone can decide how they want to operate. We're just giving the history should you err on the wrong side of the law. And 10th Amendment? Seriously? Can you imagine if every state had its own FCC? There is a reason the regulation of the airwaves is on a national basis in every country on this planet. C'mon. Be real.
An NOV is not a citation. It is just notification of a noticed violation. It's a failed piece of hardware, so they will close it IF he got that transmitter shut down in a reasonable time. 2 or 3 days isn't reasonable
Long time subscriber to Ham Radio 2.0. I would recommend as Josh (Ham Radio Crash Course) has done on his channel that you interview Notarubicon. He has discussed this topic many times, identifying many of those cited for violations. There is a subset of licensed Hams that consider themselves as licensed officers policing the airwaves, always vigilant for those offending the FCC rules. These malcontents seem to be always looking reasons to express their frustrations, often citing mis-information directed at Randy.
It is a completely false idea that you give up your 4th Amendment Rights after you get a Ham Radio license. This lie has perpetuated the internet and it is just wrong. If you read the "agreement" that you automatically adhere to for freeband radio (CB and FRS) it has the same verbiage that Ham licensing does. So does GMRS. NONE of it makes you give up ANY of your Constitutional Rights. End of story.
@@HamRadio2 I see you’re very adamant about that, however I read that your address is subject to search as part of the license agreement, and I assume confiscation of equipment very clearly mentioned in the document I read on the FCC site. Granted this was 3 or 4 years ago when I became interested in Ham radio licensure. I went ahead and got the GMRS license just to be legal using a local repeater. Repeaters are few and far between here in Montana by the way. I’ll cross that bridge again if I get a Ham license in the future, but that was my understanding at the time.
No, that was never true, not to the degree you're mentioning. The FCC can knock on anyone's door and request to see your equipment - Ham Radio, CB, GMRS, etc. OR a faulty power transformer located on a pole in your back yard. At no time can they enter your home without a warrant or without your permission. They can't confiscate anything. They CAN request to see your equipment and if you refuse, you can get your license revoked or you might get fined, if they find just cause. This isn't any different for a Ham Radio operator than anyone else in the USA
@@HamRadio2 Thank you for sharing your understanding. But, I believe Morgan would say in the “Going Home Series”, by getting that license, you will have given the government your address. (Incidentally, I got a kick out of the “sad ham” skeleton who was taking down names to give to the FCC even after the collapse.)
The government has your address already. The IRS has more information on you than anything having to do with radio. Also the author of the Going Home series is now a Ham.
I try getting my GMRS license today was unable to do so. I got far making account after that It wouldn't allow to login to buy the license. I gave up. maybe best that I didn't get one then.
Yeah. If you are doing irritative transmissions, you will be on the FCCs radar. Other than that they aren't looking for regular use. We had bad actors during the CB craze days getting popped occasionally. It even got violent on occasions.
So many non type accepted GMRS radios and even DMR radios being used on GMRS nowadays. It would be impractical to go after small infractions on GMRS. It seems as if you are doing something that is routinely causing interference in an area, it's likely they will come after you.
Out of curiosity, how is one able to differentiate between the various typed radios: ham analog, digital, etc transmitting on GMRS or otherwise. I understand that each device has its own unique electronic signature and such but without sophisticated and expensive equipment, which only the government and well to do hobbyists might have, how is one able to realistically tell?
@@theheist5 For the most part it's impossible to know from the receiving end what device is being used to transmit. There isn't really a "signature" on analog transmissions, only some digital. Every band has a set of rules, analog/digital, power output, etc. Say you're following those rules for GMRS, no one will be able to tell you're radio is not allowed on that frequency unless they look at it.
GMRS Identification rules are different than amateur radio. They are supposed to ID every 15 min or at the end of their transmission if they are no longer going to talk.
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 except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. A unit number may be included after the call sign in the identification. (a) Th GMRS station call sign must be transmitted: (a.1) Following a single transmission or a series of transmissions; and, (a.2) After 15 minutes and at least once every 15 minutes thereafter during a series of transmissions lasting more than 15 minutes. (b) The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone. (c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if: (c.1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and, (c.2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance with this section.
@@RyanGribble you should read the rules. 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 except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. 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. (b) The call sign must be transmitted using voice in the English language or international Morse code telegraphy using an audible tone. (c) Any GMRS repeater station is not required to transmit station identification if: (1) It retransmits only communications from GMRS stations operating under authority of the individual license under which it operates; and, (2) The GMRS stations whose communications are retransmitted are properly identified in accordance
same as ham radio rules except for the time difference, you only have to id every 10 minutes or at the end of transmission, you can also id using CW even if you are using phone. Don't have to id at the start of QSO.
If a legitimate complaint is filed, the FCC will take action. I have seen them take action a few times locally. A guy transmitted illegally to stop a black radio station from playing R and B and rap music. His equipment was taken and he was fined. Another guy CB radio was coming in peoples televisions and speakers from him using a amp.
GMRS repeaters have higher power than typical GMRS radios and usually higher antennas. They stay in one place. They are pretty easy to track. Sounds like this guy didn't fix a constant "key-down" situation that kept the carrier on. Wouldn't screw up repeater use with the output always ready to retransmit the input signal. Yes, the FCC doesn't do anything... until they do. FCC Rules also say if you commit a serious violation in one service, you can be found essentially "unfit" to hold ANY FCC license. Messing around on GMRS could earn revocation of your GMRS license AND Amateur License, any commercial license you might have (leftover General Radiotelephone Permit, perhaps) AND CB privileges--CB operation IS licensed, just differently from GMRS or Amateur.
It's still an incentive, even if indirect. "If we double the money we bring in, we can justify a higher budget" is a thing too. But it's not really an incentive because you can't squeeze blood out of a rock. Steve Cbeeradio with his 1kw linear amp doesn't have 20 grand to cough up in fines.
I went and got my GMRS license, and right now I feel I wasted. $35. Listen locally and have heard nothing. Just as bad as the local 2-meter scene. Wonder where all these people who buy GMRS and Ham radios are? I know some places are really active, but I know Augusta Ga isn't.
Where I live, its the same on the HAM bands too, not much if anything going on...the only time you hear anything is if the local HAM group gets together for some town event doing traffic control, or other communications type work...otherwise there isn't much to listen to. I got my HAM license a few years ago, was all ready to get on air with my radio, then quickly realized, like the CB, nobody uses it anymore in reality...everyone has a cell phone, that's what everyone uses....the radio only gets used when somebody gets put in timeout.
GMRS is completely different than your typical Ham ticket. I mostly use my GMRS for family outings, camping, hiking groups, fishing groups, hunting with others, caravanning several vehicles, etc. my entire family can use a single call sign. The plus is individuals can put repeaters in the area for further distance to extra range communication.
