xsintrik wrote:
quote: Check http://www.garmin.com/products/rino/ for details on the Rino. It is FRS/GMRS and Garmin even recieved special permission from the FCC to transmit data on the FRS channel for the Peer to Peer position stuff (I read that on the FCC web-site). Check this discussion thread for more links http://forums.Groundspeak.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001995.html
The FCC requires a license to broadcast on a device that can use GMRS. It seems the main differentiator from a consumer point of view is the power on the device. If it's a 1/2 watt FRS device then no license is necessary. If it is a 2 watt device that broadcasts on FRS and GMRS channels then a license IS necessary.
Based on the marketing lies material on the Garmin web site, it seems that the FCC has given permission for non-speech (in other words, GPS positioning data) to be transmitted over the GMRS bands. No where in there does it say that the license requirements have been waived.
To no one in particular, pirate GMRS channels at your own risk. If you do not have a license, you are performing an illegal activity and can be reported to the FCC. You can afford to buy the new fancy toy but won't pay the cheap licensing fee? Also, the license covers the immediate family. It will not cover handing out the radios to friends, they would then be using it illegally. The odds of getting caught are slim but would you let someone who doesn't have a drivers license drive your car?
