Radio usage, flexiblity, organization, reference stuff, etc.

[gary in ohio]

I know my ft8800 can do AM. Although I don't really understand why I'd want to use it and of course it's not going to operate in the 11 meter band.

Your 8800 does AM but in receive mode only. AM would be used in the 118-130mhz range to listen to aircraft.

[gary in ohio]

FRS is US and Canadian service. Both countries require type accepted radios to use on the band. FRS doesnt exist as a service anyplace else, but can be found in use. Many countires have similar types of radio, Europe has PMR radio's, PLR in several pacific countries. The US/Canadian, Europe and pacific radio all look the smae but are on different frequencies.

GMRS is only valid in the US and Canada (with a smaller number of channels) and BOTH countries require a license. Australia has a UHF CB service similar to GMRS but they require Specific radio's and the freq are different than the US, They also have more channels.

[mr r2fj]

Your 8800 does AM but in receive mode only. AM would be used in the 118-130mhz range to listen to aircraft.

Ahh so the AM mode setting is for receive only then? It's not capable of transmitting on AM at all? I've never tried to listen to aircraft before. Thanks for the info, I might play aroudn with those bands to see if I can pick up anything.

[gary in ohio]

Ahh so the AM mode setting is for receive only then? It's not capable of transmitting on AM at all? I've never tried to listen to aircraft before. Thanks for the info, I might play aroudn with those bands to see if I can pick up anything.

Aircraft, search and rescue craft, police air traffic. Lots of things to listen to while on the road.

[Seldom Seen]

Good info. I wish there was an idiot's guide to my HAM radio. I have an ICOM 208H, and the manual is terrible. It says all the things it can do, but never every says why you would want to do them, or when.

*edit*

For the what, where, when and why try here Nifty Ham Accessories FM guide

For the How Nifty Icom guides Scroll down, near the bottom.

[CanuckMariner]

*edit*

For the what, where, when and why try here Nifty Ham Accessories FM guide

For the How Nifty Icom guides Scroll down, near the bottom.

Many thanks, mate! Good stuff!

[nwoods]

Awesome! Thanks for the link. I ordered the mini-guide for my radio and the FM repeater manual.

[CanuckMariner]

FRS is US and Canadian service. Both countries require type accepted radios to use on the band. FRS doesnt exist as a service anyplace else, but can be found in use. Many countires have similar types of radio, Europe has PMR radio's, PLR in several pacific countries. The US/Canadian, Europe and pacific radio all look the smae but are on different frequencies.

GMRS is only valid in the US and Canada (with a smaller number of channels) and BOTH countries require a license. Australia has a UHF CB service similar to GMRS but they require Specific radio's and the freq are different than the US, They also have more channels.

Hate to correct you (I did some checking [FCC] as you so correctly pointed out the flaw in my post) as you seem so well informed and legal (r u a comm lawyer by chance?), but Canada does NOT require any licensing for GMRS/FRS at all. The US DOES, but only for GMRS (CH1-7 and 15-22) not FRS (F=Family) FCC rules in 47 C.F.R. Part 95. Serious penalties could result for unlicensed use of GMRS channels. FCC will issue a call sign. Call FCC @ 800-418-FORM request #159 and #605. For questions call FCC @ 888-CALL-FCC. or www.fcc.gov

[gary in ohio]

Hate to correct you (I did some checking [FCC] as you so correctly pointed out the flaw in my post) as you seem so well informed and legal (r u a comm lawyer by chance?), but Canada does NOT require any licensing for GMRS/FRS at all. The US DOES, but only for GMRS (CH1-7 and 15-22) not FRS (F=Family)

First off no I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV - You are correct, Canada dropped licensing a couple of years ago for GMRS, I never made mention about FRS requiring a license. Also please note GMRS doesnt have channels it has frequencies, so CH1-7 and 15-22 are not validate designators for GMRS while many combo radio's have similar channels, there is no FCC law that defines channels. YOU also need to look at the radio and HOW the radio was certified. I have a combo radio that channels 1-14 are FRS no US license and 15-22 require a US license and yet another radio is the more common 1-7/15-22 GMRS US license and 8-14 FRS.

[CanuckMariner]

First off no I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV - You are correct, Canada dropped licensing a couple of years ago for GMRS, I never made mention about FRS requiring a license. Also please note GMRS doesnt have channels it has frequencies, so CH1-7 and 15-22 are not validate designators for GMRS while many combo radio's have similar channels, there is no FCC law that defines channels. YOU also need to look at the radio and HOW the radio was certified. I have a combo radio that channels 1-14 are FRS no US license and 15-22 require a US license and yet another radio is the more common 1-7/15-22 GMRS US license and 8-14 FRS.

Most people do not actually know the frequencies, just the channels, that's why I mentioned them.

Don't want to get into any kind of deep discussion but, the FCC rule book, on their website, and my manual for my GMRS/FRS radios which quotes FCC rules, DOES designate them as both channels (most commonly known) and their respective frequencies. Actually they call them band numbers as well but also do mention channels. (http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/ind...general_mobile). GMRS/FRS radios do have channels on them and can display frequencies instead.

Didn't realize you were on TV, what show? time, date, channel frequency? and I try to watch for you.