GMRS stands for the General Mobile Radio Service, a licensed radio service that allows users to communicate using hand-held, mobile, or repeater systems on specific channels between 462 MHz and 467 MHz. It's designed for short-distance, two-way voice communication, but also supports limited data applications like text messaging and GPS location information.
Key features and characteristics of GMRS:
Licensed Service: Operating GMRS requires an FCC license.
Frequency Range: GMRS uses channels between 462 MHz and 467 MHz.
Communication Types: Supports short-distance two-way voice communication, simplex (direct communication) and repeater (using a relay station) modes.
Power Output: GMRS radios can operate at higher power levels than FRS radios (Family Radio Service).
Interoperability: Some GMRS radios are designed to be interoperable with FRS radios on certain channels.
Data Applications: GMRS allows limited data applications like text messaging and GPS location sharing.
Repeater Systems: GMRS users can utilize repeaters to extend their communication range.
Privacy Codes: Many GMRS radios include privacy codes to filter out unwanted messages from other users.
FCC website:
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz. The most common use of GMRS channels is for short-distance, two-way voice communications using hand-held radios, mobile radios and repeater systems. In 2017, the FCC expanded GMRS to also allow short data messaging applications including text messaging and GPS location information.
Services that provide functionality similar to GMRS include the Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS), the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS).
The GMRS is available to an individual for short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a system consisting of one or more transmitting units (stations.) The rules for GMRS limit eligibility for new GMRS system licenses to individuals in order to make the service available to personal users. (Some previously licensed non-individual systems are allowed to continue using GMRS.)
In 2017, the FCC updated the GMRS by allotting additional interstitial channels in the 467 MHz band, increased the license term from 5 to 10 years, allowed transmission of limited data applications such as text messaging and GPS location information and made other updates to the GMRS rules to reflect modern application of the service.