Frequencies for ECNG

Family Radio Service (FRS)

The Family Radio Service (FRS) is an improved walkie-talkie radio system authorized in the United States since 1996. This personal radio service uses channelized frequencies around 462 and 467 MHz in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band.

Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)

The Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) uses channels in the 151 – 154 MHz spectrum range. The most common use of MURS channels is for short-distance, two-way communications using small, portable hand-held radios that function similar to walkie-talkies.

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a land-mobile FM UHF radio service designed for short-distance two-way communication and authorized under part 95 of 47 USC. It requires a license in the United States. The US GMRS license is issued for a period of 10 years by the FCC. The United States permits use by adult individuals who possess a valid GMRS license, as well as their immediate family members. Immediate relatives of the GMRS system licensee are entitled to communicate among themselves for personal or business purposes, but employees of the licensee who are not family members are not covered by the license. Non-family members must be licensed separately.

GMRS radios are typically handheld portable devices much like Family Radio Service (FRS) radios, and they share a frequency band with FRS near 462 and 467 MHz. Mobile and base station-style radios are available as well, but these are normally commercial UHF radios as often used in the public service and commercial land mobile bands. These are legal for use in this service as long as they are certified for GMRS under USC 47 Part 95.

GMRS licensees are allowed to establish repeaters to extend their communications range. GMRS repeaters are permitted to be linked with other GMRS repeaters but are not authorized to connect to the Public Switched Telephone Network.

Any individual in the United States who is at least 18 years of age and not a representative of a foreign government may apply for a GMRS license by completing the application form, either on paper or online through the FCC’s Universal Licensing System. No exam is required. A GMRS license is issued for a 10–year term. The fee is $70 for most applicants.

A GMRS individual license extends to immediate family members and authorizes them to use the licensed system. GMRS license holders are allowed to communicate with FRS users on those frequencies that are shared between the two services. GMRS individual licenses do not extend to employees.

2-meter Amateur (Ham) Radio Band

The 2-meter amateur radio band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 144 MHz to 148 MHz in International Telecommunication Union region (ITU) Regions 2 (North and South America plus Hawaii) The license privileges of amateur radio operators include the use of frequencies within this band for telecommunication, usually conducted locally within a range of about 100 miles

70-centimeter or 440 MHz Amateur (Ham) Radio Band

The 70-centimeter or 440 MHz band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use. The ITU amateur radio allocate hams 420 to 450 MHz. In the United States the band is shared with government radar systems such as PAVE PAWS).[1]

70 centimeters is a popular ham band due to the ready availability of equipment in both new and used markets. Most amateurs operating on 70 cm use either equipment purpose built for ham radio, or commercial equipment designed for nearby land mobile frequencies. Amateurs predominately use the band for FM or digital voice communications through repeaters (useful for emergency communications), as well narrow band modes (analog and digital) for long distance communications (called “DX”, including Moonbounce). The band is also popular for Amateur Satellite Service. Due to its size, it’s the lowest frequency ham band which can support amateur television transmissions.

FRS/GMRS Channel Table

Midland Extra Channels

Midland has several radios with “Extra Channels”. These extra channels are simply existing FRS/GMRS frequencies with hard coded tones, and fixed low power on the 467 MHz channels.