Navy-Jeepster

A bunch of us are jumping over to the VHF race radios.

I think no license is required for these.
Rugged Radios and PCI are two of the companies that sell them as kits, and programmed.

Todd

desync0

Depends on the frequencies they're programmed for, if they're using 144-148mhz, that's the 2m ham band which is illegal to use without a license. If they're programmed for MURS or FRS/GMRS there's power limits.

kbp810

Eh... not entirely. The radios are capable of operating on amateur bands, so should still posses a licence (though technically not required if you are not transmitting on those bands, and it's not illegal to use them in an emergency). On the other end, they might be just programming them to GMRS channels, and GMRS also technically requires a licence to use (though many believe it's not readily enforced, the fines, if caught, can be significant). GMRS license is $70, good for 5 years, but does not require a test; as opposed to $15 and good for 10 years with ham.

Also, a lot of these race radio companies are just selling re-badged cheap Chinese radios at a very significant markup. Well, of course the value is in the convenience... but it's really not hard to program a radio - and most of these are compatible with a popular free software program known as Chirp, or can get free programming software from the manufactures website (not to mention you can program them in from the radio itself, it's just time consuming).

Navy-Jeepster

These radios will go down into the HAM frequency range.
They are programmed from 150 and up.
They also do have some GMRS channels programmed, and we stay out of them, because of the license requirements.
We are careful of how we use these, and the frequencies we use them on.

I know that we can find these same basic radios on Amazon or eBay for cheaper prices, and program them ourselves.
Rugged Radios is not that far from my house, and their customer service is top notch on their stuff.

Plus they support land use organizations like Sharetrails/BlueRibbon Coalition.
Find a knockoff company that does that?
A couple of the guys in our group have bought the ones from Amazon, and we have programmed them.
I don't fault them for going the cheaper route.
They know that if they need support on their radio, they may not get it as readily as my Rugged Radio.

Todd

Navy-Jeepster

The channels listed for the GMRS channels on our radios are in the UHF band of 400 Mhz.
Our radios are dual band of VHF and UHF.
Again, we have to be careful of what channels we use and the frequency we are on.

Thanks for the comments.

Todd

kbp810

For sure on that support part - I'd originally bought a cheap btech radio, it kicked the bucket after just a couple of months. I'm still waiting on that warranty replacement from China... I sure ain't holding my breath.

Now I'm running a Yaesu 7900, significant improvement in performance and quality.

150's sounds like Murs - which does not require a license, but is supposed to be limited to 2 watts.

Navy-Jeepster

The Yaesu's are nice.
I have their FT-60R hand held that I never use because I never got my license.

I will give it to one of my friends that does have his license.

I could not find much information on the use of the race radios on the 150 - 175 freq range on the FCC or ARRL site.

I keep digging for more info though.
When i get the time, I will take the FCC test for my HAM license though.

Thanks

Todd

jchappies

The 150-174Mhz band is for businesses, The owners of those frequencies is the race team or business associated with them. Those frequencies are only good for that area(IE;Los Angeles) If you use it outside of the licensed area you could be interfering with someone business. Just because PCI or Rugged radios programs the radio doesn't give you the right to use the frequency.

Licensees in the Industrial/Business Radio Pool use radio to support business operations. Their communications systems are used for support of day-to-day business activities, such as dispatching and diverting personnel or work vehicles, coordinating the activities of workers and machines on location, or remotely monitoring and controlling equipment. Individuals or entities desiring to operate on frequencies listed in the Industrial/Business Pool are required to obtain a radio station license for these frequencies.

jchappies

This is the license for 151.715 which is BFG relay, as you can see if you use it anywhere outside the area it is registered to you will be interfering with businesses.

151.71500 103.5 PL Channel 7 Youth With A Mission
Businesses Business
Butte
CA
151.71500 WPKI319 Operations Twin Pines Casino
Casinos Business
Lake
CA
151.71500 WQOC979 Operations Big Valley Casino
Casinos Business
Lake
CA
151.71500 74.4 PL WPEJ907 Loss Prevention Six Flags - Magic Mountain
Attractions & Amusement Parks Attractions & Amusement Parks
Los Angeles
CA
151.71500 100.0 PL KWH950 CSUF El Toro Facility CSU Fullerton
Education Orange
CA
151.71500 159.55500 85.4 PL KML654 Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel Ops Knotts Berry Farm
Attractions & Amusement Parks Attractions & Amusement Parks
Orange
CA
151.71500 CSQ BFG Relay Ultra4 Racing
Off-Highway Vehicle Racing Attractions
San Bernardino
CA
151.71500 031 DPL WQMQ616 Trash Hauling Advanced Disposal Company
Sanitation/Trash Businesses
San Bernardino
CA
151.71500 BFG Relay Ocotillo State Vehicular
Recreation Area
Attractions & Amusement Parks Attractions
San Diego
CA
151.71500 114 DPL WQDW782 Coronado Cab Taxi Cabs
Businesses Businesses
San Diego
CA
151.71500 503 DPL WPIE822 Vista High School Simplex Vista Unified School District
Education San Diego
CA
151.71500 156.7 PL KVW535 Communications Services Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Education San Luis Obispo
CA
151.71500 WQAQ896 Operations Eagle Mountain Casino
(Porterville)
Attractions Attractions
Tulare
CA
157.56000 151.71500 311 DPL WPML818 Transportation/Buses/General Los Banos Unified School
District
Education Merced
CA

Navy-Jeepster

Thanks for the info.

Todd