Garmin Rhino 530HC GMRS radio freq: FCC license needed!?!

[HuntFishDude]

Wow, I recently purchased two Garmin Rhino models because they had some really cool features like getting bearing and distance to your buddies, mapping etc...

What I didn't realize is to operate at some of the higher power channels, you are required to get a FCC license that is good for

5 years and covers your immediate family for $80!

I know there a lot of these GMRS radios out there and I have a really hard time believing everyone has done this. Anybody ever hear of any enforcement action taken for not having the license? Who enforces this? Would a CO?

Feel free to use my email...

[irvingdog]

Like all GMRS radios, you need an FCC license to transmit chatter over the GMRS frequencies, but the FCC has granted Garmin a waiver that allows the Rino series units to send position data on GMRS channels. so to use the cool Peer to Peer feature, you don't need a license. That said, every once in a rare while, you'll hear of someone using the GMRS (typically in an urban or industrial area) and having the FCC make an example of them.

Not at all common, but worth keeping in mind. When business' made the investment in these radio systems, they intended to "keep them clean", and paid to do so....

[BobT]

Your Rino can be configured to disable the GMRS channels if you wish. From the radio page navigate to 'setup radio' and disable those channels. Now your Rino will only have the lower 14 channels available to you.

This isn't the only radio that has these channels. Most of the radios you see have all these same channels and that's partly how they advertise the long ranges they boast. GMRS radio is a higher wattage power output and so can conceivably be used over greater distances but for all these radios, an FCC license is required to use the GMRS channels.

Bob

[irvingdog]

Or you can use the GMRS for the Peer to Peer feature,and just stay away from the GMRS channels (like 20 and up I believe)when talking on the radio.

[BobT]

15 and up

[MNmikew]

The FCC would inforce the rules not the DNR. With the proliferation of these cheap GMRS handhelds I would imagine that the license requirement will eventually go the way of the CB license back in the day.

The odds of getting popped by the FCC is very rare. Pretty much the only way you would get into trouble with GMRS is operating on a GMRS repeater frequency which are used by licensed business users typically. If you're out in the boonies using them the odds of hitting a repeater are pretty slim. Real GMRS radios push 25 watts, much higher than your typical handheld.

There are several resources on the net about GMRS repeater frequencys/locations for MN.

But yes, legally you need a license for GMRS.