GMRS Radio

TLDR for Drives: Get the Midlands and set to 7-20 https://www.amazon.com/GXT1000VP4-Channel-GMRS-Two-Way-Radio/dp/B001WMFYH4

Midland GXT channel 7 operates at frequency 462.7125 Mhz. CTCSS Privacy code 20 corresponds to 131.8 Hz

For Baofeng:

1. In frequency mode, set to set to 462.7125 Mhz
   1. Use VFO/MR toggle, you’ll hear “Frequency Mode” or “Channel Mode”
   2. Press 462 712 which will set to 462.7125 Mhz
   3. Press EXIT
2. In Menu-11, set R-CTCS to 131.8 Hz
   1. Press MENU 11 MENU you’ll hear CTCS
   2. Use up/down to choose 131.8HZ
   3. Press MENU you’ll hear “Confirm”, press EXIT
3. In Menu-13 set T-CTCS to 131.8 Hz
   1. Press MENU 13 MENU you’ll hear CTCS
   2. Use up/down to choose 131.8HZ
   3. Press MENU you’ll hear “Confirm”, press EXIT

• Here’s a chart cross-referencing Channels:Frequencies and Privacy Codes:CTCSS: https://www.k0tfu.org/reference/frs-gmrs-privacy-codes-demystified.html As mentioned Midland and most manufactures uses the “Common” column.
• Jailbreak first, look on youtube, Power+channel+VFR/On to

162.400 weather

BTech GMRS Pro Review - Data Over GMRS, Bluetooth, GPS, & Compass

This looks neat - perhaps overkill (complexity) or not

Full Review & Power Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkk5hY3hM2k

“Classic” BaoFeng UV-5R

2022 recommended:

• Baofeng UV-5R Two Way Radio Dual Band 144-148/420-450Mhz Walkie Talkie 1800mAh Li-ion Battery(Black)

The BaoFeng UV-5R is a compact hand held transceiver providing 4 watts in the frequency range of 136-174 MHz and 400-480MHz (520MHz later versions). It is a compact, economical HT that includes a special VHF receive band from 65 – 108 MHz which includes the regular FM broadcast band. Dual watch and dual reception is supported. You get up to 128 memories. Other features include: selectable wide/narrow, battery save function, VOX, DCS/CTCSS encode, key lock and built in flashlight. Selectable frequency steps include: 2.5, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5 and 25 kHz. RF power may be selected at 4 or 1 watts. This radio comes with an SMA-Female antenna, flexible antenna, BL-5 Li-ion battery (7.4V 1500 mAh (1800mAh label)), belt clip, wrist strap, AC adapter (8.4V 600ma) and drop-in charging tray. This radio requires the PC03 FTDI programming cable.

• https://baofengtech.com/product/uv-5r/ Repeater capable

GMRS RADIO FREQUENCIES AND CHANNELS

GMRS, short for General Mobile Radio Service, is a mobile UHF 2-way radio service in the U.S. that requires users to obtain a license. This frequency chart also applies to FRS, or Family Radio Service, as GMRS and FRS use the same frequencies and thus, can communicate with each other.

WHY DO I NEED A LICENSE FOR GMRS?

The FCC allows GMRS radios to have more power than CB and FRS radios, up to 50W versus the 4 watts allotted to CBs. The GMRS spectrum is broken up into 22 channels, which are shared with FRS, with 8 additional repeater channels (15R-22R) that are exclusive to GMRS and may only be used by licensed GMRS operators. GMRS frequencies range from 462.5625 to 467.7250.

Channels

• https://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/newsletters/gmrs-radio-frequencies-and-channels

CTCSS Table

Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System

Unlocking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sg3RJf1ZEA

• WARNING 1! There does not seem to be a way to UN-do this hack, so don’t try it unless you are prepared to live with it - it IS possible to “brick” or cause UN-doable damage to your radio.
• WARNING 2! - This jailbreak is for NEW LOCKED Baofeng UV-5R radios - if your radio is not locked, do not try this.
• WARNING 3! If your radio is not a “Baofeng UV-5R”, do not try this jail break.
• WARNING 4! - Some have reported issues using CHIRP with their UV5R after jailbreaking it - if you rely on CHRIP/are unable to program the radio by hand, do not try this.
• WARNING 5! - If you do not know what “locked” means, or if you do not know why you need to UNlock your radio, do not try this.
• UPDATE: This Unlock works on Baofeng UV-5R radios manufactured after around 2020 however there are reports that it may not work on UV5R radios manufactured after mid 2022.
• UPDATE 2 - I have seen reports here and online that this hack does not work on new UV-5R radios manufactured after approximately July 2022 - BUT, those radios can easily be unlocked by the “Factory Reset” option in the menus.
• UPDATE 3 - I have seen reports that some newer radios (purchased after July/Aug 2022 are locked, and cannot be unlocked.
• In this very short video I show you how to UNlock or “Jailbreak” a new Baofeng UV5R so that you can transmit on previously locked-out frequencies, most notably, GMRS frequencies.
• ? WHY would you want to unlock your ‘locked’ UV-5R? Because in an emergency it may be necessary to transmit on frequencies outside of the “locked” ham bands to get help, and this is fully permitted by FCC rules in an emergency situation to protect life or property when no other means of communication is available.
• ?? Is it legal to ‘un-lock’ a Baofeng UV-5R? - YES.. There are no laws or regulations that prohibit unlocking of any ham radio - just ask any licensed ham operator that has done a “MARS/CAP” modification on their ham radios.
• ??? Is it legal to transmit on GMRS using a Baofeng UV-5R? There are no “laws” that prohibit transmitting on GMRS on a UV-5R (ham) radio - however FCC Rules specify that to transmit on GMRS you must use a FCC Part 95 “Type Accepted” radio, which the UV-5R is not. The only exception to this would be in an emergency situation as mentioned above.
• Thank you to ChuckStansell and TIDRadio for this easy hack for the newer Baofeng UV-5R ham radios!

License

Bottom-line: No test, pay $35 for 10 years. Do it online, Note: clunky registration, but stick with it. Ojas got his done in ~30 minutes.

• Applicant must be 18+
• Not a representative of a foreign government
• Only available to individuals, aka no new business GMRS license (there are some that are grandfathered in, but that’s a different story circa 1987)
• No test, just payment; $35 and good for 10 years
• License covers you and your immediate family (husband, wife, kids, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, you get the point!)
• If you have been convicted of a felony in the past, you will need to disclose more information as to the context of the charges (this does not mean you will automatically denied)
• https://midlandusa.com/blogs/blog/why-do-i-need-a-gmrs-license-how-do-i-get-it

Ojas’s Notes

FCC Registration Number (FRN): 0032862310
Applied/paid 2022-09-09
Refer to 2022-09-09 FCC File Number 0010199499 1360928299202217754.pdf
Refer to 2022-09-09 FCC_Form_159_3914867.pdf