Post by Squirrel on Aug 1, 2014 13:33:26 GMT -5
The Airsoft Radio Guide and FAQ
Preface
The purpose of this guide is to help educate Michigan Airsoft players about two-way communication, as well as the devices and laws that pertain to it. It is my hope that this guide will help Airsofters make effective and legal communications decisions.
To be clear, this guide is not, and will never be all encompassing or complete. I say this because technology involving two way radios is rapidly evolving and the FCC’s laws probably fill several libraries. If you have something to contribute to this thread, please feel free.
For the most part, this guide will be pertaining to the VHF and UHF spectrum. VHF Radio covers 30 to 300 MHz, or 10 meter to 1 meter. UHF Radio covers 300 MHz to 3 GHz, or 1 meter to 1 decimeter.
I will do my best to organize this guide into coherent sections Feedback is always appreciated, and it will make this guide better.
*Please note: Though I am a licensed Amatuer Radio Operator, I do not know everything about radio communication. I take no responsibility for any legal action that comes about as a result of your radio use.
Communications
There are three types of radio operators. Licensed Amateur Radio / Licensed GMRS, unlicensed radio, and radio pirates. Licensed radio operators have met the necessary FCC requirements to operate a radio device on either the amateur bands, or GMRS frequencies. Unlicensed radio users are limited to specific frequency bands with preset channels and limited power levels. Radio pirates are those who operate on amateur radio bands without being licensed.
There are a few methods of communication available to unlicensed operators in both the VHF and UHF spectrum. To a licenced Amateur, there are frequency bands available that would suit nearly any communication need. In this guide, I will be sticking to the VHF and UHF spectrum. To the airsofter, there is no need to dip into HF (High Frequency) radio on the field. These are the frequencies from 3 MHz to 30 MHz, and are used by Amateurs for long distances. We will also not dip into SHF (Super High Frequency), 3 GHz to 30 GHz, as these involve experimental licenses from the FCC.
Airsoft Players that do not have an Amateur Radio License have the following frequencies available to them. Use of frequencies other than these without proper licensing is illegal, and could cause harmful interference to law enforcement, fire rescue units, ambulances, hospitals, busses, taxis, busnesses, or airport ground crews.
FRS: FRS is a channelized radio service. It is used as Narrow Banded Frequency Modulation (NBFM). This means the signal occupies 2.5khz of space. Channels are spaced 12.5khz apart.
The FRS band shares channels 1 through 7 with the GMRS service. Channels 8 through 14 are FRS only. FRS only radios (Bubble pack talkabout style) will be limited to 500 milliwatts of power, or half of a watt. FRS only radios have the ability to talk to GMRS radios on channels 1 through 7.
The FRS channels are as follows:
01 - 462.5625 - GMRS Shared
02 - 462.5875 - GMRS Shared
03 - 462.6125 - GMRS Shared
04 - 462.6375 - GMRS Shared
05 - 462.6625 - GMRS Shared
06 - 462.6875 - GMRS Shared
07 - 462.7125 - GMRS Shared
08 - 467.5625 - FRS Only
09 - 467.5875 - FRS Only
10 - 467.6125 - FRS Only
11 - 467.6375 - FRS Only
12 - 467.6625 - FRS Only
13 - 467.6875 - FRS Only
14 - 467.7125 - FRS Only
GMRS: GMRS Radio requires a license from the FCC. The current cost is $90 for a 5 year license. Unlike the Amatuer Radio test, the GMRS test does not involve a test, just your check book. You can apply for a GMRS call sign on the FCC website under their Universal Licensing Page (ULS) wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home
GMRS shares channels 1 through 7 with FRS. The additional GMRS Channels will be listed below.
GMRS is limited to 5 watts of power.
To keep things simple, I will follow the basic Motorola channel numbers since it has general acceptance in Michigan Airsoft.
15 - 467.550 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 1)
16 - 467.575 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 2)
17 - 467.600 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 3)
18 - 467.625 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 4)
19 - 467.650 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 5)
20 - 467.675 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 6)
21 - 467.700 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 7)
22 - 467.725 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 8)
Therefore, a standard bubble pack radio like Motorola, Midland, Cobra, ect. that is FRS and GMRS capable will have the programming that follows. Factory programmed Icom GMRS radio channel numbers will be listed in parenthesis.
01 - 462.5625 - GMRS Shared (ICOM Channel 8)
02 - 462.5875 - GMRS Shared (ICOM Channel 9)
03 - 462.6125 - GMRS Shared (ICOM Channel 10)
04 - 462.6375 - GMRS Shared (ICOM Channel 11)
05 - 462.6625 - GMRS Shared (ICOM Channel 12)
06 - 462.6875 - GMRS Shared (ICOM Channel 13)
07 - 462.7125 - GMRS Shared (ICOM Channel 14)
08 - 467.5625 - FRS Only
09 - 467.5875 - FRS Only
10 - 467.6125 - FRS Only
11 - 467.6375 - FRS Only
12 - 467.6625 - FRS Only
13 - 467.6875 - FRS Only
14 - 467.7125 - FRS Only
15 - 467.550 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 1)
16 - 467.575 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 2)
17 - 467.600 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 3)
18 - 467.625 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 4)
19 - 467.650 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 5)
20 - 467.675 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 6)
21 - 467.700 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 7)
22 - 467.725 - GMRS Only (ICOM Channel 8)
MURS: This radio service is a license free, public use set of five VHF channels. Channels 1 through 3 are full time public use. Channels 4 and 5 may still be in use by business that were grandfathered in. These stations are referred to as Blue Dot and Green Dot, or MURS 4 and 5 respectively. You are allowed to use channels 4 and 5 as long as they are not in use by a business in the area. MURS radios are limited to 2 watts of output power. MURS uses a combination of narrow band and wide band spacing.
The MURS channels are as follows:
01 - 151.820 MHz - MURS 1 - 11.25kHz Spacing
02 - 151.880 MHz - MURS 2 - 11.25kHz Spacing
03 - 151.940 MHz - MURS 3 - 11.25kHz Spacing
04 - 154.570 MHz - MURS 4 / Blue Dot - 20.00kHz Spacing
05 - 154.600 MHz - MURS 5 / Green Dot - 20.00kHz Spacing
*Please note, it is recommended that any radio you use should be Type Certified by the FCC in order to remain 100% legal. Many dual-band radios are capable of programming all of these stations, but may or may not be Type Certified.