GXT900 requires GMRS lic for Emergency Channel?!

FRS / GMRS Radios
1

I am new to two way radios and I am trying to understand the issues involved. I have found lots of valuable information in this forum, and I hope someone can resolve the conflicting data I found for the Midland GXT900.

As far as I know, the FCC ID for the Midland GXT900 is MMAGXT950 which has received a grant (Rule 95B) to operate in the frequency range from 462.5625 to 467.7125 (which spans Channel 1 through Channel 14) at a power output of 0.42 W (which is less than 0.5 W). According to this info everyone without a GMRS license would be allowed to use Channels 1 to 14. I got this info from this link:

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm

after entering “MMA” for Grantee and “GXT950” for Product Code.

The Manual however states:

You must be licensed prior to operating on channels 1-7 or 15-22 which comprise the GMRS channels of the GTX900/950 Series.

On your ecommerce site

http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/midland/midland-gxt-900-vp4.aspx

it states again:

7 Shared FRS/GMRS Channels

suggesting they could be operated as both FRS and GMRS channels.

Which is right? Can channels 1-7 be operated as FRS channels in Low Power mode? If these channels are GMRS-Only channels why are they listed as “Shared” and why did Midland get a 95B grant for the whole frequency spectrum including channels 1-7?

I AM CONFUSED :frowning:

Could anyone please clarify?

2

Channels 1-7 in low power mode (under .5 watts) are FRS. You do not need a GMRS license for that. This chart may help a bit: http://www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2006/07/frs_and_gmrs_frequencies.aspx

We have no idea why the Midland manual is stating otherwise. Hope this helps.

3

I guess the question really is if the GXT900 in low power mode emits less than 0.5 W. I did not find any info regarding the emitted power in the different power modes for this unit.

The only thing I do know is that Midland requested and received a grant to operate Channels 1-14 with 0.42 W in FRS mode. Am I (and the sellers of this unit) legally on safe ground assuming that the GXT900 operates in Channel 1-7 with power set to “Low” in FRS mode even though the grant is conditional on the power restriction (which I cannot verify)?

4

As long as you are in low power mode for 1-7 they are FRS and you are fine.

5

Yaga, http://shysave.com/?said=t17

6

hi!, http://shysave.com/?said=t17

7

IF a radio has part 95B approval on channels 1-7, then you can use the radio… on low power, without a license.

If a radio does NOT have part 95b approval, then you cannot.

YES, some FRS/GMRS radios do not have approval on 1-7…

The ones you have are fine though.

It is sad you have to research an FCC ID to make sure you are operating legally.

8

No… you must set it to low, since “channel 1” is also a GMRS frequency, you have the option to select power… only 8-14 are low powr only as they are FRS only channels.