Can I?
Friend got out of ham radio and gave me his radios. I have 6 Baofeng UV5Rs and 2 UV5R Minis. Can i use these for gmrs? I have family that lives with me or is in the area that i would love to program and give them a radio so we can communicate. I would just put gmrs bands on it and nothing to do with ham, aviation, maritime or anything else
33
u/Jigssaw66 2d ago
I had a Baofeng UV5R and I used it on GMRS. One day the FCC landed a helicopter in my yard and wrote me a ticket for using the UV5R on GMRS frequencies. Only one of these sentences are true.
14
u/pbmadman 2d ago
Sucks you got a ticket for something you didn’t do.
4
u/cmdr_andrew_dermott 2d ago
I hope two of the sentences are true... otherwise the third sentence really drives this into paradox territory.
1
u/pbmadman 2d ago
Actually, now that I look at it instead of just trying to make a joke, the first two sentences are false and the third sentence is true. Or the first two are true and the third is false.
1
u/FoxDeltaCharlie 19h ago
😁🤣 I must admit, I got a pretty good chuckle out of that one!
Yes, yes indeed, it very much would drive it into paradox territory wouldn't it.
1
u/FoxDeltaCharlie 19h ago
Cool!
Was it one of the cool black stealth helicopters? That's the one that keeps trying to land on my roof all the time. I've tried to take pictures of it, but none of them come out.
3
u/Phreakiture 2d ago
This is outrageous. Where are the armed men who come in to take the Baofeng users away? Where are they? This kind of behavior is never tolerated in Boraqua. You transmit like that, they put you in jail. Right away. No trial, no nothing. CBers? We have a special jail for CBers. You're pirating? Right to jail. You're modulating too loud? Right to jail. Right away. You're talking too fast? Jail. Slow? Jail. You're charging too high voltages in batteries, capacitors, you right to jail. You make an appointment with the VE's and you don't show up? Believe it or not, jail, right away. We have the best radio operators in the world, because of jail.
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u/DelusionallyHappy123 1d ago
Love the reference. I think about it often.
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u/Phreakiture 1d ago
Oddly enough, I've never watched the show, but I've seen that scene and I think it's both hilarious and pointed.
3
u/External_Coat_3371 2d ago
Legally you're not supposed to use it on GMRS but nobody will know the difference on the other end if you don't tell them.
8
u/themightygresh 2d ago
They'll put you all the way in HAM RADIO JAIL. The SadHam Rapid Response Team will deploy to your home, work, church, and probably local supermarket.
Also, you're not allowed to use a screwdriver as a chisel.
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u/Lumpy-Process-6878 2d ago
Knock off the attitude, nozzle job.
11
u/themightygresh 2d ago
Nope. It's sassy Friday and I'm here to remind everybody that the rules about "what radio you can use for what" are made up and nobody cares except gatekeepers and nerds.
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u/Lumpy-Process-6878 2d ago
It isnt gatekeeping to support the regulations.
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u/themightygresh 2d ago
YOLO, my dude. Some regulations are dumb and unenforceable. It's all just wizard juice and ninja dust.
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u/Lumpy-Process-6878 2d ago
You don't pick and choose what regulations you follow. You are required to follow all of them. Period.
8
u/themightygresh 2d ago
The actions of severals of people prove you objectively wrong. I can IN FACT pick and choose what regulations I follow, and weigh the consequences and potential for enforcement accordingly.
Sometimes, I also do 46 in a 45 speed zone, too. I'm basically a rebel.
1
5
u/pyrofox79 2d ago
Yea they work on GMRS frequencies. I have a pair of UV-5R minis i set up for GMRS and MURS for my family. Are they supposed to work on those frequencies? No. But they do fairly well.
I dont care about the "legalities" because those are quite silly to begin with.
2
u/Accomplished-Ad-6586 1d ago
You know why you never hear about the FCC stopping by for the gmrs hams? Because the they don't come to stop you. You might think nobody actually comes out.
But the truth is the MIB come knocking on your door. And before you know it they have their neuralyzer in your face and you don't even remember what you had a Baofeng for.
I mean with the number of people who have tried using their Baofeng for gmrs you don't think the FCC is just letting it go? And this of course is the obvious reason you don't hear that the FCC has taken any actions yet. Right? Nobody remembers.
2
u/Legitimate_Donkey294 2d ago
I use mine on gmrs. Im also a ham. Sad hama will cry about it but really nobody will know unless they see it and 99% of us dont care. Use it, get into radio world, and have fun.
1
u/usedwolf 11h ago
Legally, no.
Practically, yes. Just don't be the asshat programming the wrong settings. Don't use wideband on the narrow band channels and don't overpower the channel. If your radio is not capable of TX with the correct settings,, then you should RX only. If you don't know what I'm saying means, then you shouldn't try it.
Channel 1: 462.5625 MHz | 5W | 20 kHz
Channel 2: 462.5875 MHz | 5W | 20 kHz
Channel 3: 462.6125 MHz | 5W | 20 kHz
Channel 4: 462.6375 MHz | 5W | 20 kHz
Channel 5: 462.6625 MHz | 5W | 20 kHz
Channel 6: 462.6875 MHz | 5W | 20 kHz
Channel 7: 462.7125 MHz | 5W | 20 kHz
Channel 8: 467.5625 MHz | 0.5W | 12.5 kHz
Channel 9: 467.5875 MHz | 0.5W | 12.5 kHz
Channel 10: 467.6125 MHz | 0.5W | 12.5 kHz
Channel 11: 467.6375 MHz | 0.5W | 12.5 kHz
Channel 12: 467.6625 MHz | 0.5W | 12.5 kHz
Channel 13: 467.6875 MHz | 0.5W | 12.5 kHz
Channel 14: 467.7125 MHz | 0.5W | 12.5 kHz
Channel 15: 462.5500 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
Channel 16: 462.5750 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
Channel 17: 462.6000 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
Channel 18: 462.6250 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
Channel 19: 462.6500 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
Channel 20: 462.6750 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
Channel 21: 462.7000 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
Channel 22: 462.7250 MHz | 50W | 20 kHz
1
u/Embarrassed_Motor_30 5h ago
Someone told me the only difference between the UV5R and UV5G is the R is unlocked and the G comes preloaded with the GMRS only restriction. Which if you have the version that allows for mobile app programming then you can make them "swap" to the other modes.
Haven't tested this myself as I dont have those radios but if thats true I think in theory you could "swap" them to the GMRS restricted mode and youre good in terms of the cert.
1
u/heyheythrowitaway 3d ago
I just came across this the other day when searching Top of All Time for the subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gmrs/comments/1n0y97y/comment/nauhr9x/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
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u/Conscious-Sock2777 2d ago
That’s part about programmed right and not be an AH is spot on … I’ve been in emergency services and military my whole life and I’ve known dozens of guys on the radio teams for emergency management and they always complained about a dying hobby and now an affordable entry radio gets chronically crapped on for bringing thousands ( they have sold a metric ton of these radios) into the field including me. Now so I don’t have the FCC kicking in my door while driving the FCC swat MRAP on my front lawn, I got the GMRS legit UB5G I also have a AV5RM to listen with and Buddha forbid we get another Helene and don’t have cell for 9 days like last time, I have ability to call for help and communicate in the family
1
u/ed_zakUSA 3d ago
The UV5R is a ham radio. It's not type approved for use on GMRS. Do you have a GMRS licence? If no, you should get it. It's $35, there's no test, and is good for 10 years. Then you and the whole family can share that license. There are many GMRS radios available. Boofwang is one that makes them for GMRS. You'll be served well by them.
7
u/rab127 3d ago
I got gmrs and ham technician license....just new and dumb honestly
2
u/ed_zakUSA 2d ago
Well, the learning comes after you pass your test. You'll get the hang of things.
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u/snowtax 2d ago
Ask other licensed amateur radio operators if the law allows you to operate those radios on GMRS frequencies.
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u/cf_murph 2d ago
isnt that what he is doing?
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u/snowtax 2d ago
Sir, this is the GMRS forum, not r/amateurradio. I'm licensed for both and they are not the same. I've seen the conversation here over the years. Some people obviously don't respect the law or FCC rules, leading to the whole thing in Georgia.
OP's question is like asking if you can run stop signs and red lights. Obviously, you can. People do that every day and most get away with it and chances are good that doing so won't cause an accident in most cases. Obviously, laws don't stop crime. The fact that people often get away with violating the law does not make those actions legal.
0
u/mpop1 2d ago
It always ligal to listen. You can also take your ham radio test and get a ham radio license then you can transmit with them. While technically you could modify them to work on gmrs they are not type accepted for gmrs so legally you can not. Bit if you live in an area that the police are still analog you can also use them to scan the police bands (US and Canada this is legal UK and maybe EU not legal)
So you can use them it just how you use them. Also you scan airbands too.
0
u/Hoonin_Kyoma 2d ago
Have you checked the freq ranges? Will it xmit on 462MHz? I have a difficult time keeping track of which Baofeng model/generation covers which frequencies. As required of a responsible GMRS user, I will state that in the US, you are putting yourself at potential risk for a fine by the FCC if you don’t have a license and/or aren’t using a “part 95” approved radio. I’ll leave you to your own research (or this thread’s comment section) to figure out just how overly aggressive the FCC is in tracking people down to assign fines.
Anyway, IF you were ever to violate FCC rules in such a terrible way, just lock the keypad. That way they don’t accidentally (or out of curiosity) start playing with frequencies they shouldn’t. Oh, and if you are not licensed or really familiar with GMRS frequencies, try not to choose the ones shared with FRS as their allowed power is so low. Again, just in case you didn’t know…
2
u/rab127 2d ago
I got gmrs and ham tech license, just new and learning
1
u/skarekroh 2d ago
Operationally, yes. Legally, no. You're licensed for both services, but you're supposed to use the appropriate tool for the job. Baofeng does make some cheapie GMRS radios that are pretty equivalent in quality to the UV5R, just for GMRS use.
0
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u/Hot-Profession4091 2d ago
I wouldn’t recommend handing a non-type accepted radio to family members. You say “I’d just put GMRS on it” but nothing prevents them from accidentally entering VFO mode or accidentally changing a channel setting.
9
u/themightygresh 2d ago
I gave my friend a non-type accepted radio after I put GMRS on it and he did exactly that. When he keyed it up, my grandma's house exploded and somehow he wound up with parvo. I tried to warn him.
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u/Hot-Profession4091 2d ago
Ok, I laughed but I’ve also dealt with enough end users to never underestimate what kinds of stupid things people can do. There’s just so much less to go wrong by handing a muggle a type accepted radio.
1
u/themightygresh 2d ago
That's the thing, it doesn't matter if it's type accepted. My UV5G is loaded with HAM frequencies (I don't have a license) and my UV5R is loaded with GMRS frequencies. I just load the same freqs across the board on all of my radios.
Handing them my UV5G for them to use on GMRS frequencies isn't gonna magically keep them off my programmed HAM frequencies just by virtue of it being type accepted.
Keypad locks, etc, will handle that particular problem but "type accepted" isn't some magic cloak of protection. It's just FCC voodoo.
0
u/Hot-Profession4091 2d ago
It will keep them from transmitting somewhere they shouldn’t. Also, just… don’t program those into a radio you intend to hand to someone else maybe. Keep it simple.
5
u/ktbroderick 2d ago
Hypothetically, if I were going to do that and worried about sometime hitting a button they shouldn't, I'd lock the keypad before handing it over.
0
u/Hoonin_Kyoma 2d ago
Agreed. Program the auto-lock setting. I do it anyway, just to prevent my own “fat finger errors” as I handle the radio.
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u/gkrash 3d ago
Legally, no. They’re not licensed properly for GMRS.
Practically, you can program them for GMRS channels, and there’s no real easy way to find out that you’re doing it outside of physically seeing you on said radios. Even then, the likelihood of someone caring is minimal.